Tips for choosing interior paint colors

The right interior paint colors can transform the entire appearance of your home. The interior colors of your home significantly influence the atmosphere of the home and thereby, influence the moods of people in the home.

The colors you select also unify architectural elements, flooring, room décor, and furnishings. When considering giving your home a facelift, color selection can be an intimidating task. Your home is a space where you spend the majority of your time so you will want to select shades that are enjoyable and soothing. Working with your professional painting contractor and keeping these pointers in mind, your home will appear more stylish and inviting than ever before.

• When selecting paint for the interior rooms in your home, your color choices are limitless if you are starting with empty rooms. However, in an existing home, you will need to select paint colors that compliment your current flooring, furniture, upholstery, and window coverings. Interior wall paint should be quiet, yet not monotonous; paint colors should enhance the mood of the home, not disrupt it.
• Architectural features also play an integral part in the choice of a room’s paint color. For example, is the room spacious with vaulted ceiling and good lighting, or is the room small, with little natural light? Benjamin Moore Paints provides a helpful guide and palette of all the hot new colors for 2015. You are only limited by your imagination.
• Room paint colors like forest green, eggplant, chocolate or navy may look great in a magazine or on a color chip and can work in a large room with plenty of sunlight. But use the same color in a small space with dim lighting and you are guaranteed to find the room depressing and avoid spending time there.
• Colors should balance with the size of the room. If the room is small, choose a light color like a peach, pale blue, soft tan or white. For large rooms, gold, yellow, blue, blue-grey, soft green or slate work well. Warm shades of earth colors such as gold, yellow, fern green and tan provide a warm feeling. Blues and grays can make a smaller room appear more spacious while setting a calm and cooling atmosphere.
• Lighter paint colors, which include a wide-range of white, neutrals and pastels, make a room look larger. To further enhance the illusion of space, interior decorators suggest incorporating light-colored furnishings and décor accents.
• It's best to avoid colors that are trendy. Trendy colors are just that – trendy. These colors twill get old within several weeks. When you get your color scheme right, your rooms will illuminate timelessly. Do you need a bit of inspiration in the bedroom? House Beautiful presents 25 of the best bedroom color schemes to fit any decorating preference or lifestyle. 
• The right colors not only set the mood of the room, color provides personality. The secret is knowing which interior paint colors are right for your home and how well they integrate with the other elements of the room. Instead of opting for bland and boring, why not take the time to research paint possibilities? Let the artist within you express himself or herself; the walls of your home are your canvas.
• Red, teal or purple, may not be the best choice if you wish to aim for a calming and relaxing atmosphere. However, since they are energetic colors, they can make a bold statement as an accent wall or trim color.
• What will the room be used for? Purpose determines color choices in that light, and neutral colors create a quiet and serene mood while stronger color create an energy charged room conducive to physical activity. A simple color choice can change a room from stuffy and formal to warm and inviting.
• If you enjoy changing the color scheme of your home often, paint the interior walls a neutral shade. Whenever you are in the mood for a “change of scene,” simply redo your space with the incorporation of brightly colored rugs, pillow covers, sofa covers, draperies or bedding. When the mood to redecorate strikes again, just “mix and match” the accessories to create a whole new look. 

Final Paint Choices

Prior to making a final decision regarding paint colors, it is wise to take time to observe how three closely related shade look throughout the day. Remember a paint color will look up to two shades darker when dry. Natural light significantly impacts on how the color will appear on your wall. You may be surprised how a color appears in full sunlight.

You can’t make the best color choice by looking at a color chip. Paint a 2 feet by 2 feet area to imagine how it will look painted on the entire wall. After the paint has dried completely, view in all lights. It is best to consider the color for a few days, as it may appear quite different on a dark, gray day versus a sunny morning. paint home

After selecting colors, you will need to choose if you want a flat, washable surface or a satin or glossy finish. Satin and glossy finishes have proven to be more durable and washable than flat finishes.

The finish of the paint affects how light is reflected in the room. If you are painting a home theater room, light colors create more ambient light while a glossy paint will reflect your screen’s light. Both of these choices can lead to lowered perception of contrast, making images appear less distinct and crisp. Flat finish paint minimizes reflection. You may want to consider painting the ceiling and the wall behind the screen a medium to dark tone. Your choice of theater room paint colors reflects your taste. Keeping in mind that it is a well-used, functional room, the paint color choice can have a major impact on the success of the room. Carefully chosen accents enhance the space without detracting attention from the screen.

Apply primer before you paint, so the old color does not affect the new one. The American Coatings Association provides a helpful guide to explain the complexities of interior house paint and answer user questions.

Shawn & Kyle Cunningham
Cunningham Group at RE/MAX Advantage
(702) 823-0855 Shawn
(702) 823-0840 Kyle