4 Common Mistakes People Make When Choosing a Room Color
Painting a room can totally transform it’s the look, but it can also ruin the atmosphere and decor of an otherwise beautiful room. Because painting a room is very time consuming, rather costly and exhausting, you want to do it right the first time. To help you choose the right shade for your room, we’ve put together a list of 4 common mistakes people usually make when choosing a room color.
1) Choosing the color only looking at paint chips.
When choosing a shade for your room, it isn’t advisable to only look at paint chips. Instead, we suggest that you take your paint chips home and place them on your room’s walls. Do your best to visualize the color on your walls. If there is a light source in your room, open it. Visualize the color with the light on, with the light off, with the natural light gleaming through your window or with the panels shut. Sometimes a hue can look great on the paint chip but look completely different once on the walls. Your visualization efforts will insure that don’t have any surprises when you finally decide to paint your room.
2) Choosing a color which makes your room look smaller
Dark hues will invariably make a room look smaller, just like black clothes make a person look thinner. This is an optic characteristic of dark colors. Dark shades can be perfect if your aim is to actually make a room look smaller, cozier and more comfortable. Dark colors are often used in reading rooms or sitting room. On the other hand, if you do not want to make your room look smaller, go for paler hues. Furthermore, remember that sometimes a color can look darker on your walls than it does on the paint chip, mostly due to the lighting in the room. When in doubt, go one shade lighter than the shade you wish to use.
3) Going for a look while forgetting lifestyle and the purpose of the room
Each room has a very distinctive purpose. Generally, the living room is a social room, where you entertain, eat, talk, laugh, and watch TV. A bedroom is a place of relaxation and peace. The office is often meant for tasks that require concentration. A bathroom is a place of cleanliness and purity. These general rules may be different in your home, for example, you may want a very relaxing, calm living room. In any case, remember the cardinal rules of colors and moods. Warm tones like reds and oranges, or earth tones, are great for social rooms as they stimulate conversation and are lively. The same goes for the dining room. Blues, purples, greens, and other cool hues, especially in dark tones, are great for the bedroom because they are soothing and slow down the heart rate. Green is great for your office or workroom since it stimulates creativity and effectiveness.
4) Choosing a stylish color which won’t pass the test of time
Decor fashion changes with the seasons. When you choose a highly stylish color you may have an extremely chic and fashionable room, but after a time, if this color is not truly suited to your needs and to the purpose of your room, you will tire of it and will want to repaint the room. If you are looking for a fashionable touch to add to your room, go with accessories instead of paint. A room color should be able to last more than a season. We advise you to choose something that will take you through the years and which can be adapted to many decor looks. As you can see, choosing a color for your room requires a bit of thought and a pinch of patience. Of course, the most important is that you love the color you choose and that it sublimes your room.