Paint Color Rules for Urban Spaces

December 5, 2015 Home Improvement

Mark Brandon loves being in the shed and helping out his friends with home improvement. He contributes regularly to Safe and Sound Property Inspections and other blogs where he shares his expertise. Here, he shares some tips on choosing color for apartment spaces.

Colors can create such wonderful settings when done tastefully. With so many shades to choose from, deciding on the perfect combination to use in a small urban space such as an apartment or flat can be an overwhelming task. On top of that, working with smaller rental spaces means the need to contend with the added concern of making living spaces appear bigger and more inviting. The good thing is there are no fixed rules when it comes to sprucing up a space, color-wise. Experts agree: it’s okay to go outside the lines when adding color to an apartment space.

Choose Sharp Colors
In spatially restricted abodes, sharp colors trump duller ones. Employing bright colors in hot and electric hues can instantly open a room.When mixed with negative space and given plenty of air in between, sharp colors makes a room take on a more inviting ambience.

Recycle Color Shades
Often, what unites all the spaces in a small rental space is a color used repeatedly throughout the place. The spots of color can be any object in any of the rooms or areas in the flat: pillows on the sofa, the dining chair cushions, curtains, lamp shades, or a vase. Getting all these elements in different shades of the same color can create for a more unified space overall.

Embolden Spaces
No matter how small a space, there is room for squeezing in a trendy, bodacious shade of color. The kitchen or bathroom are particularly good candidates for creating rooms with personality using bright and bold tones. The kitchen can become a more emboldened version of itself by taking on red walls, whereas the bathroom can adopt a sophisticated hue in a rich shade of brown.

Unexpected Pops of Color
Adding a splash of color to areas of a space where it is least expected can instantly perk up the overall look of that part of the home. Such fixtures as the space heater, window sills or frames, and bookcase interiors can be spots of unexpected color to create depth in an otherwise two-dimensional household section.It’s best if there are pops of color that are transferrable or movable as well, such as fabrics, canvases, and decals.

Be Brave with Black
Because of its strong and somber nature, black is often approached cautiously by anyone who wants to smarten up their space. However, they should know that black can provide a wonderful contrast for any color palette, since it is one of those colors that can go well with anything. A touch of black, even just a small object, can help ground the space and let the other colors in the room stand out.

Experiment!
Practically anything can be done with color to add character to a place. Space owners can vamp it up by painting a ceiling darker to introduce a new dimension into a space, or lighter to create an airier feel. Painting one wall a deeper color than the others can make a room appear larger. Stripes done in metallic tones or color combinations can draw the eye up and stretch that section of the house.

There really are no fixed color rules to adhere to for apartment spaces. Flat owners should not lose sight of the ultimate end of the revamp, which is to make the space more personal and personally appealing. With these tricks, apartment tenants can smartly employ color to transform their urban spaces into charming rental residences.

Author: Mark Brandon
Regular contributor to the Safe and Sound Property Inspections blog and other home improvement sites. Very family-oriented and love being in the shed or helping his mates with their houses. You can catch him via Google+ or Twitter: @MarkBrandon01.