How to Choose Interior Colors
Choosing a paint color is a big decision, but picking the perfect paint color for any project is easy if you understand a few basic color concepts. Learn how to choose interior colors in this Lowe’s video:
All colors are related in one way or another, and understanding these relationships is the first step towards exploring creative color options for your project.
A color wheel is a great tool that you can use to create an almost limitless number of color schemes. It’s made up of primary colors (red, blue and yellow), secondary colors (orange, green and violet), and tertiary colors (all other colors).
Once you see how colors are related, you can create color schemes. Typically, you won’t use colors that are intensely saturated and vibrant. Instead, imagine the colors on the wheel in muted tones.
- Monochromatic: “Mono” means one, and this color scheme uses multiple values of one basic color.
- Adjacent Colors: This scheme combines two or more colors that are located next to each color on the color wheel.
- Complementary: The complementary scheme uses colors that are opposite to one another.
- Triadic: This scheme employs three colors that are the same distance from the center of the color wheel.
When it comes to color, the first question you want to ask yourself is what vibe you want the room to have. Warm tones create a stimulating environment and bring a home to life. Red is passionate, orange inspires conversation and yellow is super cheerful. If you’re going for a relaxed vibe, cool tones are a must. Greens and blues evoke feelings of nature. Purples help with meditation, and white is great for thinking spaces like offices.
Consider the features of your home that aren’t going anywhere, like flooring, cabinets and countertops. Choosing a color that works well with these permanent features is easier than renovating your entire home.
Another thing you need to think about is lighting. If natural light is scarce, you may want to brighten up the room with a light cool color. If the room gets a lot of sunlight, you can use a rich dark color to strike a balance between bright light and the vibe of the space.
You don’t have to paint every wall in the room the same color. You can use a vibrantly colored accent wall to draw attention to the focal point of the room.
Popular colors are constantly changing. Traditionally, white has been the top color choice for home exteriors in the U.S., and earth tones and neutral colors have always been popular. Interior paint colors are another matter. The “in” colors tend to change every few years. You can consult a paint specialist to find out what colors are hot right now. Rich saturated colors, darker shades and grays are currently very popular.
Colors on paint swatches may not look the same once they’re up on the wall, so it’s a good idea to purchase samples of the colors you may want to use. Also, try out several finishes. Flat and eggshell finishes help create soft and cozy moods, while satin and semi-gloss are shinier finishes that add cleanability to kitchens and baths. A high-gloss finish is usually only used on doors and trim, but you can also use it to bring attention to bold accent walls. Apply two coats of each color to several small areas on the wall and live with it for a few days. Seeing how the paint looks during different times of the day will help you make a decision.
Before you paint, you need to know how much paint to buy. An online paint calculator will help you estimate how many gallons you’ll need.
It’s important to follow your instincts when selecting paint color. You don’t have to go with what’s popular – it’s your home. Painting with the colors you love makes your home unique (just like you), and if you’re still not sure which colors to go with, a near surefire approach towards interior painting is to choose neutral colors and paint the ceiling and trim white.
