Should curtains be lighter or darker than existing walls? This is one of the most important renovation tips for a living room. Whether your walls are an ever-so-slight (beige, red, yellow or pale orange) or warm (green, blue, violet or brown), it’s often recommended that window coverings are of a similar color. Choosing a shade at least one shades lighter or darker than the color on the wall is highly recommended.
If your current walls and window treatments are all gray, you should definitely have curtains in other colors that will make them blend in with the grey-blue color scheme. You can find this sort of effect in both interior and exterior wall color schemes and curtains for window treatments. Choose light-colored patterned shades (greys, blacks, browns, tans and camels) to give your rooms a balanced effect that evokes serenity as well as comfort.
Should the floors be lighter or darker? Your floors obviously should be lighter than everything else in the room. They should contrast with the wall colors, but they should also add depth to the room. Some people believe that the lighter floors and walls bring in more energy to a space, and some people feel like darker floors and walls make the room seem smaller. It depends on personal preference. Either way, lighter floors and walls tend to make rooms feel more airy.
Should curtains be almost white, or do you want them a little bit darker? The best color for curtains is white. White is a strong, clean color that reminds most people of cleanliness. It’s also the most neutral color, which means it works in almost any kind of room. Most people don’t like their rooms to be too bright, so white is usually the best choice to make.
But do you want the room to have more of a dark tone? Then you might consider using colors like off-white or beige, or even using two different wall colors and a different accent wall color. This gives the feeling that the room space is more disorganized, but it’s subtle enough not to make it obvious. These darker colors work best when the main color is light, like white.
Do you like warm-grey walls, but prefer your window treatments to be cooler? If so, then you should go with blinds instead of curtains. Blinds allow sunlight to enter through your windows but prevent warm-grey walls from being too bright. The combination of a lighter warm-grey walls and darker curtains gives you a stylish elegant look.
Do you want dramatic window treatments, but don’t want your curtains to be very noticeable? That’s a good thing because there are actually several window treatments that are quite discreet. For example, sheer fabric curtains can be used over sheer dark-colors walls. They look beautiful, but do not reflect light, which keeps rooms dark and lets others know that there’s something interesting going on under the covers.
Finally, do you want your walls to get a warm tone or cooler tone? Most people would say that they prefer a warmer wall color such as cream or off-white. However, if you’re an older person or someone with a health condition that makes it difficult for you to move around much, then you might want to consider darker window treatments. Some people with darker skin tones are able to tan easily, so they benefit from tan colored wall coverings. Or, perhaps you have light skin and prefer cool tones, in which case you should probably choose lighter shades.
You may also prefer cool undertones. These include cool blues, greens, and violets. If you have a lot of blue or green in your home, then you’ll probably benefit from using these colors. This is nice in the winter when you want to create a wintery look but keep in mind that you still want warm floors and furniture. Many people with warm floors and furniture choose cool undertones, since they look nice and give off heat at the same time.
One thing you can count on with darker colors is that they will stand out more against your white walls. This is nice, especially when you use more bright colors like orange, yellow, red, and pink. You might feel like you need more contrast between the walls and the furniture, but in reality you can pull off having a neutral look by using off-white, grey walls. Grey simply looks great on almost any type of floor. If you have wooden floors, then you can even paint them grey to match!
In summary, when it comes to choosing your interior wall colors it all depends on what the rest of your house looks like. If the other parts of your house all have similar neutral colors, then you might not need to make any dramatic color changes. On the other hand, if you’re dealing with an eclectic mix of different colors such as reds, oranges, and yellows then you might consider making some small changes such as switching from cool, off-white tiles in your living room to warm, bold, brighter colors. If you have a lot of very hot colors in your room (such as reds, oranges, and yellow), then going with white or off-white tiles might be a good idea.