Take any room and change its wall color: You’ll instantly feel like you’re in a whole new space. Color sets the mood, communicates style and can unify a home’s overall decorating scheme. That’s why it’s one of the fastest and most powerful ways to totally transform a room’s decor. It’s also why you want to pick colors carefully. The wrong color can completely counteract your design goals.
As you’re sampling paint colors and thinking through options, you may find it difficult to know what to do. What’s the best color for you? Here is where color theory becomes your friend. Below, take a look at the basics of color theory and how it can help you know which paint colors to pick for your home.
What Is Color Theory?
Simply put, color theory is about the effect different colors create, and using that knowledge to guide your selections. When you’re in a bright, red room, for example, how does that make you feel, compared to a dark, green room? If you know you’re using a blue paint, how could the color wheel help you know what shades to pair with it? The more you can tap into the natural byproducts of various shades, the easier you can strategically pick colors to meet your goals.
Some Colors and What They Signify
Understanding a bit of color theory provides a great foundation for decorating. Here are a few basic guidelines with which to start exploring possibilities for your home interior painting:
- Red: Lively and invigorating, red communicates passion and excitement. Use it anywhere you want a stimulating, intense effect.
- Blue: Cool and calming, blue is a staple choice in decor, with different shades leaning towards either peaceful or sad vibes.
- Black: Trending but also timeless, black adds undeniable drama that can communicate elegance and formality. Like any dark color, it can make a room feel cozier, too.
- White: Where black makes a room feel cozier, white makes it appear larger. With so many different white shades available today, white walls don’t have to be boring, either. Use this shade for a fresh, lively feel.
How the Color Wheel Helps
Colors close together on the color wheel tend to complement each other well, creating a naturally pulled-together look. On the flip side, colors far apart on the wheel can create drama and bold contrast. Depending on what you want to do in your home, using these principles can guide your color choices.
Thinking About Whole-House Colors
Just because you like a bold color doesn’t mean you should use it in the living room, especially if it doesn’t appear anywhere in your house. Considering the overall feel of your home is important when picking paint. Using consistent color schemes throughout your living spaces can help your abode feel more put together and give you a more elevated effect. If you want to incorporate a wild extra color, use it in accents rather than on an entire room’s walls.
For more examples of the connotations different colors provide, as well as more tips for choosing hues for your home, take a look at the accompanying resource.
Infographic provided by Steadfast Painting Solutions, Elmhurst house painters
Written by: Anthony M. Salvatori President of Steadfast Painting Solutions. He has 20 years of painting experience and has been operating his own company for nine years. Salvatori is proud to be leading such an incredible team of individuals with the common goal of providing excellent service and quality. After attending Robert Morris University’s undergrad program for Business Administration, he earned his Master of Business Administration. Salvatori began building his expertise in the painting industry at age 15 working under the mentorship of his parents in their family-owned painting business.
