It’s an age-old question when it comes to house painting choices. There are compelling cases to be made for both bright and neutral colors. This is usually a decision that’s based on personal taste and the type of environment you want to create in your home. Beyond paint color ideas, choices have to be made about paint finishes. From flat to eggshell and gloss, there are different characteristics to each. According to The Spruce, choosing gloss paint for trim, cabinets, and doors is popular because it’s a paint finish that’s durable and washes well. Let’s take a closer look at brights and neutrals to help you decide which way to go for your interior house painting project.
1. Determine the Look and Feel You Want for Your Home
If you’ve created an overall palette for your home, you’ll want to stick with that for your new painting project. A minimalist design in your home lends itself well to neutrals, while a more traditional home design scheme is more flexible. Take a look around at your furniture, wall hangings, and window treatments to determine the overall theme of your home. This will give a better idea of where you want to utilize neutrals and where a pop of color might be appropriate.
A splash of bright color, however, looks great in any style of home and with almost all color palettes. If you’re unsure about adding color to your home, you can always start with a powder room or a less central room in the house. This will allow you to get used to the idea and to see if you like it. Your home should be a reflection of your personal style and tastes, and if you’re more comfortable with either bright colors or neutrals, there’s no need to make a change. If you’re interested in exploring adding some color, your painting professional can help advise you with a few ideas and choices to get started.
2. Choose a Palette with Both
Many homeowners prefer a palette with both neutrals and bright colors. There are ways to create a neutral palette that uses neutral shades as the primary and secondary colors with bold accents. This is a way to have the best of both. You can utilize a few bright pops of color to add visual interest without feeling overwhelmed. Don’t be afraid to experiment a little. If you’ve always had a brightly colored interior or one that primarily uses neutral shades, the change can be a bit jarring. Give yourself a little time to get used to the change.
One of the best ways to combine the two color ideas is through accent colors. If you love taupe and other muted browns, you can experiment with painting your trim a deep purple or bright lavender. Taking this approach will allow you to experiment with color options without moving too far out of your comfort zone. The same is true if you love bright colors for your decor. Try painting a room in your home with a neutral color and add a bright accent wall. The combination of neutrals and bright colors is one that many people enjoy. Of course, if you decide you prefer one over the other, that’s another great option.
3. Consider Other Design Elements in Your Home
Take a look around your home. Do you notice a lot of natural materials and light wood? This is a design scheme that lends itself well to pine greens, browns with gray undertones, and bright blues. Neutral paint options would be white, gray, and soft earth tones. The items you choose for your overall decor can provide keen insight into your sense of style. If you notice a room is feeling a bit lackluster, a fresh coat of paint in a bright color is an effective solution.
An eclectic personal style often works well with bright colors. Explore bright yellows and blues in bedrooms, and bright white in your kitchen and bathroom. Be sure that the color isn’t overwhelming and that your decor items are still the central focus of the room. This is a fun way to explore how to best present your design pieces and artwork. Choose a color that best highlights them and makes them stand out. Conversely, you can opt for a neutral wall color and allow your artwork and artifacts to be the way you add color to the room.
4. Neutral Colors Work With Most Architectural and Design Styles
One of the main advantages of working with a neutral palette is that it works with all architectural and design styles. When you want the architectural style of your home to stand out, a neutral palette is often best. This allows visual interest to be drawn to details of the home. You can experiment with some accent colors, but for most modern and minimalist design styles, you’ll want to keep bright colors to a minimum. There are many ways to explore different neutrals and tones to keep your home from looking drab or uninspired.
Popular neutral palettes tend to be based on a gray primary color. White is often the secondary color of the palette. This gives you a lot of room to create something interesting with your accent colors. Purple trim or black cabinets are an effective way of keeping your home from looking too “greige”. Another popular color scheme uses nature-inspired neutrals to create an interesting blend of both bright colors and neutrals. Fully neutral rooms are another option, and using different paint finishes to create a more textured effect can get great results. Most neutral palettes benefit from the use of some color, no matter how muted.
5. Bright Colors Will Transform a Room
Bright color lovers know just how transformative they can be. Using a bright color is more popular in some rooms than others. Many homeowners prefer cooler shades for their living rooms with bright colors in the kitchen, bathrooms, and dining room. Because bright colors can sometimes feel overwhelming when used in some smaller rooms, you’ll want to consider the overall effect of an entire room painted in cherry red, for example. Sometimes less is more. But, when you have a dining room that could use a lift, painting all the walls a bright blue can be an ideal solution.
Colors can also change the way you feel. If you have a room that doesn’t get much natural light, try a paint color like a bright sunshine yellow, or a cheerful raspberry. Using a neutral color for the door and window trim can help keep the bright color from becoming too much. Now’s an ideal time to meet with your local painting professional to discuss the goals you have for your home’s interior design. Don’t hesitate to try something new, you might be surprised by just how much you like it. Bright colors are cheerful and fun and are a great way to add life to your design scheme.
When it comes to house painting, we’re the professional team you can rely on. Our team has the training and skills to get the job done right the first time. Contact us at VS Pro Painting to set up a consultation and receive an estimate for your project. Our team can handle all your painting needs, both interior and exterior. We can help you with color and finish selection too. We’re a full-service house painting company that takes pride in our work. Give us a call today.
