Paint Colors for a Neutral Sofa & Carpet

Choose Colors

• The experts at This Old House suggest working with colors found in items around your home, for example, the cushions on your sofa, carpet or drapery colors or a painting or other decoration. Take a sample of those colors to the paint store and choose three to five paint strips that are close to those colors. Neutral furnishings, according to House Beautiful magazine, can and should handle stronger, brighter colors than other bright or patterned furniture.

Effects

• Different colors have different effects in a room, some of them close to optical illusions. Light shades open up a room, making smaller spaces feel larger, while darker shades close in a room, giving it a cozy, smaller feel. Warm colors, such as reds, oranges and yellows, give a visual feel of moving toward the viewer, being closer, and cool shades of blue, green and violet recede, enlarging the feel of a room. If you are unsure of committing to a specific color, try painting an accent wall one bright hue and matching the throw pillows on your neutral sofa to give the room a punch and a unified feel.

Light

• Colors will look different as the sun moves across the walls and then at night under artificial light. Incandescent bulbs often add warm tones to walls, altering cool tones into something that may or may not be pleasing. Keep aware, as well, that a matte or glossy paint finish will affect how light is reflected in a room. High gloss will reflect more natural and artificial light, drawing attention to the walls

Emphasis

• If your sofa and carpet are neutral, they will probably not be the focal point of the room. Look to architectural details, an accent wall painted in a contrasting color or borders done in different finishes as places where you can concentrate the visual impact.