Paint-ology 101

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By Melinda Kroll

Paint and lighting are the two most influential interior decorating tools for establishing the mood of a room.

An interior painting project can be a little distressing for some folks but there's a lot to be gained--with a minimum of expense and effort--by coloring those standard eggshell walls.

Why the anguish? Paint is not permanent. Best of all, there are no steadfast rules. You don't have to select lighter colors for smaller spaces. You don't have to opt for white to make a space seem larger. In fact, if you're looking to make a particularly dramatic statement, you can even use black. (Yes, black!) Just make sure that your home reflects the colors you enjoy and that your walls are sending the message you've intended. With that in mind, here's a quick lesson in paint psychology.

ABOUT COLOR

Colors are classified as light or dark, warm or cool, and intense or subdued. Light colors create bright, airy rooms. Since they reflect the most light, they can brighten north-facing rooms, dark hallways or rooms with little natural light. Dark colors create intimate spaces, and tend to be good for studies, home offices, and formal dining areas.

Warm and cool colors can be intense or subdued. Reds, browns, oranges, and yellows are defined as "warm." Intense shades can create drama and excitement, while subdued shades create warm, welcoming spaces. Because they stimulate the appetite, they're often used in restaurants; as such, many homeowners use them in kitchen nooks and dining rooms. As you might guess, warm colors tend to be popular in cooler climates.

Blues, purples, greens and grays are defined as "cool" colors. Intense shades lend a fresh, dramatic appeal to a room, while subdued shades make a room feel less confining. You'll often find cooler shades in bathrooms. They're also more popular in warm climates, for obvious reasons

WHAT DOES IT ALL MEAN?

Colors are more than a combination of red, blue and black. They're a form of nonverbal communication and they have various meanings. Sometimes they even evoke physical reactions. For example, red has been shown to raise blood pressure. Cool colors tend to have a calming effect, whereas warmer colors create excitement.

THE RULES ARE...

When it comes to color, there are no rules, says Anita Wiechman, an interior designer with The Interior Design Firm in Omaha. "Color is the easiest way to make a statement. There is nothing cheaper or more efficient than a bucket of paint when it comes to getting a bang for your buck, Wiechman says. "Even a little bit of color goes a long way in making a statement."

She recommends considering your home in its entirety before making your paint selections. That's a basic element of good interior design. "The flow of colors creates harmony," Wiechman explains. In professionally decorated homes, "connectivity often is the distinguishing factor."

If you simply don't know where to start, look in your closet. Whatever you're comfortable wearing, Wiechman says, is a good indicator of what you'll be comfortable being surrounded by in your home. If you have a lot of blues and greens in your wardrobe, a cooler palette may be ideal for your home. If you wear a lot of reds and oranges, you might prefer a warmer palette for your rooms.

The reverse works, too. "Start your selection process by eliminating colors you simply cannot stand."

Look around your home. Sometimes, a painting or another favorite object can inspire a color palette.

Wiechman recognizes that color can be scary. Some people can't go within two shades of a particular color without feeling anxious, and that's OK. "Red is a color that you either love or hate."

Personally, Wiechman loves white, blue and yellow. "It's a forever combination."

And then there's the "timeless" quality of historical colors like burgundy, hunter green, and navy.

And for more modern tastes, robin's egg blue and brown, and hot pink and black.

Remember, paint is cheap. If you don't like it, you can change it.

Just go with what feels right.

Inspired Home Omaha Editor Chris Christen contributed to this article.