The paint chip dilema

I attended an interior design get together over the weekend, in which about half the people there where not professional designers. Many of them came with problems and issues they have had in their home. I noticed that there was a theme occurring. Many of them didn't know how to deal with issues relating to color choice. That can be a tricky issue, because many things relate to color. There are a some questions that should be analyzed before settling on one choice.


What is the size of the room?

What kind of lighting is there?

What is the space used for?

Is there an existing color theme in some of the furniture, finishes, and fixtures that you will be re-using?

What is the size of the Room? It is known that color is used to alter the perception of the size of a room. This can be very helpful in small, cramped spaces where you might want to make it feel larger. On the other spectrum of things, in a larger space you may want it to feel smaller and cozy. What ever the situation is, picking the right color can help achieve this. In general, uniformity of color can provide the illusion of spaciousness, but keep in mind that over doing this can provide the opposite effect as well. There are a couple rules we should think about before applying color. Advancing colors (Bright colors) make a wall seem nearer, can close a large room in, or pull down a tall ceiling. Light reflecting colors make a room appear larger.


What kind of lighting is there? As a very basic explanation to this question, color will change depending on the quality and quantity of daylight, and the type of artificial light. Lighting can be a science in itself. Just keep in mind that one color in the store can look totally different in your home or office. It is also recommended to try it out with your new light source if you are changing that.

What is the space used for? Many colors have suggested meanings or psychological effects that come with them. In the healthcare industry lighter colors are soothing, where brighter colors create energy and might be more appropriate for an up beat restaurant. When picking the color of a particular room, examine if the color of choice matches what the activity of the room is. We wouldn't want to paint a baby's nursery room bright red or even black. These colors might effect the sleeping patterns of the baby. I don't think it's an accident that baby colors are pastels.

Is there an existing color theme in some of the furniture, finishes, and fixtures that you will be re-using? This would seem to be the most obvious, but many people ignore this fact. They get stuck on a new color theme they may have seen in a magazine, and don't take into consideration how those colors fit with what they already have. It's not just walls that provide color. The lighting has its own color, along with the woods from furniture, trims, carpet, accessories, and doors. A successful overhaul of a color theme will look at all these pieces.