How to Pick a Main Paint Color
It’s exciting to think about painting a room. Maybe you’re ready for a new look because you’re inspired by a great photo or a cute little B&B you stayed at on vacation. So you go to the paint counter at your local home improvement or hardware store and grab handfuls of paint chips, but then doubt sets in, and one color starts to look like the next. Learn how to pick a main paint color int this video by Ace Hardware:
Leave decisions about the specific value, tone or shade of the color for later and focus on how you want the room to feel
Create a Mood
The way people feel in the presence of certain colors is very consistent. Blues are calming, while reds are stimulating, but you probably already know what colors you’re leaning towards. To create a mood in a room, consider the way lightness, saturation or the undertones of other colors will set the tone. Deep color, rich shades and warmer undertones in general create atmosphere and ambience. Most colors in their lighter or less saturated versions create a soft, restful and airy feel. Undertones of another color can lend their energy to a color. for example, a beige or white becomes more stimulating with undertones of warmer shades added and more soothing with cooler colors added.
Room by Room
Certain colors evoke specific emotions. So here are some general tips about what colors work well or not in certain rooms.
Bedrooms are for comfort and reflection. You can create a sanctuary with calming colors or a cozy escape with colors that are more enveloping.
Bathrooms tend to be smaller with lots of hard reflective surfaces and textures. This may surprise you, but bold color can be fantastic in a bathroom. Deep colors can make the walls recede, and the contrast of shiny glassy surfaces against a rich color can be striking.
Kids’ rooms should be fun and reflect their personality, but they can get busy with toys and bedding already adding pops of color. Little girls tend to gravitate towards fuchsias and cupcake icing peaks. Little boys lean towards those bold superhero or comic book colors. Intense colors can wind kids up, Instead of an all-over bright color, try a compromise. Keep the main color more of a pale shade with a hint of gray to it. Bring in bright accent colors for furniture, curtains, bedding or even a graphic on the wall.
Rooms where you entertain or celebrate, like kitchen and dining areas, need a sense of atmosphere. Here’s where red works great as it actually stimulates the appetite. Energizing orange and yellow work as well and can warm up other colors to create ambience. And that dining room that only gets used once in a while is a great place to be more adventurous with deep rich shades.
In everyday spaces like living and family rooms, you usually want color that doesn’t compete with furnishings, accessories, or adjoining spaces. To avoid a cluttered look, select a backdrop of color that brings it all together.
Workspaces like home offices or studios have a lot of requirements. You want the room to be personal, energizing and productive, but what you do there has everything to do with the color you choose. A design studio can be more artistic with colors that stimulate creativity, but strong glassy shades can distort the colors you’re working with, and darker colors will absorb some light. In general, go with a calming color that has a hint of energy. A warm white, calming gray or blue counterbalances the pressures of work. Make sure your lighting is sufficient if you choose saturated colors.
Helpful Tips
If you’re having a hard time deciding on a paint color, it’s best to take a step back and simplify your options. Start your project with an idea of how you want the room to feel. Get inspired by colors in surfaces, textiles or art in the room. Narrow down your options using tips on what works well for the room. Above all, remember that color is a very personal choice. Choose a color that makes you feel good, and don’t be stifled by rules.
