Choosing the perfect paint colours for your home can be both challenging and tedious and not as simple as some homeowners expect. For example, it’s important to keep in mind that the shade of paint affects the overall mood of people in that room, as well as ambience and aesthetic of the space.
Furthermore, the colour you choose should always complement the other furniture and the general purpose of each space. That said, this guide highlights the factors to consider when shortlisting the best wall colours. We’ll also take a look at the more popular wall colours, their meanings as well as the tips for combining colours to set the perfect foundation for your interior décor.
Factors to Consider When Choosing Wall Colours
Several factors should be considered before you start viewing paint swatches. Let’s take a look at the most significant ones.
1.Natural Lighting and Artificial Lighting
Before you settle on a colour, you should first start by considering the type of lighting you’re going to use in the space. Essentially, ambient lighting is softer and more relaxing. Directional lighting, on the other hand, can make the space brighter and generally focuses the light on one area of the room.
You should also assess the amount of natural light your space will get. For example, you can use a compass to determine the direction of the window. This gives you insight into how much light the space will get.
The amount of natural light in a room may enhance colours such as red, yellow and orange, making them seem brighter. Cool colours such as blue and green will appear muted, and even dull.
2. Room Size and Ceiling Height
Keep in mind that lighter tones will make a smaller room look bigger. Darker and bold shades will make a room look smaller. That means, if the room is small, it may be a good idea to stick to lighter shades to keep it from looking cramped.
Interior designers often use paint colours to add the illusion of height to rooms with low ceilings. This is often the reason why white is a common go-to option for many homes. Alternatively, if white isn’t the colour you had in mind, simply paint your ceiling a lighter shade than the walls. If your ceiling is very high, a darker shade will visually lower the height of a room.
3. Existing Furniture and Décor
You should also review the style and colour of the furniture in the space. Ideally, a room with traditional, dark and heavy furniture should be painted with lighter shades to prevent the room from feeling too dark and dreary. If you have light-coloured furniture, and the room isn’t too small, you could even consider a signature wall in a bright hue.
4. Personal Style and Preferences
The last factor to consider is your style and preference. It is possible to use your favourite colours in the room design, as long as you use other guidelines above.
Also, would you prefer all the walls to be one colour? A bold colour on one wall will accentuate the space and create a perfect backdrop for artwork or photo frames. This may be a good way to incorporate your favourite shades.
Popular Wall Colours and Their Meanings
We’ve listed the colours identified by interior designers as being the most popular choices. This is what these colours mean in Singapore.
- White: Purity and virtue
- Neutral colours (grey, beige, taupe): Peace and calm, excellent as a backdrop for bold accessories
- Blue: Spring, healing
- Green: Calming
- Yellow: Stability
- Red: Happiness and joy
- Purple: Nobility
How to Choose a Colour Scheme for Your Home
Consider the following when you’re picking a colour scheme for your space.
1. Monochromatic
A monochromatic colour scheme involves choosing one hue and then using tones, tints and shades of it across the room. By using variations of the same colour, you can make a room look bigger, making it excellent for decorating smaller spaces. It also prevents the space from looking boring or overwhelming.
2. Complementary
When you’re opting for this particular colour scheme, you’ll be choosing two colours on the opposite side of the colour wheel. This works well when you opt for a high-contrast colour combo that’s bright. Common examples here are yellow and purple, red and green as well as green and magenta.
3. Analogous
To make an analogous colour scheme, you should choose three colours situated next to each other on the colour wheel. This is usually made up of:
- A dominant primary or secondary colour
- It’s accompanied by a supporting shade
- A third that’s a mix of the first two colours in a shade that makes a statement
4.Triadic
In a triadic scheme, you’re opting for three colours, one dominant and two other evenly spaced colours that serve as accents. These colours should stand out from each other to create a vibrant palette.
5. Tetradic
A tetradic colour scheme is made up of four distinct colours, two of which should be complementary. Here you’ll select one primary colour and then its complementary hues.
Tips for Combining Colours
To combine colours, consider the following tips:
1. Balancing light and dark colours
Creating a balance between dark and light shades will help create and accentuate the energy of a space.
2. Mixing warm and cool tones
Mixing warm and cool tones creates the perfect ambience and makes a space feel cosier.
3. Using colour to create focal points
Many homeowners opt to use colour to create a statement wall, where one wall in the space is painted in a bold colour to make the room pop.
4. Accenting with patterns and textures
Using patterns and textures are an excellent way to break up bigger wall spaces. They also add dimension to a minimalistic design.
How to Test Wall Colours Before Painting
If you’re painting for the first time, know that paint often looks different in your space than it does in the catalogue or the paint swatch. This is mostly because of the lighting.
Use one of the following methods to test wall colours to avoid disappointment.
1. Samples and swatches
All paint suppliers will have swatches and samples available. You will be able to take these home and hold them up against your wall to get an idea of how the colour will look.
2. Painting a test patch on the wall
If you’re not sure which shade of your favourite colour to use, get a small paint sample and paint a patch on the wall to see how it looks in your lighting.
3. Using virtual paint tools
You can also use apps and virtual paint tools to get an idea of how the colour will look on a full wall.
Summing It Up
Choosing the right wall colour for your home can have a significant impact on the mood, design and overall ambience of the space. We encourage our readers to have fun with their colour choices—don’t be afraid to experiment with tones and shades of your favourite colours. Keeping our tips in mind will help you choose the best colour scheme for your home!
If you need additional guidance with your paint choices, the design experts at Aureus Interior Design have all the answers! And if you simply just needed a professional painter to paint your home, PaintingGuy.sg is able to help you.
