Color is an important component of any decorating plan. Selecting the right room color can help establish the purpose of each room. “Color plays a vitally important role in the world in which we live," says colormatters.com. It can sway thinking, alter actions and influence reactions, which is why it can be so instrumental in transforming an apartment into a home.
Walking from room to room in your home, you may feel inspired about what color scheme you'd like to decorate with. The amount of natural light, the size of the room or even what feelings you'd like to evoke in the space can all influence choice for your master decorating plan.
Looking at paint swatches or furniture colors, you may feel yourself drawn to certain choices. There's a reason for this. Colors not only evoke specific emotions, but they're associated with common meanings. These associations appear in literature, advertising and movies, so themes are constantly reinforced. For example:
Most central colors have common associations tied to it. Writing for Forbes, Amy Morin even cites the use of color as a psychological tool. “Color greatly influences human emotion and behavior," she says, referencing Robert Plutchik's Wheel of Emotions as one source to help in color selection.
Selecting the mood you want within a specific room comes first. Then, you need to decide on the right room color ideas to fit that mood. You'll most likely gravitate toward a different color palette for each room in your home.
You may want a more versatile living room, a soothing bedroom and a calming bathroom. You may want to liven things up in the kitchen or dining room. Everyone experiments with color options for furniture, accessories and paint. Some favorites when it comes to interior paint ideas include bright white, antique white, beige, blue, pale gray, charcoal gray, green and yellow.
Neutrals top the list for obvious reasons. They're the most versatile. But, it doesn't take long for color to show up. Whether keeping it neutral, cool or warm, each room in your home will most likely look and feel different once you're done decorating.
According to PPG Paints, beige is the “go-to neutral for interior designers." It's a simple color that helps create a minimalist look while also inspiring a little class.
Neutrals are often a popular choice for living rooms because of the palette's versatility. This ties in well to the idea of a living room being a catch-all space in an apartment. As the room where you relax, entertain, work and even eat meals, a neutral palette works across the board.
Shades of brown, gray and white, along with beige appeal to almost anyone. They help make the living room an inviting space for when you're alone or hanging out with friends. Bring these colors into the room by selecting curtains, rugs, throw pillows or blankets in neutral tones. Tie everything together with a natural couch and wall decor.
To create contrast with your living room, and liven things up, consider taking a completely different approach to your kitchen or dining room. Adding pops of vibrant colors bring warmth into the room.
Reds and yellows, which work well to brighten up a space, can even stimulate a person's appetite. Perfect colors to go with food. Use your favorite fruit to inspire your pop of color. Start with a bowl of apples, oranges, bananas, tangerines or even lemons. Place it on the counter for your first burst of color.
Continue warming up the space by matching artwork, dishes and pots and pans to that bowl of fruit. You can even find kitchen utensils or certain appliances in vivid colors to enhance the space. For the dining room, add a centerpiece that features a plant potted in a brightly-colored container.
You've tackled the primary areas of your apartment where you'll have visitors, now it's time to address your personal spaces. The bathroom may not be on your list as a room in need of the color treatment, but with the addition of some cool tones, you can create a serene space to both start and end your day.
You don't need a clawfoot bathtub, walk-in shower or an expensive rainfall showerhead to turn your bathroom into an oasis. Using a color palette of soft blues and greens or any cool colors in pastel shades can create the effect. These colors inspire a more natural feeling and can help you relax.
Combine appropriately hued towels, bathroom accessories and your shower curtain, with a wooden stool or storage piece, to create a calming space inspired by nature.
The last stop on the color tour is the bedroom. You want everything in here to speak to you of sleep. Creating a soothing environment where you can clear your mind and get some rest at the end of each day is important to your well being.
Set up your bedroom in softer shades to achieve this effect. Gentle grays and light, cool purples, blues or greens can set the mood. Softer neutral notes tie in to these richer colors to create soothing contrast. Cream and antique white are great options to consider.
Bedroom color schemes come together with a strategically chosen bedspread, night table or rug. Wall art and little knick-knacks around the room can thread the tranquil influence into every corner.
As you're decorating with these inviting colors, don't forget to use patterns and mix colors. You can blend similar colors to create a harmonious look. Complimentary colors help grab attention.
Taking a monochromatic approach allows you to use one primary color in different intensities. This creates tones that stand out from each other without much drama.
The color of your furniture, accessories and decorations are all great ways to pull a room together, but you can go bigger with a can of paint. The issue is you're leasing your apartment. You have to make sure you can actually paint your walls before picking out swatches.
According to Julia Millay Walsh, writing for MyDomaine, many property managers will OK the painting of walls, as long as you paint them back before you move out:
“Don't do any crazy treatments that will be difficult to repaint, and if you use a dark color, use a primer when you repaint so it's fully covered."
Many states require property owners to repaint an apartment's walls every few years, so chances are, you'll be doing your property manager a favor by painting the walls their original color when you move out. Make sure you check in with your property owner before breaking out the brushes and the painter's tape, to be safe.
If putting a splash of color on the walls is a no-go, consider painting furniture you already own to add in the right accent color. Prime and paint items like wooden dressers and coffee tables to suit any color palette. If painting furniture is too big a project, consider creating your own color-appropriate art to hang on the walls. Use a simple canvas and some carefully chosen paint colors from your local craft store.
It doesn't take a lot of time or money to establish the right mood for each room. You only need to find a complementary color palette.
Creating a cohesive design, tied together with the right hues and shades, can turn a simple apartment into a series of pleasing and inspiring spaces.