Painting the interior or exterior of a house can dramatically change its presentation, instantly adding value.
When choosing a paint colour, there are a few things that need to be front of mind such as the use of the room and the amount of natural light the room gets.
The following are other things you may need to take into consideration when choosing paint colours:
The Psychology of Colour
Do you want your space to feel soothing and relaxing? Or would you prefer it to fill you with energy?
Calming colours include light blues, pastel colours, and neutral shades such as beige or light grey. On the other hand, you can fill a room with energy by choosing combinations of bright colours that are in opposite positions on the colour wheel, such as green and red, or yellow and purple.
Guidelines for Choosing Bold Colours
If a high-contrast palette is what you are after, both colours should be equally intense or one will dominate over the other.
One easy way to pick colours that go well together is to choose paints from the same colour family, or check the colour charts you will find at your local hardware store or paint shop. These charts from the manufacturers like Dulux offer suggestions for both complementary colours AND high contrast.
Picture Yourself in the Space
How the room is used can play a role in which colours you choose.
For example, you might want to avoid painting your bathroom walls yellow or green if that’s where you put on makeup, otherwise your skin will reflect the bright colour from the walls. You also need to consider your existing furnishings: how well will they complement the paint colour you choose?
Natural Light
Many people think that they should never use dark shades in a room that is lacking in natural light, but in fact a dark tone can smooth out shadows and dark corners in such a space. On the other hand, rooms with lots of natural light are a great arena in which to show off subtle shades that might easily be lost in a room that isn’t so blessed with sunlight.
Research and Experimentation
The same paint colour can look very different depending on the space and the type of lighting. Collect samples from the paint store and try them out at home before you make a decision. Consider how the room will look not just during the day, but also in the evening when you rely on artificial lighting.
Speak to a colour consultant
And of course, our number one tip for choosing paint colours is to speak to an expert like a Dulux colour consultant. They bring many years of experience into their decision making process along with all of the above.
