No kitchen, bathroom or living space remodeling project is complete without a fresh coat of paint. Often, homeowners find choosing colors for new spaces a very challenging part of the process. We work closely with our clients to choose just the right colors for our projects. Here are a few guidelines to help put the finishing touches on your project.
Pick Colors You Like
You’ll be looking at these walls and ceilings every day so your favorite colors are always a good starting point. Be careful, though. You may love a certain color in small doses, but translating that same hue to a full wall or an entire room can be a different story altogether. It can overwhelm the room, or change colors entirely, depending on the light in the room. Start by painting a small section of your wall and live with it for a day or two. It might change your mind completely.
Color Moods
There has been significant research done on the effect of color on mood. Color can draw you into a room or drive you out of it. Color can energize you or relax you.
The room’s purpose is an important consideration in color choice. Blues and greens are great for bedrooms – they promote relaxation. Lighter, pastel shades add to that relaxing feeling. Bathrooms should be relaxing, too, but brighter, natural tones can be refreshing there. Reds are great for dining rooms. They encourage the appetite and sociability. But red can be overdone easily. Darker shades like wine or burgundy can be the best of both worlds. Bright, natural colors like taupe can be a nice choice for a living room or family room.
Natural Light
Natural light, as it changes throughout the day, can have a big impact on the way people perceive color. It’s important to consider the way the sun fills the room as you choose your color scheme.
Northern light can be “cold” and harsh. Warm colors like subtle reds, oranges or browns can counter this effect. Southern light is “friendly” and warm. Blues and greens work nicely in rooms with southern exposure and can give the room a year-round summery feel. East light brightens rooms in the morning but softens and dims throughout the day. Blending warm and cool colors will help balance the changing light. Western light brightens rooms in the afternoon and evening, but leaves them dark in the morning and early afternoon. Neutral shades brighten these rooms throughout the day, without making them harsh and overly bright.
Combining Colors
No room has just one color. Wall colors must blend with trim color, floor color and furniture colors. Combining colors that work well together is as much science as art. Here are some online tools you can use to find colors that blend well.
Choosing colors for your project can be challenging – but fun. Our design team has years of experience with color selection. Ask them how they can help you find the perfect palette for your remodeling project.