Tips for Choosing a Wall Paint Colour
Choosing the right wall paint colour can be tricky, as you have virtually unlimited choices. Paints can be mixed endlessly for variations. To help, here are some tips.
Inspiration
You can get inspiration for your new wall and ceiling colours from almost anywhere. For example, pick out a fabric design you love and follow that schema. If your room is already furnished and you're painting the walls and ceiling, simply look for fabric that embodies the hues of the existing flooring and furnishings. Otherwise, you can choose a fabric pattern and base the entire room palette around it.
Notice the proportions of the colours in the design. What are the dominant colours, and what hues are used as accents? A room can look best with the lightest shade on the ceiling and a mid-tone on the walls. The darkest colour often looks best on the flooring, but this depends on your particular space. You can also choose rugs, paintings, and scenes of nature for ideas. Some paint companies provide a picture and suggest specific paints that replicate that palette.
Undertones in Neutrals
Many walls and ceilings use neutrals such as white, grey, and beige. When picking a neutral, you need to pay attention to its undertones to create a harmonious whole. For example, white can have yellow or blue undertones: it can be creamy and warm or cool and crisp. A cool white can look perfect in a room decorated in dark blues, but it can look cold and lifeless in a space decorated in warm reds and oranges.
Beige can have red, green or yellow undertones, which you should match to other beige items in the room. To pick out the subtle tones, you can hold specific colours against the neutral to bring them out. Choose the hues opposite on the colour wheel: red, green and violet to make the beige undertone clearer. Grey has undertones also, which may be blue, green or violet.
Paint Finish
You also need to consider the paint's finish and whether you want a matte, sheen or gloss effect. Glossy colours are often easier to clean without sustaining damage, making them ideal for kitchens and walls you may need to regularly wipe. Whether you pick a sheen or matte depends on the look you prefer. A matte can intensify moody colours and hide wall imperfections. A sheen will give the walls a soft glow.
To create an industrial vibe, you may consider stripping the plaster off your walls and revealing brickwork for some rustic texture. However, painters can also create texturing effects with sponge techniques and other methods.
Contact painters in your area to learn more.