Don’t Hesitate When Selecting Paint Colors

May 13, 2016

All you have to do is choose your home’s paint colors and the professionals at Norby Painting will do the rest.  But, many people are uncomfortable about using color or are unsure about selecting the right tints or are just insecure about which hue “goes with” what shade. We don’t want you to be afraid – we want you to enjoy your home and be proud of its appearance. And, while we would never select paint colors for your home, we can offer a bit of guidance to help you have confidence in your choices.

According to HGTV, there are a few things to remember when choosing paint colors.

  1. Use the 60-30-10 rule. These numbers represent the most pleasing percentages of paint colors in a room. So, 60% of your room (usually the walls) will be the overall theme color, 30% (such as upholstered furniture and window coverings) will be a support color and 10% (like artwork, pillows, etc.) will be an accent color.
  2. Pick your color scheme. Use a color wheel, available at art stores, craft shops or online. You may prefer a monochromatic scheme in which all the paint colors are from the same color wheel family, like shades of gray for a sophisticated living room for example.  Or, you may get a little more creative with colors that are analogous, which means they are beside each other on the color wheel, such as orange and red-orange for a cheerful family room. Or, you might be adventurous and go with complementary paint colors that are opposite each other on the wheel and are very high-contrast but formal, like shades of red and green for a dining room.
  3. Color value keeps a room balanced. The darkness or lightness of a color is its value and color value should be balanced across your room just as nature is balanced outside your window. Try to use darker values for the floor (nature’s soil), medium paint colors for the walls (trees and shrubs) and light ones for the ceiling (sky).
  4. Refer to a large pattern first. A favorite rug or set of window treatments or work of art will often be the color scheme that suits you best. If your favorite painting is mostly blue, purple and gray, for example, use gray for the 60%, blue for the 30% and purple for accents.
  5. Let paint colors flow from room to room. A dominant color in the living room can be a secondary color in the adjacent dining room and an accent color in the entryway.
  6. Colors elicit feelings. When you think about how your space is used – for games, sleep, cooking, etc. – you’ll know what kinds of emotions you want your paint colors to encourage. Cool colors like green and blue tend to be soothing and are good for bedrooms where you want to feel peaceful. Warm paint colors like red and yellow are more energetic and exciting and are great for kitchens and playrooms where there is a lot of activity.
  7. Sample before choosing. Always get a small amount of paint first, paint a section and live with it for a few days to see how it looks in sunlight and lamplight. Determine if you need to lighten or darken the shade a bit. See how your paint colors make you feel while you’re using the room.

Still Have Questions?

If you live in the greater Charlotte-Mecklenburg area, you can have a free consultation about your home’s painting project. Just call us at 704-907-5555 or click the “Request A Quote” button online.