Colours are obviously very important when designing an interior space, and, of course, different colours behave differently in specific lighting environments. Prior to selecting base colours for a room, you should already know what you are going to do with lighting, and with that in mind, here are a few tips to ensure you get your colour choices right.
- Consider Paint Sheen – A gloss finish reflects light, while matte will dull a colour, which can be used to good effect. Matte finishes show a colour truer under bright light, and in a light room, the use of matte finish can balance the lighting out. Satin is a great finish that gives off a pearly glow, while eggshell finish brings in a subtle reflection, which can look very attractive. There’s no reason why you can’t mix and match a variety of finishes, which is something your local painter & decorator can assist with.
- Factor in Sunlight – Ask any of the house painters Gold Coast has and they will confirm that sunlight affects a colour, so look at how the room is at midday, or at the point of maximum sunlight, and this will help you to choose your primary base colours. If the room is very bright, matte finishes are the order of the day, as this will diminish the reflective light.
- Check Colours At Different Times Of Day – As the sun moves across the sky, this will affect the natural lighting in the room, so it is a good idea to paint a piece of paper with your chosen colour and stick this on the wall in the morning, afternoon, and again in the evening, as the natural light fades. It is always worth remembering that a colour will change depending on the lighting conditions, and with this knowledge in mind, you can check how a colour reacts at various times of the day.
- Light Bulbs Affect Colour – Once you realise this, it certainly gives you an edge, as incandescent light bulbs make reds, yellows and oranges more vivid, while they also mute blues and greens. Fluorescents enhance blues and greens, as this is a cool light, while halogens resemble natural light, therefore, making white and light colours more vivid. LED solutions really do offer amazing illumination possibilities, especially if you use dimmers.
- Get Some Professional Advice – By talking to an established painter & decorator, you can have a professional opinion on colour choices, and if you are going to commission the tradesman to decorate the room, you can be sure of achieving the desired look.
If you take on board all of the above, your choice of colours should make the very best of the given lighting conditions, and if in doubt, talk to your local painter & decorator, who can assist you with your colour choices. Trial and error always brings results, and by testing colours at different times of the day, you can be confident that the room will look very much as you want it to, and by using the above information to your benefit, your choice of colours will work with the existing lighting.
To read more on topics like this, check out the home & decor category.
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