How to Choose a Color for a Livingroom Wall

Many factors go into choosing a wall color.

Whether you are designing a new living room, redecorating an existing one or simply giving it an inexpensive face lift, the colors you choose for your walls will go a long way toward defining the space. Window treatments, floor coverings and even furniture may be chosen to complement the room's color scheme. Conversely, your choice of wall color may be based on the hues of existing items. The room's size will also play a role in your choice as will the mood you want to set.

Things You'll Need

• Paint chips
• Poster board
• Paint samples
• Decorating magazines

Instructions

1. Decide on your decorating style. Your decor will determine, in part, the wall colors you choose. For example, choose colonial blues, reds and greens for a country style room. Select earth tones for a Tuscan living room. Pick stronger hues to contrast with the sleek lines of a contemporary look, or go with shades of gray, silver and black. Study decorating magazines such as "Country Living" and "House Beautiful" for ideas.

2. Consider the room's architecture. Accent a cathedral ceiling by painting the walls all the way up in one color. Include the moldings. If the living room is narrow, combine light and dark colors to make it appear wider. Choose pastels for the long walls and contrast them with darker shades on the short walls. If the living room is large, go for dark shades to make it seem more intimate. Open up a small room with lighter hues.

3. Study the light patterns. Narrow the possible color choices by painting poster paper with the colors you are considering. Move them around the room as the light changes to see how each color looks at different times of day.

4. Look at the room's existing colors. Select two or three colors from a multicolored item already in the room. It can be any item, such as a couch or chair upholstered in a pattern you like, a throw pillow or a colorful area rug. Go to the paint store and pick out paint strips in those colors. Decide which color you like best and paint your walls with it.

5. Learn about the color wheel. The color wheel is a tool that will teach you how to use complimentary colors. Complimentary colors are opposite each other on the color wheel--for example, shades of red and green.

Tips & Warnings

• The human eye can see seven million separate colors.

• If you are thinking of selling your home, you may want to stick to neutral colors so potential buyers can picture themselves in the house rather than be sidetracked by your personal style.

References

• Stylish Living Room Ideas: Living Room Wall Colors- Setting the Tone in Your Space
• This Old House: Choose Paints With a Color Wheel

Resources

• Country Living
• House Beautiful