The Color Handbook - The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Colors

Benjamin Moore - Color Handbook - PaintpourriThe color of a room determines its character, personality, and energy. Color consideration is one of the most important parts of interior design and can evoke many different types of emotions in people. The power of color is a real one: colors can influence our moods, our thoughts, and our reactions. Colors generate reactions and can alter the experience of a room. Color also determines the purpose of a room. This is why choosing the right color for a room is such an important (and often daunting) task. Deciding which color to use to paint a room can be difficult. A room and its walls are like a blank canvas. With thousands of different colors to choose from, it can be hard to know where to begin. There are, however, a few things that can make the decision less daunting. Following a few pointers and understanding color relationships can make choosing a color much easier.
  • The Color Wheel

Understanding the color wheel can make the task of picking out a color for a room much less stressful. The color wheel can also help you understand different color relationships and engaging color combinations, making it easier to understand and pick out color combinations that work together. The color wheel has three main color combinations you can use to help you decide what color combinations will work best in the room you are painting.
  • Monochromatic Color Scheme
These colors come from one color family and include tints, tones, and shades of the same color. For example, a blue monochromatic color scheme would include different shades of blue, ranging from dark blue to light or pale blue.
  • Analogous Color Scheme
This color scheme uses colors which are adjacent to one another on the color wheel. These types of colors are harmonious and match well together. They also create serene. calming designs.
  • Complementary Color Schemes
This color scheme is made up of colors which are on opposite ends of the color wheel. This type of color choice adds energy and color to a room, making it lively and energetic.
  • Choosing the Right Color for Your Room

Benjamin Moore suggests using four categories to simplify your decision-making process when choosing a color. These categories include pales, neutrals, whites, and deeps. You should also understand how lighting can affect the colors in these categories. Lighting in a room changes several times during the day and plays a huge role in how a color will look in a room. This is something you should take into consideration when deciding on a color. A color can influence a room’s mood, add energy, and set the tone for the room’s entire purpose. You should always experiment with and test colors before making any type of decision. Use color samples, observe how the color changes in different lighting and different times of the day, and see if what you observe changes your mind. Experiment with multiple colors before making a decision and always choose a color which sets the tone and purpose of a room. Paintpourri offers a wide selection of Benjamin Moore premium paints and exterior stains, plus they have a color consultant on staff to help select the best color for your space(s). Visit their showroom at 324 Mountain Ave in Hackettstown to get some inspiration for your next project.