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Nifty Color Tips That You May Use for Your Room |
Painting is among the more pleasing parts of designing your house, but that does not mean there is no work involved. Actually, it requires a fair amount of thoughtâ€"and even some trial and errorâ€"to find a hue which would suit your room for a long time. Often, an overeager homeowner would just pick out her favorite color and eventually set out to work. Thus, the paint either clashes with the room dĂ©cor or becomes much too plain.
So how to avoid a variety of these usual mistakes? One thing you may do is play a bit with your chosen colors. Think beyond the habitual solids and stripes, pastels and neutrals, whites and blacks. Sometimes, just a single bright choice of color can create a big difference between a room that is dull and one which is bursting with life. Here are several dandy color tricks you may try in your own room.
Use a variety of colors. Can't settle on just a single color? Use both colors. Alternate colors between walls so that you have two similar colored walls that face each other. This is great for couples or roommates whose color preferences clash. Contrasting colors work bestâ€"try pink and blue, green and orange, or purple and yellow. If you wish to go with this style, make sure that the rest of your furnishings in a neutral shade (like wood or metal), or there'll just be way too much color in the room.
Make use of contrast. Modern designs have a tendency to be clean and minimalist, favoring stark whites and blacks. While this is definitely sassy, it may become dull with time. If you like minimalist design but also want something bold and whimsical, try adding some splashes of color to your plain white wall. It may be just a simple stripe or a delicate floral detail. The aim of this is to break the monotony of plain colors, so that the eye continuously moves around the room.
Do experiment with textures. There are colors which are just too plain or bland to paint a whole room with. Off-white, beige, and cream are among the more usual examples. If you approve of these colors, you may bring them to life by giving them some texture. Try to find a paint roller with a pattern on it or try sponging them for a rougher finish. Use textures on one wall, thoughâ€"overdoing it will make the room seem cramped and messy.
Reverse your colors. Most people will choose off-white, cream, or white for the moldings, making use of the more vibrant colors for the wall itself. If you happen to be feeling bold, you might want to try doing the opposite: pick a paler color for your walls and a richer, darker shade for the trims and edges. You may also go for a light wall and dark curtains (if you have enough lighting to get away with that), or brightly colored furnishings on a neutral or wood-finished wall. Make sure the colors still work together, and that you can be happy with it for a long period of time.
Create your own shades. If you cannot find anything you like on the palette, try making up hues of your own. Get a small amount of each of your favorite colors, then mix and match until you come up with a shade you like. It can even be a fun and pleasurable activity for you and your kids! Just be certain to take down all your mixes, so you may easily re-create your color when it's time to paint.
Create Drawings. A plain hue is at times just not enough, no matter how bright or bold the color is. If textures and patterns don't seem appealing to you, why not try drawing on the walls yourself? You don't need to paint a whole muralâ€"just some bright lines in the right places can make a huge difference. For something less permanent, you can opt for a wall decal or a detail from old wallpaper patterns.
Create a feature wall. A feature wall is just a wall that is aesthetically unique from the rest of the room, either by texture, color, or decoration. Choose a wall that is visible from any part of the room, so that it will be your focal point. Paint it a brighter color than your other walls and decorate it with various wall accents like hanging shelves, grilles, paintings, or picture frames. If you do it right, your feature wall can liven up even the dullest color schemes.
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Katrin Dunne has varied and wide accomplishments which range from commercial architectural design and art studies to brand identity development to underwater photography. She operates her own small design studio in San Francisco and she's also a design writer and column consultant for the web site redeco.org. Katrin's articles may help you select just the right wall coverings, accessories and paint for your next decorating project.
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