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Pick A Color
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There are many factors to consider when selecting color for a project.
Influence of Color
Knowing how color is commonly used in design projects is a helpful approach to choosing a paint color. Design professionals constantly monitor the latest research on psychological and physiological responses to color to create effective and stimulating design. As you think about your project, consider the following uses of color.
Red is best used in rooms that require interaction, such as dining rooms, where it is thought to stimulate the appetite. Red also adds drama to dens, hallways, and powder rooms.
Orange is also the color of creativity and imagination. It works well in family rooms and dining rooms, as well as bathrooms where its peach tones help complement skin complexions.
Yellow suggests positive, cheerful feelings and can be used to brighten practically any room. Yellow is great for “work rooms” such as kitchens and laundry rooms.
Green is a cool, relaxing color that also denotes a feeling of renewal and growth. It works well in living rooms, dens, and bedrooms and is considered a natural, neutral tone.
Blue is perhaps the most peaceful of all colors, exerting a soothing, calming influence. Great for bedrooms and baths, it’s often used with an accent color, as too much blue can create a cold, dreary feeling.
Purple tones evoke a feeling of luxury and nobility. This majestic color works well in bedrooms, living rooms, and bathrooms where it can give a sense of lavish opulence.
Pink is associated with a delicate, feminine look and is used to soften and lighten the look of bathrooms and bedrooms. Pink may be looked upon as elegant, refined, and poised.
Brown is the most natural of all colors and helps “ground” any color scheme. Brown is good for living rooms, dens and hallways. It works best with an accent color that will keep it from becoming too monotonous.
Simple Guidelines by Project Type
Exterior Painting Projects
- Choose colors that complement the home’s existing materials, architecture, and surrounding neighborhood.
- Test body, trim, and accent colors together on the home and view them at different times of day to ensure the desired look.
- Use contrasting colors to highlight architectural details and matching tones to minimize attention on less desirable features.
Interior Painting Projects
- Use furniture, artwork, flooring, and other room elements as inspiration when selecting colors, ensuring paint choices complement the existing space.
- Create flow between connected rooms by repeating color elements and using coordinated shades throughout the home.
- Light colors make a room seem larger, while dark colors are best for accenting recessed areas and highlighting details.
How Light Affects Color
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Direct Sunlight
Is considered the most ideal light source because it provides the truest interpretation of color and provides the best balance between warm (yellow shades) and cool (blue shades) extremes.
Indirect Sunlight
Is inconsistent, varying throughout the day and greatly impacting the color in a room. The intense gold rays of sunrise and long dark shadows of twilight “warm” and “cool” room colors in dramatic fashion. Indirect sunlight is the most volatile and unpredictable lighting to assess.
