Paint expert, Jamie Hancox, shares the most common colour mistakes and how to avoid them...
1. Not Considering The Direction of Natural Light
The direction of light you have coming into a room is a very important factor to consider before settling on paint colours. Getting this right is an easy way to create a clean and balanced space. The main directions you will want to consider are South and North-facing spaces, East and West-facing rooms are more situational.South-facing rooms receive the most sunlight. Try to balance these rooms with cooler shades such as blues, greens, pale purples, or any other cooler paint colours. Having a good blend of colder paint colours with the warmer light will have a positive impact on your space.North-facing rooms get a far softer natural light. At times these spaces can feel a bit cold so definitely avoid the cooler shades discussed above. Try to inject a little warmth into your home with a drop of orange, red, yellow, or earthy browns. You can quite easily turn a room with a cooler vibe into a cosy retreat with a few clever colour choices.When it comes to East or West-facing spaces you’ll want to consider the times of day you use the room and how the light hits it throughout the day and choose accordingly.The way colours appear in your home will change as the day goes on and the sun moves or when you switch to artificial light in the evening. Take the time to try colours on your wall and see how they look in different situations with tester pots or colour swatches.When it comes to natural light more is always better, so take any opportunity to let as much in as possible.
2. Pairing Colours with Conflicting Colour Temperatures
We have already touched on the temperature of colour with warm and cool shades above and how to choose the right one depending on the direction your room is facing.But what if you fancy bringing both together in the same room? Can it work?Blending together both warm and cool shades in the same space is a challenge, one of the main risks you run is a loss of cohesion in your room making it feel a little disjointed and not tied together. This can be quite problematic, especially if the room is a transitional space between colour zones.When planning your colour schemes it is best to play it safe and stick with warmer or cooler tones. That said, with careful planning you can bring together both warm and cool shades together to create a visually striking space. If you are keen to give this a try neutral shades can work as an effective bridge.
3. Overdoing It With Too Many Dark Colours
Dark paint colours are another area you will want to avoid featuring excessively when choosing colours for your home. Darker shades tend to make a room feel small and cramped which is not going to give your home an open and spacious vibe that most decorating their homes strive for.There are times where a drop of darker paint can be exactly what you are looking for when decorating a room. It all comes down to how you use them. Try to incorporate darker paints as accent shades rather than a primary colour for a room. There are many forms this could take.Here are a few ideas on how to incorporate darker colours without overpowering your space:
- Paint trim in the darker shade
- Use it on a feature wall – this can give a room a sense of depth too.
- Use darker shades to visually zone a part of a room. For example, kitchen and dining spaces.
If you are still unsure where to start try to implement the 60-30-10 interior designer trick with the 10% part being the darker hue.
4. Not Choosing Paint Colours That Complement How You Intend to Use Your Room
Another mistake people commonly make when creating colour schemes is not considering the impact paint colours can have on mood, productivity, and relaxation. Taking a little time to choose shades that evoke the right emotion is an important step that will make a huge difference to your home.The key here is to think ahead about what you intend to use a room for while selecting paint colours which create the right vibes and a positive atmosphere.A few examples of this could be:
- Energising or vibrant shades in a home office where you may look for a bit more motivation.
- Warm and cosy shades in a living room to create a relaxing retreat
- Calming tones in a bedroom to help you sleep
Can Paint Colours Decrease the Value of Your Home?
The paint colours you choose can make a big difference to your home and the vibe it gives off. It is unlikely that paint colours would directly impact the value of your home as much as it would its desirability.We want people viewing our homes that would potentially buy it feeling welcomed and to see themselves living there. Nobody wants to immediately have to redecorate a house after moving in due to a few very bold colour choices.If you avoid a few of the colour selection mistakes we’ve discussed here you can be quite confident that your paint colours will not hurt the value or desirability of your home.
