During renovations, you have to solve a lot of challenging tasks.
One of them is choosing the color for painting the walls.
It's no secret that wallpapers are a rarity in apartments and houses in Cyprus. Local residents prefer painting their walls. The most popular colors among Cypriots are white and light beige. When you visit a hardware store, you may not even know the names; any salesperson will give you a bucket of paint in the desired shade, which is used to paint at least 80% of all the premises on the island.
However, if you are a creative person, the "same as everyone else" option won't work for you. You'll need to at least understand what shades are and how to properly combine colors. Ultimately, the atmosphere in your apartment or house in Cyprus will depend on it.
We offer you 10 useful recommendations that will help you avoid many mistakes when choosing colors.
Consider the lighting
The lighting in the room can greatly affect the perception of wall color. If the room is small and has dim lighting, it is better to choose lighter shades as it will visually appear larger. For larger rooms with plenty of natural light, you can use any colors, even the most bold ones. Also, pay attention to the placement of windows in the room. If they face north or east, the walls will acquire cool tones, while south or west-facing walls will have warm tones.
Create a 3D plan
Before buying paint, take advantage of modern technology and create a 3D plan of the room. There are several programs with free beta versions for this purpose: Sweet Home 3D, Homestyler, Planoplan, PRO100, ArchiCAD, SketchUp. Arrange the furniture, consider where the windows will be, and how much light will be in the room. Only after that, start "trying on" the color. Don't be afraid to experiment; sometimes bold decisions turn out to be the most successful. By the way, if you purchase an extended version of such planners, you can work on the visual representation of each room down to the smallest details. Choose furniture, finishes, and textures.
Consider the color of the furniture and the overall interior of the room
Usually, a stylish interior is not only about the room's finish but also its details. When choosing wall colors, don't forget about the overall style, furniture, and decorative elements. Even if a mistake occurs, it won't be fatal. Repainting the walls is cheaper than buying new furnishings. The renovation of a living space starts with determining the overall style of the room, selecting furniture pieces, and only then deciding on the wall colors in the apartment. The fewer changes, the quicker the housewarming will take place.
Warm color palettes always create a cozy atmosphere. Chocolate, vanilla, cream, and pale yellow are used in almost all interior styles. Cool color schemes are more restrained. Blue, graphite, and dusty tones bring a refreshing feel. Bright tones are expressive and act as visual anchors but can quickly become overwhelming. The use of dark colors requires impeccable taste and an understanding of balance. Burgundy, purple, and cobalt are great for accents, especially if you don't aim to create a kitsch-style interior.
Don't forget about the purpose of the room
No matter which colors are currently trending, it's important to consider the purpose of the room when choosing paint. For example, bright or neon colors would not be suitable for a bedroom. It is a place of rest where nothing should be overwhelming. However, in the kitchen and living room, you can add bright shades to create the right mood. To create a harmonious yet interesting space, adopt the "60-30-10" rule. This means that the color ratio should be:
- 60% of one color,
- 30% of another color,
- 10% of an accent color.
In other words, there should be fewer saturated dark colors. To incorporate more shades, you need to have impeccable taste and a sense of balance. Otherwise, the room may look chaotic.
Consider the dimensions and functionality of the room
Today, it is fashionable to combine different functional spaces in one area. For example, a kitchen with a living room, a bedroom with a bathroom, or many people choose studio apartments where essentially there is only one room. In such cases, it is important to choose colors based on practical considerations.
If the studio is spacious, you can experiment with transitions, textures, and different shades. However, in small spaces, it is better to prefer a combination of a base color and a bright shade. Light base colors will visually expand the room, and the bright color will add a touch of excitement to the interior. The combination of gray, white, and beige looks elegant. This warm, elegant, and unobtrusive trio makes a cramped room appear larger.
Seek advice from those who will be in the room
When making a choice, it's important to first consider the opinions of those with whom you live, or more specifically, those for whom the room is intended. Involve children in the color selection process for their room.
Test different shades
Trial painting can save you from serious mistakes. You may suddenly discover that the paint on the store's color palette looks different than it does on your walls at home. Of course, you can always repaint and find the "right" shade, but it can be tiring and frustrating. It's better to get several cans of different paints that you like. Apply each one as a stripe on the wall and leave it until it fully dries. Don't be alarmed if the color initially appears different than you thought. Some paints reveal their true shade only after they have completely dried.
There is a universal tip for choosing wall paint colors: always prefer a palette that is one shade lighter. It's also helpful to have samples of finishes such as wallpaper, tiles, fabrics for curtains, and furniture upholstery on hand. They will help create a complete picture of the future color design.
Allow the color to unfold
There are situations when a shade is chosen, tested, and seems "just right." But after applying it to the walls, it suddenly becomes too bright or takes on a grayish hue. Don't rush to conclusions! Some shades need time to unfold. Let the walls dry for a couple of days. It's quite possible that after this time, the color will "unfold."
The overall impression of the room
When choosing a color, the main thing is not to rush. Many people, when considering a renovation, rush to the store to buy furniture and paint for decoration. And then they become disappointed and spend a considerable amount of money on redoing it. Therefore, first determine the ambiance of the room. Plan the details and the overall concept, familiarize yourself with possible palettes. The color of the walls always affects the overall impression of the interior. Warm shades give the room more coziness and tranquility. Cool tones, on the other hand, make the room feel more spacious and fresh. Bright and dark colors attract all the attention but can become tiresome over time and create a heavier atmosphere.
Don't be afraid to experiment
Today, vibrant natural shades are coming back into fashion. Green, blue, fuchsia, and terracotta are particularly popular. You don't have to paint all the walls in bright colors right away; start with one accent wall.
Conclusion:
Before choosing a color, it is necessary to carefully consider the overall concept of your living space. In addition to the style, important factors include the size of the room and the number of windows. Test painting is necessary to ensure the correctness of your decision. Apply several shades of the same color to a wall, and it's better to label each one to avoid mistakes. Judging whether a shade is suitable or not can only be done after the paint has fully dried.
For small spaces, a pastel color palette is suitable, while there are no restrictions for larger spaces. It is not necessary to decorate all the walls of a room in a single color; you can choose several shades within the same color family. A piece of advice from professional designers is to buy paint that is slightly lighter than originally planned to ensure color accuracy. The color scheme significantly influences the perception of a room. Approach the color selection process thoughtfully and sensibly, but don't be afraid to experiment. Even within established principles of color coordination, you can find interesting color combinations.
Interested in property on the island? Visit the number one real estate agency in Cyprus, DOM! The agency's website features the largest property database in the country, with over 30,000 residential and commercial properties throughout the island. Choose and consult with professional brokers who will help you make the right choice!
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