Which Color Do You Like

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Changing the color in your room is a fairly simple way to make it look really different. Color can create a specific feeling or atmosphere, and make a unique statement that reflects your individuality. You can use color to showcase the things about your room that you really love, and make the most of your room's particular features and proportions.

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Get a feel for the space as a whole. Spend some time thinking about how your room looks and feels now, and what you want to change or keep. Are there features in the room you want to play down or emphasize? Do you want your room to feel airier or cozier? The color you use can help you achieve the look and feel you have in mind.^[1]
- High contrast either in color or intensity can create a visual focal point of some feature in your room that you really love.
- Avoid sharp contrasts between color or intensity if you want to downplay areas or features in your room.
- Light or neutral colors can open up a small space.
- Deep, rich colors in warm tones will create a cozy, inviting space.
- Check to see if you can see other rooms from the room you plan to paint. If so, you'll want to make sure the colors of both rooms look good together. You don't have to paint the rooms the same color, but they should be coordinated.
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Evaluate the room's dimensions. You want to have a sense of the proportions of the room as well as how much paint you are going to need based on the square footage.

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Choose a color based on room size. Wall color can change the way room size feels or appears. If you have a very large or a very small room, select a color that will make the most of your space.^[2]
- Avoid sharp contrasts between colors in small rooms. Try cooler tones in neutral shades to help the room feel larger.
- If you have a small room but have your heart set on a dark color, you could open up the space by painting a lighter accent wall or using the dark color as part of a pattern or stripes.
- Large rooms can feel more cozy with medium to deep colors in warm tones.
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Compare the ceiling height to the room's size. How large or small the room feels or appears to be can be affected by the ceiling. For instance, a large room can feel smaller if the ceiling is low, and a smaller room can feel bigger if the ceiling is very high.^[3]
- With a large room and a high ceiling, or a small room with a low ceiling, a contrast in color tone or intensity can visually separate the walls and ceiling. This will make a larger space feel more intimate and a small space feel more expansive.
- If your room is small and has a high ceiling, or is large with a low ceiling, keep the color tones the same. Make sure that the contrast between the walls and ceilings is moderate or low.
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Take the amount of light into consideration. Room color appearance can change depending on how much light the room gets. Also, the kind of light in the room is a factor in how the color looks.^[4]
- Natural light will change during the day, so how it affects wall color will change too. Try out your color options first. Paint sections of the walls and check to see how it looks throughout the day.
- Lighting fixtures also impact how colors will look. Paint a few sections in your color options, and then turn on the lights you will use most often to see how they affect the color.
- Lighting can also affect the way a color looks depending on the underlying tone of the shade. Paint comes in three tones, which are warm, cool, and neutral. Warm colors have a red undertone, while cool colors have a blue undertone. Lighting can bring out these undertones.
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Consider the room's features. If your room has one or two large unbroken walls, the color you choose will have a big impact on the room overall. If there are multiple doors and windows throughout, your room will have a lot of color contrast between trim and door colors, and the wall color.^[5]
- If you want to downplay the contrast, paint all of the trim, doors, and window encasements the same color. Choose a color that compliments the wall color.
- If you want to play up the contrast, you may want to choose a glossy white for your trim, which will give the room a clean look.
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Paint the ceiling in a color that complements the walls. When you change the wall color and trim color, you need to make sure the ceiling coordinates and looks just as fresh as the newly painted walls. In addition, just as the tone and shade can change how the room's proportions feel, the ceiling color will have the same effect on how high or low the ceiling seems to be.^[6]

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Use your smartphone or tablet to "try" colors. Many places that sell paint and home decor items have websites or apps that will let you sample different colors virtually. There are also free apps that can do the same thing. These kinds of tools are great for getting a sense of how things will look overall, but keep in mind the digital version is only an approximation of how colors will coordinate in the actual space.^[7]
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Pick up paint color chips. Places that sell paint will have printed cards that show different paint colors and color families. These samples will be organized by paint brand as well as by tone and color. This is a really good way to start the process of choosing a color. Take a handful home and see how they look in your room.
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Ask for advice. People working in the paint department can help you decide on paint finishes as well as colors and tones. Some places have decorators on staff to advise customers about getting different looks by using different paint colors and finishes.^[8]
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Test paint colors on your walls. Ultimately there is no substitute to putting paint on the wall in your room. You can get the most accurate sense of how a color will look from seeing it in your specific space.^[9]
- Always put two coats up when testing paint color.
- Put paint on two or three different walls to get a feel of the overall effect in your room.
- Make the test area big enough to be able to really see how the color will work. A 2' x 2' square at eye level should be adequate.
- Paint a thick stripe near the flooring to be sure it works with your floor color and texture.
- Sit with the paint color for 3 days to give yourself time to decide if it really works for you. Check the color in different lighting throughout the day so that you get a good idea of what it will look like once it's on your walls.
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Test paint color on a foam core board. If it isn't possible to put sample colors up on your walls, try making a foam core board substitute. You can get a pretty accurate sense from this method as well.^[10]

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Decide how you want the room to feel. What kind of mood do you want your room to convey? Colors can create a sense of calm or rev up your mood. Decide if you want to feel soothed when you spend time in your room, or if you want to feel peppy and full of energy.^[11]
- Bright colors can energize a room. Alternatively, dark or muted colors can have a calming effect.
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Look through decorating magazines and websites. Create a file with images you like and use these as a guide to help you decide what you want to do.^[12]
- Look for images of rooms that have an overall feel that you like.
- Save images that have elements or details that appeal to you.
- Make notes to yourself about why you like a particular room or look. You may forget if you collect a lot of images.
- Pin up print images in your room and visualize how different looks would work in your space.
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Select a color scheme. Color family and tone are important factors in how a room will look and feel. Colors will also range from light to medium to dark. Accent colors or trim colors should have the same tone as the wall and ceiling, but you can use color intensity or color families that complement each other to create contrast.^[13]
- Color tone is either warm, cool, or neutral. Warm tones can create a cozy feel, while cool tones can make a room feel bigger.
- Choosing coordinating colors of the same intensity can make a room feel more spacious.
- Large rooms can look very dramatic and dynamic if there are sharp contrasts between the intensity of the trim and the wall color.
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Pick a color family to create feeling. Different color families affect how people feel; some colors are warmer, and others cooler, and these qualities are important for conveying a mood.
- Reds are hot or warm colors typically. Red is also a very hot color in terms of creating a feeling in a room. Red can feel romantic and dramatic, or lively and exciting.
- Blue is a cool color, and conveys a sense of calm and peace. Like the perfect clear light blue of a summer sky or the deep blue of the ocean, the soothing quality of blues won't vary much with intensity.
- Try green colors for a good balance between warm and cool. Because green is the result of a warm color (yellow) and a cool color (blue), it is an excellent choice for rooms with a neutral feel.
- Yellow is an energy color as well as a comforting hue. Yellow is a great choice for rooms that could use some brightening up while still feeling soft and tranquil.
- Neutrals like beiges or whites will almost always have a hint of color and tone. If you want a very quiet space these are a good choice, and you can introduce a suggestion of warmth or coolness by choosing a neutral with warm or cool colored tints.
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Question

What is the most popular interior wall color?

Suzanne Lasky is an Interior Designer and the Founder of S Interior Design, a design consulting company based in Scottsdale, Arizona specializing in new home builds, home remodels, and all related design options for residential and small business clients. Suzanne has over 19 years of interior design and consulting experience. She is an Allied Member of the ASID (American Society of Interior Designers). She earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Indiana University and an AAS in Interior Design from Scottsdale Community College.

Interior Design Consultant

Expert Answer

I'm not entirely sure there are statistics out there on that, but I'd highly recommend you don't give much credence to what's popular here anyway. Color is a highly subjective thing, and you shouldn't build your design decisions around what happens to be trendy right now.
Question

Is it a bad idea to go with an uncommon wall color?

Suzanne Lasky is an Interior Designer and the Founder of S Interior Design, a design consulting company based in Scottsdale, Arizona specializing in new home builds, home remodels, and all related design options for residential and small business clients. Suzanne has over 19 years of interior design and consulting experience. She is an Allied Member of the ASID (American Society of Interior Designers). She earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Indiana University and an AAS in Interior Design from Scottsdale Community College.

Interior Design Consultant

Expert Answer

No, people will throw out advice like this, but it's totally okay to opt for a wilder color so long as you like it and it coordinates with the rest of your space.
Question

What big considerations are there when it comes to choosing a color for a basement?

Suzanne Lasky is an Interior Designer and the Founder of S Interior Design, a design consulting company based in Scottsdale, Arizona specializing in new home builds, home remodels, and all related design options for residential and small business clients. Suzanne has over 19 years of interior design and consulting experience. She is an Allied Member of the ASID (American Society of Interior Designers). She earned a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from Indiana University and an AAS in Interior Design from Scottsdale Community College.

Interior Design Consultant

Expert Answer

You really need to take lighting into account. If you don't have windows in your basement, you'll be relying unnatural light. Some colors look a lot better than others in unnatural light, so you'll want to make sure that you test your color swatches in an environment where there aren't a ton of windows.
Question

Which colour paint is best for a bedroom?

Katherine Tlapa is an interior designer, currently working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a design service based in San Francisco. She also runs her own DIY Home Design blog, My Eclectic Grace. She received her BFA in Interior Architecture from Ohio University in 2016.

Interior Designer

Expert Answer

It's completely up to you what color you want in your bedroom, however, calm colors are best. Avoid oversaturated colors like cobalt blue, bright red, or neon yellow. Colors like that can make it hard to relax and sleep. A more muted and gentle color is best - but that doesn't mean it has to be boring and neutral!
Question

How do I choose a paint color for my bedroom?

Katherine Tlapa is an interior designer, currently working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a design service based in San Francisco. She also runs her own DIY Home Design blog, My Eclectic Grace. She received her BFA in Interior Architecture from Ohio University in 2016.

Interior Designer

Expert Answer

Start by deciding which color family you want. If you know you want a blue color, for instance, pick out a few different shades of blue and buy sample paint. Paint swatches on your wall and after a few days of seeing the colors in different lights, you will be able to choose which one you like best!
Question

How do I pick a color for my room?

Katherine Tlapa is an interior designer, currently working as a Design Specialist for Modsy, a design service based in San Francisco. She also runs her own DIY Home Design blog, My Eclectic Grace. She received her BFA in Interior Architecture from Ohio University in 2016.

Interior Designer

Expert Answer

Start by picking a few colors you want. I would say no more than 3 so you don't overwhelm yourself. Get paint samples from your local hardware store and paint 2'x2' swatches of the paint on the walls. Live with it for a few days so you can see how the paint will look in all lights before you decide which one to use.
Question

Where do I sleep while the room is being painted?

You'll have to sleep in another room in your house. If you live in a one-room apartment, you'd have to stay with a friend or family member for a night or two.
Question

What if I want to make a color scheme for my room but my parents won't let me paint it?

Try to convince them, or strike up a bargain. For example, you could tell them you'll do extra chores or bring your grades up if they will let you paint your room. If that doesn't work, then try a guilt trip, walk into a room and say, ''I wish i could paint my room this color." They might give in after a while.
Question

Do gray and black look good together? What kind of blue would look good with those?

Jayida_01_peer

Community Answer

Yes, they look great together. It will look lovely with navy or midnight blue.
Question

Which colour to use in bedrooms?

Anju Ramdas

Community Answer

It is better to use light colors like baby pink, sky blue, yellow, light green or simply white color. This will help to make the room brighter.

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Coordinate walls with floor color. If you are redoing your floors as well as your walls and ceiling, you should find flooring that works with your color scheme. If you are not changing the flooring, make sure to check your color options for walls and ceiling against the current floor.^[14]
Be sure to protect floors and furniture when you are testing colors. Use plastic or cloth covers whenever you are working with paint.
Use good brushes and paint rollers. The tools you use to apply paint can help the color look its best, or result in a disappointing outcome
Prep walls and trim before painting with a good cleaning. Use a mild cleanser diluted in water so that you don't end up with residue that interacts with the paint.

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