Can’t decide on any particular, paint schemes for your house? The following article will help you make the right choice.
Colors have a deep effect on the mind, and when you view them on walls, the effect is only magnified. Deciding on specific color schemes for living rooms, bedrooms, kitchens, and bathrooms depends on the kind of mood you want to create. Do you want the vibrancy of red, or a soothing sea green? Do you want to light up your room with a charming, bright yellow, or seek richness of color by using gold and brown? You can decide with the help of some of the ideas given below.
Types of Color Schemes
Let’s understand the different types of color schemes that are usually followed while planning an interior decoration project.
- Monochromatic Color Scheme: Here, one color is dominant in all its shades and tints. For instance, if you choose the color blue, a room could be based on baby blue, deep blue, and sky blue with a dash of white.
- Analogous Color Scheme: On the color wheel, two adjacent colors form the analogous color scheme. Here, one color is predominant, while the other is used to enhance it. One may consider this slightly similar to the monochromatic pattern.
- Triadic Color Scheme: On the color wheel, the triadic color scheme involves the use of three evenly spaced colors. It does not provide a stark contrast, but often lends a sense of balance. Hence, this color pattern could be incorporated in terms of furniture and accessories as well.
The principles of this system have given birth to some of the best home and office paint color schemes. You may decide on the colors for your space depending on these principles.
Theme-based Combinations
Paint color combinations can be broadly categorized under different themes and styles, namely modern/contemporary, rustic, traditional, and retro. While any color can be used in any paint scheme, combining it with other colors, and keeping in mind the other elements of interior designing while doing so will decide the ultimate style of the room.
The Traditional Theme
Traditional themes are defined by the Victorian style, in which intricate motifs, moldings, and carvings were the order of the day. A lot of people prefer decorating their houses in this manner and use paint associated with it. With traditional interior paint schemes, red, gold, brown, and deeper, rich colors have always found their place. Particularly when wainscoting is a part of the home décor, highlighting the portion above this detail with such colors adds to a grand look. All these colors can be beautifully combined with each other and used within any home.
The Rustic Theme
The rustic theme is warm and slightly more inclined towards nature. Though bright interior paint colors can be a part of it, it is darker, tending towards gold, brown, teal gray, grayish blue, wooden colors, and black. Usually colors such as gray and black are deeply overbearing when used in large amounts. Yet, it is a good idea to have them in a room in snatches. For instance, simply one wall in one of these colors, with some kind of rustic wall art will add the right amount of glamor to the room. Gray should ideally be used with white, and black makes a great combination with colors in golden tones.
The Retro Theme
The retro theme refers to styles of the 70’s that ruled the world of fashion and interiors. Characterized by bold colors and prints such as polka dots and large floral prints, this is one theme that clearly screams brightness and boldness. Red, pink, purple, orange, gray, black, and white can all be used along with retro-printed furniture to make the most of this theme. Usually, orange, black, and white are preferred for a bedroom, while red, black, gray, and white are great paint colors for the living room.
The Modern/Contemporary Theme
The modern theme is what is most prevalent at this time, under the purview of which all colors can fall easily. Sleek designs and minimalism form the core of this modern or contemporary theme. As such, the freedom to add a dash of brighter colors in the color scheme is available. Choose from red and white, black and red, blue and beige, beige and green, purple and blue, yellow and gray, or orange and gray. All these combinations can be beautifully utilized in a modern setting.
Room-based Combinations
While the aforementioned ideas were based on interior design themes, the following are ideas of color schemes for specific rooms.
Living Room
The living room usually is a minor representation of the style your house stands for, and hence, it should be designed slightly formally. The colors would be the same. It is not outrageous to consider a red or orange color for your living room, given the fact that this bright color is balanced by appropriate use of lighter furniture and accessories. For detailed information, you may refer to this article on Living Room Color Schemes.
Bedroom
The bedroom is pretty much what you want it to be. Rich, cozy, colorful, bright, and soft are all the kinds of styles you can use while choosing a paint color scheme for your bedroom. This may also differ based on the type of bedroom. For instance, the pattern for the kids’ room will be different from that of the master bedroom. For further details, you may take a look at this article on bedroom colors and moods.
Kitchen
If you are someone who spends a lot of time in the kitchen, you have to ensure that it is appealing enough for you. It should not be too dark in terms of paint color or the color of cabinetry and tiles, particularly if the kitchen is small. Ultimately of course, it is your choice, and depending on what color you are most comfortable with, you may choose from any of these kitchen color schemes.
Bathroom
Similar to the bedroom, the type of the bathroom affects the color scheme to be employed. A guest bathroom will appear different from the master bathroom, and it will be distinctly different from a bathroom meant for kids. To learn more about appropriate color schemes for bathrooms, you may refer to the information on:
Exterior
There are numerous ways of deciding on paint schemes for the exteriors of houses. The architectural style will determine the kind of color you want to go for. The dominant color scheme in the neighborhood and the climatic conditions of the area you live in are all essential considerations to be kept in mind while choosing colors for an exterior. For some help in this regard, you may take a look at these articles on:
Based on the aforementioned schemes, themes, or specific paint color combinations for rooms, you may create a perfect haven for yourself. Remember: colors have a strong effect on your mood, so try and feel the color before you apply it. Finally, your perception of colors that go well together may vary from the general consensus. As long as you believe a particular paint scheme looks good in a particular setting, you may go ahead with it. After all, it is you who has to live with it. Enjoy the colors you choose, and you are sure to love your brand new space!
