While there probably isn’t one definitive best or worst color for any specific room in your home, there are definitely some guidelines you can follow to make good color choices. We asked interior designer, Courtney Lake, what to consider before choosing a color.
Colors for the dining room
When choosing dining room colors, earthy tones tend to be the most popular choice. Not only do these colors convey a feeling of warmth, but they are also very versatile. Using the psychology of color, colors such as red and orange tend to be stimulating and are thought to increase a person’s appetite. On the other side of the spectrum, blue tends to suppress the appetite, and as such, it is often thought to be a poor color choice for a dining room.
Colors for the kitchen
Photo credits: Designer: Courtney Lake / Photography: Photo by Adza
When choosing colors for the kitchen, using the color of the cabinets as a guide is often the best approach, because the cabinets are among the most expensive features of the room. Popular colors to use in the kitchen include earthy tones such as brown, peach and yellow. Strong colors such as brick red can also look nice in the kitchen, especially used as an accent color along with more neutral shades. Courtney Lake, of Courtney Out Loud, uses the produce aisle as a steadfast rule for selecting colors in the kitchen. “This simple rule allows you a full spectrum of colors that will make your morning cup of coffee more tolerable.”
Greens and blues are not generally thought to be the best choice for kitchen, especially in the lighter shades. However, accents of dark hunter green or blue can sometimes be used effectively. Courtney believes that navy is also an exception “applied in lacquer to cabinetry and mixed with a warm metal like oil-rubbed bronze or brass. That combination immediately turns what is otherwise a hue that reminds me of rancid meat into a luxe and sexy backdrop perfect for whipping up some romantic meal.”
Yet Lake states that when it is all said and done, he is a bit of a classicist when it comes to kitchens. “I love a tone-on-tone off-white kitchen that mixes shades of cream and taupe with the warmth of marble. It’s a timeless look that can be easily updated with little effort as your tastes evolve.”
We recently completed a small kitchen in Berkeley that is a testament to the versatility of this color combo. ((NOTE, let’s leave this as a photo caption, if this is the photo that he shared).
Colors for the living room
Photo credits: Designer: Courtney Lake / Photography: Photo by Adza
Living room colors are often best selected by taking the overall size and lighting of the room into consideration. The mood you are trying to achieve is also important. Light colors will make the room seem larger, but using dark colors is also sometimes desirable, because they can add a cozy look to a room.
Warm colors, whether they are light colors like beige, cream or shades of yellow can add a warm and inviting look, while cooler colors such as gray can add a more formal appearance. Extremely intense colors such as bright red are generally not good choices for a living room, as they are too stimulating, but shades of burgundy and maroon can be used effectively.
Associated with the sky, sea, earth and fire, as well as a wide variety of shades to choose from, blue is the color of choice for Courtney Lake. Partial to National Seashore and Cravin’ Blue from Dutch Boy Paints, Courtney points out that blue paint with a gray base will have a warmer tone than a blue with a clear base. The bit of gray in the base makes these colors quite versatile, as they can pair with either cooler or warmer tones. Try them with a tangerine orange and a steely gray for a bold take on a modern and colorful living room.
Colors for the bathroom
Photo credits: Designer: Courtney Lake / Photography: Photo by Adza
When choosing colors for the bathroom, take into consideration the overall effect you are trying to achieve. Light colors and natural shades such as light blue, seafoam green and light earthy shades have always been popular for bathrooms, because they can create a relaxing spa feeling.
However, Courtney Lake believes that bathrooms are the one place that you should be dramatic, which is why he favors shades of gray for the room. “More often than not, bathrooms have little to no natural light, so why not play up the drama with a dark and moody color?” Courtney’s favorite gray is Seal Gray from Glidden Paints — it has a brown base to it which gives it a warm underglow, and it pairs beautifully with natural stone and midtone wood finishes.
We used the color in a San Francisco high-rise to create a moody and relaxing place to unwind.(NOTE: SAME WITH THIS ONE, use quote for shared photo).
Try to avoid extremely dark colors if the bathroom is small, because these colors will just make the room seem smaller. However, darker colors can be used effectively to create dramatic effects. Because the room is small, almost any color that fits your personal taste can be used effectively.
Colors for the bedroom
Photo credits: Designer: Courtney Lake / Photography: Photo by Adza
Choosing relaxing colors such as blues, greens and light earth tones is often the best approach for the bedroom. Try to avoid bright and jarring colors such as red, bright yellow and other intense shades, at least in large areas, because they are too stimulating for a restful room such as a bedroom. However, a romantic look can be created with colors such as burgundy, peach, coral or pink shades.
More about paint colors
Best colors for kitchen cabinets
Decorating with green
Decorating with colorful artwork
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