Paint Color – Part One

The color of a room can and does influence our mood and our thoughts. Colors affect people in many ways depending on age, gender, ethnic background, or the geographical area we happen to live. When choosing colors for your home, it is important to ignore trends and choose colors that reflect your likes and dislikes. Trends come and go, but likes and dislikes remain much longer. If you don’t like the color, don’t use the color. The challenge faced by most people is to blend colors you like into pleasing combinations. This can be intimidating. Color is one of the least expensive design elements yet it causes the most dramatic changes in a space. It changes the look and feel of the space as well as how the people who enter the space feel.

Selecting colors for beginners can be nerve-racking. But, if you equip yourself with some basic information or a talented decorator, it can be easy and rewarding. After deciding your likes and dislikes, knowing what colors evoke certain moods is important when choosing a room color. Think about how the color makes you feel. Ask yourself, What mood do I want to create in the particular space? Which colors will help me achieve that mood?

Once you have chosen the colors you like and the colors that will provide the mood you want, limit your choices to 3 or 4 colors per room (this includes accent colors but do not include neutrals). Too many colors (even the ones you like) will make a room look crowded, cluttered, and busy. The next step is to proceed with confidence and trust that the end result will be your desired result.

In part two of this article I will describe in detail what emotions and feelings some very popular colors cause.