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A new season is quickly rolling around, and for many homeowners, that means the list of DIY and home improvements is growing! While summer seems like a good time to begin a home update, for most people, the summertime gets filled up quite quickly, and autumn ends up being the time for homeowners to dive into all those renovations. Installing new flooring, re-painting, or creating a whole new room for the home are just a few of the many things you can do to improve your home.
Picking your color scheme
When it comes to choosing a color scheme for any part of the home, the choice is endless. At any large hardware store, you will find thousands of beautiful shades and combinations begging for attention, making it difficult to choose colors from the paint swatches alone.
We have all heard the mantra “less is more,” which is just as true when choosing colors for your home as it is with fashion.
Take some inspiration
Need some inspiration for your new color scheme? Check out real estate agent websites to see what other people are doing.
Agents such as Broadhurst Property always have a great set of desirable property photos of real houses (as opposed to Pinterest and Instagram set-ups), and these can serve as really good inspiration for your DIY endeavors.
What is your style?
Before you begin painting or even picking a palette, take some time to figure out your style. The easiest way to do this is by looking around at the colors that are already in your home and seeing what works well.
Are you a fan of softer colors, or maybe you prefer bright and bold? Maybe you prefer to have different colors in different rooms and make a statement? Observe what colors are already in your home. For example, you may have a lot of blue or green in your kitchen because of the appliances, or your home may be mostly painted white, those are good starting points.
If you find that a lot of the colors in your home are a little too bright or loud, you may want to consider some other options.
Think about location
Consider where your home is located. For example, if your home is on the east coast and it gets cold in the winter, you might want to look for some more warm tones for your home’s interior. Outdoor grills and fireplaces will also affect how you choose colors for those rooms.
Do you have a North facing room, you may need to stick to lighter colors to allow the light in.
Choose your mood and temperature
A kitchen done in bold blues may feel happy and cheerful, but a bedroom done in those same blues will feel a bit cold and unwelcoming. Pairing colors may be more complicated than you think! It’s not just a matter of picking two colors that are pleasing to the eye. Each color has its own “temperature,” which is a matter of how warm or cool it looks.
To figure out what temperature you’re going for, look at the shades of your current paint. Do they lean toward the cooler side (blues and green), or do they skew toward the warmer side (reds, yellows, and browns)?
Go with one colour and work around it
One of the best ways to approach choosing a color scheme is by starting with one main color and then pairing that with another shade that is opposite in temperature but still complimentary in value.
A warm color paired with a cool-toned one creates an interesting, restful space and will always make a statement in any room.
Expand to two main colors
Pair your palette down to just two colors. Pick your favorite colors from your existing paint (think warmer whites or pinks) and try using them on their own or in combination with the darker, cooler ones.
Put them up against your room window and compare how they make you feel. If you’re happy with the effect, then add even more warm shades to one side of the room for balance.
