Choosing a Paint Color Scheme

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When decorating a home, the paint color scheme that is used in each room is very important. You do not want a room that is full of bright colors because it does not appeal to the eye, but you also do not want a room that is full of dull colors and does not catch anyone’s eye.

The color of the walls and ceilings of a room can sometimes make it or break it, so make sure to do some research before you decide to paint your room. It is important to know about the many color schemes that you can choose and decide upon before painting your room.

The Color Wheel

Before moving on, let’s explain the color wheel. Understanding the color wheel is very simple and can be vital when deciding on which color scheme to use. All of the colors used on the wheel are made up of the tree primary colors: red, blue, and yellow.

When you combine two of the primary colors, you either get green, orange, or purple. These are called secondary colors. Then once you mix a secondary color with a neighboring primary color, you get a tertiary color.

Every color in the world has some relationship to all of the other colors in the world; however, the best color combinations are the ones that are close to each other.

For example, a teal color would look great combined with a blue or green, but would not look the best with a red or brown.

There are also a few color wheel rules that you should be familiar with. The first one is that colors from the same family, meaning different shades, look great in a room. A dark red and a lighter red look just as great as a dark blue and a light blue does.

It is also important to know that you can use colors that are directly next to each other on the wheel. For example orange and violet would be a red. Also, it is important to know that opposites do attract. As cliché as that sounds, every color on the wheel has a compliment that comes naturally and these compliments are usually on the opposite side of the wheel.

Paint Color Schemes

In the world of paint colors, there are many types of color schemes that everyone can choose from.

Monochromatic Paint Color Scheme

The monochromatic paint color scheme is probably one of the easiest schemes around. It is very easy to manage and is always appealing no matter the color. This scheme involves only one color and then different shades of that color.

For example, you paint your room a light baby blue color and then you accent it with trim that is a dark blue. The two blues are able to offset each other but they work. Using different shades of paint is a great way to add flair to a dull room. No matter which color you choose or have already, there is always a shade of that color that you can use to accent it even more. Though this scheme is not as colorful and contrasting, it always looks balanced.

By following the monochromatic color scheme you can use various intensities of one color to bring a sense of spaciousness and continuity to a small or crowded space. This will also bring a sophisticated and elegant look if the color that is chosen is used in different shades throughout the home.

Adjacent Paint Color Scheme

Another paint color scheme is the adjacent color scheme. With this theme, two different paint colors are used. These paint colors are usually directly next to each other on the color wheel. These colors have a calming effect and are best used in an informal or quiet space such as a bedroom.

An example of this would be blue, blue violet, and blue green. All of these paint colors have a tint of blue in them, but they are also different. This adds personality to the room while bringing it all together. With the adjacent scheme, you are able to add a more modern look to your room that is sure to catch anyone’s eye.

Complementary Paint Color Scheme

A complementary paint color scheme is also something to consider before painting your room. This scheme uses paint colors from the opposite sides of the color wheel. Using this color scheme, depending on the shade or hue, can produce a bold and lively effect.

Examples of this would be yellow and violet, red and green, etc. This scheme is one of the hardest schemes to make work without having the room look like a disaster. Walking into a room painted red and green, the colors will probably clash. When this happens, it is important to choose between the two colors and make one of them the more dominant one. Don’t paint one wall red and one wall green because your room will probably look absolutely ridiculous when you do. A room with clashing colors is not something that appeals to the eye.

With this theme the room is able to bring in the strongest contrast available. This means that your room will get the most attention. However, this theme can be very hard to balance. It’s even harder if you choose to use warm colors. To create a balance, use cool and warm colors together.

Triadic Paint Color Scheme

One more paint color scheme that many people use throughout their homes is the tiadic color scheme. This theme uses three colors that are located around the color wheel equally. Basically it is when one is the predominant color, another as a secondary color, and a third as an accent. An example would be yellow-orange, blue-green and red-violet.

This scheme is very popular for people who are painters or artists because it provides a strong contrast but at the same time it gives a sense of balance and richness. The triadic scheme is harmonious and a little similar to the complementary scheme. With this scheme, it is best to use a dominant color and then use the other two colors as accent colors to provide contrast.

Before painting your room, become familiar with the many different paint color schemes that you can get ideas from. Go to your paint store or home improvement store and compare color swatches with others. You are sure to find the perfect match.

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