Semigloss. The higher the degree of gloss in a paint, the more visual depth it will have and the lighter the perceived color will be. So, when choosing a darker shade especially, selecting a semigloss or more subtle satin finish can make a color seem less aggressive and more multidimensional and help keep the paint from absorbing all of the light in the room.
While a painted ceiling is immediately noticeable in a room with stark white walls, when a room has a lot of interesting and eclectic finishes on other surfaces, a rich hue can actually blend in better than a white ceiling. For the best of both worlds, a navy, deep teal or royal blue shade will feel dramatic but still appear neutral enough to not overwhelm you.
For wall paint, you can ask the paint store to create a “tint” of a particular color, perhaps knocking down the main color by 50 percent, which the mixer will do by adding white. “They can create a lighter or darker version of it,” Ott says. “That’s a good way to unite without putting the same color everywhere.”
Blue paint picks for bedrooms (clockwise from top left): 1. Dreamy Clouds 5002-5B from Valspar 2. Surf’s Up 042-3 from Mythic Paint 3. Goddess 252-2 from PPG Pittsburgh Paints 4. Sleepy Blue SW6225 from Sherwin-Williams 5. Tahoe KM3127-3 from Kelly-Moore Paints 6. Laguna Blue 2059-30 from Benjamin Moore 7. St. Giles Blue 280 from Farrow & Ball 8. Surfer 510D-5 from Behr
Green paint picks for bedrooms (clockwise from top left): 1. Glacial Green 21-32 from Pratt & Lambert 2. Soft Green 066-2 from Mythic Paint 3. Timid Absinthe 6003-5B from Valspar 4. Celery Ice 410E-2 from Behr 5. Pear Green 2028-40 from Benjamin Moore 6. Green Jeans KM3335-3 from Kelly-Moore Paints 7. Eco Green SW6739 from Sherwin-Williams 8. Arsenic 214 from Farrow & Ball
One of the many rules about pairing color is that if you pick two hues of a comparable depth of tone, you’ll be on the right track. Here, however, a super dark sofa would get lost. To connect the two tones, the designer has chosen a sofa fabric with streaks of very dark gray on a mid-grey background.
Old Navy 2063-10 by Benjamin Moore
Deep Royal 2061-10 by Benjamin Moore great for a bright room
Hale Navy HC-154 by Benjamin Moore classic true navy blue
Compass Blue MQ5-54 by Behr deep cobalt similar to sapphire
Blue Note 2129-30 by Benjamin Moore The designer also notes that the color can change along with the time of day. “It also responds beautifully to changes in light,” she says. “At night it is quite restrained and elegant, and daylight brings out its exuberance — we love it!”
Wall paint: Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore
Eastern exposure. Rooms that face east receive morning sun. These spaces get direct sunlight that is warm and clear with yellowish undertones. Light tans and other soft earth tones work well in these rooms. These toned-down hues allow your room to look bright and light-filled in the morning without feeling too intense.
Western exposure. For large rooms that face west, I often specify an off-white that has a slightly mauve undertone. It’s a great way to amplify the sun’s rays as they turn peach late in the day.
Southern exposure. South-facing rooms receive an abundance of sunlight most of the day. Sometimes this light can be very intense, so I often recommend that homeowners use a cool color on the walls, such as blue. But keep in mind that even some lighter blues, such as turquoise and aquamarine, have warm undertones. Therefore, to stay cool in your southern space, look for blues with silvery-gray undertones, such as denim or storm-cloud blue.
TruexCullins Architecture + Interior Design SaveEmail To bring even more coziness to a north-facing room, pair a cream wall color with natural wood window casings. Choose a midtone stain that has a delicious honey hue. This will give those cool rays a jolt of warmth. Go even further and install hardwood flooring in the same tone. Your space will feel harmonious and coordinated, and the flooring will reflect light, which will make the space seem brighter.
Northern exposure. A north-facing room gets very little, if any, direct sunlight, and the light that does filter through is cool and less intense. The room also appears darkened by shadows. A great hue to use is a peach or an off-white with peach undertones. This color mimics the sun’s rays and will make your space feel as if it’s drenched in warm natural light.
Rather than covering the walls in navy, consider transforming prominent items of furniture, such as tables and cabinets, using the richness of navy to lift the room. Had this table and cabinet been finished in black, this room would’ve been far less inviting.
If you’re seeking a cozier feel, choose a blue on the darker end. If you’re going for a more serene vibe, a lighter, perhaps sea blue may be better. As you’re drawn to shades of blue, pay attention to whether you prefer blues that tend toward lavender, green or pure hues.
Sea-glass green and sky blue. You can’t get much more appealing than sandy beige paired with the blues and greens of sea glass and cloudless skies
Unite beige with other neutrals. Color blocking is a stylish way to combine beige with other neutrals: Elegant combinations are charcoal and buttermilk, a pearly beige with graphite, or creamy beige with gray and taupe. It’s a confident and very contemporary look that taps into the trend for organic, natural shades that look fantastic with wood.
Pick the paint color last. Many people paint a room and have to decorate around it — which is almost impossible. Select fabrics and rugs first, then you can choose a color which works with the room as a whole.”
Blue comes through strong and clear in this room but is confined to pillows, draperies and paint — elements that could easily be changed should the owners want to redecorate.
If you prefer to play it conservatively, use neutral colors for your investment pieces and overlay other colors.
Another approach to choosing color is to take the hue from an object you already own — ideally, an investment piece like a work of art or a rug. If you love the item, then you will usually love the same colors reflected elsewhere in the room.
Colors that are on the opposite side of the color wheel can bring lots of fun to a space. They create an unexpected quality that adds character and interest. The blue and orange shades in this living room represent colder and warmer tones — and when combined, the temperature is just right.
Deep, watery blue hues are among my favorites for a bedroom. The slight green undertones give a bit of warmth that a true blue lacks.
The dark wall not only creates a dramatic backdrop; it also adds visual depth to that part of the room. This is a clever design trick to help a room feel a bit larger
Navy blue is an excellent paint color to add sophistication, drama and a feeling of refined maturity to a room. Similar to charcoal gray, navy works well in a light-filled room or on a featured accent wall, particularly in smaller rooms or walls with architectural details like a fireplace Wall paint: Stunning 826, Benjamin Moore
If you love these colors but desire a more restrained look, pair the bolder hue or hues with plenty of neutrals. Stick to small accents of the bolder hues for a dash of fun color.
It’s still dramatic, but the featured hues have a neutral quality that keeps the overall look more restrained
Turquoise and ruby. Blue and red can be tough colors to bring together, because they contrast each other so highly, which often culminates in a rather busy color scheme. Make it work by keeping one of them a softer, lighter shade, such as the turquoise shown here. A warm gray background color also helps to bridge the two hues. For a similar palette: Pure Turquoise, Camping Tent and Dark Crimson, all from Behr.
Shaker Beige HC-45 by Benjamin Moore it takes on the color properties of whatever it is mixed with. It’s the perfect go-to color!”
White Dove OC-17 by Benjamin Moore it works with both warm and cool colors equally well (except with yellow, where she prefers the crisp contrast of a brighter white).
Mayonnaise OC-85 by Benjamin Moore This is a warm white that mimics sunshine, even on a cloudy day
Elmira White HC-84 by Benjamin Moore It has no yellow or pink undertones, so it looks beautiful with neutrals.
Wall paint: Hale Navy, Benjamin Moore
Sightline; walls Gray 2121-10, Benjamin Moore;
Benjamin Moore Evening Dove 2128-30
Door color
Island color: In the Midnight Hour, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: Edgecomb Gray, Benjamin Moore
Wall paint: In the Midnight Hour, Benjamin Moore
This contemporary take on brown mixes it with a heavy dose of gray Pair it with silvery metallics to bring some crispness or with hot, vibrant hues to embrace the warm undertones. Try: Castle Wall Grey by Glidden or Gallery Grey by Valspar
A toned-down purple takes the drama and glamour inherent to indigo hues and blends them with the gravitas of gray Try: Coal Mine by Behr or Shadow by Benjamin Moore
Warm white trim colors. See the note about your monitor's color calibration above. From left to right: 1. Creamy SW7012, Sherwin-Williams 2. Popped Corn W-B-200, Behr 3. Snow Cap 7003-8, Valspar 4. Acadia White OC-38, Benjamin Moore
Cool white trim colors
You can read up on the color wheel to understand how colors work with and against one another. But a basic rule of thumb is that using analogous (or adjacent) colors on the wheel will create less contrast and a more calm feel, while choosing complementary colors (across from one another on the wheel) will create greater contrast and a higher-energy room.
Semineutrals In recent years, the trend of embracing semineutrals has returned. These are colors that can’t be considered true neutrals, but are still easy to combine and work with. Blues and greens, being such natural hues, tend to be the most cooperative of colors,
Q