Busted! Get the Truth Frequent Color Myths

Busted! Get the Truth Frequent Color Myths

For something that looks so benign on a paint chip, colour pushes our buttons just like few other design details can. Everyone has opinions, and nobody’s shy about sharing — if trying to convince you that a red kitchen will increase your desire, a blue bedroom will help you sleep or a neutral palette is dull, dull and duller. Oh, and clashing colors? Do not even go there.

However, is there any truth behind those ideas? Well, yes … and no. Liz Williams of Liz Williams Interiors at Atlanta, a known designer who’s known for her nuanced, cohesive usage of colour, helps us probe a bit deeper. Here you’ll determine which colour misconceptions hold up and then crumble under the magnifying glass.

LDa Architecture & Interiors

The myth: Blue is calming.

The fact: It depends on the shade. “There are shocking blues out there that wouldn’t be quite relaxing,” states Williams. Robin’s egg, light turquoise and deep indigo will mellow out a space, and they’re ideal once you wish to set a relaxed mood. Still, Williams states,”blue certainly seems to be a fad for bedrooms, so there has to be some merit to this fantasy ”

How to pick the right blue paint

The myth: Certain color combinations are taboo (think orange and pink ).

The fact: That notion is dated — there is nothing as an off-the-shelf colour pairing. “Unusual color mixes can definitely work and be fun,” Williams states. Colours that don’t combine easily include a welcome part of energy and visual tension. “Even in the most neutral rooms, throwing in fun and distinct pops of colour can be quite interesting,” she states. “Do not be afraid to combine colors thought to be incompatible previously.”

How to combine colors fearlessly

Farinelli Construction, Inc..

The myth: Painting a ceiling darker makes it seem lower.

The fact: With the right approach, it’s just the opposite. “I find that sometimes painting walls and trim at the same lighter colour is a great contrast to some darker ceiling and will make the ceiling appear higher instead of lower, very similar to how a black ceiling disappears at a theater,” Williams states.

Browse more amazing ceiling ideas

Carolina Design Associates, LLC

The myth: Dark wall colors make a room feel smaller.

The fact: Not consistently. “When the room gets plenty of natural light and the trimming is in high contrast with the wall color, the space can still seem crisp and light,” Williams explains. “For example, navy walls with quite white ceiling and trim can feel nice and bright in the perfect room.” She also suggests using high-gloss or lacquer paint to bounce light off the walls and create a feeling of openness.

How to use dark colors

Liz Williams Interiors

The myth: Neutral palettes come just in beige, cream and gray.

The fact: Absolutely not, Williams says. “Colours that are prevalent in nature can also be neutrals, like blues and greens,” she claims. “That is true particularly when they are milder, grayed-out variations of green or blue. We have all seen colors that while regarded as neutral lean into a green or blue color.”

Get ideas to bring a neutral colour scheme to life

Johnson Berman

The myth: Red makes you hungry.

The fact: Red is said to activate the discharge of chemicals in your brain that increase appetite, and there is a measure of scientific proof to back up that. But, that’s no reason to shy away. “Red can definitely make a statement and warm up a space,” Williams states. If you’re not sure you want to have that much stimulation, start small by sprinkling in accents like lamps and pillows. A subtler use of crimson, like a toile fabric, could work too.

Figure out when to use red in the kitchen

Iris

The myth: White rooms are dull.

The fact: They’re anything but, Williams states. “It all depends on what is at the white space,” she declares. Produce contrast with layers of texture, varied white tones or a couple of dark or bright components. “White is a great backdrop for almost anything — it can work with all-white furniture with dark browns or also with a great deal of colour. It’s truly the most flexible. … There are so many whites from which to pick.”

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Smith & Vansant Architects PC

The myth: Every area has to be painted the same colour to feel of a bit.

The fact:“Instead of all the same colour, I prefer layer varying shades of a colour room to space,” Williams states. “Rooms can all be tied together with a common trim paint, but varying the color ever so slightly can assist with the flow of the home. This is easy to do directly on a colour wheel by creating custom colors in the paint shop.”

More:
Color guides for each room

How to live happily ever after with a colorphobe

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