How to Choose Interior Paint Colors for Your House
Choosing interior paint colors for your home is an enjoyable challenge to some. But to others it feels overwhelming.
Here are a few things to think about as you make this important decision.
- Difficulty:
- Moderate
Instructions
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Natural Light
CONSIDER THE NATURAL LIGHTING
When choosing a paint color for any room in your home, being aware of how much natural light the room receives is an important consideration. Rooms that receive a lot of natural light throughout the day can handle a wider range of colors, both in depth and shade.
On the other hand, a room (usually those on the north side of your home) that do not receive much natural light must be handled with more consideration. A warm shade, such as soft yellow, will make a room on the north side of the house look warm and inviting. Too dark of a paint color will have the opposite affect.
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Flat Paint Hides Wall Imperfections
CHOOSING A PAINT FINISH OR SHEEN
Interior paint is available in a flat finish, low-luster, semi-gloss, gloss and high gloss. Walls are almost always painted with either flat paint or low-luster paint and trim is done in one of the gloss paints. Sometimes it is useful to paint a kitchen or bathroom in a gloss finish as it is easier to wash. Most high quality latex paints are very washable regardless of the finish.
When choosing a paint finish it is important to know that flat paint hides imperfections in the wall. Any level of gloss will make them more prominent. So, if you have walls that have lots of imperfections, either make sure the painter corrects them prior to painting with a low luster paint, or go with a flat paint.
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2009 Color Trends
CHOOSING A TRENDY PAINT COLOR
If you have decorated your home with colors that are fashionable, choosing a paint color to compliment them will be as easy as studying magazine photos and articles both online and off. When you see a color that seems to blend with your decor take the picture to the store and buy a sample of paint. Your job will be easy!
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Casual Traditional
TRADITIONAL DECORATING
Most paint manufacturers provide their customers with brochures that group paint colors and label them for certain looks. For instance, Benjamin Moore Paints have a brochure they call "Historical colors". This offers the best selection of colors for a more traditional look.
Collect several brochures of color themes that you like and and will blend with your current decor and bring them home to look at in your home. Choose a color by process of elimination. When you find one or two you like, buy a sample and try it. Choose a color one or two shades lighter than the one you like. What looks light on a sample card will look darker once it's on the wall.
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Wall Paint as Focal Point
FOIL OR FOCAL POINT
When choosing a paint color for your home decide whether you want your walls to be a foil or a focal point. A soft, neutral, muted color can create a perfect foil for your living room furniture. The walls will blend into the background but will enhance the look of your furniture and decor and bring it all together into a unified whole.
If you want your walls to be a focal point, then you can use bright, vivid colors. Your furniture will not be as noticeable as the walls will be the first thing you see. Modern decor often uses wall paint as a focal point. A room with all white furniture can handle walls that are deep purple.
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Warm and Cool Colors
WARM AND COOL COLORS
Colors fall into either a cool color category which are colors that will make a room feel cool, such as blue, or warm, such as yellow. Decide what feel you want in your home when choosing a paint color. If you are unsure what color falls into what category you will find lots of information online to show you. I will provide links below.
Above all, choose a paint color you like.
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Resources
- Photo Credit www.certapro.com,
