Choosing paint colors for your home is one of the most powerful aspects of interior design. The colors you choose can change the mood, the sense of space, and the whole look of your home.
It is important to note that before you choose colours, you need to have a basic understanding of colour theory. Colours are generally categorized into three main groups:
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Primary
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Secondary
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Tertiary
Primary colours are red, blue and yellow, which are the base of all colours.
Secondary colours are created by mixing two primary colours and give us green, orange and purple.
Tertiary colors are formed by blending a primary color with a secondary color.
Knowing the relationships between colours will significantly help you create a coordinated tone for your home. For instance, complementary colors can produce a vibrant and energetic atmosphere.
Analogous colours can create a calm and harmonious look. By using these principles, you can choose colours that contrast or complement each other depending on the mood you want to create.
1. What’s the Room’s Purpose
The purpose of the room should be a big consideration for your colour choices. Think about how you want to feel in that space.
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Living Room:
If your living room is a social hub, you may want warm and welcoming colours like soft yellows or earthy tones. If it’s a space to relax, cooler colours like pale blues or greens may be more suitable.
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Kitchen:
Kitchens are often the heart of the home, so you may want to use bright and energising colours like sunny yellows, light greens or warm neutrals. These colours can stimulate appetite and create a happy atmosphere.
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Bedroom:
Since the bedroom is a place to rest, consider using calming colours like light blues, soft greens or lavender. These shades can help you relax and improve sleep.
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Bathroom:
In the bathroom, light and fresh colours like whites, light greys and blues can create a clean and spa-like environment.
2. Consider the Lighting
Lighting has a big impact on how colours appear in a room. The same colour can look completely different under natural light versus artificial light or even under different types of artificial lighting (incandescent, fluorescent, LED).
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Natural Light: Rooms with lots of natural light can handle bolder colours because the sunlight will balance out their intensity. But be aware that the amount and angle of natural light will change throughout the day and the colour will change with it.
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Artificial Light: Warm incandescent lights can bring out yellow or red tones in a colour and make it look warmer, while cool fluorescent lights can bring out blue tones and make it look cooler. LED lights come in different tones, so you can choose the lighting to match the colour palette you prefer.
Try testing paint samples on your walls and see how they look at different times of the day under different lighting conditions.
3. Consider the Existing Elements
Think about the colours of your existing furniture, flooring and fixtures. Your paint colour should match these elements, not clash with them.
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Furniture: If your furniture is bold or has a strong colour, you may want to choose a neutral wall colour to let your furniture stand out. If your furniture is more subdued, you can be more adventurous with your wall colour.
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Flooring: Dark floors work well with light wall colours, creating a nice contrast, while light floors can handle dark walls. If your flooring has strong undertones (like red or yellow in wood) choose a wall colour that complements these tones.
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Countertops and Cabinets: In kitchens and bathrooms, the colour of your countertops and cabinets will influence your wall colour choice. Make sure your chosen paint colour matches these surfaces.
4. Use the 60-30-10 Rule
Interior designers use the 60-30-10 rule to create a colour scheme.
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60%: The main colour of the room, usually the walls. This should be a neutral or soft colour that sets the tone for the room.
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30%: The secondary colour, used for upholstery, curtains or accent walls. This colour should complement the main colour but add more interest.
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10%: The accent colour, used sparingly on accessories like throw pillows, artwork or small furniture pieces. This colour can be bolder and more vibrant, adding pops of colour throughout the room.
This rule helps to create a cohesive look without being too much.
5. Test Your Colours
Once you’ve narrowed it down, don’t skip the testing. Buy small samples of the colours you’re considering and paint swatches on your walls.
Live with them for a few days to see how they look in different lights and at different times of the day. This is crucial to avoid any surprises after the whole room is painted.
If you’re painting multiple rooms make sure to test how the colours look next to each other, especially where the rooms meet. This will ensure a smooth transition from one space to the next.
6. Consider the Flow Between Rooms
When choosing paint colours for your home, you need to think about how the colours will flow from one room to another. This is especially true in open plan homes where spaces are connected without walls.
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Open Plan: In an open plan layout it’s best to stick to a cohesive colour scheme to create a sense of continuity. You can vary the shades to add interest but make sure the colours work together.
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Separate Rooms: In homes where rooms are more separate, you have more freedom to choose different colours for each space. But still consider the overall palette to make the home feel cohesive.
7. Trust Your Instincts
While guidelines and tips are helpful, at the end of the day the paint colours you choose should make you happy.
Your home is a reflection of you and your style, so trust your instincts and choose colours that resonate with you. If a colour makes you happy, don’t be afraid to use it even if it’s not a “normal” choice.
Remember paint is one of the most affordable ways to change the look of your home and it’s not permanent. If you find you don’t love a colour after a while it’s easy to change.
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