Nothing really can produce a more dramatic transformation for such a simple investment as a new paint job on your home. Colour can have an extraordinary impact on the emotional tone of the interior, can change the perceived size of the room, and can make it possible to create a unity of disparate architectural elements.
But when you are staring at a store’s paint section, with dozens of different shades of white, gray and blue, it can cause decision paralysis. What may seem like a sophisticated, inviting beige on a small cardboard chip is a quick turn to a fiery peachy pink in a four-wall living room. The selection of a palette isn’t just about picking colors at random, it’s about understanding how the palette interacts with the undertones, ambient lighting, room use and finishes.
- Understand the basics of Undertones and Lighting.
A common cause for homeowners not being happy with the colour of their walls is not understanding how the underlying pigments and light play off each other.
How to identify Warm vs. Cool Undertone
Each colour, particularly the neutrals such as off-white, grey and greige, contains a mass tone (the colour that you see first) and an undertone (the undertone is a subtle pigment underneath).
Warm tones have some sort of yellow, red, orange, or gold. They evoke cozy, welcoming, and intimate sensations, making them ideal for north-facing rooms or dining areas.
Cool undertones are blue, green or violet. They are crisp, modern and relaxing, giving any space a larger, airier feel.
To identify an undertone, look at your paint sample swatch and compare it to a true, pure white paper, in natural light. The other color (secondary color) will become obvious. Also, take inventory of your current fixed finishes like flooring, stone counter tops, and wood cabinetry, to see if the color of the paint will match or clash them.
Assessing Natural and Artificial Light:
Paint has no inherent appearance, it responds to the light illuminating it. Take into account window orientations:
When it is cool and blue, as is the case with north-facing rooms, colors appear cold and washed out. To offset this, consider cool neutrals, creamy whites, or rich colors.
The south-facing rooms benefit from warm, golden light all day, enhancing warm colours. The harmonious pairing of cool grays, soft blues and muted greens beautifully counterbalances this warmth.
East and west faces change so much from early morning to late afternoon that colors will look balanced in both cool and warm lighting.
Don’t forget to include your fake light fixtures. Bulbs with a color temperature of $2700\text{K}$ (soft warm light) will highlight the yellow. Bulbs with $4000\text{K}$ or $5000\text{K}$ daylight bulbs will shine more brightly and will look cooler.
To relate Color Psychology to Room Function.
A home should be in tune with each other, but each of the individual rooms should have a specific psychological palette that is appropriate for the room’s daily use.
Exhibit and display Rest in Bedrooms and Bathrooms in your home or office.
Colors that serene the central nervous system are perfect for restorative spaces. Muted, light green colors (such as eucalyptus or sage), light coastal blues and warm, greyish colors reduce the stimulation of the eyes and encourage a good night’s sleep. Try to keep lighting in bedrooms or other sleeping spaces away from high saturation colors and intensities, as they may have an abrasive effect over time.
An energiser to be used at Gathering and Creative Spaces.
More saturated and vibrant colors are suitable for living rooms, dining areas, and home offices. Earthy terracottas, deep navies, olive greens and rich taupes add character and sophistication without overpowering the senses. Soft blues and greens promote focus and attention in the home workspace, and subtle warm hues give creative focus.
- Set up the 60-30-10 Rule for Whole House Flow
A frequent error is “room by room design,” creating a “carnival atmosphere” when entering the hallways.
Implementing the Classic Ratio
Interior design professionals use the 60-30-10 rule to create a balance in the interior of a room.
Dominant Color $60%$: The base color for the wall, it gives the background tone.
30% Secondary Color: Upholstery, window treatments, millwork or cabinetry to provide depth.
$10%$ Accent Color: Decorative pillows, artwork, lamp bases or an accent door that brings vibrant personality.
Generating a line-of-sight between rooms.Calculating visual connectivity between rooms.
Pick an open-plan area, like your main hallway, or living room, and observe which rooms can be seen at the same time. Make visual flow throughout the corridors and open spaces by using a consistent neutral. If you want different colours in neighbouring rooms, make sure they have a similar undertone or are different shades from the same paint strip (but varying between light and dark).
The Proper Testing Strategy: Swatching and Sheen
Don’t purchase several gallons of paint from a two-inch paper chip. When properly tested in your space, you avoid expensive painting mistakes.
Paint Large Portable Boards
Never paint test swatches over existing wall paint since the wall color will affect your accuracy with the new color. Rather, use two test samples of paint on large pieces of white foam board or peel-and-stick adhesive samples. Rotate the board throughout the day, the different times of light (8am, 2pm and evening light), to see how the color changed at various times.
Make sure to select the right sheen.
The light reflective and durability properties of the paint finish are influenced:
Flat/Matte: Non-reflective finish which obscures imperfections on the wall surface. Perfect for bedrooms and ceilings where there is little use.
This luster is soft and subtle, and lends excellent cleanability to eggshell and Satin. The best choice for living rooms, hallways and family areas.
Semi-Gloss: Extremely shiny and waterproof. Ideal for base boards, doors, architectural trim, humid baths.
End: Makeover Your Space With Confidence
Choosing paint colors should be a creative and empowering process, not a stressful gamble. You pay attention to undertones, match colors to room use, watch lighting changes and test colors on large samples in your room to avoid the guesswork. While paint will never last, if you choose a system and approach it thoughtfully, you can build a fun space that will look great and last for years to come.
