王盈方醫師瘋狂之旅 Dr Yvonne Wang's Blabberings

I must admit... different colours have such a dramatic effect! I've just got all the light blue bedrooms in my house painted white, and the effects are: room looks much brighter day and night, so even though the ceiling light is remains the same, it feels like that light is much brighter, and much less depressing! (light blue really is quite a depressing colour!)Furthermore, the celing feels higher and the room feels bigger!

http://homerenovations.about.com/od/painting/a/RoomPaintColors.htm

1. Paint Colors Infuse Mood and Color

Did you know that room paint colors have an effect on mood? Let's look at yellow, blue, and red:

• Yellow - Studies show that yellow causes excitability in people. Babies cry more often in yellow rooms, and people argue more in yellow rooms. At the same time, it's a cheerful color. Just don't overdo it.
• Blue - Blue rooms are calming, relaxing, and can even help weight lifters in gyms perform better. In the home, blue walls in the areas where food is prepared or eaten can lessen appetite, arguably because there are so few foods that are blue. Blue can also lead to the extreme of melancholy or a feeling of sadness, so keep that in mind.
• Red - Red, on the other hand, is the opposite of blue. Red is passionate, incites action, and symbolizes some very powerful emotions. Red eating areas, unlike blue walls, tend to create more of an appetite. Trying to lose weight? You may want to first paint over those red walls in the dining room.

2. Paint Colors and the "Pop Factor"

Certain colors "pop" more than others. For example, when you see a white crown molding, it will appear to pop from the wall.

Another way to highlight architectural details is to play with the light and dark tints or shades. (a tint is a variation of a color created by adding white to its base, whereas a shade is created by adding black.) Darker colors, such as black trim, will draw attention to detail in a slightly different, more subdued and perhaps stately effect. Where the white trim will "pop," the darker paint will make the same trim appear almost anchored in place. Usually, darker accent colors are used for elements of detail that you want to appear almost in the background, with a subtler look.

3. What's Art Got to Do with It? Plenty

In art, colors can be grouped into cool vs. warm hues. The cooler palette is used to foreshorten or to make objects appear as if they are fading in the background. Objects in the distance, like mountains, are painted in cooler palettes. The objects in the foreground are painted with the warmer palette. These are red-based colors. These objects will appear to be closer.

Keep this in mind when shopping for your room paint colors that every paint color has elements of red and blue, as well as yellow and black. It will be easy enough to determine if they are cooler or warmer colors.

4. Special Effects Aren't Just for the Movies

Effective design effects can be achieved simply with the right use of room paint colors. For instance, if your room has a low ceiling, then painting the ceiling a fresh coat of white can really give it the appearance of being a little higher than it is. If your ceiling is vaulted and you want a more cozy feel, then painting it a warmer color can seem to bring it down to size. Painting hallways white or lighter tints also has this "opening up" effect.

5. Cover Up Shortcomings

Paint is paint. It isn't a wonder coating that will turn a tiny cottage into a luxurious mansion perched high above the Pacific Ocean.

However, choosing the right room paint colors can not only enhance but detract elements you want to enhance or draw attention away from. Case in point: if your room has an expansive floor plan and feels sterile, then painting it deep blue will bring with it a cozy feel and seem to draw in the walls a bit. If you have a room that's a bit on the depressing side, a splash of yellow adds instant cheer. If you can't stand the idea of painting an entire room in dramatic colors, then paint an accent wall this color. Plan to counter-act these weaknesses in the architecture with the right color choices.

6. Unify Rooms of the House

Unity in a home can be achieved by choosing room paint colors to tie it all together. This is especially true when a home has many rooms.

One way to achieve unity is to use a tint or shade of a unifying color that will be common to all rooms. That can be as simple as an accent wall here, a hallway, or trim. Or you can draw inspiration from a central design element and pick the colors from that.

Bonus: Get Paint Samples, Not Just Chips

Most paint companies provide paint chips you can take home. But that's not enough. Pick up pint-sized samples to help you pick your room paint colors. Paint sections of the wall and see what it looks like at different times of day. The effect of light as it changes throughout the day on color is amazing. You can't get that input simply from the paint chip at the kiosk.