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| Color Scheme- Yolo Colourhouse- Portland, OR. |
Color- one
of the most critical factors to interior design, and one of the most
transformative. Color in
the form of wall paint is hands-down the least expensive way to transform a
space, but takes careful consideration and analysis.
Here we've put together some principles to consider when looking at color for interior spaces.
MOOD &
EMOTIONS OF COLOR
Color theory teaches us
about the relationship of colors to one another in terms of hierarchy, tonal
value, warm vs cool, and color harmony and mood.
For instance, green and blue are calming colors and will
give the user of a space a feeling of relaxation. Red and oranges, being fire
colors, will provide a feeling of activity and increased motion. Brighter yellows
are a hue that can induce feelings of anxiety and alertness, and bounces light considerably.
DIMINISHING OR HIGHLIGHTING TEXTURE
The sheen levels will greatly effect color, and can help to ‘correct’ certain architectural details you’d like
to highlight or diminish.
Matte or eggshell sheens can help to lessen the textural look of
‘popcorn’ textured walls and ceilings. Higher
sheens (semi-gloss and gloss) will more closely bond to any surface and bounce
light considerably, actually showing off any texture or imperfections on the
surface even more, and making the color appear brighter.
VOLUME PROPERTIES OF
COLOR
Color has
a powerful way of making a space feel more expansive or intimate.
To make a
space feel larger, look to lighter and brighter options, with a high LRV content, and stay away from the temptation to
paint a ceiling the same color as the walls, especially when using more saturated tones on the walls.
For a feeling of greater intimacy, consider rich and saturated tones. Rich tones can still have a vibrancy to them, as long as the sheen and LRV are considered.
Of course there are a multitude of other considerations when looking at color, but our hope is that you can pull some inspiration from the 'theory' above for your space.
Cheers, Carey
