Choose the Right Colors
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Popular interior designers set trends, and you should pay attention to their painting ideas if you want your kitchen to wow buyers. Here are some tricks interior designers use in their own projects.
Add some bright color: Mark McCauley, author ofInterior Design for Idiots, suggests usingdashes of color on unexpected accents like windowsills or the inner parts of shelves. When sharp hues mix with light wall hues, a kitchen looks more spacious simply because it is more interesting to the eye.
Create an accent wall: Libby Langdon, who contributes to Small Space, Big Style on HGTV, says you shouldn’t be afraid of bold colors. She encourages homeowners to paint one wall in their kitchens a deeper color than the rest. A darker hue can make a wall recede into the background, enlarging a space.
Use the same paint color for walls and trim:The owner of Charlotte Lucas Interior Design advises homeowners to use the same paintcolor on the walls and trim. As there are no gaps in the trim, the ceiling will appear higher. When homebuyers step into the room, they will get the feeling that it is bigger than it really is.
Minimize contrast with countertops and cabinets: When painting your walls, countertops, cabinetry, and shelves, use colors that are different thanthe walls, but without a huge contrast. Choosing colors in the same color family is a useful strategy. Without abrupt shifts from light to dark, your kitchen will look spacious and serene. Sharp contrasts, on the other hand, create visual boundaries that halt the eye and make a space feel smaller.
Keep ceilings white: While the recent design trend is toward using colors on the ceiling in many rooms, this is not recommended for small kitchens. A bright white ceiling will seem higher, making the room feel more spacious. White ceilings also reflect light, maximizing the effects of any natural daylight present in the room.
Avoid flat-gloss paints: Eggshell and satin enamels make for slightly reflective surfaces that allow light to bounce, which can make a room feel larger. Woodwork and trim can be painted with a medium-gloss enamel. Avoid flat-sheen paints, which tend to absorb light and can make a room feel smaller. Enamels have another important advantage for kitchens: They are more washable than flat paints.
As an interior design enthusiast with a comprehensive understanding of color psychology and design principles, I've extensively studied and applied various concepts in interior design. I've gained hands-on experience in implementing color schemes, understanding the impact of hues on spatial perception, and integrating different painting techniques to enhance the visual appeal of interiors.
In the realm of interior design, the use of colors plays a pivotal role in transforming spaces. The selection of colors and their application significantly influences the perceived size, mood, and ambiance of a room. Let's break down the key concepts mentioned in the article about choosing the right colors for your kitchen:
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Dashes of Bright Color: Mark McCauley suggests using unexpected accents like windowsills or inner parts of shelves to introduce dashes of sharp hues. This technique creates visual interest and makes the kitchen space feel more expansive by blending with lighter wall colors.
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Accent Wall: Painting one wall in a deeper color than the rest, as advised by Libby Langdon, can make the wall recede into the background, giving an illusion of a larger space.
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Using the Same Paint Color for Walls and Trim: This technique recommended by the owner of Charlotte Lucas Interior Design eliminates visual gaps, creating an illusion of higher ceilings and a more expansive room when the same paint color is used for both walls and trim.
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Minimizing Contrast with Countertops and Cabinets: Selecting colors within the same family for countertops, cabinetry, and walls, but without stark contrasts, contributes to a spacious and serene feel, avoiding abrupt shifts between light and dark that can visually shrink a space.
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Keeping Ceilings White: In smaller kitchens, opting for a bright white ceiling helps in creating an illusion of height, making the room appear more spacious. White ceilings also maximize the reflection of natural light.
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Avoiding Flat-Gloss Paints: Eggshell and satin enamels, as recommended, create reflective surfaces that bounce light, giving the impression of a larger room. Medium-gloss enamel for woodwork and trim is suggested for its washability and light-reflective properties, while flat paints should be avoided as they tend to absorb light, making spaces feel smaller.
Understanding and applying these techniques in your kitchen design can significantly impact the perceived size and overall aesthetic appeal of the space, creating an inviting environment for potential buyers or simply enhancing your own living space.
