Picking Wall Colors

Picking wall colors can feel like a daunting task, one that often causes people to obsess over paint swatches. Difficult to visually imagine until the paint is dry on the walls, the following features helpful tips for selecting wall colors.

Floor - Never ignore the color of floors. Interior designers rate this as the most common do-it-yourself mistake. It's vital to make sure that wall colors coordinate with flooring. For example, hardwood floors come in a variety of materials and colors, such as honey, ebony, limed, cherry or even antiqued. These colors look completely different when paired with chartreuse or burgundy walls. Just remember, that even though it looks stunning in a magazine, it doesn't mean certain colors will flow with a home's floor plan, lighting, decor and style.

Art - Artwork is the easiest way to select a complimentary wall color. Whether it's a beautiful round mirror, accent textiles, rugs or a canvas, selecting highlights from artwork ties spaces together. These colors add dimension and give rooms cohesive color schemes. By selecting one or two accent colors in artwork, rooms will feel refreshed and revived.

Upholstery - Coordinate wall colors with furniture to make it really pop, which adds much needed visual interest to homes. By selecting a color that compliments everything but the furniture, will only create disappointment, making furniture appear as an uncoordinated afterthought. Add accent wall colors throughout the home with decorative pillows, custom mirrors, throws or ottomans.

Architectural Character - For homes that truly lack architectural character, wall paint is an essential element. A dark home that features wall-to-wall carpeting and has low ceilings can instantly be revived with a fresh coat of charcoal gray. While some people believe this style of home would benefit from sunshine yellow, this is a common misconception, as bright colors benefit from natural lighting and unique architectural details. Charcoal paint is easily dressed up and lightened with good lighting, bright accents and colorful details.

For people that may feel uncomfortable selecting a paint color, using the standard color wheel is extremely helpful. It allows instant assess to a range of colors, including bright shades with intensity and muted shades with low-intensity. Instead of painting an entire room, consider purchasing a small amount of paint and painting a small section. Walking past a color for several days is helpful; as it can take several days for paint to thoroughly dry. This also provides ample opportunity to evaluate undertones in materials, artwork, round mirrors and rugs.

When painting rooms, consider how the mood of the space will be impacted. Paint can dramatically change the feeling of a room's size, making it quaint and comfortable, or large and lofty. Also consider the importance of selecting coordinating paint colors for adjacent rooms, making sure that homes flow.