Why should you paint rooms on the interior of a house? You will be better able to answer this question when the paint job is completed. At that time you will be proud of the beautiful new rooms that you have created. An interior paint job makes the home more attractive, clean, fresh and beautiful, just like it is brand new. Nothing improves the appearance of the home better than a fresh paint job. But, if you have ever been confused at the paint counter, you are not the only one
Even so, there is a way to help you guide through the puzzle and make clear which interior paint is best for you.
- DON’T PICK YOUR PAINT COLOUR FIRST
It may seem natural to get the biggest things done first, but it is much easier to choose a paint colour that goes with your furniture and decor than it is to choose decor to go with a paint colour. Take a good look at your furniture, do some research on the internet and find the inspiration for colours that will be best for your décor. It is best to paint a piece of poster board and hold it up against your sofa, table or other items that will be in the room to see how it goes. You don’t necessarily want to match, but you do want the undertones to go nicely.
- STICK WITH NEUTRALS
What atmosphere do you want to create in the room? If your hope is to make the space cosy, then consider using a “warm” hue, if you want the room to have a cool feel you should choose a blue or green paint. Colour is good, but you have to first decide where you want the attention in a room to go. If your answer is the walls, then you should go bold. And if you go bold on the walls everything else in the room should be pretty neutral so that you don’t end up with too many things competing. This is why for example bold colour in a bathroom can work so well because most everything else in a bathroom is already neutral (white). Neutral wall colour with a pastel ceiling is a sneaky way to add colour without losing the soothing vibe of the space.
- DO YOU WISH DIMENSIONS OF THE ROOM WERE BIGGER (or SMALLER)?
If you think the space seems cramped you can alter the perception by selecting the right colour of paint. Light paint colours make a room seem larger and brighter; darker colours make it feel more intimate.
- USE TESTERS
Buy testers in a few colours/ shades and paint a large enough area on a few different walls so that you can see how the light hits it at different times of the day. Try your best to do a larger test area to get a better feel. It is well worth spending the money to buy a few to test in your space before purchasing gallons of the colour. And the leftover samples are great for touch up and other small painting projects.
- CREATING FOCAL POINTS
You can quickly change the look of any room by adding contrasting colours to the walls or by adding a darker colour to one particular wall. You can make a large room look smaller by painting one wall a darker shade. This easy change will make the room pop out more visually and add definite appeal. If you have a room with molding halfway between the ceiling and floor, use two different shades of the same colour for a wonderful visual contrast. Highlight any interesting aspect in your rooms with a darker, complementary shade to the one you have chosen for your walls. Visible stairways, especially those in the middle of the room look incredible when painted a darker shade than the walls and gives you a wonderful focal point.
- MIX A BALANCE OF WARM AND COOL COLOURS
For example, combine one rich warm colour with two cool, light colours; or balance a bold, cool colour, like cobalt blue, with a sunny yellow (warm) and soft lime green (warm). Use the ratio of 60:30:10, where 60-percent of the colour in your space is the dominant or main colour, 30-percent is a secondary colour and 10-percent is an accent colour. For example, the walls could be painted the dominant colour, the upholstery could have the secondary colour and accessories such as vases or throw pillows will be in your accent (or 10-percent) colour.
- HAVE A COLOUR THEME THROUGHOUT YOUR HOME.
This doesn’t mean that you have to paint your entire house the same colour, but in rooms that are open into one another consider what each room will look like when standing together. If you are going to play it safe and go with one colour, I would suggest that you at least go a few shades lighter or darker in one room or even on one focal wall. It is a great way to add depth and interest to a space.
- USE THE COLOURS YOU LOVE
The easiest way to choose the best interior paint colours is to start with colours you love. When you start with the colours you love, you are not bound by the traditional colour schemes for a particular decorating style. Using your own favourite colour as your base colour, you can use it to create a colour scheme around it. Your favourite colours can be the perfect inspiration for your new colour palette. With a little paint and a lot of imagination, you can easily change the look and feel of your home
- HOW DO YOU WANT TO FEEL IN YOUR HOME?
Think of how you want to feel when you are inside that room. Do you want to feel romantic and calm? Choose a light warm or cool shade. Or do you want to feel homey and comforted? Select buttery yellows such as for your kitchen. Do you want a feel of calmness and balance? Select shades of green that are light or moss or sage coloured. Do you want to feel energized and express your vibrant personality? Choose vibrant shades. Do you want an air of elegance and serenity to a room? Select neutral shades or cool light greens. The point is, you can quickly feel the way you want with a little imagination.
After all, colour is about what makes you feel happy and comfortable in your own home and our painters can provide high quality consulting in making a final decision and painting the house just the way you want.