Explore Color
Color choices will make the biggest impact on how you and others feel in your home. Below we share some basics for you to consider as you plan to paint and/or redecorate your home.
The Impact of Color
Color choices make a bigger difference than many people realize. You want your home to make you feel comfortable and safe — your haven from the busyness of the outside world. You can also improve a work environment, for yourself at home or for a business office — you want a room that inspires you and/or others.
We’ve all been in homes or other places such as hotels, restaurants or particular businesses where we felt good as soon as we walked in the door. Recreating that atmosphere in our own living spaces would make our everyday life better. But do we know what made us feel that way? Figuring out that elusive “something” is the key to making it happen.
Finding Your Aesthetic
It’s not about what’s trending, although you may like the current trend. It’s about finding the right colors and style for your individual or family aesthetic.
As you think about new colors for your home:
Is there some object you own that you want to serve as your color inspiration? This could be a piece of furniture, a piece of artwork, or things you collect. Or perhaps you've seen a photo in a magazine or online.
Consider your personality — are you energetic and want a vibrant environment, or do you prefer a calm and relaxing atmosphere?
Personal Preferences
We’re talking about personal preferences. While there are general feelings most people share about colors, which you can read lots about online, individuals may have strong feelings that create exceptions to those generally held feelings. This is the reason that a color consultation is valuable.
Some suggest beginning with a look at the colors you pick for your clothing. Do you like bright colors or subtle ones?
What colors do you love? Keep in mind the likes of other people sharing your home. What colors do you hate, or make you uncomfortable? Again, keep in mind the feelings of your significant other.
Harmony at Home
We’re emphasizing the likes and dislikes of everyone living or working in the space for an important reason.
Here’s my personal example: I really love Yellow. I think it’s friendly and makes me feel happy and energetic. However, my husband finds Yellow aggravating because it over stimulates his senses.
We both like Blue, which is often described as being tranquil and conveying security. So I decorate with Blue, and occasionally bring in a small accent of Yellow, or a golden Yellow, which I can enjoy without disturbing his peace of mind.
Color Palette Ideas
If you are having difficulty figuring out the best answers in your own situation, then using pictures can be very helpful.
If you have pictures of places where you felt peaceful on vacation, those could be a place to start. You can also search magazines and online to find pictures that show rooms that make a strong impression on you, with colors you like. The opposite is also important, pictures of rooms with colors you hate.
For more ideas, visit our California Paints web page and look at their Digital Fan Deck to find the perfect color for your project. They also show you coordinating colors to consider for trims and accents.
Now that you've thought about all these aspects of selecting colors, you're ready to go to the paint store.