A fresh coat of paint can work wonders for a room. Or a whole home for that matter. For many new home owners, it’s an easy way to make the home feel like it’s yours. Tastes also change, so if you’ve lived somewhere for a long time, you might be thinking about updating that wood paneling to something more modern.
The good news is there are a bunch of simple ways painting can bring out the best in your home, all without breaking the bank.
Picking the Right Color
The first step can sometimes be the trickiest. Give yourself time to make the right decision. That means painting sample colors in different areas of your home. Those different locations will show what the paint looks like in different lighting AND different times of the day. You’d be surprised how quickly lighting changes your favorite color.
If you need some help for color inspiration, here are a couple of ways to get started:
- Start with your favorite color!
- This is your home, it should reflect your taste.
- Take pictures of your favorite decorations.
- This can give you a starting point for all the color palettes at the paint store.
- Still unsure? Pantone has a “Color-of-the-Year” to help you paint with this year’s on-trend.
- This year’s color is “Classic Blue” https://www.pantone.com/color-intelligence/color-of-the-year/color-of-the-year-2020
Whole Room vs. Accent Wall
Not all paints are created equal when it comes to where you live. Vibrant colors are visually “stronger” than more subdued tones. Think about it, you probably wouldn’t want a whole room of Pantone’s 2004 Color-of-the-Year “Tigerlily.” But take that color on one wall of a bright living room, and it will sing.
For this reason, whites and grays work well as base colors for an entire room. Then pick an accent wall for your vibrant choice. In our picture, the medium-gray acts as the base, allowing the blue along the bay window to create a cozy sitting area.
Pick More Than One Wall
Painting different walls can also have a different impact on how a room feels. Don’t be afraid to venture beyond the walls either. Painting a ceiling a darker color will lower the feel of the room, which is perfect for a reading nook or study.
Use the Room’s Shape
Architects like to get creative, especially with formal dining or sitting rooms. Go ahead and use the different angles and surfaces to add zing to your paint choices. This dining room (from the same home as the bay window) makes use of three wall spaces to create personality.
This chair rail anchors the room with the darker, visually stronger, color. White as the base brings an airy, lighter feel to the room. That’s perfect with the large window bringing in natural light. The tray ceiling adds a blue accent to the space. It highlights the unique ceiling without visually lowering it.
Forget the Walls, Bold Doors are In
You read that right. Instead of leaving doors out of the fun, home owners are starting to use them as a design accent. These have to be treated differently than walls, but it’s worth considering. With open floor plan homes, several doors painted the same accent color can bring everything together with style.
New Paint, New Home
We’re just scratching the surface of how a fresh coat of paint can impact your home. Bottom line is, paint is an easy way to make a home feel entirely different and it can increase your home’s value. So go ahead, pick a base, find an accent and make your home feel like you just moved in!
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