Changing Wall Colour and the Impact it has on Your Living Space

There is an old cliché that states “a change is as good as a holiday”.  This can be very true and, simply by giving your home a fresh coat of paint, it will feel almost like new.

While changing for the sake of change might help, you can enjoy many more benefits by learning more about colours and how they affect your living space. 

Rule #1 for selecting colours is: there really are no rules!  You will read a lot about what colours work best and where.  This is simply advice, to which you should listen, but you don’t have to take it.  It is more important that you choose colours and combinations that you like and can live with.

The first thing to consider when choosing colours is the room you will be painting.  Kitchens and bathrooms are generally lighter coloured, while dens and bedrooms can be darker.  The other colours in the room, carpet, furniture, etc., can also be a clue to the best paint colour.

It’s no secret that colours can affect mood.  Think about the mood you would like to create in each room.  There are roughly three different colour groups and each has their own effect on mood.

• Cool Colours – like blues and greens, are considered to be more soothing.  Choose a cooler colour to create a more relaxed atmosphere.

• Warm Colours – like reds and yellows, tend to give a room a warm, more lively feeling – a place to visit with friends.

• Middle Colours (Earthtones) – beige, gray and taupe.  These are neutral colours that can provide a nice contrast to the warm or cool colours of carpets and furniture.

Shade and tint can also change the effect of wall colours.  A dark blue will give a room a much different feeling than a light blue.  Darker shades can make walls feel closer and they generally work better in a large room. Lighter tints make a room feel brighter and larger.

No matter how much you learn about paint colour, it will always be difficult to know which shades will work best.  Look around, poke your head in next time you are at the neighbours, talk to friends and family.  Everything you do will help you make a better decision.

Again, remember rule #1.  Try what you think will work.  If change is as good as a holiday, go on an extended vacation!  The beauty with painting is, if you don’t like it, you can paint over it again without breaking the bank – and you might discover the next new trend!