There are some critical considerations for putting together a living room. There are the furniture options, and there are the decoration items that can be incorporated. But there’s one specific application that can really take a living room to the next level, and it is simply distilled down to paint colors for living room. Making the right choice with living room colors can breathe life into the space and create an amazing ambiance. This post will cover some ideas for painting or adding some color to a living room.
Paint Colors for Living Room Basic Starting Points
The basic starting point for living room paint colors is understanding the basic approach before going any further. It may seem simple in plain sight, but the process can be complicated depending on a variety of factors. Some of the factors include dimensions of the living room, extent of the rooms uses, and intended design style of the room. The basic approach will be to see the end result that’s desired.
The simplest of “go-to’s” for living room color ideas are the white shades. A white shade is simply the most basic color that can be selected for any room, and it will be the most common color for most living rooms. With a white shade, any changes can be made to the room at a later time.
Also, starting with a basic white shade allows for the opportunity to mix and match colors to be added via the room design at a later time. Unless the exact color scheme is chosen from the start, the right color will be a challenge to find.
Living room paint color ideas that are initiated with a white shade will allow most versatile color application, and the living room will be easily position for restructuring.
Choosing Paint Colors for Living Room as an Expression
The next level to the living room colors and paints (from the novice perspective) is painting the room based a desired expression. This could be painting one wall a different color, often know as an accent wall. On the other hand, the walls could be painted with some geometric shapes. It could also even be painted in a with some actual artistic application.
Starting with the use of an accent wall, the paint colors for a living room can be made brighter or duller, depending on the inhabitants. One great way to brighten up a wall is by picking one wall to add a bright color. For instance, a well shaded tangerine on the right wall in a living room, one that works well with the natural lighting of the room, will breathe life into the room.
On the other hand, applying cobalt could dull the room down. This may be the better option if natural light has some high infiltration into the living room. These are couple examples of approaching an accent wall, and more detail can be factored to make the best selection.
The next choice of could be the application of geometric shapes. This is “retro” approach to livening up a living room. But it must be known that it will take precision. One easy way to apply some geometry to a living room is via rectangles.
They will bring that old school retro feel in the simplest way possible. A line can easily be made across walls in the living room, and the top and bottom halves can be painted different colors. This will also give a “designed” look to the living room, but it must be done right. Use due care.
Another method to paint up a living room is using an actual artistic approach. That means applying some actual art to the living room walls. It could be a major City’s skyline or shapes of birds flying. This does come with some risk though.
The placement must be done in the most strategic manner possible. The wrong placement will certainly detract from the living room, but the right placement will make it super stylish. This can really only be advised for the bravest of folks looking to transform their living room.
One real dilemma in any of these cases is the right use of colors.
Finding the Right Paint Colors for Living Room
Many folks spend much time debating the best colors for living room quarters. The amount of time one can take at the paint store (or any of the major retailers that sell paint) can really mount up, so seeking some help to find the right paint colors for living room is best before setting into that paint store or paint section.
To reach out to those that have found themselves in this predicament, a short list of questions or noting of characteristics could go a long way in reducing time to find the right paint color. Here is such a list to consider:
- How many windows does the living room have?
- How do those windows shine light into the living area?
- What is the total square footage of the area?
- Get a count of the entry ways.
- Get count of doors.
- Is there molding trim(floor, ceiling, both)?
- What is the shape of the living room?
This list can serve as a starting point forgoing about selecting paint colors for a living room. This list could grow based on pre and post painting factors that are not listed.
After putting such a list together AND selecting a paint color, an assessment should be done to see if the paint will work out well. One approach is to get a sample bottle of paint and painting a small area of a wall. It can be used to see how it serves the living room feel.
Deal Makers or Breakers with Living Room Paint Colors
The process of applying living room wall colors comes with some deal makers and some deal breakers. Finding out what exactly is a deal breaker, which really is the only concern, depends on the individual. To help with the last step, there are a few things to keep in mind.
First off, check for the balance of the room. One common deal breaker is how the room balances out. The wrong paint color could create an imbalance, such as making the room look or feel cramped or small (here’s a post for more help with small living rooms). This can be a real problem if the space is actually small or limited. Doing a check on the paint effects will be one way to avoid a deal breaker situation.
Another common deal breaker is the color balance with the lighting of the room. If there are a lot of windows, natural light can become an issue. A bright color can cause the room the become very bright during sunny days, and it can be unbearable for some. One way to get around this it to “light test” the room to see how bright it can get. Ideally, the summertime would work best for this test, but if that’s not possible, wait for the sunniest day that comes along and test it around 1 PM in the afternoon.
Rounding Out Paint Colors for a Living Room
Painting a living room does not need the most professional skill when it comes to selecting a color. It all really comes down to the desired feel of the living room. Understanding some basic characteristics of paint colors for living room can make the process productive which will lead to a well-planned living room. Last of all, if there is anything about the color choice that does not sit right, consider it a deal breaker and move on.