Let’s Talk Wall Color

Spring has sprung and color is all around us! What a lift it gives to our spirits after the dreary winter days.

Just as the colors of spring change our mood in nature, the color on walls change our mood in the interior of our living spaces.

Color can evoke emotion—blue is calming while red can bring out restlessness, tension and anger. Colors are either warm (those with a red or yellow base) or cool (blue based).

When choosing color for your walls, remember—it’s just a coat of paint! If you are painting the home you will be living in, don’t be afraid to experiment with bolder colors; colors that speak to you and you love. Try an accent wall first and if you really like it, go for the entire room. If you don’t love that wall—it’s just a coat of paint. Try another shade

Painting a house for resale is (pardon the pun) a "horse of a different color"! In this instance the colors need to be neutral, but neutral doesn’t mean plain white. Whites (and all colors) come in many shades. Not everyone loves green, yellow, or blue, but you are safe with shades of whites, beiges, taupes, putties and the earthier greens. These colors will not interfere with the new owner’s preferred color palette.

You are selling the space and features of the home, so take those into consideration when choosing color.

Does the room have an east or northern exposure? If so, use colors with a warm base. Conversely, if the room’s exposure is western or southern, use a cool based color.

Is the room very large? Go a few shades darker to create a feeling of coziness. In general, for smaller rooms, go with lighter shades.

Spaces should flow and consistent color helps that happen. Consistent doesn’t have to be the exact paint color. In fact, it is more interesting if it isn’t, but it should be a shade and/or tone of the same color family. It is usually a safe bet to use two or 3 shades off of the same color card throughout a home.

Finally, when selling your house, if you have any question about a room’s color or the condition of the walls—get out the brush! It’s just a coat of paint!!