subject: Choosing an Appropriate Colour Scheme For Your House [print this page] It's important to be comfortable in your new house, so if something doesn't quite feel right with the room, don't call the furniture removalists back, have a look at the walls instead. Colour has a huge effect on our mood, even subtle shades can have a surprising effect on our temperament. Matching the colour with the mood of the room will help each room stand out and fit its purpose. But you don't want clashing colours or colours that simply don't match the house. It's wise not to go with the flavour of the week when it comes to colours, as these things go out of fashion quite quickly. You may also want to create a colour scheme based around the furniture in the room such as a rug or lounge suite. The general rule is to have one of three scheme-types: monochromatic, all one colour or very close shades; harmonious, similar colours; contrasting, often in the form of a feature wall one wall that dramatically contrasts with the rest of the house's colours. On the outside, a house should look good on the street but you probably don't want it to stand out too much. It all seems a lot to think about if all you want to do is spruce up the walls with a dash of paint, but choosing right the first time will mean no regrets. Here's a few tips on how to make your house harmonise:
Copy your neighbours. Check out the colours of you neighbours' houses. Chances are it was built around the same time. If you want to re-paint the outside of your house, it's a good idea to to complement the street's general colour scheme. The colour scheme won't be on purpose, but take a look at your street and you'll see a pattern. This doesn't necessarily mean you can't be creative with your painting, choose whether you want your house to stand out or blend in and paint accordingly.
Use the Internet. There are several sites online you can use to find a colour scheme. Adobe's Kuler (www.kuler.adobe.com) allows you to search by typing in a word or phrase and you'll find a palette right in front of you that matches. You are also able to use one colour as a base and see which shades or colours complement and clash. Color Scheme Designer (www.colorschemedesigner.com) offers a simpler interface, with an easy-to-use colour wheel, showing moods of certain colours much more clearly. Most paint shops (especially chain stores) will have a website specifically engineered to create colour schemes for house. Whilst these may not be as powerful as general colour scheme websites, at least you know the paint colour will be available!
Talk to your local paint shop. Discuss with an expert the current colour scheme of your house and the era in which it was built (take in pictures if you like). Talk about the colours you'd like to use and the moods you're trying to get across. It's important that your colour scheme not only suits you, but also the house. You should be able to find something complementary to suit both your taste and the house's look.
A colour scheme is worth spending time on. These are the hues you'll be living with and you'll need to find a balance between subtle and attention-grabbing. There are multiple resources out there, but there is still plenty of work to do mostly using your eyes. Remember to think about the lasting impact of the scheme you choose you don't want to hate it in a few years. There's plenty to think about when it comes to colour.
Choosing an Appropriate Colour Scheme For Your House
