Warming Colors for a Cold Indiana Winter

These latter stages of our Northern Indiana winter offer a chance to consider how your interior paint scheme can keep you cozy and warm. It is no secret that interior paint colors make a huge difference in the feel and comfort of your home. So perhaps an upgrade will help make our notorious winters pass more pleasantly.

But what paint colors to choose?

We at Matthews Painting have found that choosing a color combination is often the biggest obstacle to those who want to improve their interior space. This is understandable since color selection can powerfully and dramatically impact a space and everything in it.

Some are intimidated by the many theories around paint colors and their impact on mood. For example, though blue is considered to be calming, relaxing and serene, it can also be unpleasantly chilly depending on lighting and hue. Also, while yellow can be energizing and uplifting, some studies claim it results in shorter tempers. Neutral colors (black, gray, white, and brown) may seem dull and uninteresting, but they are basic ingredients in any interior design toolbox. Their virtue is in their flexibility, providing a foundation upon which other colors can add desired accents.

Though we tend to divide colors into warm (red, yellow, orange) and cool (green, blue, violet), it is not as simple as that. Nearly any color can ‘feel’ warm or cool depending on factors such as hues, undertones and the lighting of a particular room. Also, the existing colors of your furnishing and accessories will influence how a specific paint impacts that room. Finishes, too, alter a color’s ‘feel’, with glossier finishes appearing cooler and flat finishes adding warmth.

There are really a number of factors to consider in selecting appropriate interior paints. But one thing is certain: re-painting your interior wall space is the most cost-effective way to make a huge impact on the comfort of your home’s décor. And this matters when facing a long, cold Indiana winter.

Our winters tend to be overcast, so consider colors that look good in filtered light. Lighting variations – both direct and reflective – impact the appearance of a color. That is why this is a great time of year to examine your interior painting scheme. Many feel that the highly filtered light of overcast skies calls for muted tones. Others want brighter paint colors to counter the dull greys of the winter months.

What paint color do you think works best in your home?

Color preferences are highly subjective, so let us help you make the choice that works for your family. We have 15 years of experience in helping clients select a suitable paint color. We start by assessing objective factors. What is the context of each room? What kind of natural light and exposure does it have year round? What are the colors of the furnishing and accessories already in place? Also, how do you use that room and what kind of feel do you want to achieve? Relax and subdued? Cozy and warm? Active and productive? Once you’ve answered these questions, selecting paint colors becomes far easier.

Matthews Painting has learned a thing or two about color selection and we will share our experience with you. We have a huge list of color samples, which are larger than what you find at the paint stores, to help your choice.  We can tell you what has worked well for other clients. Ultimately, your choice is very personnel because it’s your family that will live with it. But we can help you get there.

For a complimentary consultation and advice on color selections that will warm your home through a long, cold Northern Indiana winter, contact Matthews Painting today.