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What color should I paint my room?
When it comes to picking a color for your room the sky is the limit. There are so many to pick from. Ask yourself these questions; Does the room get lots of natural light or is it dark? Is this room unusually hot in the summer and cold in the winter? How much time do you spend in this room and what do you usually do in this room? Are you trying to create a certain atmosphere or mood? Is the room too small or too large?
Most people go out to the store and just pick the color they like. I'm certainly guilty of that! The following information will give you some ideas if you want to paint you room with a goal in mind. Please keep in mind that none of this is proven, but there is some science that backs up the theory. Frankly, it makes sense to me. Read on.........
Perhaps you have a small bathroom that needs paint. This room is dark with no windows. Yellow is a great color to use for a room like that. Yellow is cheerful, fun and makes objects seem closer making this room look larger after you paint it. Keep in mind that the color yellow is stimulating and can tire the eye, so don't use too much of it or your bathroom guests may come out irritated. Make your accessories another color. The opposite of yellow=violet.
Orange is another stimulating color. You'll notice that you see it in many fast food restaurants. Corporate America figured out a long time ago.....red, orange and yellow make people want to eat. If you family is constantly dieting this won't be the best color for a kitchen. It does however lift your spirits, provides warmth and makes you feel comfortable. Don't over use orange. The opposite is blue.
Red is not for the kitchen unless you need to gain weight. It stimulates the nervous system and increases appetite desire. Bright red can be very irritating so use it carefully. Red is a great accent color and full of class. The opposite is green.
Green, one of my favorites, lowers blood pressure and relaxes the nervous system. Now you know why most hospital operating rooms are green. If your cranky mother-in-law is ailing and needs to move in with you to recover, paint her room green. Green is a healing color and you'll get rid of her quicker. Green is great for a small room because it will make it look larger. The opposite is red.
If you have a room in the house that always feels warm, paint it blue. Blue is the cool color. This color also depresses hunger (maybe a good color for the kitchen). Great for small rooms too because they will look larger in blue. Blue can make a room look formal too. Too much blue though is not a good thing. The room can look too cold.
Violet is good for making a small room look larger. Yellow is a great accent to violet because it is opposite.
Brown is earthy, creates a tranquil look and provides intimacy. If over used it can make a room look too bland so use another color or textures to accent. Beige and tan can give a room sophistication. Opposite is green.
Pink is warm and comforting. If your room is unusually cool, pink is a great warming color.
Black is elegant and sophisticated. Use it for elegant accents but don't over do.
White is stark but a great accent or background color. A white background can punch out your other colors and make them vivid and bold.
Now you know more about color families and what they will do for your room and you. So when you decide to paint that room answer the questions above and picking that color won't be so difficult.
Hint: If you don't plan on staying in your house very long, keep all your room colors neutral. Prospective buyers will appreciate your neutral home.
Here are some great interactive paints sites that provide you with the ability to see your room, with the color that you pick all completed. I have tried them myself and they do work. You just pick a color and insert it into a room that the website provides.
http://www.sherwin-williams.com/do_it_yourself/
http://www.glidden.com/home/index.jsp#
Here is a good site for calculating how much paint you will need. Just enter your measurements and the site figures out the rest. http://www.glidden.com/products/InteriorCalculator.jsp
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Hi,
ReplyDeleteYour blog is really good.
I've never really worried myself about colours for the house, hoever this summer I decided to paint my bathroom. It was a very light greyish blue.
I've decided to paint it the following way : white for the ceiling (the ceiling has two levels), two walls with a very light lemon/aqua green and the other two (including the one of the shower) with a very light (same value of the green) peachy orange.
I started painting over the light greyish blue; if I did it again, I'd cover it first with the white.
Anyway, I'm satisfied with the result.
Kind regards,
José
Oh thanks..
ReplyDeleteNice information..
I have made a snap decision to paint my room and this really helped me out. I have a tiny room and i almost painted it bright red!!!
ReplyDeleteWow, this is really helpful information, i'm going to move out soon for school, and I need to find a color to paint my dorm. :D
ReplyDeleteThanks.
Thanks. I'm moving house and I had no idea what color to paint my room, but this has really helped me!
ReplyDeleteThanks :)
eerything in your blog is good you just need to show some pics to get a lil example of things
ReplyDeletei like what you said about the pink because i think what you wrote makes me feel the same way.
ReplyDeletethanks
helena (7yr)
thanks (:
ReplyDeleteWell I don't really agree with it. I just do what ever color i want.Do white because if your mood chages, so does your color. White is every mood.
ReplyDeletei want all my walls different colous, constrastinf and quite striking... i also want a black and white theme, any ideads??
ReplyDeleteI like the black and white idea! If your rooms run into each other, you need to keep the colors similar.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tips now I know what to do with my room!!!
ReplyDeleteWell do you have any ideas for a cool teen bedroom?
ReplyDeleteSure. I have plenty, but is the teen a girl or boy?
ReplyDeletehi im a teen and i want my room to be a room that people want to hang out in. but my room is unusually warm and dark. what colors do you think would look best?
ReplyDeletei am painting my room and i have no idea what colors/patterns i should paint it.. i was thinking a black/grey background and splatter paint neon colors on top of that... or lime green background with pink splatter paint or polkadotz.. and vice versa... any other ideas? (it is a small room)
ReplyDeleteTo the "teen",
ReplyDeletePick your favorite color and go from there. If your room is small, go with a light color. If it's large, you can go darker. If you get tired of things quickly, paint the room neutral and add colorful accents.
Good luck!!
to Anonymous,
ReplyDeleteBe careful with splatter painting. It does create small lumps on the sheet rock. If you change the color of the room in the future, it will all have to be sanded. I've been through this process and it was not pleasant. Black/gray is a beautiful combo. Adding some bright accents will go a long way to making that room stand out. Good luck with your project.
hi, my boyfriend just dumped me and everything in my bedroom reminds me of him! my roo is brown and cream with one wall that is dark turquoise! I have no idea wht to do with it! can comeone give me some advice? whats nice? i like the idea of black and white bit wouldnt knwo whta to do with it! I have quite a small room im a very natural person, i have brown bamboo stencil pianted up two corners of my room and a bamboo picture, i also have beento africa and have a brown african symbol and painting on my wall. I have mirror doors on my wardrode so everything in my room reflects on that! Please if you ahve any websites or pictures or advise it would be really helpful!! Thanks
ReplyDeleteIf I were you I would keep all the same colors but go a few shades lighter. If the room is small, applying lighter colors will make it look bigger. In addition to giving it a lighter, larger look you will change the room enough that perhaps it will no longer remind you of him.
ReplyDeleteI also like white and black. White walls with black accents will change it completely. Pick a bright, third colors to add to the B&W. New room, new life and leave the old boyfriend behind!
Hey I'm a teen girl and would like to know cool ideas for my room it's average and has various walls
ReplyDeleteWell, teen girl. I would paint it neutral and do it up BIG using all of your favorite colors. Go wild and have fun with it!! That way if you get sick of the room, it's easy to change it all up with new colors. That's the easiest way to do it and the cheapest. Neutral walls, with wild colors to punch it out. Keep the walls light and it will make your room look larger. Also, use mirrors! They make your room look larger. Make sure you hang them directly across from the windows. good luck!!
ReplyDeleteI need help with my room. I'm a teen girl. I like the colors orange and green (both light) and obsolutely hate dark colors because they just depress me. I want my room to contrast various colors but I do not want a white background. I have five walls. bedspread various colors. chair thats big that is brown and pink. I want my room to involve zombies, colorful handprints video game characters like Sonic, Link, Mario, Kirby exc. I also want quotes on my wall. what should i do?
ReplyDeleteThank you so much
ReplyDeleteRanch home with a small rectangular hall off the living room that leads to bathroom with a bedroom on either side. Main living area and hall are painted Benjamin Moore's African Violet. Bathroom is painted Bejamin Moore's Butter to brighten the room as the only natural light is from a small skylight. Navy accents (shower curtain, towels, picture frames) used to tie the bathroom to the navy in the bedrooms. This is also the bath guests use.
ReplyDeleteThe yellow has definitely brightened up the room, but I'm afraid it doesn't make a nice transition from the African Violet. Don't know if I should repaint to a more muted shade of yellow/gold, or if it is just a matter of accessorizing. I have pics if you'd like to see them.
I would love to see the photos. Send to christurner29@aol.com
ReplyDeleteIm a 12 year old girl my room is normal size the 2nd biggest in the house my room is pink right now but i really hate that colour now and i dont know what to do. i dont want it to loud i want it really simple and nice. im thinking green or blue but im not sure. PLEASE HELP!!!! xx
ReplyDeleteGreen is a nice colour to work with. You can paint the walls green and then use another color as an accent (such as pillows, comforter and curtains). Think about color combinations that you like. Green + white, green + pink, green +black or even throwing in third color. Blue is nice too, but it will give you a "cold" feeling. Also think about combinations of colours that go with blue. This should help you figure out which way to go. Good luck!!!
ReplyDeleteChristy
my room is very very dark ,which color should i use ,pls help me
ReplyDeleteI would prime it first and then paint on a lighter color of your choice. That should brighten up your dark room.
ReplyDeleteChristy
I am a 12 year old girl who wants to paint my room. I wanted to paint it a light gray because I thought that would look really cool. The problem is I have a lot of colorful decorations and I don't know if they would look good with light gray walls. Do you think I should do it??????
ReplyDeleteI think light grey with any colorful combination will look very cool. The colors that you add to the room will highlight the light grey. Good luck with the room-I think it's going to look great.
DeleteChristy
Hello, my Son is finally moving out! I just bought a day bed and the bedding for it is black and white floral with some dark pink trim. I am going to use the room for guests and my sewing/craft room too. It.s a room that get lots of light and it's usually the warmest room in the house! I also need it to be a "feel good room" and help reduce stress. what colors would you suggest to paint the room in? thanks so much!
ReplyDeletewow,you are lucky. I wish "one" of my kids would move out! Thinking about the bedding, I would look at a pearl gray of cream color. If the room is "warm" , blue would be the best color. Blue gives the room a "cool" look, but I don't think it will blend with your bedding colors.
ReplyDeleteGet some color samples, tape them up and check them all out. They also sell small bottles now that you can paint on your wall to see if you like it rather than investing in a full gallon of paint. Good luck! Think about this: will you change the color of that bedding in the future? Consider that before painting.
Hmmm, good suggestions! I forgot to say the room is not a large room, it,s a smaller bedroom. Yes, I may change the bedding sometime down the line, but for now it will be there for a while. I can reverse the comforter to a black with tiny whit dots on one side. Do you think a light lavender color for the wall would work? Or a medium to light green, not too light though. I don't know, I think I like the idea of small bottles of paint! I am going to check into that, Thanks! :) I may Like something completely different.
ReplyDeleteWell, if the room is small, go light. I love the light lavender idea with the black and white (even with a dash of pink) on the wall. When you pick out the color.....pick the one you like and go 2 shades lighter. That always seems to work for me.
ReplyDeleteThe small bottles are a good choice too. That way you can check it out without making the investment. Paint can be so hard sometimes. (like the time I painted my front door rust, but it came out pumpkin orange.....omg: what a disaster!!). Good luck. Love the lavender idea!
You made me laugh! I could picture your front door,that must have been a moment you will never forget! Lol ;) yes, I think I like the lavender idea too, I was sort of wanting to see what a soft lavender grey might look like too. Either way, it seems to sound like those colors would compliment each other. I may even stencil a few rose colored flowers around the windows, but I am not certain. Guess I should start with the painting first. ;). Thank you for your advice, you have been a wonderful help!! Good luck with your kids, they will be grown up and out soon enough. thanks again!
ReplyDeleteI certainly remember the moment. I re-painted that front door faster than any thing you have ever seen. I was horrified that some neighbors might see the "pumpkin" color. Live and learn, right? By the way........my kids are grown and still live here!! ugh.....
ReplyDeleteHi! the whole of my upstairs is being renovated (including my room)in 5 days. My room is big but is becoming a bit smaller, so it will still be big. It is currently yellow and white. Yellow is my favourite colour but I feel like a change- i've had it for 6 years! My mum says we would plan to move in the future (maybe 3-4 years) so I can't do anything too wacky. I am completely stuck on what colour it should become! I am a teen and I love love paris, so I wanted to include that in my bedroom. It gets hot up there. I was thinking blue and grey, but my sister is having aqua so i wasnt sure. My mum thinks purple but im not an overly girly person. I could have green but its not really one of my favourite colours. Red is too bold, don't really like orange. Even though my room is decent size, I am still aiming for light colours. Sorry i'm very choosy.. Please help me out!
ReplyDelete-Anon
Anon,
ReplyDeleteIf the room is warm, blue is a great choice. It will make the room feel much cooler. If you don't like the "girly" colors, stay away from pink and purple. Maybe you should focus on all of the accents in the room rather than the wall paint. Paint the walls neutral and go really bright with accents. When you move, the room will be ready to sell and you can take the accents with you. Maybe black & white (white walls) with bright yellow accents (since you like yellow) may be an idea. I hope this helps.
Hey! I'm a 15 year old girl and my family and I just moved into our new house! I really want to have a more grown up room because my last room was bubble gum pink since I was 7. In the new house my room is in the finished basement it is really nice with a electric fireplace and a built in dest, both the appliances r white and I have all white furniture anyway. As of right now my walls are painted sea foam green and I hate it because I am an extreme girly girl, I love pinks and stuff but in 3 years when I go off to collage my room will be a family room so my parents want to keep it a good color for that too. But I don't wanna do boring white because al my furniture is already white ! Help me !!!
ReplyDeleteWell, since you are leaving in three years, why not paint the room a neutral color and make all your accessories bold and wild colors. So in other words, paint the room a pale color (white or beige). Do all the pillows, curtains, bedspread and throw rugs in bright colors. Pick three...maybe hot pink, lime green and black. Against a pale neutral wall this will look great! It gives you a great looking room with all the colors you love but leaves the room usable for mom & dad when ya move out. What do you think??
ReplyDelete