How to Decide on Paint Colors for the Interior

Reflect nature's special language of color in the interior.

Nothing adds personality to your home or office like the addition of color. According to interior designer Elaine Ryan, color "is the language of the living" and when people deprive themselves of color, they deny a fundamental need. The Earth itself exhibits brilliant hues and suggests that color is as natural to life as breathing. Choose paint colors for your interior that will inspire and uplift you.

Instructions

1. 

   A cardinal's bold coloring could be transferred to an interior accent wall.

   Look at the colors in the world around you. Take note of the calming blueness of the sky or the sea, the rich red feathers on a cardinal or the luscious green of trees swaying softly in the breeze. Linda Barker, author of "Changing Rooms: Colour," says pay attention to these sorts of images and find inspiration in them for the use of vivid color in your interior. Design a color palette for a bedroom or a bathroom inspired by a seashell collection or a field of wildflowers.

2. 

   A person's color preferences can be quite evident in her wardrobe.

   Gather items from around your home that you feel drawn to because of their color. Pull clothes from your wardrobe that reflect your personality and take note of any predominant colors. Discovering your own style and taste preferences will make it easier to decide on how to use paint in your home or office.

3. Purchase five or six home decorating magazines such as "House and Garden," "Southern Living" or "Architectural Digest." Clip images and photographs that resonate with you and pin them on interior walls to help you visualize colors for that space.

4. 

   Use color swatches to develop stylish palettes for the interior.

   Utilize color wheels and large paint swatches to try various color combinations. Pay attention to any associations you have with particular colors. For instance, a deep orange may make you think of a cozy fireplace while a bright yellow may remind you of a sunny day at the beach. Choose colors for your interior that elicit pleasant feelings.

5. Identify the function of the room you're going to paint. Deep jewel tones of red, purple, blue and green create a sensuous bedroom environment, according to Ryan. Lighter colors show dirt and stains easily and may not be suitable choices for rooms where children or pets will spend a lot of time.

6. Take note of how natural light plays throughout the interior. Use bright colors in rooms without much natural light and earthier tones in direct sunlight. Apply paint sampels to small portions of interior walls to see how the color will look in the type of artificial lighting present, such as fluorescent or incandescent.

References

• "Changing Rooms: Colour"; Linda Barker; 1999
• "Color Harmony for Interior Design"; Martha Gill; 2001
• "Color Your Life: How to Design Your Home with Colors From Your Heart"; Elaine Ryan; 2007

Resources

• Sherwin Williams: Color Selection Tools