Choosing Interior Paint Colors: How to Select a Color Scheme That Works For You

Posted on July 11, 2022

Interior Painting - Residential Painting

With thousands of colors to choose from, selecting the right paint for your home can be a daunting task. Color is a powerful interior design element that can transform the look and feel of a room. Warm neutrals, secondary colors, accent colors – when selecting paint colors, there are a lot of factors to consider.

Five Tips for Finding the Perfect Color Scheme For Your Home

1. Consider How the Space Will Be Used

Color has a powerful impact on moods and emotions, so the room’s primary function is a top consideration. Red is an energetic color and is ideal for a child’s playroom but not the best choice for a bedroom as it can be overstimulating. Soft grays and blues are good choices for rooms where you want to create a sense of calm and relaxation. Read this article for helpful tips on how to use the science behind color psychology when selecting paint colors.

2. Think About the Existing Elements in the Room

Look around the room you want to paint and take note of the colors that are already in the space. Rugs, drapes, upholstery, and other items will likely suggest a color scheme. The paint colors you choose should complement fixtures you don’t plan to change, including cabinets, flooring, and tilework. If your home is not already furnished, choose the paint color last; there are thousands of paint colors to choose from, but there may be only one couch you really love.

3. Keep It Simple

Most interior designers and decorators choose a small group of interior colors to create a cohesive feel from room to room. If you have a modern home with an open floor plan, it’s important to use a consistent wall color throughout the main floor. Add accent colors in a few carefully chosen areas for contrast. Selecting tints or shades from the same hue family is a safe way to add some dimension.

4. The Finish Matters

Not only does paint come in many colors, but it also comes in different finishes or sheens. There are five main types of paint finishes, categorized by their gloss or shininess: flat/matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. Each finish will affect how a paint color will look on your walls. Flat or matte finishes are ideal for low-traffic areas, whereas an eggshell or satin finish works well in just about any room.

5. Try Out Samples in Your Home

Before you commit to a specific color and buy paint, try out a few colors in your home to figure out which looks best. Small paint swatches are not large enough to make a good decision. Get a few small paint samples and paint a few large pieces of white poster board. Hang your paint samples on different walls for a few days. Natural and artificial light impact the appearance of paint color, so viewing your selections at various times throughout the day is crucial.

The Best Color Palettes for Historic Homes

Choosing the right paint colors for historic properties takes extra consideration. Grays and whites, which are trendy in newly built homes, often don’t feel right in a historic property. Historic homes often have woodwork and architectural details that lend themselves to a type of warmth and coziness not found in newer homes. Instead of grays, creams, and beiges, lighter shades of richer tones are often more appropriate for historic properties. Victorian homes frequently used bright layered colors like yellows, greens, and reds to play off prominent dark wood features. Craftsman-style homes are known for warm paint colors that complement the warm wood tones of their flooring, trim, and other woodwork. Earth tones, including browns, tans, yellows, and reds, are good choices. Although many traditional Colonial colors are low-key, saturated shades are also part of a historically accurate color scheme. Choose two or three hues in the same color family to highlight the features of a Colonial style home. Mid-Century architecture can handle bold color palettes. Finding a balance between bold colors and neutrals is usually the easiest to live with long-term. A combination of turquoise, gray, black, and white can create a modern feel without being too retro.

Let the Professional House Painters Help

Walla Painting is a locally owned business that specializes in residential painting. Our fully insured, bonded, and skilled painters can handle any project. We are proud to have received Angie’s List Super Service Award 10 years in a row for our customer service and detailed workmanship. We serve Carmel, Westfield, Zionsville, Noblesville, Fishers, and McCordville homeowners. We offer residential interior and exterior painting and cabinet and trim painting. Contact us online or at (317) 620-0695 for a free estimate.