
It will actually lower your blood pressure and when used in bedrooms, will help you settle down for the night.

On the downside, the color red and similar warm colors can evoke feelings of hostility and rage in some people.īlue - We see it in the ocean, the sky, beautiful Himalayan poppies blue is certainly a calming and restful color. It’s also an attention grabbing color-many women wear red lipstick for that very reason.

Red is a stimulating color and works well in rooms where a lot of mental activity is going on, such as an office. This color will actually increase your heart rate, so if you have high blood pressure, avoid painting your walls red. Red - Red makes us think of valentines, fire, love and passion. Colors that look great under natural lighting may look washed out under artificial lighting at night. Paint colors will change under different lighting situations, and you may decide that you don't like the result. South-facing sunny rooms have a bright light that can be tempered by painting in cool or neutral paint colors.Įven a dark windowless room can be lightened up by painting walls in a warm bright light color.Īlways try paint samples on a wall first before you commit yourself to a color. North-facing rooms should be painted in cheerful warm colors to offset the pale light. Lighting and color - The type of lighting a room has will determine the "temperature" of paint colors you will want to select. Warm colors are good choices for dining rooms and kitchens.Ī successful room will have a combination of cool and warm colors in the design palette, but one or the other should dominate. If you have an excessively large room, try painting it in a darker color with warm undertones this will make your room appear cozier. Warm paint colors are usually brighter and work well in rooms that lack natural light. Warm colors reflect light, so that walls will let off heat into a room. Warm colors - Warm colors, (reds, yellows and oranges) advance and can make a large room feel smaller and more inviting. Cool colors can be used in rooms that you intend to be calm and tranquil. Plus, cool colors recede and can make a small room seem larger.Ĭool colors will effectively reduce the heat in rooms that are too hot in the summer. Cool paint colors are successful in restful areas, like bedrooms and bathrooms.Ĭool colors - Cool colors, (blues, violets and greens) work well in bedrooms because they absorb light instead of reflecting it.

Warm paint colors are good choices for active rooms, such as kitchens, dining rooms and children's rooms.

You need to ask yourself what kind of mood you want to create in each space.įor instance, restful colors in a bedroom may not work as well in an energetic area like a kitchen. It's important to consider the use of each room when planning your paint colors. If you're planning to stage your own home, select color combinations that harmonize well with each other and flow from room to room.įor example, if you can see your dining room from the kitchen, paint each room the same neutral color, varying shades of that color or in coordinating colors.Īvoid faux wall finishes like sponging, glazing, stucco and embossing, as these styles are simply too taste-specific to attract that larger audience of buyers that you need. Whether you are staging your home for sale, or just changing your home decor, a better understanding of color theory will give you the confidence to select paint colors, fabric samples and add art and accessories to your home decor. It can visually expand or shrink a space, raise and lower ceilings and even influence the way you feel. Understanding color theory and knowing which color combinations will work together is one of the keys to successful home interior design.Ĭolor is one of the most powerful and effective tools for changing the appearance of any room.
