The Power of Paint in Interior Design
By Kathy A. JohnsonThere are literally thousands - if not millions - of shades of paint available today. That vast array makes it possible for interior design professionals and their clients to find exactly the right shade. With a careful choice of interior paint colors, designers can set a mood, pull together disparate furnishings and accessories, and even camouflage a room's shortcomings.
Interior paint does more than just cover walls. Paint can:
- Set a Mood. What will people do in this room? Will they sleep or work? Will they eat, read, or socialize? Interior designers frequently use warm colors in shades of orange, red, or pink in dining rooms and dens. Cool colors in tones of blue, green, or violet are considered soothing and are popular in bedrooms and living rooms.
- Hide Flaws. Does the ceiling seem too high? Painting it a darker color will help bring it down. Paint a large room that feels cold with warm colors to make it feel cozier. And, of course, use light colors in a small room to make it look larger.
- Enhance Continuity. Painting walls the same color or similar, harmonious colors helps make a house "flow." Within a room, using paint as an accent can enhance the continuity. For example, paint picture frames or the inside of a bookcase in an accent color found in the sofa's upholstery. Or if you're using a patterned fabric in a room, choose a color from the background of the print as your paint color.
Learn more about The Art Institute Online's Bachelor Degree program in Interior Design.
Whether you're working with a clean slate, or designing around existing furnishings and accessories, remember the power of paint to make a room beautiful.
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About the Author:
Kathy A. Johnson has written articles on health, fitness, and many other topics in her career as a freelance writer and editor. She lives in Florida, and is the features editor of Forum, a bimonthly publication of the national mothers group, Mothers & More.
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