House painting involves two jobs: putting the paint on the surfaces and, first, choosing what kind of paint to use. The second job tends to baffle most folks. There are so many colors and mix-and-match combinations; where does one start?
You don’t have to be an artist or a color wizard to create a pleasing color scheme that brings continuity and personality to the interior of your home. Here are a few tips to get you thinking in the right direction – and remember, you can always consult a professional if you run into a roadblock.
Light or dark.
This seems elementary, but it is an excellent place to start. Do you want your living spaces to be generally light and airy or more severe and subdued?
2. Vivid and neutral ratio.
Picture the result of your paint job, considering the color tones of your current furnishings and wall treatments. If you already have many brilliant colors, you might want to edge toward softer, gentler paint colors. Some brighter colors might work well if your home is sparsely furnished in a modernistic, minimalist motif.
3. Consider the big room.
In most cases, this is the living room, and a color scheme can naturally flow from this room. Determine the ideal colors and combinations for this big room, then base choices throughout the house on that.
4. Write it down.
Create a blueprint of sorts for room colors. By making a general (however crude) drawing of your floorplan, you’ll know which rooms or parts of rooms are visible from other rooms and plan your coloring accordingly. Your blueprint should include all the details necessary for walls, ceilings, trim, and accents so there’s no guesswork when the painting starts.
5. Entryways, landings, and hallways.
These connecting spaces often look best when painted with neutral colors (beige, light yellow, off-white, etc.) so that the colors of the rooms to which they connect will stand out more.
6. Should every room have the same color walls?
Same-color rooms will bring more robust continuity within the home, but different, complementary shades also work well. There’s nothing wrong with the same handsome color on all the walls of a house, but a varied color scheme room-to-room might add just the personality and pizazz you’re after.
7. Different shades of the same color.
An easy way to select a color scheme is to take three shades from the same primary color. When you determine the base color you want, consider using the lightest shade for ceilings, tiny areas, connecting spaces, medium shades for the walls, and vibrant shades for trim and accents. This is the easiest way to go and produces a lovely result.
There are no absolute rules regarding paint color, just guidelines. Thinking ahead and planning are crucial elements in creating an extraordinary interior color arrangement. Leave as little to chance as possible, and you’ll often amaze yourself.
Franklin Painting of Farmington, CT, is ready to help with expert workmanship, deep knowledge of colors and paint types, and industry-leading service for any painting project. If you’d like a quote for an upcoming project, you can reach a helpful associate at (877) 646-7774.
Frank Campanelli, the esteemed founder of Franklin Painting LLC, has been leading the company since 1986. He takes immense pride in the stellar reputation his dedicated team has built by consistently delivering top-notch service to each customer.
