No home renovation project is complete without colour, and every designer knows it. But when a homeowner decides to DIY the painting, they face the most common problem- how to pick the right room colour or design. First of all, mono-coloured walls have become somewhat outdated. Now is the time to mix and match designs that bring some life into the rooms.
The colour of your rooms also plays a huge part in affecting your mood. Suppose you have dedicated rooms for different functional purposes, like reading, relaxing, watching movies with your spouse, or playing games with your kids. In that case, the colour of the walls will enhance or diminish your enthusiasm for these activities.
See also: Vastu recommended room colours for every zodiac sign
Create a scheme
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For starters, you need to gain some inspiration and create a colour scheme for each room. You may turn to magazines and social media for inspiration, or you can use your creative fantasies. Next, use a digital colour wheel to gain some idea about the different shades you can use. These days, you have mobile apps for everything, and finding a colour wheel to gain inspiration is just a cakewalk.
Another effective way to develop a colour scheme for any room is to pick colours from the room itself. Here’s how to do that:
- Pick three colours that are already present in the room, like in your cushions, furniture or curtains.
- Choose a sample strip with these three shades, and you will instantly get 15-18 shades to choose your room colour design from. Generally, one sample strip contains up to 6 colours.
- Now, choose one colour from the three for the wall, and keep the other two for furnishings or decor.
- Last but not least, choose the fourth shade from the sample strip and use it as an accent colour that you should splash a little on each room wall. This will create uniformity between the rooms and help build a connection.
Seems a little less daunting now, isn’t it? Wait for more hacks to pick the best colour palette for your rooms.
Know more about colour psychology
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Do you want to set a different mood for each room in your house? The colour you choose for your walls and furnishings will help in that endeavour. Painters and artists have always been obsessed with the psychology of colours, and you will be, too, once you understand it. According to some eminent house paint experts, dining rooms, kitchen areas, and living spaces should be painted in warm shades, e.g., coral, daffodil yellow, and cranberry, while private spaces, like the bedroom, office room or study rooms, should be given a cooler effect with shades like sage, lilac, sea-green, or sky-blue.
Some colours produce a universal effect. Red is said to instantly increase your blood pressure, while shades of blues and greens have a calming effect on the mind. Shades of orange are a bit tricky in affecting moods. For some, those may appear welcoming, but for others, alarming. Shades of yellow are said to stimulate the brain; hence, these are mostly preferred as study room colours. Avoid colouring your bedroom walls in bright hues, as your sleep might be affected adversely.
Once you have an idea about the different ways colours affect the mood of the entire room, you can choose your room colour designs easily and more conveniently.
All whites are not the same
One more essential thing that you should know if you are into white walls and whitish interiors is that all whites are not the same. The pristine white or clean white with no undertones is mostly preferred for painting the ceilings to create a neutral effect. It also helps make the furnishings and other artwork (if any) stand out.
Now, there are some warmer whites with pink, yellowish or rustic undertones that are mostly used in rooms that get a lot of natural light. According to the designers, it helps the room appear cosier. Cool whites, on the other hand, with undertones of blues, greens, or greys, are preferred in small, congested spaces to make those open up and appear bigger.
How light affects the colour of a room?
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Before finalising a colour scheme for your room, consider the room’s lighting once. Colour reflects light and changes its hue sometimes. If you do not pay attention to the lighting, you may not be able to achieve the desired effect by colouring the room. Spend some time inside the room both during the day to notice the impact of natural light and the night under the induced lighting.
For example, if your room is exposed to the northern side, it will receive less light during the day than in the other rooms. A warm colour palette will be apt to reduce the shadowy effect and enhance the feel in the evening under artificial lighting. And if your room receives a lot of daylight, again, cooler hues will be best to tone down the incandescence.
Neutral hues: Why are these trending?
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For some people, neutral colours may appear monotonous and boring. But they are not. On the contrary, these colours help bring out some bold elements in the room by offering a neutral backdrop.
Let us give you some ideas about the benefits of a neutral colour scheme for your walls:
- It helps bring out detailed textures in the room, which can otherwise be hidden under the impact of bold colours.
- Neutral is classic and timeless. It acts as a one-time investment, as you can always change the theme of the colour by altering pieces of furniture or adding more elements.
- Neutral colours give you ample opportunities to design and redesign your room the way you want. Without changing the wall colours, you can renovate your room, add extra features and even change the theme.
- These colours are versatile and suitable for both traditional and modern interiors.
- Neutral colours reflect light in the best way possible and make any room appear larger and more spacious.
Light vs dark room colour designs
Many people get confused over whether to choose a darker or lighter colour scheme for their rooms. As colours affect the entire ambience of the room, one cannot help but be careful while choosing the right theme.
When to use a darker theme
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If your room doesn’t receive too much light, light colours will make it look duller and unpleasant. On the other hand, bold hues will make the place stand out and appear striking to the onlookers. Rooms with fewer or no windows, lower ceilings, and light barriers, like a fence or a tree outside, will look best when painted with rich jewel tones or denser shades. You can enhance the effect by installing incandescent lights overhead and placing an oriental carpet that can create a gorgeous, dramatic impact.
When to use a lighter theme
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When a room is getting too much natural light, calmer, lighter tones will enhance the overall effect. Lighter colour palettes will make the room appear cleaner, brighter and more spacious. Finish it off with some luxurious Italian furniture and hanging folk art for a deep, artistic effect.
FAQs
How to apply bold colours on my walls
Bold colours, like hot pink, dark violet or blue, look best in rooms with little lighting. You should also choose muted tones for other elements in the room to balance the effect. Throw in some accent furniture to create a warming effect.
What are muted tones?
Muted tones are generally colours that have low saturation. You can create a muted effect by toning down even the brightest and boldest of hues. However, muted tones do not necessarily be boring. These can act as a significant backdrop to other brighter elements in the room.
Is texture painting suitable for living spaces?
Texture painting is suitable for any space, for that matter. Dull and plain walls are going out of trend soon, and textured walls are becoming more popular. In a living room, attractive textures can enhance the overall ambience and set the mood for fun evenings or a relaxing one.
What kind of colours should I choose for my bedroom?
A typical bedroom will look best in cooler hues, as those induce sleep. If you want to try bolder schemes, tone down the lighting so that the colour effects are balanced to some extent.
| Got any questions or point of view on our article? We would love to hear from you. Write to our Editor-in-Chief Jhumur Ghosh at jhumur.ghosh1@housing.com |