home additions, interior painting

Paint colors are an important part of your home remodel.

Remodeling a home can be hard work, with more decisions to make than you had imagined. Just when you think your Southeastern MA home remodel is nearly finished, deciding what color to paint the walls suddenly becomes your next difficult decision. More often than not, a Wellesley home improvement contractor is halted in their progress when homeowners can’t settle on what color to paint the walls. However, choosing the color of your walls doesn’t have to be a dilemma. First, understand the difference between warm and cool colors with this simple guide.

What Are Warm Colors?

Warm colors are stimulating. Here are the warm colors predominantly used in decorating, along with their associated effects.

• Red – Fiery, intense, romantic, bold, passionate

• Orange – Optimistic, lively

• Yellow – Sunny, happy, uplifting, cheery

Home improvement contractors in Wellesley and the surrounding areas might suggest using warm colors in the following areas:

• Large rooms to make them appear smaller, cozier.
• Where people gather often, such as a family room or kitchen.
• A home office to create a more stimulating environment.
• Contractors for a Southeastern MA home remodel recommend a warm white or a soft beige for baseboards and trim against warm colored walls.

What Are Cool Colors?  

Cool colors are calming and soothing, the direct opposite effect of the warm tones.

• Blue – Calm, tranquil, peaceful

• Green – Healing, vibrant, renewal

• Purple – Majestic, mysterious

Consider using cool colors in these spaces:

• Small rooms to make them appear larger.
• Where peace and tranquility are important, such as a bedroom or bathroom.
• A tranquil cool blue might also be perfect in a living room where winding down after a long day is the goal.
• For baseboards and trim, whites with a hint of gray work well against cool colored walls.

Home improvement contractors can help you choose the right paint.

Beige, Grays and Whites

If time is running out and you’re still in doubt, go for neutral. For a warm setting, consider beige, or for a cool vibe, choose a light shade of gray. Beige, gray and white each have a large number of hues from which to choose. Your furniture and accessories, such as upholstery fabric, art and rugs, can provide pops of color against your neutral walls. You can decide to go for bolder wall colors at a later time.

Additional Tips

• Dominant vs. Accent – You may love the idea of using a Chinese red in your Asian-themed dining room. However, some colors may be too intense for an entire room; consider painting just one “accent” wall or two adjoining walls.
• Hardware Choices – If your remodel includes a kitchen or bathroom, the plumbing fixtures, cabinet hardware and light fixtures should complement your wall colors. For example, choose a nickel finish to work with cool colored walls and bronze or gold for warm walls.
• Test It Out – Remember lighting will change the wall colors. You may love that shade of yellow in the nursery after the sun goes down and then discover it is too bright in daylight. It’s best to paint at least a two inch patch of color at eye level height and see how the light affects the color during the day and evening, as well as on sunny and overcast days. Light cast from fixtures and lamps will also alter the colors.

Remodelers and builders are familiar with the difficulty homeowners have in committing to wall colors. Colony Home Improvement contractors in Wellesley and the surrounding areas have more than 40 years of remodeling experience and can advise you on your color choices. Contact us today for a quote on your remodel project from start to finish – with no obligation.