Fearless Color Use

Rules for Transitioning Colors Throughout Your Home...with more confidence!

We have all heard designers say, "Don't be afraid of color".  While I completely agree with this, I would add..."unless you don't know how to transition the colors properly!"

Transitions colors can sometimes be tricky.  That's why I'd like to point out a few "rules" or tips on how to use color.
  1. Corners of Rooms: Transitioning from one paint color to the next is perfect for an inside corner of the room.  However, when a wall juts into the room and create an
    outside corner, this is not a good location to transition into a new color.  In other words, closed corners are good; open corners are bad.
  2. Openings to Other Rooms:  If you have openings that do not have trim around them, the inside face of these openings should always be the color of the room you use the most, or the most important of the two. 

  3. Volumes: When a wall juts into a room and creates a volume (for example, a fireplace wall), this is a great place to have a different color.  This draws special attention to the volume in the space and is perfect for different colors and/or textures.  (Just as long as it follows rule #1, too!)
  4. Carpentry: It can be really fun to do colored trim, too!  This potentially allows you to have brighter, lighter walls because the color is in the accents of the room.  This is great for rooms that don't receive a lot of sunlight.
  5. Center of Walls: A lot of newer homes have very open spaces and it is a lot more difficult to transition colors in these homes.  Sometimes the solution is better when you use just the same color throughout these open spaces and use your decor as the bold accent colors. Regardless, colors should never start and stop in the same plane on a wall; there should always be something that allows a break in the space to do that.  After all, there are other ways to define your wide open spaces without the use of different wall colors (rugs, ceiling treatments, etc.).  A line of paint transition in the middle of the wall is never a good idea.
  6. Ceiling Color: Don't be afraid to paint your ceiling a different color than white!  This should also be done in moderation, but this is great in those large, two-story great rooms and smaller rooms like bathrooms.
  7. Accent Walls: These are very common and are great for making a bold statement in a space.  This needs to be in a thoughtful, deliberate spot...and particularly in (Yes, I'll use that word again) ...moderation.  In other words, every room shouldn't have an accent wall that is bold in the same way; use them somewhat sparingly so that it doesn't become overwhelming.
So, go out there and use color...fearlessly!

1 comment:

  1. I like the idea of plain white walls everywhere, and the using rugs, pillows, and curtains as the colour statements in a room. I like this for a couple of reasons; one, I'm too lazy to paint every time I grow tired of the new bold colour I'm into, and second, I suck at painting! Your article confirmed that what I'm doing is okay! Thanks!!

    ReplyDelete