Rooms separated by arches can be connected with the right paint colors.
When space flows from room to room interrupted only by arches, a basic principle of design helps determine the wall and archway colors. Paint the arch to match the room you use the most. By definition, that is the room from which the arch frames the view most often of the adjoining space. If the living room is a heavily trafficked space that leads into the infrequently used dining room, the arch is painted to match the living room walls. Of course, every design rule exists to be broken, so consider your layout before choosing paint colors.
Instructions
1. Walk through the rooms from the front door, or the top of the stairs, and make notes about the use of space and what is visible through the arches or openings between rooms. Jot down light levels and floor colors as well.
2. Begin with the main room and choose a color that will work with the furnishings and your plan for the room. Look at every room or hall that opens off the main room and decide whether it needs a contrasting color, a different shade from the same color card or a neutral shade. Get small sample jars and paint swatches in the corner and in the center of each room to check the way the light affects the paint. Be sure you can see the color samples from one room to the next so you get a sense of how they harmonize. Put sample color matching the main room on the arches, too.
3. Once you've decided on a color, throw down some drop cloths and start painting the main room. Begin with the ceiling, work down the walls and paint the arches. Keep a sharp, clean line in the archway paint by taping the edge of the arch nearest the adjoining room with blue painter's tape. Once the paint dries, remove the painter's tape from the outside edge of the arch and stick tape along the painted inside of the arch. Then paint the adjoining room in the same order as the main room.
4. Stand back and evaluate your color strategy when you finish the first two rooms. Move between them, paying particular attention to how the colors frame each room through the archway. If you are satisfied that the colors you've chosen are working as planned, follow the same painting procedure for the rest of the rooms to be decorated.
Related posts
Paint adjoining spaces in complementary colors.When painting the hallway and adjoining room different colors, you are making a transition from one space to the next. Choose colors that complement...
Choosing interior house paintPaint walls different colors in the same room to create a dynamic yet inexpensive change to the d cor. According to Jenny Gibbs, interior design expert and author of &...
The living room and kitchen are the most lived-in rooms of the house. When choosing a color for your living room, you want it to be pleasing and comfortable. So, where do you start? Interestingly,...
Painting animals on the walls of a baby's room can help create a warm and comfortable space suitable for a baby. There is an easy way to achieve quality painted images on your walls, especially if...
Homes with an attached kitchen and sitting room represent common home designs.A home with a sitting room attached to the kitchen represents a common home design. While this construction makes for...
