Some folks are great with designs and colors. Whether it is picking clothes or painting the walls of their homes, they get it right without much effort. Sadly, not all of us are gifted that way and not everyone can afford a professional designer to get it done. So, we do a ton of research to figure out what works best before every major decision. And the internet has become a great tool in helping us get there. And that’s what we are here to do today.
When it comes to painting your home, you want to find great ideas that reflect your personality. But you must also remember to find colors, combinations and palettes that work with the architecture of your home.
- Paint Color Choices for the Whole House
- How to Find Different Colors for Each Room
- How Many Elements of Interior Design Are There?
- Colors That Organically Match Different Interior Design Styles
- Choosing the Right Color Scheme
- Picking Paint Colors for the Entire House
- Where to Begin?
- Essential Color Rules to Know before Diving In
- The One Worth Elaborating: Understanding the 60-30-10 Rule
- The Importance of LRV in Paint Colors
- Let’s Dig into the Color Wheel
- Colors for a Serene Vibe
- The Most Popular Sherwin Williams Paint Color
- The Most Popular Benjamin Moore Paint Color
- What Are Neutral Colors in a Whole House Setting?
- Colors That Make a Room Look Bigger
- Colors That Make a Narrow Hallway Look Bigger
- Should You Use the Same Color for the Ceiling and Walls?
- Colors That Designers Love for Inside Walls
- Is There a Whole House Color Palette for 2021?
- Choosing the Right Paint Finish Is Critical
- Parting Words
Like, what color works best for a small room? What to do when there is a shortage of light in a room? What’s the look you are going for and what are the dominating colors in that style of design? These are just a few basic questions that need answering before you jump into the painter’s catalog. You need to have a basic awareness of colors, materials and contrasts.
Paint Color Choices for the Whole House
A lot of people start this research with the notion that one color scheme will work for the entire house. They are not wrong because sometimes, it does. There are quite a few benefits to picking one color scheme for the entire house.
- All the rooms in the house will have a cohesive look and will flow smoothly from one door to another.
- You don’t have to worry about the decor style of a room mismatching your mood on any given day.
- It is easier to pick colors for individual rooms because you already know the look you are going for.
But what if you want a Scandianvian style kitchen but also fancy a country style bedroom? Well, not to worry. There are benefits to that kind of thinking too.
- If you have designated spaces for specific activities, you can let the colors draw you into the mood.
- You get to try out different looks and put your newly-earned creativity to use.
- If you get bored of a style, you just need to redo one room as opposed to the whole house.
Now, whether you want a uniform look or make the decision depending on what you will do in that room, you need to understand how color and light function. No matter how creative you want to get, understand that some color palettes always work better than the others for each room of the house. That’s because they are in harmony with the function of that room. We’ll take a look at them but you can always break away from those principles if you choose to. Because, as they say, you must master a rule before you break it.
How to Find Different Colors for Each Room
Every room in the house has a certain vibe and you probably have a vision for it. Though you should let your instincts guide you, picking wall colors is not always an easy task. There are many different shades and tints and hues.
Every room in the house is a mix of many elements like colors, accessories, furniture to name a few. And sometimes, you will have to decorate an open plan space. So, it can be quite the task and a bit distracting because you have to match so many things. If you’re looking at different rooms, here’s the key to getting it right.
Unless you are starting from scratch, you are likely to have some furniture for each room. So, don’t start planning the wall colors first. Look at the colors in your furniture and find colors that will match the corresponding wall.
For instance, if you are planning your living room, look at the color of the existing couches, chairs and rugs. Research the expert-suggested color palettes for a living room. Now try to match your decor with the suggested colors. I mean, if you have a mustard sofa, a grey wall works better than a beige one, right? This method is easier and cheaper than deciding the colors and force-fitting furniture into it.
The exception to this rule is, of course, when you want to shake things up. Think of the mood you are going for, pick the color scheme and get furniture and accessories accordingly. If you do this, be ready to spend money on replacing some of your existing stuff.
Now, if you have an open plan space instead of many rooms, it’s a good idea to divide it into smaller spaces and decorate them in different styles. In many homes, this trick works for combined kitchen, living and dining areas. Shared bedrooms are another example and it can be done without having to build permanent structure as dividers.
The simplest and honestly, a little obvious way of doing this is to switch color combinations. Find contrasting colors like bright pink and vivid yellow for two different zones of the same room. And the white walls and furnishing styles will tie it together to keep it from looking like a mess.
The beauty of colors is that you can use them anywhere to mark different territories. Decorative ceilings, types of flooring, different wallpapers, rugs in different colors or patterns are all excellent ways of establishing different zones in a room.
How Many Elements of Interior Design Are There?
There are many different styles of interior design and each of them has its own elements and preferred color palettes. These are very useful in deciding the mood of every room in the house and picking colors that create that mood. This is also an evolving space and there will probably never be an end to the number of ways in which a single space can be decorated. But let’s look at the basics.
- Contemporary: This style is all about clearly distinguished lines and geometric shapes with a little decoration. Typically, it features furniture that is low and woven in fabric. It is mostly about following the latest color and texture trends.
- Modern: Don’t confuse it with contemporary. That one evolves with time. But modern style was born in Germany out of a movement in 1919. It’s first rule is to integrate form and function so that the good-looking decor is also extremely comfortable. So, the emphasis is on clean lines with a few accessories and not too many colors.
- Minimalist: This has become very popular of late. The idea is to remove clutter and highlight shapes and spaces. It is not to remove things and live in discomfort but to use the existing ones wisely. A lot of smart furniture with hidden storage areas appeals to minimalists. You will often find this in the kitchen with cabinets that blend into walls.
- Classic: This one is all about symmetry. It’s about finding a focal point and building the decor around it. Fireplaces are often that focal point in this style of design. The fabrics are made of velvet, linen or cotton to achieve a mix of comfort and elegance.
- Industrial: This look thrives on being raw and it came into being when factories were being turned into condos in downtown regions. Concrete is used for the walls and floors. Exposed walls and stripped floors are celebrated. A lot of stainless steel and metal is used. Furniture is often in leather or reclaimed wood but without clutter.
- Retro: This really depends on the decade or century you want to replicate. Styles like art deco and psychedelic sixties (for you Woodstock fans) are recreated by mixing with some contemporary elements. The fabrics, decor and colors all come from the time period.
- Country: This is also a bit of an umbrella term for different cultures. You could pick American country style which is about rustic furniture with colorful but light pine. Or go for French country style which features cotton and linen fabrics with light and natural wood. If you go with English country, you will have to pick a lot of light wood like oak. Whatever your choice, you will use a lot of fabric, cozy furniture pieces and full length curtains. It’s about creating a warm and welcoming mood.
Colors That Organically Match Different Interior Design Styles
Each of these styles comes with a certain character and nothing highlights a place like color, be it for wall paint or decor. Let’s take a look.
- Contemporary: This style is about highlighting particular spaces within a room. So, neutral colors are a big part of it because then you get to add a stroke of whatever color is trendy.
- Modern: Since clean lines are at the heart of modern designs, limit the number of accessories and try to keep them in neutral colors in combination with black and white.
- Minimalist: This is all about not making a fuss. So, cool whites and cool blues are big in this style. You can mix it up a bit with decor but cooler shades get a big thumbs up.
- Classic: This style draws inspiration from nature. So, softer hues of earthy tones look beautiful. Grays, pinks, blues and yellows are a big hit too.
- Industrial: This is a rough style which means you need to let the big, empty spaces do the talking. Black and chrome are preferred. Decor that matches the color of the raw material in the room should be used.
- Retro: Since this is not about one particular look, you will need to match your color needs with the era you’re trying to recreate.
- Country: Broadly speaking, American country has a lot of earthy tones, French country includes the many hues of bright yellows and blues and English country features floral patterns, stripes and plaids.
Choosing the Right Color Scheme
There are many starting points when it comes to picking a color scheme. Here are five simple ways of getting started.
- Decorating the Room: Whether you’re in a new house or redoing the existing one, your furniture is a great starting place. The color of your living room couch or the materials of your kitchen table can help you get started. The things that you want to keep should inspire you. Find a wall color that blends with the furniture or the curtains—something you don’t want to replace.
- Let Your Research Inspire You: A lot of people look for pictures on platforms like Pinterest and save them for reference. This gives you an idea of what a color looks like on the wall or a piece of furniture. Build on that thought. Some paint companies also offer visualization tools. Find those to figure out wall paint combinations. And you won’t have to wait to find out what it will look like on your walls.
- Give the Color Wheel a Shot: Let us put your mind at ease by saying this is not a complicated thing to understand. For now, here’s what you need to know. It has three categories of colors—analogous, complementary and monochromatic. Analogous colors are next to each other on the wheel and create a harmonious look. Red-orange, orange-yellow and yellow-green are good examples. Complementary colors are opposite each other on the wheel and create a vibrant look. Orange-blue and yellow-purple are good examples. But remember to pick one dominant and one subtle color for this. Monochromatic colors use one basic color and create a calming look. A pale red wall with darker red window trims is an example of that.
- Pick a Vibe: From energetic to restful, there are many options here. The more you know about the mood of the room, the easier your research gets. For example, blue is serene, shades of red raise the energy levels and yellow is cheerful.
- Test ‘em Out: Once you know the vibe, looked at the color wheel, picked your furniture and checked out some examples, you must test it. Get a sample from the store and do a little sampling on a small portion of the room. Check it out during the day and night. You can paint over them in case you change your mind.
Picking Paint Colors for the Entire House
When it comes to picking a scheme for the whole house, you often hear the words neutrals or accent colors thrown around in interior design discussions. It’s time to look at some basic colors and decode all those conversations.
White: This is a great color to start with because it goes well with trims, cabinets, furniture and often walls and ceilings. Keeping white as the base color leaves you options for every room in the house.
Neutrals: Colors like beige, ivory, taupe, black, gray are all default colors for all open and connected parts of the house. They are also great backup colors when you are not sure what to do with a space. These colors look great in closets and bathrooms that you want to revisit later on. You can use neutral to connect the front door with the foyer and up the staircase too. They are a good choice for hallways and loft spaces.
- Warm neutral colors range from warm white—with yellow or pink undertones—to beige to brown. These shades work well with red, orange and yellow. They also complement cool colors like blue green and purple.
- Cool neutrals range from cool white—with blue or green undertones—to gray to black. They work well with blue, green or purple and complement warm colors like red, orange and yellow.
- Then there are what are called greige colors. These are a mix of gray and beige and work really well with both warm and cool colors.
Bold Colors: These are a mix of bright shades of basic colors like blue, red and green. They are used in combination with neutral to create an X-factor. They make for great wall colors whether it is the nursery or the dining room. It’s a bit tricky to make them work in open areas and are preferred in separate rooms or accent walls.
Accent Colors: These colors are used in combination with neutrals when you want to add a splash of color to a space. They are used sparingly and on certain walls with a vision to create a mood.
Extended Colors: These colors are used to separate different rooms of the house without creating a jarring visual effect. The idea is to extend the existing color and not make a mess of the scheme. So, you must choose different shades of the neutrals or one of the three basic colors in your color scheme. For instance, if the bold color in your home is teal, your laundry room can be turquoise. You should also take light into account. Now let’s expand on the concept of one of the three basic colors in the house.
Where to Begin?
Now that you know the terms, it’s time to figure out which ones to pick first and how to go about it. The entire scheme should stop at a maximum of three colors.
First, you must pick a bold color which is the darkest shade of the color you choose. This must match or complement the existing decor or your neutral color. So, if you pick red to raise energy levels, the Sherwin Williams Rockwood red is a good example. And, if you pick blue for a calming feel, the Sherwin Williams Loyal Blue or SW Hyper Blue are great choices.
Then you must pick an extended color so that you know what to do with the rooms that are close to each other. Like your bedroom and the bathroom.
Then you must pick a second color. This is if you want to play compare and contrast in the room. It can be a neutral to be a contrast to your bold color or something that complements it. So, if you pick green, your second color could be yellow or gray.
Then you must pick the accent color. You will use very little of this color but it will be for a dramatic effect. If you’re going for a monochromatic look, keep it in the bold color family. Pick a lighter or darker shade of your bold color.
If you’re going for an analogous look, look at the color wheel and pick a shade of what’s next to your second color. For example, if purple was your bold color and blue was your second color, the accent color could be a shade of blue (monochromatic) or green (analogous).
If you want a complementary look, the accent color is opposite the bold color or second color on the color wheel. For example, if blue is your bold color and green is your second color, your accent color will be orange or red.
You can pick one of the neutrals to serve as a backdrop in different rooms or a connector between spaces.
Essential Color Rules to Know before Diving In
There are a few basic rules all designers like to follow to get the look right. Whether you’re designing your home or just an enthusiast, it pays to keep these in mind. Let’s start with the golden one.
- The 60-30-10 Rule: This one is simple, effective and extremely popular. It says that 60 percent of a room must be in one color. Then, 30 percent should be in the second color and 10 percent must be in a tone that contrasts or complements one of the first two colors. We will expand on this rule in a minute.
- Opposites Attract: We often try to find matching colors and shades when it comes to decorating our home. But if you think about it, black and white is a classic example of opposites working in harmony. Similar shades can be monotonous and you need a little zing to break that. Blue and orange is another great example of this theory. There’s also yellow and purple. So, look at the color wheel and take your pick.
- Feelings: A lot of designers think about the vibe you want to create before picking colors. And if you think about it, the wall colors in someone else’s house tell you something about them. They also build a mood. White is light, clean and spacious. Black is luxury and distinction. Yellow is joy and happiness. Pink is love and romance. Green is nature and freshness. Blue is calm and stable.
- Everything Doesn’t Have to Match: The logic with wall colors applies to decor too. You don’t have to make sure that the furniture always matches the wall paint. You can make a space cool and stylish by working on contrasting colors. Antiques and recycled stuff looks great and authentic. Sometimes, when everything matches perfectly, it can feel beautiful but strange and unwelcoming.
The One Worth Elaborating: Understanding the 60-30-10 Rule
As promised, an elaborate explanation of one of the oldest interior design color rules. It’s called the 60-30-10 rule and it tells us how to use colors in a single room by dividing the color scheme into percentages.
Sixty percent of every room should be in one color. This is usually wall or floor color (if you’re using carpets or area rugs) along with a couple of pieces of decor. They don’t have to be solid colors but one color must dominate them all.
The next 30 percent of the room will be the second color in your scheme. If you’re sticking to the same color family, this one should have half the saturation of your main color. This color doesn’t want attention but works with the main color. If you pick a contrasting color, it creates depth. This could be the curtains or drapes in the room.
The last 10 percent will be the accent color. It’s used sparingly and is used to create a contrast to the entire scheme. Your decor should heavily be influenced by this color. This is good for throw pillows, accessories and artwork.
Here’s an example of how to make it work depending on the style of your color scheme.
If you’re going for a monochromatic look, choose one color like gray, cream, white or greige. Use three different shades of that one color in 60-30-10 proportions for everything in the room. This is the matchy-matchy style but works great for some colors.
If you’re going for the analogous look, pick three colors that are next to each other on the color wheel. For example, blue-green, green and yellow-green are next to each other. You will see that green is in all three colors. So it’s the dominant color (60 percent). This is how it works.
- 60 percent green, 30 percent yellow-green and 10 percent yellow.
- 60 percent yellow-orange, 30 percent orange and 10 percent red-orange.
- 60 percent blue-green, 30 percent blue and 10 percent blue-purple.
- 60 percent purple, 30 percent red-purple and 10 percent red.
If you’re going for the complementary look, you must pick two colors that are opposite to each other on the color wheel. Like a shade of cool blue and a shade of warm orange. This is how it works.
- If you pick yellow and purple, one of them is 60 percent and the other is 30 percent. 10 percent will be white or brown.
- If you pick orange or blue, 60 percent is one of them, 30 percent is the other, 10 percent black or white.
- If you pick red and green, 60 percent is one of them, 30 percent is the other, 10 percent of gold or silver.
The Importance of LRV in Paint Colors
You might have noticed that the color you picked in the catalog looks lighter or darker on your wall. That’s because of LRV. Light reflectance value is a very important aspect of using color as it measures the amount of light that a painted surface absorbs or reflects.
It is measured in percentage. Shades like absolute black are closer to zero and absorb all light and heat. Pure white is 100 percent because it reflects all light. These are used to predict how a particular shade will appear in a room and can be used to decide whether you want the room to look brighter or darker.
The decision helps with balancing the amount of natural light a room receives. Apart from creating a certain mood, LRV is also useful in creating energy-efficient spaces. Picking a color with higher LRV could mean you won’t need too many lighting fixtures.
This is used not only by color consultants but also by architects and engineers. LRV is also used to calculate the types of lighting in a space to create a specific effect.
Consider this. The color Monet Magic 0665 is a soft blue color from Color Essentials Collection and has a Light Reflectance Value of 66. Since colors with more than 50 percent LRV are lighter, they bounce light. This means Money Magic 0665 reflects most of the light that falls on it back into the room.
Let’s Dig into the Color Wheel
A color wheel is like a rainbow with primary, secondary and tertiary colors. It is used as a guide to find colors for your dominant shade in your color scheme. It is based on color theory which is the science of how the human brain interprets colors and responds to certain combinations. This often starts with understanding the color wheel. It is used by artists and scientists alike to understand how human beings interact with color. Artists use this knowledge in paintings and drawings, designers use it to build color schemes.
Now, if you find this intimidating because you’re not an artist or a designer, don’t worry. There is a way to get this done a bit easily. That’s by reading a color wheel. It is divided into 12 colors in three categories: primary, secondary and tertiary.
Red, yellow and blue are primary colors because all the other colors are created from these three. Between these three colors, you will find range, green and violet which are created by mixing two primary colors. And when you mix a primary color with a secondary, you get tertiary colors like yellow-orange, red-orange, red-violet, blue-violet, blue-green and yellow-green.
You can use this wheel to create monochromatic, analogous and complementary color schemes. Pick a color and start by applying the 60-30-10 rule.
Colors for a Serene Vibe
Cooler colors are typically the ones which provide a relaxed vibe. So, it is no surprise the blue is on top of that list. It helps calm the mind and is known to reduce tension. That’s why it is a favorite in bedrooms and bathrooms.
Suggested shades:
- Benjamin Moore Crystal Blue 2051-70
- Benjamin Moore Lookout Point 1646
- Benjamin Moore Yarmouth Blue HC 150
- Benjamin Moore White Satin 2067-70
Second on the list is violet, which also comes from blue. It is believed to bring out inner balance and peace. The key to picking these hues is to stay away from colors which have a little too much black in them.
Suggested shades:
- Benjamin Moore Heaven 2118-70
- Benjamin Moore Calm 2111-70
- Benjamin Moore Dreamy Cloud 2117-70
- Benjamin Moore African violet 2116-50
If blues make you moody, jump to the other side of the spectrum and go for pink. As Feng Shui teaches us, it has a soothing energy and looks beautiful in any room.
Suggested shades:
- Benjamin Moore Pink Bliss 2093-70
- Benjamin Moore Strawberry Yogurt 2104-70
- Benjamin Moore Dream Whip 2174-70
- Benjamin Moore Wispy Pink 2005-70
If you like nature and are looking for a touch of that, the visually soothing green is a great option. It is the harbinger of calmness and freshness. That’s why, parks and gardens feel so relaxing.
Suggested shades:
- Benjamin Moore Bridal Bouquet 632
- Benjamin Moore Hollingsworth Green HC-141
- Benjamin Moore Van Alen Green HC-120
- Benjamin Moore Minced Onion 2145-60
You might think gray is dull and boring but it is actually a cooling presence. It is a neutral color that works well with furnishings and artwork too. And what’s great about it from an interior design point of view is that it looks great in every room.
Suggested shades:
- Benjamin Moore Bunny Gray 2124-50
- Benjamin Moore Iced Cube Silver 2121-50
- Benjamin Moore Misty Gray 2124-60
- Benjamin Moore Silver Cloud 2129-70
The Most Popular Sherwin Williams Paint Color
Sherwin Williams is a very popular brand. In fact, it’s hard to miss the name when looking for paint colors. Now, a lot of people start their color selection with neutrals. So, it is no surprise that the top 50 Sherwin Williams paint colors have a ton of grays, beiges and blacks. The best thing about their website is that the moment you click on one of these colors, it gives you combinations this shade can work with.
For example, Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray 7029 is the first color on the top 50 list. Click on it and you will find out that SW Extra White 7006, SW Coral Rose 9004 and SW Incredible White 7028 coordinate well with this shade. The gray itself has a light reflectance value of 60 which means it reflects most of the light back into the room. That works well for small spaces.
If you were looking for something dark, check out SW Tricorn Black 6258. It goes well with SW Classic Light Buff 0050, SW Blithe Blue 9052 and SW Ice Cube 6252. This one has a light reflectance value of 3 which means it absorbs most of the light that comes its way. So, it is good to anchor for large spaces in the house.
The Most Popular Benjamin Moore Paint Color
This is another name you can’t escape when looking for interior design paint colors. And unsurprisingly, their top color collection is also dominated by neutrals. Gray, beige, white and earth tones are their best sellers. Now, this website doesn’t give you coordinating colors but you can see what it looks like on a wall. That’s got to be even better.
Their most popular color is White Dove OC 17 with a light reflectance value of 85. That means it reflects most of the light back into the room. It is a classy and soft shade of the color white and is highly preferred for moldings and trims.
If you want to move out of neutral colors, the most popular Benjamin Moore paint color is Palladian Blue HC-144 which has an LRV of 61. Seeing as it is above 50 percent, this is also a great color that reflects light and is perfect for small spaces. It brings a sense of calm and has an airy blue undertone that is a mix of sky blue and a pearl.
What Are Neutral Colors in a Whole House Setting?
Neutral colors are typically used as a backdrop in most houses because they go well with any bold color. A lot of people think mixing two or more neutral colors makes it dull and uninspiring. But there is a way to do that and give a room an elegant flavor. Here’s how to get both of those styles.
If you want to decorate a room only with neutrals, you must use different hues of the same color. For this, you must look at the family of a color and choose shades that are in harmony with each other. Let the pop of color in the room come from upholstery.
For instance, an area rug that is a darker shade of your wall color goes well with wooden flooring. If you’re more of a carpet person, get the same shade as you did for the walls. The accessories will have the shades of your wall color and carpet/area rug to tie the room together. An all-neutral room shines when combined with hardwood flooring and a fireplace made of wood, brick or stone. It has a warm and understated look.
If you want to use neutrals as a background for your bold color scheme, start with the walls again. If you want a bright room, pick lighter shades and the opposite if you want a dark room.
For example, if you pick a brownish gray (taupe), let the sofa and chairs be navy blue or stripes of ivory. Get an area rug in the same shade of taupe. Tie the room together with taupe throw pillows that are in the same pattern as the chairs. A brass or glass coffee table with a dash of brick red will add some color.
Colors That Make a Room Look Bigger
Once you learn about light and colors, this is pretty easy to figure out. We know that mirrors are a great way to create optical illusion and make a place look big. But the same is true for softer shades.
Light colors are great for most spaces and darker shades can make a place look cramped up. But if you are worried about a room looking dull, you need to be clever with the way you use contrasts.
The simple answer to this dilemma is using light colors. Bright walls make a space look reflective, open and airy. This can be amplified by using colors with a high light reflectance value. What dark colors with a low LRV do is absorb the light and make a space seem smaller than it is.
If you want to find a balance, use soft tones of white, blue and green. This need not be only wall colors. Paint your wall trims and moldings in shades lighter than your wall colors. This creates a look of the walls being farther back.
And as far as lighting is concerned, natural light is the best way to make a space bright and roomy. This can be done with large windows that connect you to the outside world. If you don’t have a great view, try to put plants and flowers near the windows. But if that is not an option, look for some creative lighting fixtures. Just regular lamps can also brighten the room.
Colors That Make a Narrow Hallway Look Bigger
The same logic from above works here too, with a little extra manipulation.
- Shades likes whites, creams and pastel colors will open up the space and create the illusion of a big space. And it goes without saying that you should avoid warm and dark tones.
- If there is a trim, paint it the same color as the walls. This makes it look smooth and elongated. It also widens the walls. It’s simple, easy and instant.
- If you can, get a slim sofa table. Remove accent chairs from this space and put them in a big room because they take up space and the color won’t help.
- If you’re putting in bulbs, make sure they are bright. If there is natural light, let the connecting window be big.
- If you want to do more than colors, pick a horizontal mirror and let it do the rest. An interesting area rug will also help in adding to the length of the hallway.
Should You Use the Same Color for the Ceiling and Walls?
This isn’t a question non-professionals think about. But it’s an excellent one. Think of the ceiling as the fifth wall in the room and consider its impact on the room. There are a bunch of factors that determine whether or not you must use the same color for the ceiling and the walls in the room. Let’s take a look at them.
- Size of the Room: Leaving the ceiling in pure white can make a room look bare. If you go with the same color family as the walls, paint it two or three shades darker. This can shrink the size of the room and make the ceiling seem closer than it is and give it a cozy look. But if you’re in an already small room, pick a light color. That gives the illusion of a raised roof and a spacious room. Pick a shade lighter than the other walls in the room. Sometimes, a crisp white ceiling with a glossy finish also works.
- Monochromatic Look: You could also paint it the exact same shade as the walls for a monochromatic look. This is an excellent choice if the rest of the room is painted light colors. If you have hardwood flooring and dark furniture, a soft beige ceiling keeps the room from looking dull. If you have a room that gets a lot of natural light, try a dark color for the ceiling.
- Make it a Focal Point: If the room has no focal point, a different ceiling color can be just that. You can add a zing to the room with a funky ceiling when the furnishings don’t jump out. Take a mint green ceiling for example. This is quite the charming look for a room with creamy-white walls and weathered furniture.
You can also try a pattern in the same room to draw attention upwards. But make sure the rest of the room is serene. Also remember that this might not work for a bedroom since you will spend a lot of time lying down. A wallpaper or ceiling tiles are also a good idea.
Colors That Designers Love for Inside Walls
- Lavender Mist by Benjamin Moore is highly underestimated but an excellent choice for entryway walls. It keeps the room light and makes it look spacious.
- Salmon Peach, also by Benjamin Moore is great for nature lovers. It has a blush that works really well with a dash of green in the bedroom or home office.
- Palladian Blue by Benjamin Moore, one of their most popular colors after the neutrals is a classic. The blue-gray-green shade is easy to live with in any room. And it creates a cooling effect on a sunny day. This is good for living rooms and the bedroom.
- Garden Stone by Clark+Kensington is for those who want to avoid blue undertones. This is a warm gray shade and for any large room.
- Compatible Cream by Sherwin Williams is a yellow that is not too warm. It is a creamy shade of the color that gives an inviting look. The color is also easy to pair with colors you want to choose for adjacent rooms. It’s good for living rooms and hallways.
- Sprout .06 by Colorhouse Paint is a great color for ceilings. It’s not too pink and reflects light well enough for everyone to like it.
- Essential Gray by Sherwin Williams another great color for backdrops. It is clean and sophisticated and adds warmth to a place when coupled with a white trim. The color is great for bedrooms and bathrooms too.
- Wool Skein by Sherwin Williams is another great neutral color that pairs well with most other colors. It’s not too white but brightens the room just the way you like it. It’s a great color for living rooms that have light blue curtains.
Is There a Whole House Color Palette for 2021?
If you spend a lot of time at home, it helps to have beautiful walls to stare at. And the trends have made sure there’s a little something for everyone.
If you like neutrals, then the warm cream shades and stone colors are back in business. Terracotta tones and warm pastels are also coming back in style. This is for folks who like to have an entire room in one color. Natural and earthy tones are expected to be a big hit.
If you’re into blues, then navy blue and blue-gray are expected to dominate the scene. The serene color has become something of a new neutral. Add to that, Pantone’s 2020 color of the year is Classic Blue and Sherwin Williams’ color of the year was also Naval. So the cool blues aren’t going anywhere anytime soon.
If you’re sticking to the monochromatic style, some bold options are making an appearance on the scene. Cobalt Blue, Kelly Green and Aubergine, which evoke personality and elegance are great choices.
If you’re looking for moody hues, look no further than Current Mood from Clare. It’s one of their best selling colors and gets a lot of love on Instagram according to Nicole Gibbons.
Choosing the Right Paint Finish Is Critical
It’s one thing to pick a color. But if you don’t pick the right finish, it doesn’t matter how carefully you choose the scheme for your home. Here’s a little guide to help you out.
Matte finish is good for water-based paints because they have the least amount of reflection. So, they hide blemishes well on the wall. But these paints are difficult to clean and if you use a cloth or sponge, they might come off the wall. It’s not durable. So, areas with least traffic like ceilings must get this finish.
Eggshell finish is also water based and comes with a little gloss. It’s more reflective than matte but doesn’t cover blemishes as well. It’s also a bit more durable and hence it’s chosen for living rooms and dining rooms where kids are not likely to touch the walls. A primer and two coats is recommended.
Satin finish is for water and oil-based solvents. It is shinier than eggshell finish and is one of the best choices if you want shine and be able to clean it effectively. This is good for high-footfall spaces like bathrooms, kitchens and even bedrooms.
Gloss and semi-gloss are options for water and oil-based solvents. They are the most reflective of the lot but don’t hide imperfections on the walls as well. They are good for busy spaces like the kitchen and bathrooms.
Parting Words
A well-designed house has a lot of advantages for your mind and soul. We like to design our homes and other spaces to reflect our personality. It’s nice to show off a bit but more importantly, it makes us feel comfortable and like it’s our own space.
For instance, a bedroom that is well done can help you forget the worries of the day. If you pick the right colors, contrasts and accessories, it can manage your stress levels effectively. It will give you a good night’s sleep and make you want to jump out of bed and take on the day in the morning.
And it’s not just about how you feel. The way your house is designed and organized has a huge impact on your cholesterol levels and heart health too. Colors have the ability to slow down your heart rate and bring down blood pressure.
The right paint colors in any room create the coveted vibe and make you want to stay home and hang out in those rooms more often. Bright yellows make you feel motivated. Slumber parties and hang sessions with friends get more cheerful and lead to bonding moments. The ambience can also give you a self-esteem boost. A blue-colored bedroom can help you get the eight hours of sleep you need and guide you to a cheerful morning.
When you plan a room well, you can cleverly arrange storage space to minimize if not avoid clutter. Admit it. You like the way it will feel when your room (if not the whole house) makes you feel about your ability to plan. If that doesn’t help, there will be a bad day once in a while and coming home to a self-designed paradise might just cheer you up like you never expected it to. Look in a corner and a good lamp that eliminates the hissing sounds of traditional fixtures will give you the quiet you were looking for all day long. Imagine having a headache and coming back to a room with soothing colors.
And yes, planning the color scheme of the whole house is an exciting creative outlet. Deciding the artwork you want to hang and picking a sharp color for your desk makes for a very engaging project. It keeps the creative juices flowing. And there’s no feeling better than that!
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