What Color Should I Paint My Home?

color-palletsChoosing a color for your home is really a personal preference, so I’m not going to tell you to paint the rooms in your home green if you hate green! However, in this article, I will talk you through how colors set the mood of a room, what colors really work well together and just generally how to choose a color that works well with what you already have.

What mood are you trying to set?
Depending on the kind of mood you are aiming for, you will have to choose the paint color accordingly.

If you want to create a fresh and relaxing mood, then choose a light color, like cream or a very light blue. Not only do these neutral colors create a relaxing mood, they also make a room look bigger. With the help of light colors and mirrors, you can make a room look more spacious.

However, if you are looking for something more vibrant and exciting, then a red or an orange would be fantastic; these colors can create a very warm feeling and are often associated with energy.

To create a romantic mood in a room, a light red or a pink are good choices. Pink and red are often associated with love and romance.

Here are some other color meanings:

Green – has connotations of nature, freshness and peace.

Blue – suggests wisdom and confidence  and often suggest seriousness and power.

Purple – often associated with royalty, so it suggests luxury and power. A light purple can be linked to romance and a darker purple is more mysterious

Yellow – usually linked to sunshine and happiness because it is quite bright. Like reds and oranges, it has a sense of energy and excitement.

What colors work well together?
There are a few ways you can find colors that  really work well together. There are four main types of color matching. Refer to the color scheme circle here to follow the types of color matching below.

Monochromatic Color – choose one color you want to use and then choose various shades of that same color. For example, if you want your room to be purple, then light and dark purple would work very well together. The same principle applies for any color you want to use.

Triadic Color – If you draw an evenly spaced triangle within the circle, then the three colors being pointed to, by the corners of the triangle, would work very well together, for example purple, green and orange would be great.

Analogous Color – You can choose three colors that are next to each other in the color scheme circle and they will look great together, for example, you could have light green, dark green and light blue or you could have a dark yellow color with a light green and a regular yellow.

Complementary Color – The colors that are directly opposite each other would go well, for example a purple and a yellow or a light green and a light purple.

How do I match colors to what I already have in my home?
Well now you know what colors match, you can know begin matching the paint to the colors already involved in a room. If you have a red sofa, then you can use a green paint for the walls. Or if you have a green sofa, then you might want to paint your walls purple. If you do not have any furniture yet, then you can think about what color you want the room to be first and then you can think about matching the furniture.

Now all you need to do is think about what color you like and then you can work out, from there, what colors will work well together. Matching colors is not as difficult as you thought it would be, is it?

About the Author: Jeff Smith loves everything DIY related and enjoys sharing the knowledge he has with others. He recommends taking a look at Smart Property Investment Magazine for more information on the best ways to renovate a home.

Image Credit: Sherrie Bailey Designs

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