Deciding on a Paint Color Palette: Tips from the Pros

Most designers swear by the light-to-dark, top-to-bottom technique, and it’s simple to implement

Deciding what color to paint a home is tedious and difficult. However, while deciding on a color from the many choices available can be challenging, it is an opportunity for a homeowner to let their creative spirit run wild. There are infinite combinations to try and so many different methods to use.

However, homeowners needing inspiration can read on for color scheme advice from professional painters.

Go light-to-dark, top-to-bottom

Most designers swear by the light-to-dark, top-to-bottom technique, and it’s simple to implement. The basic principle is to have the lightest colors in a room on the top and the darkest on the bottom. This technique works brilliantly, especially if the room has dark wood flooring.

Pick an overall color for the room, have the walls painted slightly lighter than the upholstery and rugs, and add curtains roughly the same color as the walls. Then, paint the ceiling white or a neutral pastel shade with a slight hint of the room’s chosen color to complete the look.

Using the color wheel

Artists of all kinds often use the color wheel to determine analogous color schemes. Analogous color schemes are made with pairings of adjacent colors on the wheel. These colors flow into one another, providing a synchronous effect.

So, for a kitchen, choose a sunny yellow and a calming green to pair together. Ocean blues and darker purples pair perfectly for a more pronounced, profound effect.

Accent with the basics

There’s no need to go all in with neutrals like white and black, but homeowners can add interest in details using neutrals. For example, if the room is darker, white windows can be very calming. For cooler-toned rooms, black fixtures can round out the whole color palette to make it look finished.

Mix cool tones with warmth colors

It’s not necessary to pick one undertone where color is concerned. Most often, a homeowner will gravitate toward other cool tones if they’ve already chosen one, such as yellows paired with oranges, reds, pinks, or blues combined with greens, purples, and grays.

However, they can combine pale yellow with an ash-gray or ivory to see it all come together perfectly. All that’s needed is an eye for color and many swatches to create a stunning room with furniture and decoration.

The three-color rule

In general, it’s always a good idea to limit how many colors there are in a room. Homeowners shouldn’t want too much happening in the space because it can be overwhelming, especially if there are prints on the drapery or upholstery. Stick with three.

One color should be neutral, either gray, sandy brown, white, or black. However, the other two are entirely up to the homeowner’s imagination.

For help choosing colors and expert painting services, contact a well-respected painting contractor in the area.

M & B Painting, a Father-Son family-run business, has a proven record of Service Excellence in residential and commercial interior and exterior paint projects. Call us at 623-289-3366 for all of your painting needs!