There are a lot of theories centering around using color in interior design, but we at Hoskins Interior Design always begin in one place: in residential spaces, color choice is first and foremost a personal preference. We do not believe homeowners should pay attention to the current trends. Instead, pay attention to what you like! You have to live with your color scheme every day, so it is important to select one that suits yourself and your family.
Warm Colors vs Cool Colors
The fact is, there are warm and cool versions of all colors. If you like grey, you can select a hue that leans toward the cream side (warm) or toward the blue side (cool). The temperature of a color depends upon the refraction of light in the space. If you have a room with southern exposure, we recommend using a cool color to counterbalance the bright light. For a northern facing space, use a warm color to counterbalance the cooler light. Consider that in July, a brightly painted room with southern exposure will be overly bright and hot by nature and atmosphere! Counterbalance is the key to making a space comfortable.
Colors Build Upon Themselves
In painted interiors, a color builds upon itself for each vertical space it covers. So, if you are looking to create a soothing look to a room, you will want to choose a color less intense than you would expect. The reflective value of color causing each wall you paint to intensify within the overall space. Choosing a rich hue for all four walls could leave you with a more colorful room than you were hoping for.
Consider the Nature of Colors
There is a universal truth we follow when it comes to color; each creates a particular ambiance in a space. For example, versions of blues and blue-greens lend a feeling of serenity, and shades of orange, yellow and some pinks offer vibrancy and energy. Recognizing the nature of colors will help you choose one that is appropriate to the atmosphere you are trying to achieve.
There’s a Time and a Place to Get a Little Wild
At Hoskins Interior Design, we love to add areas of excitement and surprise to our interior design schemes. Bold colors tend to be a part of that fun; however we choose where they go wisely. Spaces that are sparsely used are perfect for high style, such as a half bath, laundry room, hallway or butler’s pantry. Otherwise those rich colors can quickly become too much. Rooms where you spend longer periods of time, like a master bedroom, family room or kitchen, need to create a less intense ambiance so as to be not overwhelming.
The Perfect Wall Color for Art
A tip from the trade for choosing wall color for art pieces: consider the role of your collection. If your art is of the value and quality where it should be hung as a gallery, then the wall color serves as a background for the beauty of the art. For collections created to be accouterments only, the paint serves as a background for the beauty of the whole space.
How to Choose a Paint Color for Walls
Color on a vertical plane sets the atmosphere of a space immediately, as it is the most apparent clue to the overall feel of your home. To ensure you are making the right choice, we suggest you obtain a paint sample of the actual color and sheen you are considering – not a pre-canned version, but one that is mixed for you that day – and test it out. A quart is more than enough to be able to paint two coats with a good roller onto a 2” x 2“ piece of wallboard or poster board. Set the dried pieces around the room at different times of the day to see how the colors react to the natural and artificial light. The hue will change from spot to spot as well as throughout the day. These changes are not undesireable as they add to the third dimension of a space. Everything tends to come into balance in the evening under artificial light. Understanding how a color will act in the room before you invest in quality paint and a contractor will keep you from making a costly mistake. Choosing from a fan deck will not give you the information you need!
Although we have focused on wall color in this article, it is important to remember that overall color relates to everything – fabrics, floor coverings, ceilings, walls, accessories, art, etc. Each element needs to flow together to create a cohesive and comfortable space. Understanding the ambiance you are looking for as well as the colors you and your family prefer is the first step to choosing the perfect color for your home.
Need advice on choosing colors for your interior design scheme? Send us an email, or give us a call at 317.253.8986.
