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In a down economy, one affordable, easy-to-execute home improvement is to give your walls a fresh coat of paint. But what color to choose?
The decision can be much fun, as you luxuriate in the knowledge that anything is possible for your kitchen, living room, or bedroom. But it can be overwhelming, especially if you’re the kind of person who wants to know what your choice says about your mood, psyche, spirit, et. al. I know it took me months to settle on “Pickle” for my muted green living room (which I still love 8 years later).
The Boston Globe had a great article last week about color psychology, and how the major paint companies are infusing their 2009 colors with various aspects of the national mood: from a citron yellow that Benjamin Moore is referring to as “The Color of Hope,” to the grays, beiges, and other subdued colors that provide a restful retreat to those coping with layoffs, stress, and fatigue.
Color choices can be emotional: reds, oranges, and yellows stimulate the senses and energize the body, whereas blues, greens, and purples soothe and relax.
Your choices can also relate to your spirituality: I have a friend who painted each room of her house in a color that represents a particular chakra (click here for why these colors are good to eat, too!). The experience of walking from one room to another really highlights the vivid, primal reaction that we have when we drink color in through our rods and cones.
If you’re thinking about painting, you might want to use the color wheel (first created by Sir Isaac Newton!) to choose accenting or complementary colors. Maybe you want your kitchen to be bright and energizing, but your breakfast nook (if you’re so lucky as to have such a thing) to be an island of calm in an otherwise busy space. For the nook, you might try a lighter, more muted shade of the main color, or go across the wheel and find a matte purple to set against the kitchen’s apple green. Not that I’m mentally decorating my future home or anything….
As you ponder, check out the video below as the Globe reporter shows you the difference between “crazy bright” and “soothing retreat” colors. And please share – how do you choose paint colors, and what do you feel they say about you and your home?
posted March 27, 2009 at 8:12 am
If i were to imagine my dream house in the future,I will personally
design my own color.Childrens room have the specific color with little
of artistic designs appropriate(again!)at their own personalities and
likes.Girls room will be colored with light colors,with flowers designs or have stickers of their favorite Disney characters.For a
baby room,light colors are decent whether your baby is a boy or girl.
For little boy’s room,i suggest a light blue color plane with Disney
favorite character of my boy,of course!Batman,Superman,Spiderman,those were common,but i would suggest additionally some artistic display of what my children would dream
about when they grow up!It will give them inspiration.My own room will
be light colors too!A big closet mirror and ceiling mirrors are great
to my taste!!It makes my room appears spacious.
posted March 27, 2009 at 10:03 am
No comment
posted March 27, 2009 at 10:31 am
Many factors influence my choice of color, but the primary driver is what other elements in the room are we trying to complement? That will automatically limit your selections somewhat.
If the flooring, furniture, etc. are truly so neutral as to pose no bounds, then you move to what type of energy you want to create, and what colors “speak” to you. Each color really does have its own personality. It’s true, as the article says, that yellow is cheerful. That said, you may not be a yellow person. I find orange and pink to also be cheerful, and they have the energy of red without its sometimes overbearing quality. But again, it’s very personal.
My tips for envisioning how different colors might create a different feel is to look at vignettes in home furnishing stores (places like Ikea and Pier One often have displays with a painted wall), photos from magazines, or, oddly enough, visit a fabric store. As you browse, you may notice yourself drawn repeatedly to certain shades. Because you can roll out a long piece from the bolt, you see A LOT of the color at once: this is critical to making your choice. Or at least giving you a starting point.
Depending on shades that move you, you can then buy a sample and put some on the wall.
Never pick a paint color from a little chip. It’s too hard to predict, even for seasoned professionals.
posted March 27, 2009 at 10:35 am
If you’ve tried a few things and are still stumped, you can hire color consultants to help. Their advice can pay for itself in the time and money you save on buying the wrong paint.
One in the DFW area is PaintColorHelp.com. You can find others in your cities by Googling.
posted March 27, 2009 at 2:30 pm
I paint with bright color. My viewers find my paintings uplifting. My favorite color is purple and the various shades of it. I also love red, cobalt blue, along with other less vibrant colors.
posted June 1, 2009 at 2:27 pm
Before getting married, my room was in three shades. One wall was in pink, the opposite wall was in sky blue, the remaining two walls and the ceiling was lilac. The sounds weird but being there was calming. I had painted my room in yellow, these three colors and lime green.
After marriage, i have been living in an apartment where my husband is too lazy to paint the rooms. In the future, I am looking forward to paint different rooms in different colors. I like soft colors in bedrooms but bright colors in kitchen and living room.
My main concern is that I grow out of one color after a short period of time like after two years. Its too much work and hassle to paint again especially if one has growing children.
What is the best way to find a color which you like and won’t grow bored of it?
posted January 25, 2010 at 12:00 pm
I have a room in my basement that needs repainting but don’t know what to go with. It has one small window that is at ground level so doesn’t get much natural light. I plan on using it as a gathering place for a group of friends that meet on a monthly basis to explore our spirituality. Anyone have any suggestions?