Decorating with ColourDecorating with colour can be intimidating if you haven't tried it before or weren't happy with the results of your last project. Whether you are planning on creating that neutral "move in ready" look for the real estate market or longing for a change in your present home you will benefit from our expert tips on successfully decorating with colour.
To get your project off to a great start examine your room(s) and make notes on each of the following items.
A color scheme is the choice of colours you will use when decorating. Color schemes help create style and appeal. You'll want to establish a colour scheme for the entire house or at least the main floor of your home so the each room flows together and there isn't a drastic change in colours when walking from room to room. You have several choices, you just have to decide how adventurous you'd like to be.
When using a colour scheme don't let it get to complex, four colours are okay, but three is ideal. Be sure to use a neutral as one of your choices.
Colour affects a person's mood, emotion and behavior, an important point to consider when decorating. Here are a few of the more popular colours and examples of which rooms they would work best in. Red The most emotionally intense color, red stimulates a faster heartbeat, breathing and appetite. It can suggest power and excitement. Great for Dining Rooms or bedrooms if you're brave! Orange Invokes a feeling of warmth though if it's too bright can cause irritation. Great choice for craft rooms or laundry rooms. Yellow Pale shades of yellow can be warm and cheery but if you use a very bright shade it can be hard on your eyes. Bright yellow is a cheerful attention getter and while yellow is considered an optimistic colour people will loose their tempers and babies cry more often in yellow rooms, probably not a good choice for a nursery! Yellow enhances concentration so try using it in the home office. It is the most difficult color for the eye to take in, but the right shade can be beautiful anywhere in your home. Green Currently the most popular decorating colour as it's relaxing, soothing and refreshing. Green symbolizes nature. It is the easiest color on the eye and can improve vision. Hospitals often use green because it relaxes patients. Try using it in the home office or bedroom. Blue Blue is peaceful and tranquil and causes the body to produce calming chemicals and for this reason, perfect for bedrooms. Black Black is a sexy, powerful and stylish. Great furniture and accessory colour. White White reflects light and is considered a summer color. White is popular in decorating because it is light, neutral, and goes with everything. Many people use white as a backdrop for their colourful furniture, accessories or artwork. Purple Purple says luxury, wealth, and sophistication. It's the colour of Royalty and is very feminine and romantic. A nice choice for the bedroom. Brown Brown is the color of earth and is abundant in nature. Light brown implies genuineness while dark brown is similar to wood or leather. Great choice for furniture or accessories. Neutrals Neutrals make great backdrops for colourful art, furniture and accessories. They typically include whites, creams, greys, geiges, browns or black. Can be used anywhere in the home. Once you have chosen perfect colour, take the paint chip home and tack it up on the wall of the room you are going to paint, this way you can see how the colour looks in all kind of light, you might love it during the day, but hate the way it looks with artificial light. If you're still unsure you can purchase a small can of paint tinted in the colour you want and then only paint a small section of wall, this will give you a pretty good indication of whether or not it will work for you. And finally, the the most important thing to remember is that nothing is permanent. It's only paint; if you don't like it, paint over it!
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