Finding a color scheme for your home that suits your space and your unique personality can be a daunting challenge during remodeling. Choosing just the right color is a major step, what with the countless choices available today. Step into a hardware store or visit a paint retailer and you may find yourself feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of options you can look through.
Paints come in varying colors, shades and hues. There are also all kinds of textured interior paint finishes for walls. In addition, you can get creative with the application techniques. Paintbrushes and rollers allow you to apply the paint in a way that is unique to your space.
So how do you pick paints that work together? How will you know that you’ve found paint colors that correctly exude your style and personality?
No need to worry. Here, seasoned interior design contractors share some ideas that will help you unlock your creativity and choose colors with confidence. By following these tips, you can have a remodeled space that you can be proud of, and it won’t end up looking like a page taken from a five-year-old’s coloring book.
Start with your favorite color
Some homeowners start to panic when they think about renovating their space because they worry about getting the color scheme right. Traditional schemes can give you tried and tested ways of pairing colors, but not the actual colors themselves.
Before anything else, pick out a color that you love.
Remember that your home is where you will be spending a great part of your life. By building a color scheme around your favorite color, you are assured that you will enjoy being in your space for many years to come.
Find your inspiration
Magazines and catalogs have long been staple sources of design inspiration for homeowners. Flip through the pages and you will find many homes and spaces that utilize unusual color combinations or unique ways of mixing decorations from different styles. You can use these as a way to see what works.
But why limit yourself to just printed material? Go online and find thousands of potential sources of inspiration. Furniture stores, home decoration shops, and interior design companies have websites that can give you ideas for mixing and matching paints with decorations.
Paint retailers and home remodeling websites often include swatches and free software that allow you to visualize how a space looks with a specific shade; click here for more. If that’s not enough, social media channels such as Instagram and Pinterest allow you to see boards or images of spaces from your favorite bloggers or regular folk who love to DIY.
With so many potential sources to get ideas, you are bound to find one that suits your taste, style, favorite color, budget limitations, and other unique requirements.
Experiment using a color wheel and basic theory
Learning about color theory and knowing how to use a color wheel helps you go a long way in branching out and trying different combinations. By learning a bit about color theory, you have a better idea of how colors can change how a space looks or how they relate to each other. For instance, you can go for a monochromatic scheme and use different shades and hues of your favorite color in your space.
The complementary scheme is another basic concept where you can use colors from opposite sides of the color wheel, such as green and purple. Although you won’t be coloring your home in the exact same colors found on any color wheel, it can be a way to get your creative juices flowing.
Consider your focal point
One easy way to choose paint colors for your interior is by taking advantage of the focal point in the room. It could be a major piece of furniture, such as a sofa in the living room or the bed in the master’s bedroom. Other potential focal points can be a large painting, a piece of sculpture, wall-to-wall carpeting, or even tapestry.
When trying to match the color of your paint with your furniture, carry a fabric swatch, or take a picture of the print and bring it to a paint store. Keep in mind that the shade and hue may vary when you use an image instead of a fabric sample. Factors such as the quality of the image and the amount of natural light available when you take the picture can alter how it looks on your screen.
Given these conditions, experts recommend taking multiple samples of paint strips in different shades and hues from the store. This way, you can see and compare which of the paint strips comes closest to the actual upholstery.
Bring nature into your home
Another popular source of inspiration is nature. Some homeowners use colors from landscapes to make their spaces appear like an extension of what they see outdoors. Neutrals and earth tones are some of the more common ones (albeit not the only ones) that can bring the look and feel of natural surroundings into your space.
Look at pictures of clear blue skies along the coast, green forest canopies, or beige desert sand dunes for a different perspective. Even just looking outside your window, at your garden or yard, can give you ideas.
But why stop there? Observe your surroundings at different times of the day or every time the seasons change. The colors of the sky as the day turns into night, or the lovely hues when the leaves change color from summer to fall, are all wonderful choices of inspiration.
Look back in time
Was your home built during a specific era in history, or do you just love a particular period style? Color schemes have evolved over the years. Different design periods feature a distinct range of colors and furniture.
Inspired by church interiors, homes in the Gothic style, for instance, utilize rich, dark hues combined with furniture made from solid oak. On the other hand, if you want to recreate the feel during the Edwardian period, you will be utilizing more pastel colors: greens, yellows, and blues. For furniture, look into pieces made from bamboo and wicker as these complement the light and airy feel of the style.
By following these tips as you remodel your home, you can be on your way to painting your spaces with style and conviction. Need more suggestions or help choosing paint? Contact an experienced designer or interior fit-out contractor today.
AUTHOR BIO
Rachel Hennessey manages the Pools and Landscaping Division of Hennessey LLC. She also works on Tender and Pre-Qualification and brings in new business to the company’s Construction, Interiors and Civils Division.