Choosing paint colors for your home can be nerve-wracking. You want to get it just right. Get it wrong, and you’ll be stuck with an interior that just doesn’t feel right.
The interior paint colors can also increase your home’s value. There are certain colors of a home that can increase the selling price by as much as $5,000. That’s not a bad return on investment for a few $25 cans of paint.
How can you ensure that you’re using the best paint colors for your home? Read on to find out.
Get Inspired
It can be overwhelming to sift through hundreds of paint colors to pick one that you love. You can start by getting ideas and inspiration for what you want.
You’ll want to visit sites like Pinterest and home and garden magazines. These sites are full of creative ideas to help you pick a few color palettes to work with.
Once you have a few ideas in mind, order paint swatches from various paint manufacturers.
There’s an App for That
Of course, there are apps that will help you choose paint colors. Various paint companies have their own apps.
One app that stands out is Paint My Place. You can take a picture of the rooms you want to paint and visualize them with different paint colors.
Match the Architecture of the Home
There’s a reason why rustic farmhouse kitchens always seem to be white. You’ll also notice that mid-century modern homes have hints of orange or green in them.The colors match the architecture.
You’ll want to do the same with your interior, especially if you’re trying to capture the essence of a certain time period.
The Size of the Room
You have to take the size of the room into account when you’re choosing paint colors. Picking a dark color for a small room will make it feel smaller. Bright colors tend to make a room feel open and larger.
Keep in mind that this isn’t a hard rule. You can still use bright colors in open spaces. You just don’t want a small bedroom to feel like a closet because you opted to paint it navy blue.
If you want dark colors in a small room, you can use a neutral or bright color for the walls and use darker colors for the trim. You can also paint one wall in the room darker to create an accent wall.
The Purpose of the Room
Paint colors have a way to evoke certain emotions. Yellow inspires happiness. Lavender can make people calm. Neutral colors can bring warmth to a room.
You want to match the emotion with the purpose of the room. A home office can be bright to inspire creativity, while the living room is the place where you relax and unwind.
The challenge here is to make sure that the colors tie together with the rest of the house.
Choose a Focal Point in the Room
Before you choose a paint color for a room, you want to take into account what else is in the room. You may need to avoid bright colors if you already have bright objects in the room.
For example, if you have a rug that is bright and full of color, you may need to let that be the main focal point of the room. In that case, you’ll want to choose paint colors that aren’t as bright as the rug.
It’s the same if you have a bright purple lounge chair in the room. You’re better off going with a paint color that’s a little darker or neutral. When you walk into the room, the eye will immediately be drawn to the chair.
Take Your Time
When you’re taking on a paint project, you just want to get it done. That can cause you to rush through the process. You could end up with colors that don’t quite work.
Instead, take color swatches and compare them over several days. Be sure to look at them at various times of the day, especially if a room gets a lot of natural light. The natural light will change the overall look and feel of a room.
You want to make sure that the colors that you chose blend well with natural light and create the look that you want.
Take a Risk and Be Bold
Do you want your home to reflect your personality? That may require you to take a chance in the paint colors you choose.
You may want something bright and bold for a room like a red ceiling. It may feel like a big risk and you decide to play it conservative instead.
Don’t be afraid to take risks when choosing paint colors. If you go through the process and take your time in deciding, go with the colors that you’ll love.
Stay Away from Trends
You may be tempted to go with a paint color because it’s the trend at this moment in time.
The only issue with going with color because it’s the color of the year is that trends change. Gray is the in color one year, and lavender is in the next year.
You don’t want to have to paint every year or two because the trends change. Instead, pick a color that has a timeless look and feel.
Consider the Type of Paint You’ll Use
Did you know that the type of paint you use in the home can have an impact on the final product? For example, paint with a matte finish will look dull, but it will cover any minor scratches on the wall.
A semi-gloss finish will reflect light. While it can brighten up a room, it can call attention to any minor dings in the wall.
You’ll want to learn more about these different types of paint when you’re choosing a color.
Choosing Paint Colors Made Easy
Painting the interior in your home doesn’t have to be stressful. When you know how to pick the right paint colors, it can be simple.
Remember that choosing paint colors is a process. You want to take your time and make sure that you’re getting something that you love.
Ready for more home tips? Check out the blog often for tips on how to design and decorate every room in your home, from the kitchen to bedroom.
