In decades past, rooms were divided into purpose-driven, defined spaces in many cases. Sitting rooms, dining rooms, parlors (if it’s really an older home), kitchen, etc… This made color selection a bit easier as you could simply stick with a theme or style that was specific to that one room.
Today’s open-concept house designs, however, have really knocked the walls out from within these older-school layouts.
The kitchen is no longer a standalone space for cooking, but often blends seamlessly with the living room. Dining rooms, if they even exist at all, sometimes have no walls, but are designated only by the obvious purpose of a table and chairs.
Space flows into space, creating a warm sense of connectivity and community. There’s a lot to love about this, but it can make picking a new interior paint color a little bit trickier.
Here are a handful of practical tips to keep in mind.
3 Tips for Picking a Paint Color for an Open Concept Home
#1 Stick with a Light Neutral
This may feel like cheating, but it’s really not. Light neutrals are not only abundant and stylish, but they also provide a pleasant backdrop for other colors included in your home’s design. You can easily fill a dining room, kitchen, and living space with an unobtrusive color, allowing each zone to be defined by furniture, artwork, decorations, cabinets, etc…
#2 Craving Color? Add Accent Walls!
Let’s say you like the idea of a neutral baseline, but still are hungry for color. We recommend defining the spaces (or features within those spaces) with accent colors. Let’s say, for example, that you have a fireplace in the living room, with your flatscreen hanging over the mantle. Why not paint just that one wall a darker accent, creating a deeper, defining anchor for your fireplace, tv, and living room?
#3 Connect Your Open Floor Plan with a Monochromatic Color Scheme
One guaranteed way to create a color scheme that connects and matches is to develop a monochromatic palette.
How?
Start by finding a color you like, then have your paint supplier modify that color just a bit by changing the tone, shade, or tint. To learn more, take a look at this helpful overview of monochromatic colors.
Talk To a Professional House Painter for More Ideas and Inspiration
We recommend talking to a painting company who can connect you with color consultation services. There’s just no substitute for considering your specific spaces, lighting, decor, and goals.
If you live in Westchester or Fairfield counties, contact us at A.G. Williams Painting Company! It would be our pleasure to serve you.