Choosing Interior Paint Colors for Your Home

Your choice of color talks volumes about the type of individual you are and speaks a cannon about the space you inhabit. Reflect your true colors through hues that not just you, but your walls too would love to wear.nYou can transform the entire appearance of your home with the right interior paint colors.

The right color not only sets the mood for the room but also gives it some personality. The key is in knowing which interior paint colors are right for your home and how well they blend with the other elements of the room. Instead of choosing safe and conventional interior paint colors, why not take the time to research new possibilities and choose the right color combinations.

nFirst of all, you need to decide the budget for painting your house. After you settle down with a ballpark figure in your mind, make some more things clear for yourself. What is the end effect you would desire?

Do you want some color eccentricities or do you wish to stick to the conventional colors? Once you decide this, go to the next step.nExplore a few basics about the paints and colors.

There are many paint brands and types available. Choose any brand that fits your budget. You will also have to decide the type of finish.

You have matte, satin, glossy, semi-glossy and eggshell finishes to choose from.nFinalizing the color scheme is the most important step that will decide the complete look of your decor. This needs to be done very carefully.

nnnnnGreen is a relaxing and soothing color. Lighter shades of green are often used for smaller rooms as this color makes them look larger. Some shades of green, like lime green, bring freshness to a dull room.

nOrange is a bold color and often affiliated with the feeling of euphoria and rejuvenation. Orange is many a times used to paint a room where family members regularly convene; generally the living room. This is mainly because orange is thought to be a social color.

Shades of orange like peach, sunrise orange, starfish orange, papaya orange, soap orange are quite popular.nThis color is popular for its tranquility. Turquoise, cobalt, sapphire, powder blue, baby blue, aqua blue, etc.

are some of the favorite variants of blue. These colors are mostly opted for painting the bedrooms and sitting rooms because of its calming nature.nThis dynamic color gives a warm appearance to the interior.

Red is often considered a stimulating color and hence is one the most preferred colors used in painting the interiors.nViolet has always been thought of as a color of luxury and wealth since the ancient times. Lavender color, a shade of violet, when given to a room not only gives a luxurious feeling but also that of comfort.

nYellow color is usually associated with sunshine and positivity. Naturally, this 'bright' color is for coloring their house interiors, especially the kitchen and kid's room. Moreover, other shades of yellow like amber, gold, ochre are also extensively used for home interior painting.

nCheck the colors at various times in natural light and under artificial light. Colors look very different under different light arrangements, and what seems attractive during the daytime may not seem as pleasant when the sun sets! Similarly, you cannot necessarily expect a color to prove its credibility during daytime, if it exudes panache when the stars are out!

nPaint a 2 feet by 2 feet area to check how the color looks, and imagine it painted on the entire wall. An important point to note here is that when the paint dries up, it becomes at least two shades darker, so keep in mind to observe the color when the paint has dried completely.nKeep continuity.

Choose a maximum of four base colors and two patterns. Keep alternating them as your primary and secondary colors, else you'll end up with an interior that is very stimulating visually. One more important aspect to be kept in mind is that when you stand in one room, keep the door of the other room open, see how much of the adjacent room is visible from this room, and plan accordingly.

You should keep at least one or two colors that all your rooms will share.nPaint the house in a neutral shade, if you enjoy changing the color scheme of your house often. Whenever you are in the mood for redecoration, simply do up your interior with the incorporation of colors by using pillow covers, sofa covers, curtains, or rugs in electric blue or bright red.

When your mood strikes again, just mix and match the accessories.nUse colors to create a sense of illusion. Using warm to dark colors on the walls and ceilings can make them appear pulled together, while light, neutral shades can create an illusion of the walls being pushed away.

Similarly, painting the ceiling darker than walls can make them appear lower and vice versa.nUse light colors to highlight projecting wall portions and dark colors to highlight trim details and wall recesses of a room. Match the skirting color to that of the floor to give a larger feel to the area.

nWater-based paints are a good option if you are thinking of painting the walls and ceiling. They are also called 'Latex or Acrylic Paints'. These paints can be diluted with water and are fast-drying.

The advantage of using these paints are that depending on the dilution, they can be made to act like a 'watercolor' or an 'oil paint'. They work best on previously painted surfaces, but they should not be directly used on high-gloss paints, bare steel, and wallpaper.nOil-based paints are used if you need to paint the cabinets and furniture.

They not only provide a protective coating but also create a smoother finish as compared to the water-based paints. Oil paints are diluted with solvents, such as turpentine or varnish to increase the glossiness of the resultant oil film. They are slow-drying but are quite durable as compared to water-based paints.

Also, these paints provide glossy, luminous colors.nFlat/Matte paints are the most commonly used ones. They are the weakest type in terms of tolerance and suffer damage easily.

nSatin gives a silky/pearly finish and is easier to clean. It creates a moisture barrier and therefore can be used for kitchens and bathrooms.nGloss, which is durable and requires little maintenance, is used mostly in kitchens, bathrooms, and other rooms that are frequently used.

nSemi-gloss is sleek and hard-wearing that can be used for doors, windows, wall trimmings, balustrades, etc.nThe best description of eggshell paint could be not too glossy yet not too matte; just subtle sheen. Eggshell has the potential to lend an element of vastness to your spaces.

nDitch the color palette! Look around to get more creative ideas like the ones illustrated below.nJust about anything that catches your eye can be grist for the mill.

Collect samples of different colors, patterns, and textures. Try to put together different or unusual combinations that you wouldn't normally go for, and see how they mix and match. So, add these tips to your knowledge bank, dunk the paintbrush into the color palette, and see your space deliver more than what you expect!