How to Pick Contemporary Bedroom Paint Colors
An economical way to update your bedroom is to repaint the walls. But a visit to a paint store can yield a dizzying array of choices. While the entire process can seem daunting, a bit of decorator know-how can help you pick a bedroom color palette that is contemporary and reflects your personal taste. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Print or clip photographs of rooms from magazines that you like before you go to the paint store. Look in your closet for clues to your own persona color tastes as well. Also look at photographs, artwork, fabric, plates or rugs that contain color combinations that you like.
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Review basic color psychology to understand how color affects mood and perception. For example, green is considered calming and reassuring. Red is often perceived as being passionate and can make a room seem smaller. Think about how you want to feel when you are in your bedroom and put your findings in your notebook.
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Investigate contemporary color trends. Color trend forecasting is a complex mixture of sociological, economic and cultural observation. Major paint companies, magazines and home decorating programs are good places to look for color trends. Currently, camel brown, robin's egg blue and cool grays are popular. Different shades of green are also popular, since they suggest "eco-friendliness."
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Get a color wheel and examine the pictures in your notebook. How many colors are used and what are their relationships? If different shades of one color are used, then you'll probably want to use a monochromatic palette featuring your favorite color. Analogous palettes use two colors that are next to one another on the color wheel. Complementary palettes use two colors that are opposite one another on the color wheel (such as blue-green and red). Triads use three colors that are equidistant from one another on the color wheel such as a soft yellow, bold blue and a very light shade of pink.
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Refine your color choices by using online palette software, getting paint chips from the paint store or sample paint. If you use paint samples, paint a piece of cardboard with the paint and let it dry. Look at the cardboard or paint chip under different lighting conditions to determine which color combinations you like best.
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Tips & Warnings
When painting and choosing other furniture and accessories for your room, consider the 60--30--10 rule: 60 percent of your room (your walls) should be your primary color; 30 percent of your room should be your secondary color (furniture or draperies); and10 percent of the room should be your accent color. When choosing a primary color, opt for colors that you enjoy that also reflect longer term trends. Short-term trends like a red wall are perfect as accent colors.
