For example, use a deep shade of red on your walls, then pair it with yellow and orange decorations. Your room will look playful, like a leaf pile in fall. Use bright tints of warm colors as an accent. A bright yellow, for instance, can lighten up a room, but using it sparingly prevents it from feeling overwhelming. You can also add subtle warmth to a room by painting it in shades of white lightly tinted with warm colors.
For example, a light shade of blue can remind you of the water at the beach. A darker shade would feel much heavier. Cool colors can be used in rooms that feature a lot of activity. However, you may want to choose a lighter tint or offset the cool color with a neutral color, such as white. Darker cool colors, such as deep green or navy blue, can help you feel grounded in the room and give the space a cozy feeling.
The key to using neutrals is to keep them as accents. Painting all of your walls white will look pretty boring until you start decorating. Whites and grays come in various tones. Be careful when using darker shades of gray, since they can make your room feel heavier or more drab. You can also balance out warm or cool paint colors by using furniture in neutral colors.
Any color can be made lighter by mixing it with white. If you can’t find the exact color of paint you want, try mixing your own! Include the ceiling in your considerations. A light ceiling can create the illusion that a room is taller than it is.
Think of a library. If you designed this room in your home, you might use dark colors to create a quiet, intimate atmosphere. If you have a long, narrow hallway, paint the far walls a dark color to make the hallway feel shorter. Dark colors can also camouflage ducts and other exposed elements, but use them sparingly so they don’t make your room feel too small or restrictive. You can also add a metallic glaze over any paint. This gives the paint a metallic finish, which draws attention like regular dark paint does. It can be good on painted architecture. Using a dark color on a wall can also create a strong backdrop for a focal point, such as a framed painting on the wall behind your bed or sofa.
Satin and eggshell finishes are a little less glossy. Satin is durable and used in high-traffic areas such as a family room. Eggshell finishes are a little more delicate and can be used in low-traffic areas like your dining room. Flat or matte finishes have no shine at all. This type of paint works well with dark paint, particularly in quiet areas like bedrooms.
For example, try apps like Color Grab, Project Color, or Pick-a-Paint.
Since the walls are the biggest color canvas in a room, starting there is easiest but not mandatory. If your predominant color is very bright, for example, you might buy accessories in that color, then paint your walls to complement it. Pick out colors that capture your attention. Any item, such as a favorite coffee mug or blanket, can provide you with colors to use.
For example, red and yellow pair well together, but you could paint your walls a light blue color to draw attention to a striking red decoration. Try looking up a color wheel to see which colors complement and contrast one another. Paint supply stores will have swatch books you can use for this purpose. If your predominant color is bold, then choose muted accent colors to complement it or balance it out. For example, if your main color is a bold pink, your accent colors could be muted orange and white or shades of light grey and white.
If you can’t find a shade you like, remember that you can mix your own paint. Many paint suppliers will do this for you. Add white to a color to lighten it or add gray to a color to darken it.
For example, if you have gray walls, paint these components white or brown. These colors complement the gray paint without overwhelming it. Try painting these fixtures with a metallic glaze in order to slightly alter their coloring.
For instance, physical items can be a part of the room’s theme. If you have blue and white furniture, for instance, paint your room a matching blue and white. Items can also be used as highlights through contrasting colors. If you have a vibrant, red painting, try painting the wall behind it a neutral or pale color. This draws attention to the painting instead of the wall. If your furniture and walls are the same color, your room may look dull and lifeless. Make sure to include at least a few decorations in different colors to keep things interesting.
If you don’t want to paint the sample on your wall, apply it to a primed piece of drywall. Otherwise, you can bring home paint swatches and try to use them to make a decision. Give yourself at least a day to live with your colors. The paint will look a little different from day to night, so see if it consistently appeals to you. The type of light in your room affects the paint’s color. Incandescent lighting makes it seem warmer and yellower while fluorescent lighting makes it seem sharper and bluer. [15] X Research source
For instance, if you paint your room with deep reds and browns, a bright orange hallway will detract from it. You may want to paint the hallway a pale yellow so it isn’t a distraction. A simple way to create flowing paint colors is to settle on a theme color. For example, painting trim, bannisters, and furniture white creates consistency even if you paint adjacent rooms different colors. Choose no more than 3-4 colors throughout your house. [17] X Expert Source Juli RolandCertified Color Specialist Expert Interview. 27 March 2020.
For instance, you might start with the living room. Think about painting it a bright color to make it big and vibrant. Then, paint adjoining rooms with more subdued colors. If you know you want to paint a room with bold colors, you can start there even if the room is small. Come up with contrasting colors for nearby rooms.
For example, paint your living room a vibrant red. Paint the room next to it a light yellow. Add red and brown decorations to complete the effect. While you can juxtapose 2 dark colors, such as a dark red and brown, this can make your interior seem a little gloomy and claustrophobic.
For example, say you paint your room blue with white trim. Avoid using the same shade of blue in another room. Instead, try painting the walls white and the trim a lighter blue color. Shades can help you plan out big rooms with a lot of open space. Select a main color, then find ways to apply darker shades and lighter tints. The exception is when your home has a separate upstairs and downstairs. Consider these to be different worlds. You do not need to keep them consistent with each other. It is harder to use a variety of colors across different rooms if you have a house with an open plan. If you have closed off rooms, you can use different colors more easily without creating a busy or inharmonious appearance.
The only exception is if the other rooms are all a similar color. If you paint the other rooms neutral colors, the connecting room can be a bolder or richer color.
For example, imagine brown trim running throughout your home. The color can tie a bright red room to a subdued blue room. For instance, paint all your windows, doors, or shelves white. This can make your interior look very planned and consistent.
