Renovation Occasion: New Life Construction Blog
By Marisa Cruz
Date: January 14, 2022
It’s time! You’re just about ready to start a big project, or you’re thinking about starting one or even making a change, so it’s time to choose every detail, every color, every pattern to bring your vision to life. First, things first, suggested by construction business owner Richard Cruz, from New Life Construction says, “Before starting any project it is important to make a decision at the beginning. When we pick the cabinets, countertops, flooring and color we do all the upfront work, so there are no delays during construction.”
One of the most exciting parts of new construction is color because the color is going to bring the room together and set the tone. Therefore, when it comes to choosing the perfect colors for the interior of your home it can become overwhelming. I mean how can it not, there are so many different options to choose from.
With all the hundreds and thousands of colors to choose from, where do you even begin? Well, here are a few tips to help shuffle through the chaos and find the perfect color for your new home.
Create a Color Scheme
Start off creating a color scheme. I know you're thinking, “well where do I begin?” One tip we have to begin creating your color scheme is taking a look at what's yours. That could be looking at your furniture, your furniture can help you set a tone for the colors you are going for and from there generate a scheme.
Another great tool you can use is a free color generator online. These applications can become very helpful. A color generator can do two things, it can generate many colors together that complement each other and it can generate other colors that complement a color of your choosing. Coolors.co is one of my favorites to use. It is so simple and has endless color combinations.
Create the Feelings you Want
Color has the ability to affect your mood and how you feel and so much more than you think. According to research it has the ability to affect even your behaviors and moods, “Color can play an important role in conveying information, creating certain moods, and even influencing the decisions people make. Color preferences also exert an influence on the objects people choose to purchase, the clothes they wear, and the way they adorn their environments.” [1] Therefore, as you're choosing your colors, think about the colors that make you feel good or motivate you or even make you want to eat healthy if you're painting the kitchen. There are specific colors that have these capabilities. Do your research on the colors you love and find out how they can affect you and what you want to feel when you step into that area.
Room Size
Not every room is the same size. Some are big, some are small, narrow, wide believe it or not color can help change the size. Lighter colors can make a room feel more spacious, as darker colors can make a room present more enclosed.
has a great article on how to change the size of your room with paint. It explains all the tips you need to make your space feel the size you dream of.
Choose from Light to Dark, Vertically
Designers are saying using darker colors for the floors, medium color values for the walls and lighter colors for the ceilings can help replicate the outside world. “"The exterior environment is generally darker below our feet (the earth itself), medium-valued as you look straight ahead (buildings/trees) and lighter skyward." says, designer Mark McCauley [2]. So, as you're choosing your paint, think about a place you may want it to feel like and think about the colors it is below, around and above you.
Use the 60-30-10 Rule
I hope as you've gone through some of the tips above they have helped you establish a base color or maybe an accent color or maybe a secondary color. Whichever it is, hopefully you've got a hint of some color. Well, now is a great time to use the 60-30-10 rule. The 60-30-10 rule is 60% dominant color which could be the walls, 30% secondary color (baseboards) and 10% accent color (details). This rule is great for helping develop a color palette.
Don’t be Afraid to Use Samples!
When you're in a store such as Home Depot or your nearest hardware store looking at all the color swatches to choose from, take them! Ask one of the store associates to grab you a color sample of each of the colors that you are interested in. These stores generally have sample cans for you to take home and try out for a low cost, usually no more than 5$. Home Depot will give you an 8-ounce can that you can purchase and take home and slap right onto the walls you want to try it on. Sometimes we need a little extra push on making a decision, taking a sample, trying it out, and stare at it for a few hours (or days) to help you.
Choosing the Right Paint Finish You Want
Do you want more of a glossy finish which allows for more shine or are you searching for a more dull moment which would be a Matte finish? The most common paint finishes are flat, matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. Therefore consider what you want more of, for your colors to shine or not and based on that look at what colors look better with your preferred finish. Danielle Fox explains the importance of the right paint finish in her article Here’s How to Choose the Right Paint Finish for Your Space. You will be surprised how the finish can affect the setting of your area. Don’t be afraid to make it yours.
Dream Big
Finally our biggest tip is to dream big! If there are colors you absolutely love, don't be afraid to add them to your space. Your space is yours, so screw what is popular or not, or what people will think! It's your world so make it how you want! Overall, take your time, don’t be afraid to try things out. It is your world, love it!
Sources
[1] Kendra Cherry, May 28, 2020 https://www.verywellmind.com/color-psychology-2795824
[2] H. Camille and Kathy McCleary, https://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/color/how-to-choose-a-color-scheme-pictures