Trends come and go, and more often than not, trends tend to repeat themselves about every twenty years. One area where you can see trends repeated over and over is in your home décor. If you want to get the most out of your decorating dollar, then the answer is to use color. Changing the painted wall color of your living room is one of the least expensive but most impressive modifications you can make in your home. If you’ve never chosen a popular living room paint color before, it can be a little baffling. However, once you consider the key elements of your room, it won’t be so difficult to know where to begin.
As you start this exciting project, the first thing you should do is consider your likes and dislikes. The color of paint you choose should reflect your personality. What colors do you consider your favorites? A wise interior designer once said that if you’re stumped by choosing a paint color, try looking in your closet. There, you’ll typically find colors you enjoy and that make you feel good. Your home is an extension of who you are, so choosing colors that please you will give you a good start.
Choosing the Right Color for Your Living Room
Next, study the room. How do you want to utilize color? Your living room may feature its own specific elements and architectural accents, such as molding and trim, which must be taken into consideration. Look at the structure of the room—pay attention to its shape and size. What do you find attractive about the room? For example, does your living room have great windows? In that case, you’ll want to accent the window area. A rule to remember when painting a room, such as your living room, is that paint can accentuate a room’s special features or hide them.
The style and theme of the décor you intend to use in your room, as well as your personal taste, will determine the color of paint you choose. It will also depend largely on the function of the room. The living room, for instance, is usually used as a gathering place for family and friends. Using a warm paint color will give a more inviting and welcoming feeling than a cooler color. A lighter color may help a small living room feel more spacious, while a darker color can make a large living room feel cozier.
Choosing a design direction is the next step. Do you have a certain decorating theme in mind for your living room? Or perhaps you’re planning to update the room with a new paint color while keeping the existing theme? One way to choose a paint color is to focus on a favorite piece of furniture. Alternatively, you could base your color choice on a beautiful fabric swatch, which might be used to make draperies or curtains for the windows. Some may even choose a color based on a lovely piece of art or a special painting. Once you know the decorating direction you want, it will be much easier to decide on the perfect paint palette.
A good idea when picking a living room wall color is to go to your local home improvement store and get paint sample swatches. They have hundreds of colors, and paint can be customized in any of the shades you choose. There are seven basic colors in the color spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. From these seven, all other colors and shades are derived. Colors are either cool or warm in tone.
For a high-traffic area such as your living room, a satin finish paint is a great choice. This finish gives a slight sheen to the walls and is easier to clean than flat paint. Satin finish paint will hold up to the wear and tear of family life and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth or sponge. It also comes in a variety of colors and is wonderful to work with. This water-based satin paint tends to have less odor and is easier to clean up after your project is finished. Be sure to take your time when choosing a living room paint color—don’t buy on impulse. Spend at least a couple of weeks making up your mind.
You should never buy cheap or low-quality paint. Spending the extra money is well worth it in the long run. Higher-quality paint performs better. It goes on the wall smoothly, and visible brush or roller marks won’t be a problem. Higher-quality paint also resists dirt and fingerprints. Once you’ve picked your paint color, it’s always a good idea to purchase small quarts to test the color in your home, under your own lighting. Various types of lighting can cause paint colors to look different in each room.
While the color white has been a popular living room paint color with a contemporary feel, many homeowners find it boring. Others like white because it’s a “safe” color choice. The great thing about white is that it can make a room, like your living room, seem larger. The stronger and bolder the color of large furniture items in the room, the better white can work as a wall color. However, if your furniture and accessories are more neutral in tone, you’ll probably want to opt for brighter painted walls.
Be confident and use bold and bright paint colors if you desire. For someone just starting out in life and on a tight budget, with little furniture, using a vibrant paint color in your living room can help create a look that fills the room until you’re able to purchase more furniture.
Some of the most popular living room paint colors today include white, off-white, beige, light yellow, burgundy, creamy golden, sautéed mushroom, and light blue. These are among the top-selling paint colors. As seen throughout this article, color choices really depend on the person making the choice. When you find a color that you truly love, you’ll know it. From there, you can proceed full speed ahead, creating a fantastic living room to enjoy for years to come.
