Color has a psychological effect. Choosing the right colors for the interior and exterior of your home can have a profound effect on its value and ambiance.
Traditional color associations:
Blue is the color of the sky, water and mountains. Blue is calming, relaxing and fits in with any decor or landscape. Depending on its shade it can evoke a memory of "northern" (dark weathered blue) or "french" (bright, charming blue).
Red reminds us of nature's flowers and fruits. Nature uses red in most cases as an accent, especially when seen in bright, clean shades. Red can be exciting and sophisticated and cozy. Deeper, grayer-toned reds are common associated with a warm, friendly rural feeling. Reds for the exterior are also associated with fall colors and work well in landscapes that experience all four seasons.
Yellow is a happy color and calls to mind sunshine. It also has strong links to flowers, especially in the spring. Yellow homes appear to be clean, fresh and cheerful houses.
Green in many parts of the country is strongly associated with nature, new growth, trees and shrubs. Greens that are more yellow-based (spring green) will be associated with new growth and springtime. Deeper greens are linked to maturity, such as older plants or trees (it can provide a peaceful, tranquil feel).
White is generally associated with adjectives such as pure, clean, new and bright. Depending on the warmth or coolness of the white, it can be cozy, elegant, or modern. It can be used to put the focus on other elements, like fine furniture, granite or architectural detail.
Brown is most frequently associated with earth, Mother Nature and warmth. Soft cocoa browns and taupes can be treated as neutrals and complement stronger colors well. Deep browns can be rich and elegant.
Grey is prevalent in nature also as stone and sky. It lends a traditional, quiet tone to interior and exteriors alike. Depending on it's complementary accent it can be a versatile neutral.
The Exterior of Your Home
Color can differentiate your home from others in your neighborhood but how it ends up looking on the streetscape can make the difference between uniquely elegant and out-of-place odd…so, consider how your colors blend with the general neighborhood and architecture with an eye towards restraint. Bright blue may look charming on a victorian but look overpowering on a large colonial.
The Interior of Your Home
Decide whether your room will be casual or formal. Choose a theme or style for your area (country, french, english, modern, techno). You may even see your room as feminine or masculine.
Divide color use to approximately 60% of the room in the background (lightest) color, 30% in the mid-tone color, and 10% in the brightest, accent colors.
Over time you will collect favorite things and inherit family items that will dictate colors and theme but you may want to check the latest in decorating trends, fabrics, and paint if you're a fashionable person and store some of the items (they will eventually come back in style) if they are dating your current style.
Here's a few current color forecasts for 2011 for interior colors (test your response and see how they make you feel):
(Colors are not exact due to differences in computer monitors)
From Sherwin Williams Paint:
Purely Refined
Gentle Medley
From California Paints:
Like your response to any of these colors? When you remodel - remember what choosing the right color can say about you and your home.
Interesting fact: Football team locker rooms must be the same color for the home and opposing team because it is proven that colors can be energizing - or draining - of energy.
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