Things To Consider When Selecting Custom Furniture Colors
Existing Color Scheme
When selecting colors for a new piece of custom furniture or upholstery, it’s important to consider the existing color scheme of the room that will house it. What colors would clash with the colors of your floor, wall, ceiling, and existing furniture? What colors would match or create a nice contrast? A color wheel is a great tool to help make these decisions.
Color Psychology & Mood
Humans are very visual creatures, so our brains are heavily influenced by color. Colors, including furniture colors, can elicit different emotional responses in people. For instance, blues and greens create a calming atmosphere while reds and oranges are more energizing. Black is said to promote elegance that is befitting of a sophisticated environment while white is often associated with cleanliness and serenity. When picking the color of your furniture, consider how the furniture piece will be used and the ambiance you want to create in the space around it.
Perceived Room Size & Furniture Colors
The size and shape of the room your custom furniture is joining is another important factor. Colors can help make a room feel bigger or smaller and you can use this to your advantage. You can pick light shades like whites and pastels for your furniture to make a small room feel more open. Alternatively, darker colors like navy blue, dark gray, and black can be used to make a bigger space feel more cozy.
Room Lighting
The amount of available natural light in a room should also be considered when selecting furniture for that room. Some furniture colors look better in well-lit environments than others. Additionally, depending on the material you choose for your custom furniture, it may make sense to keep in mind how colors will look after extended sun exposure.
Wider Color Scheme Design Choices
To pick the color of your furniture, you should make two choices about the wider color scheme of the room your new custom furniture will be joining:
1. Choose between an “analogous color scheme” and a “complementary color scheme”
-Analogous Color Scheme: Use colors that work well together because they naturally match and complement one another. This can be used to create a warm and inviting atmosphere.
-Complementary Color Scheme: Use contrasting colors to create a more vibrant and eye-catching visual environment for your room.
2. Choose between the “60-30-10 Rule” and “The Rule of Three”
-60-30-10 Rule: Choose a main color, a secondary color, and an accent color for your room’s color scheme. The main color of the color scheme should represent 60% of its color palette, the secondary color should represent 30% and the accent color should represent 10%. These numbers include not only the furniture colors but also the colors of walls, floors, ceilings, window treatments, and even art.
-The Rule of Three: Choose three colors for the walls and furniture of a room and use them equally. You can use different shades and saturation levels of the same color family for each of the three colors while following this rule.
Choosing Furniture Colors Is Personal
At the end of the day, choosing furniture colors is a very personal and subjective decision. People naturally develop opinions about color from a very young age and choosing colors that make you and your family happy is the most important consideration. Perhaps you or your loved ones have a strong negative or positive emotional association with a certain color. For instance, maybe a certain shade of blue brings about nostalgic feelings of visiting the beach as a child or melancholy ones of a failed past romantic relationship. Do not shy away from these feelings when selecting furniture colors. Also, remember that furniture color selection, and interior design in general, is about self-expression, not just following rules. In that vein, consider this guide as advice and not as hard and fast rules on which furniture color you should choose.
Howard’s Upholstery Can Help You Choose Your Furniture Colors
If you are feeling overwhelmed by the idea of picking out colors for your next custom furniture piece, this is normal. Thankfully, Howard’s Upholstery has been helping customers like you with their custom furniture and upholstery needs for over 40 years. Contact us today and we can help you design your next piece of custom furniture.
Written by hrosenthal-admin
