Doing remodeling in Kansas City? If you’ve ever walked into the paint section of a home improvement store, you’ll probably notice two things: Firstly, for any one color you have in mind, there are about a hundred shades to choose from — some which are indistinguishable from one another. Secondly, having so many choices can feel overwhelming when you want to pick the right color for your space.
So when it comes down to the design and remodel of your home, how do you make correct color choices with numerous available options?
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few things to consider:
- Make a plan before you paint – and paint last.
Good planning can go a long way. Conventional logic might make you think you need to paint the walls of a room before you do anything else. However, color choices can come from lots of diverse places, including the fabric, upholstery and furniture you choose. It may be more helpful to find those items first and paint last. That way, you can draw inspiration from the items found in the room itself, which adds coordination to the area.
Conclusion: Paint last, not first. Use other room items for color inspiration.
- Make a color scheme for your home additions in Kansas City.
You might remember the mnemonic from your childhood, ROY G BIV, when it comes to remembering the colors of the rainbow. Similarly, a color wheel accounts for those colors in a visual representation that’s useful when deciding which hues you want to use in your personal space.
In interior design, the color wheel is broken up into three, easy-to-remember parts. First, we have the primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. Then, there are the secondary colors of orange, green, and violet. Mixing any two primary colors creates a secondary color (for example, red and blue make violet). Lastly, there are tertiary colors – these are colors that are created by taking a secondary color and mixing it with a primary color next to it on the wheel. For example, the color yellow-orange is the resultant mix of the secondary color orange and its neighbor, yellow.
Now that you understand color wheel basics, there are several simple, but beautiful ways to consider using those colors in your home:
Monochromatic – Birds of a feather stick together in this relatively safe approach to room design. You’ll choose one main color (green, for example) and use varying light and dark shades of it to fill your space. This is a great choice for someone who wants to take an elegant and chic approach to home design. Monochromatic themes don’t have to be boring – in this method, varying shades and fabric texture can create depth and visual interest.
Complementary – Have you ever known a couple who seem like complete opposites, and yet somehow bring out the best in each other? That’s exactly how complementary colors work. By choosing a color (for example, orange) and its polar opposite on the wheel (purple), you’ll find surprising harmony. Visually stimulating, these are a great choice for entertainment spaces like living rooms or dining rooms, and will surely serve as a conversation piece for visiting guests.
Triad – Thinking about something a little bolder than just complementary colors? The triad style might be right for you. Think of it as Complementary Plus: choose a color and the two on the color wheel that are kitty-cornered to it. An example might be purple, green and orange. The triad style is a daring, but sensible composition option.
Conclusion: Use a color wheel and plan your color scheme with it.
- Think about consistency.
It can be tempting to choose different color choices and themes for each room. Diversity is important, but it’s also important to keep harmony between the rooms in your home. By lacking consistency, rooms may appear disconnected rather than pleasantly different, which can be visually confusing. You can add unity to your design by choosing wall tones in similar shades, one type of flooring or matching fabrics.
Conclusion: Give your home a consistent feel by finding a unifying element such as wall tones or flooring.
- Want to show off your design? Lighting matters.
Lighting is essential once you’ve found your perfect colors. You’ll want to highlight your hard work properly, so choose bulbs and fixtures that suit each room. You may want to choose lighting options that allow you to play with the ambiance of the space in question by choosing accent lighting, or lights with dimmer switches.
Conclusion: Don’t diminish the value of your redesign by failing to think about the way light plays with color.
With more than 30 years in the business, Schloegel Design Remodel knows how to bring out the beauty in your home. Contact us today to see how we can make the most of the space you love.