I have a new house and all the walls are white.Do painted walls really look better?

Answer 1

Yes, in my opinion. White walls look too institutional and cold. If you don't want a color that's going to knock you down when you walk in the room, opt for soft colors like sea green/moss green, slate blue, pale yellows. It also depends on the room. For instance, the dining room, according to Feng Shui, should be vibrant because it's the place family gets together. These rooms could be any variety of reds or any color that gives a vibrant look. Contrastly, the bedroom should be relaxing and should be softer colors like blues and greens. Kitchen should be full of life and oranges and yellows are often good in these rooms. Of course, you can do what you want. But definitely think about giving the walls a little color, even if it's egg, taupe or ivory. White is just way too cold.

Answer 2

Yes. I know from experience. I just had my home built by a home builder about two years ago. At first the white walls look fine even pretty nice, especially when the house is empty. But after a while you start feeling like you're in a mental ward with nothing but white walls.

The white walls tend to look best I think in rooms where you have nice high ceilings. But when you have white walls you need some nice pictures and paintings on the walls to give the room some color. For rooms with nice high ceilings I recommend large pictures with a portrait alignment. Sometimes large mirrors can be nice also.

I had a really hard time picking out a color for the downstairs. The painting program sounds like a descent idea. But to be honest. It may not work as well as you'd like. The color your your computer screen may look different than what the color really is. After painting the downstairs about three different times I came up with a really good method so I wouldn't repeat my painting mistakes.

1. Go through the samples and pick out your favorite and a few alternates.
2. When you buy, at first just buy a quart or a very small amount of paint to paint a sample.
3. Cut about 12"x12" piece of cardboard and paint it with two coats of the paint you like best. If you want to compare it with another color, do the same with the other color or colors on other pieces of 12"x12" cardboard. Then place a round strip of blue painter's tape on the back of each after they've dried. This gives you a big sample to look at instead of a little 1.5"x1.5" card sample. It allows you to tape it to the wall then walk back several feet and look at it from a distance. Move it near all your major objects and try it out in all the different types of lighting, incandescent, natural lighting, fluorescent, shadow, etc. This method would have saved me so much time and money on my downstairs.
4. If after a few days of looking at the paint you still like it, then go with the paint.
5. The nice thing about the cardboard samples is that they also work great to take to the furniture store to pick out furniture. You might look a little dorky, but the furniture lady said that was the brightest idea she'd seen in over 20 some years.

The idea behind this method is to not buy all the paint till you really truly pick out the paint that will really work. And to really do that you need a big sample and you need to see it against all the major objects and in all the different lighting situations you're going to see it in. Because, trust me, the lighting will make it look different.

Answer 3

I wouldn't paint all the walls a color paint, but I would select for instance the den or family room a soft light color and soft lighting

I see a lot of yellow kitchens.

I have also painted one wall in a room a flat velvety red which was the backdrop of walnut furniture.

Look through some magazines at your library. I'm sure you will get some ideas.

Have Fun

Answer 4

If you have a digital Camera, Go to the paint dept of a huge box store such as Home depot. They sell a decorating disc (CD) that you intall on your computer. You take pictures of what you would like to change the color of, and put the pictures on the computer. With the program you can import these pictures and see what color changes do to the look of your room, you see the color changed wall and current furniture and no work or expense (except for $15 for program) and see what can be done

Actual colors con be duplicated at store.

Answer 5

It's all a matter of personal taste. I've seen magazine photos of (mostly upscale, custom) homes that have great art that is best displayed on white walls. But I find that walls that have more than a timid tint of color have brought more liveliness to homes. Choose your color palette to coordinate throughout your home, taking into consideration the mood you want for the various areas. Some walls can be neutral and others bold, whatever suits your comfort level.

Answer 6

This is completely a matter of personal taste. Your living environment should make YOU feel comfortable!

I've lived in rental houses my whole life (AND was once married to an architect- everything had to be white!). I'm really ready to try color in my rooms- it has a much more personal feeling (for ME). If your rooms have a lot of windows/doors/ trim, you have even MORE color choices, I think. By keeping all of the trim white, you can use richer colors and still not feeled overwhelmed by them.

If white walls make you happy, you can always add color with accessories around the room.

Answer 7

I grew up with all white walls. When I bought my first house, I hired a professional painter to paint the house. He went with me to choose the paint and made suggestions to using color.
What a difference it makes in a room. He was spot on with his selections and I couldn't be happier.
Darker colors tend to make a room look smaller while light colors make a room look larger. I love a two tone look in the dining room with a chair rail.

Answer 8

YES! they add a lot of character and really personalize a home. I just bought my town house, it came with cream colored walls which weren't bad, but once i started painting them the house really became my own.

Personally, white walls remind me of rented properties, painted walls are personalized and homey.

Answer 9

White makes a room look undecorated, no matter how decorated it is. Color tends to make a room look decorated, even if you hardly have anything it it except a few pieces of furniture. That's been my experience. White looks best if you're going for a modern or contemporay look. Traditional, Country, Cozy, Eclectic or anything else looks best with color. Every room in my house is a different color. Hallway is neutal Kacki since all rooms are off of it.

Answer 10

It all depends on what you want. Much of the time painted is better.