One of the quickest ways to brighten the post-holiday winter blues is with a little color. And when it comes to getting the most bang for your home improvement buck, nothing beats a fresh coat of paint. But with over seven million colors discernible to the human eye, choosing the right color scheme and finish can seem a daunting task. So if your tired of the eggshell ecru and want to splash a bit of springtime warmth across the walls, read on for some of Hobbs Painting top tips for choosing the right color.
Open all the doors to your rooms to visualize how much of each room you can see. Consider each room individually, but also think of how the colors will work with each other.
Pick your four favorite colors and use accent colors as you wish.
Select your color scheme – complimentary or monochromatic.
Consider which paint finish might be best for your project. Matte or flat finishes hide wall imperfections, but glossier finishes will reflect more light and are easier to clean.
Paint color test squares, perhaps 3 feet square, on the walls in each room. Allow each to fully dry and evaluate the color for a couple of days under different lighting conditions. Remember, paint usually dries one to two shades darker.
You can visually lower a ceiling by painting it darker than the walls.
Make the ceiling seem higher by painting it a lighter color than the walls.
If you enjoy changing the color scheme in your home often, use neutral colors on your walls and floors. Then use a bold accent color to enhance and change the appearance of the room.
Remember that color usually seems more intense on walls than it does on a sample card. When it doubt, go a shade or two lighter.
Colors such as blue and green are more casual and relaxing, and work best in informal or private spaces. This is a good strategy for a bedroom, where you want to rest and recover.
Take fabric with you if you’re matching it. If you don’t have a swatch, grab a sofa cushion, bedspread or curtain and take it with you. If it’s too big, such as the whole sofa, try to take a picture under natural room light and bring the photo with you.
Or, if your like me, and want to see what it will look like before you buy. Try out the Sherwin Williams Color Visualizer. It lets you upload a photo of your room and virtually “paint” it to suit. You can then save and download the color styles making your paint purchases easy and worry free. Click here to give it try.
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