Choosing the Interior Paint Colors that Are Right for You

Sometimes, it seems that one of the single most difficult decisions that we have to make is the color that is right for the interior of our home. Whether you are painting the interior of your home for the first time, or you are repainting for a fresh, clean look, it is important that you understand the effects of color. Though black can be a sad, depressing color, when properly used as an accent color, it can be quite sophisticated. Yellow can be a cheerful and happy color, while blue can be soothing; and not too much can be said about the vibrancy of red - it can really perk things up. This just goes to show how color affects our moods. The colors that you choose for the interior of your home will affect your mood.

Whether your sense of style is country, traditional or contemporary, the right color will be the colors that you like most, and it will accent your furnishings. Your next steps will be, deciding on how to use these colors.

Step One in Choosing the Interior Paint Color that is Right for You

Ask yourself if you want to use different colors in each room, to give each room its own ambiance, or do you want to have continuity on the interior of your home by using different tints and shades of the same color.

If you want a more formal, dignified look, you will need to choose pale, neutral colors. On the other hand, if you want the interior of your home to be warm and inviting, a warm color such as rust, chocolate or a steel gray might be what you are looking for.

Step Two in Choosing the Interior Paint Color that is Right for You

It is important that you understand color, because it will help you orchestrate the color schemes that you hope to achieve when choosing the right interior paint color.

Primary Colors are red, yellow and blue. All other colors are a combination of these three colors.

Secondary Colors you get when you mix equal parts of the primary colors, such as green, orange and purple.

Tertiary Colors are achieved by combining a primary color with its secondary color that is next to it on the color wheel, such as; blue and green, yellow and green, red and orange and yellow and orange. The same goes for blues and reds.

Complimentary Colors are colors that are opposite, or near opposite on the color wheel such as red and greens, or orange and blues. Care should be used when combining complimentary colors together in a room, because it would be easy for them to overpower each other.

Step Three in Choosing the Interior Paint Color that is Right for You

It is important that you understand the terms used when choosing the right color for the interior of your home.

Hue - means color

Value - means how light or dark a hue is

Tint - adding white to a hue with the result of it becoming a pastel

Shade - adding black to a hue. Navy blue and maroon are good examples of hue shading.

With an understanding of these terms, you can still have continuity of color throughout your home; with shaded hues making a nice family room, and tinted hues being perfect for a girl's room or a nursery.

Step Four in Choosing the Interior Paint Color that is Right for You

It is now time to decide on your color, or colors. It is important that the colors you choose the colors that you like

If you are still having a hard time deciding on the right colors, and if you have access to the internet, give these sites a try. You can play around at mixing colors in a room. They really do help make things easier. They will even help you determine how much paint you will need to buy for a particular project.

Choosing the right interior paint color for your home will definitely make your home the haven that it was meant to be.

Sources:

Better Homes and Gardens; "Decorating - Spring 2009" (magazine)

Better Homes and Gardens; "Using Color and Light" 1985; by Meredith Corporation

http://paintquality.com
http://olympic.com
http://kulor.adobe.com
http://colorofinspiration.com