Selecting Room Colors

If you've ever visited a hardware store or home improvement store, you've mostly like seen the paint color palette display with thousands of color combinations available. When selecting room colors, keep it simple and remember that there are truly only seven colors in the paint spectrum, and they are:

• Red
• Orange
• Yellow
• Green
• Blue
• Indigo
• Violet

White and black are considered neutrals, not colors, and compliment whatever color scheme you choose. The paint display of color palettes at the store always provides sample strips of varying degrees of color. When selecting a paint color for a room, start by choosing three colors from an object in the room. For example, if you use a favorite comforter on your bed, take the matching pillow case with you to the paint store. Find three of those sample paint strips with the colors of your pillow case, and you will have at least fifteen colors from which to choose to paint your bedroom.

Since each sample paint strip contains six complimentary colors, you may choose to use one color for three bedroom walls, and another hue from that color strip for a fourth wall. Once you've chosen the colors for your bedroom, you can continue the color scheme into the hallway by choosing another color from the same paint strip. Taking it a step further, choose one more six-panel paint strip that will compliment the first paint strip, and use that color scheme for the bathroom just off of your bedroom.

The result will be one color scheme for your bedroom, with a complimentary color scheme for your bathroom, and another complimentary color scheme for the hallway to tie the look together.

Colors can create an atmosphere and affect our moods. Consider the following when selecting room colors; red, orange, and yellow stimulate, while green, blue, indigo, and violet relax. If you have a study in your home and wish to encourage a relaxing environment for concentrating on deskwork, then choose a color scheme with blues or greens. If you've a playroom, colors from the yellow palette might be appropriate.

In most rooms you can combine neutrals with stimulating or relaxing colors—or both—to create separate environments within your home. If you have bold furniture colors, choose neutrals for walls and ceilings. Conversely, if you have bold wall color choices, choose traditional neutral furniture to make a statement. Kitchens are a combination room. Sometimes you need relaxation, while other occasions dictate a stimulating environment, such as a party. Choose colors from several color groups for your kitchen area. Bathrooms are another room that can incorporate stimulating and relaxing color groups. If you choose yellow for wall paint, choose neutral and bold colors for accents.