When thinking about re-doing a space, most of us first opt to change the paint color to make it look different, with good reason; Painting is the easiest task, and cheapest for that matter. You don’t have to go out and buy totally new furniture, as long as you have neutral furniture or a color that will compliment the new wall color! When choosing a color scheme, be mindful of the architectural style of the home. For instance, contrasting a Victorian home by adding modern furnishings is fine. Just be careful of color usage; as a bright pink wall might look out of place within the architectural interiors of a Victorian style home. There are many different types of color schemes that you can incorporate into a space, and they all deal with the color wheel. Here is short run down of the top 4:
1. Complimentary color schemes employ 2 complimentary hues, one for the main area and the other for the secondary area. These are colors that are opposite on the color wheel (i.e. Red and Green, Blue and Yellow). Now, using exact compliments is less effective than using compliments that are tinged with the same underlying hue, as they are less drastically opposite.
2. Anaologous color schemes are limited to 2 or 3 adjacent colors on the wheel (ie. Green and Blue, Yellow and Orange)
3. Monochromatic color schemes are based on a single color, where a variety of chromatic values of this same color are employed.
4.Achromatic color schemes are comprised of the neutrals black, white, gray or brown. Rely on the use of a varying range of beiges, browns or grays.
The type of space you want to create goes hand in hand with the type of color scheme you choose. A more traditional space requires a complimentary color scheme such as French country with the use of yellows and blues, while a more modern space might use a monochromatic or achromatic color scheme.
Colors can also bring out different moods, which is not to say that colors contain inherent emotional triggers. It is more based on what kind of mood we are in at the time we notice the color that links it to that certain emotion. Not known to most, there is a whole strategy, especially in advertising as to what color is used on campaigns, interiors of businesses, and logos to evoke different emotions.
Red is strength, vivacity, virility, and dynamism. Is known to promote a healthy appetite, hence why we see a lot of red in dining rooms.
Orange expresses radiation and communication. It is the color of action and is receptive and warm.
Yellow is the most luminous of all colors and is the first noticed, the loudest and brightest, and one of the least liked colors.
Green symbolizes growth and hope. It is a quiet color that evokes happiness when mixed with yellow, or creates more pensive mood when it leans more towards blue.
Blue is relaxing, calm, and serene.
Violet is equivalent to meditative and mystical thought. It is the color of dignity.
So, there you have a short explanation about the nature of color. Now, I bet you are thinking twice about the color choice you made to paint your powder room…don’t fret, it’s only paint - cheap and easy to change it when you get tired of it. Happy painting!.
