How to Choose a Paint Color for Your Home
Your physical and mental well-being can be directly impacted by the colors that surround you. It's important to choose the right paint colors to create desired moods in different rooms of your home. The impact of specific colors is often subconscious and can become more and more prevalent with prolonged exposure.
Follow these easy steps to choose a paint color that's perfect for the room you are decorating:
- 1. Evaluate the room. Consider its shape and size. Also consider lighting styles, light sources and light intensity. Examine the color and texture of flooring.
- 2. Decide on a mood. When you choose a paint color, remember that paints can be the deciding factor in the rooms overall mood. What kind of a mood are you trying to create? In a playroom you may want a bright, happy mood, in a library you may be looking for serenity, in a bedroom you may be looking for a restful or romantic appeal.
- 3. Study the different potential impact of each color you are considering when choosing a paint color. Colors have different effects on different people, but experts agree on many universal moods created by specific colors. For example:
- Blue: Blue is known for creating a sense of tranquility. The color can actually slow your pulse rate and some believe it can slow or lower your pulse rate. Others associate the color blue with harmony, unity, loyalty, security, and confidence. Lighter shades of blue are best. Darker shades of blue can create a cold feeling and feelings of depression.
- Red: If you're looking for feelings of love, strength, desire and energy, red is the right color for you. Be careful how you use it and use it sparingly. When overdone, red can also create a sense of danger, create feelings of anger and inspire violence. A little goes a long way.
- Green: If you want to choose a paint color that creates feelings of health, youth and a sense of spring, try green! This is a great color to represent nature and the environment. It can actually put some people at ease. On the down side, green can also inspire jealousy and envy depending on how it's used.
- White: If you want to choose a paint color that inspires simplicity, harmony and peace, white is always a safe bet. Don't over use it because it can become boring. Complement it with other colors that reflect the mood you are trying to create.
- 4. Try it before you buy it! Paint samples on a test wall and wait for the paint to dry completely before deciding. Once you choose a paint color, be sure to consider different finishes - flat, gloss, high-gloss - to create the look and feel you want.
- 5. Choose the right method of application. A paint color is only as good as the application. When you choose a paint color, select high-quality brushes and rollers.
