Choose the Right Colors for Your Apartment

Paint is still the easiest and most affordable way to give your house a fresh new look in a flash. Need a focal point in a certain room? Is the entrance to your home missing an overall look? Struggling to create just the right atmosphere in your bedroom so it can serve as a genuine sleep aid? All these problems can easily be remedied with a brush and a tin of paint.

Choosing the right color

It’s not an easy task to choose a paint color from a display stand. These tips will make the job a little bit easier:

Collect a few pictures of walls and colors that you like from your favorite magazines.

Go to a paint shop that has a wide variety of samples and gets as many paint sample cards as you can of the colors closest to those on your pictures.

Also, look at various paints and textures; the same color might appear slightly darker in a matte finish than in a high gloss enamel.

Take your time – if you’re not sure about a certain color, take the color sample home with you and think about it some more.

Try three or four different colors and buy a small tin of each – paint it on loose panels about 1m x 1m in size then look at these samples in various rooms in the house at different times. Take into account the natural light in a room – or the lack thereof – as this can dramatically change the final color.

Keep in mind the size of the room; a darker color will make space appear more intimate while the same color, used throughout the house, will make it appear more spacious. 

Be aware of current trends, especially if you are thinking of selling your house

Ask professional paint specialists for advice; if a color consultant is available, ask to see a portfolio. 

Colors can also be easily mixed if you show a consultant something you like that you cannot find on a color chart; paint shops that stock various ranges of paint can mix any paint color across ranges.  If you have to choose between two colors, the light one is usually the safer option.

Color for Every Mood

Cool and Calm: Soft greens and blues create a calming effect in a room as they reflect nature. Blue, grey, and white can be combined to give the space a relaxing, down to earth atmosphere.

Elegant in Black:  Black and white are still very fashionable. A black wall and white leather sofa show how dramatic and elegant this combination can be.

Smart but Simple Decoration

Choosing colorful elements and combinations wisely means you won’t have to spend a fortune to create a striking space. Follow these simple steps when using colors:

Take time to first plan your color scheme (mistakes can be expensive and rectifying them can be even more time consuming); always arrange colors according to your personal preferences and if you’re in doubt get advice that you feel comfortable with;

Use repetition, for instance, different shaped objects or vases grouped together in the same color tones, will immediately create interest;

Flowers are the simplest way to add color to any room and an arrangement of striking orange Gerberas instantly brightens the setting.

REMEMBER

Vivid colours are rich and strong on their own. When you use them together they balance each other and, as a result, don’t appear as overpowering as one bright color would on its own.

Vibrant colours work best in a room that has the scope to take in a lot of colour; always take the changing daylight into account when going bold, as it could alter the effect quite radically.