There are a few simple rules you should remember before choosing your room’s color scheme. Picking paint colors, flooring, furniture, lighting, and accessories to fit within your desired color palette can seem daunting, but it doesn’t have to be if you keep these 4 reminders in the back of your head during the process.
1. Select Your Paint Colors Last!
It’s very tempting to select your paint colors first. However, professional interior designers know that paint comes in thousands of different hues, shades, and tints so there will always be the perfect option. Begin with the more expensive, less flexible things like furniture and fabrics. Then add in as many elements as possible. Use paint to enhance these choices.
2. Lighting Plays an Important Role in Choosing Your Color Scheme.
Mood and Ambiance: Different types of lighting can create various moods. Soft, warm light can create a cozy and inviting atmosphere, while bright, cool lights can feel energizing and alert.
Space Perception: Proper Lighting can make a room feel larger or smaller. Bright lights can open up a space, while darker lighting can create a more intimate feel.
Highlighting Features: Accent lighting can draw attention to artwork, architectural details, or decorative elements, enhancing the room’s visual appeal.
Functionality: Task lighting is essential for specific activities, like reading or cooking, ensuring that spaces are practical and comfortable.
Color Perception: The quality and color temperature of light can change how colors appear in a room. Natural light can enhance colors, while artificial lighting can sometime alter their appearance.
Layering: Combining different types of lighting – ambient, task, and accent – can create a dynamic and versatile space, allowing for adjustments based on activities or time of day. Consider dividing your room into thirds: top, middle and bottom. Place lighting in all three zones!
- Ceiling height (top). Can lights and ceiling lights.
- Wall height (middle). Wall sconces, hanging lights and some floor lamps.
- Table height (bottom). Table lamps.
3. Add Variation Within Your Room Through Color.
Having a variation of color within your space can help create visual interest providing depth and contrast while creating a balance throughout. A varied color scheme can also provide a sense of adaptability with your finishing, furniture, artwork and other accessories. You can change out or move around your pieces more freely when you have a broader color palette to work with.
4. Don’t be Afraid to Take a Risk.
Not sure how big a risk to take? Your color scheme can be achieved in many different ways. Don’t be afraid to incorporate pattern, texture, and unique furniture profiles into your room to achieve the overall atmosphere you are going for. You can always minimize your risk by putting bright colors and bold patterns on small components of your room. Accessories, area rugs, pillows, and throws can add the pop you’re looking for without breaking the bank. They’re also often easier and less expensive to change when you feel the need to freshen things up.
5. Bonus Tip:
Ask one of our designers! They’re trained and talented and they would seriously love to help with your project. Every one of them has been down the path of choosing a room color scheme many times. And the cool thing is that their expertise, experience and enthusiasm is free with your order! Stop in or reach out today!
You might also enjoy these BD posts:
Interior Design Color Trends Today
