If you’re interested in updating the look and feel of your home, a fresh coat of paint can be a simple way to immediately breathe new life into your space. Still, you need to be careful about what paint colors you choose.
No matter the age of your home, an outdated color scheme will make your space feel older than it really is. Although color preferences will always be subjective, there are certain paint color trends you may want to avoid — especially if you’re end goal is a new, modern look.
Keep reading for a list of paint colors that can quickly make your house look outdated.
1. Blush and plum in the bathroom
There’s nothing that dates a home quite like a brave burst of plum or an onslaught of blush on the walls of your bathroom. We do love color, and a dusty pink or bright rose color can certainly spice up a room. But when it comes to the bathroom, pink and plum paint is a style that has gone by the wayside.
If your heart is set on pink in the bathroom, consider adding pops of the color as accents in your hand towels, rugs, and other decorations.
What colors to use instead
We love neutrals in the bathroom. A tranquil gray, beige or light blue or sage green are both relaxing and cheery. Then there’s always the classic white and bright bathroom.
From there, you can let the color of the bathroom come from a bright vanity, sleek hardware, or even a graphic wallpaper on an accent wall. Or, go for a minimalistic look and dress the entire bathroom in neutrals.
2. Wood paneling or wood-colored built-ins in the living room
Wood paneling in the living room or large wood-colored built-ins are common design elements in historic and older homes. These features are definitely unique and can be a stunning focal point for your room, but they can also make a room feel dark, small, and dated.
What colors to use instead
If your living room walls are wood paneled, we recommend tearing them out and starting fresh. Neutral colors in the living room, or even a minty green or dusty blue, can brighten your space.
If you have a unique wood built in, a fresh and professional coat of white paint is all you need! You’ll be amazed at how this can modernize and improve the look of your room.
3. Brown or burnt umber in the dining room
Brown in the dining room was originally meant to bring a warmth and cozy feeling to the space. But today this trend just makes a room feel enclosed and cramped.
When you consider that dining room tables and chairs are also typically a dark color, all the brown quickly becomes a little too dark and sad for today’s modern and airy trends.
What colors to use instead
A classic shade of gray, beige, greige (a grey-beige mix) or light blue look stunning in a dining space. These colors will open up the room and look stunning when paired with wooden table furnishings.
If you really love the darker, cozier look, try a dark navy or slate with white trim for a modern look.
4. Yellow in the kitchen
Chosen for its bright, cheery, and homey nature, yellow has become the cliche color for kitchens throughout Oregon and the US. This is especially true when paired when an otherwise all-white color scheme.
Though a freshly painted yellow and white kitchen can certainly be charming, it does inherently have an outdated feeling. So unless you really want an old farmhouse feel, we recommend going in a different color direction.
What colors to use instead
You have a lot of options in the kitchen, but if you’re looking for a newer, modern look, white and grey shades are the top choice and can really open up your space.
If you love the cheeriness of a yellow kitchen, opt for a beige or greige instead. It will give your kitchen some warmth without being too bright or busy.
5. Wood-colored kitchen cabinets
As your looking at the color of your kitchen, pay special attention to your cabinets. Natural wood-colored cabinets and shelves are often viewed as outdated. They can make your space feel smaller and aren’t particularly style forward.
Of course, this isn’t always true — high-end stained wooden kitchen cabinets can spice up the look of your space. In general though, natural wood shades in large quantities can overwhelm the look of your kitchen.
What colors to use instead
Bright, precisely painted white cabinets with dark or polished hardware will make your kitchen shine.
Not only will white cabinets make your kitchen feel more inviting, they also give a more luxurious, high-end vibe.
Bonus: Tips for choosing an interior paint color scheme you’ll love for years
Choosing the perfect colors for the interior of your home can be daunting. There are a number of factors you need to consider to ensure you choose colors that will enhance your home and keep it from feeling dated too quickly. More importantly, they have to be colors you absolutely love. You’re the one who’ll be living in this space, after all!
Here at Bluenote Painting, our professional painters use our years of experience and a variety of tools and resources to make smart paint color decisions. If you want to update the paint in your home but are having a hard time choosing the right colors, we can help.
Take a look below for a few of the tricks we use to recommend the best colors for a space.
Consider the existing items & decorations in a room
Does the room already have a big focal point in a piece of furniture, artwork, or other decoration? Think about how the color on your wall will complement this focal point.
Look at the room’s natural lighting
Pay attention to the windows and natural lighting in the room and how the colors on your walls will either add to or take away from this.
For example, if the windows are on the eastern or northern side of the room, the light will be cooler than southern facing rooms. Cooler natural light pairs well with warmer hues, while warmer light (southern/western facing rooms) goes well with lighter colors.
Examine paint swatches at home
Once you’ve found a few paint colors that you’re interested in, take paint swatches home and examine the swatch in the setting of your home. Consider the color in the morning light of the room, in the afternoon, and late at night.
You may also want to get a small sample of the paint and add it to the wall to get a better idea of what it will look like.
When in doubt, stick to neutrals
Big colors are a bold decision in any house, and as we’ve learned from this article, can quickly fall out of style. If you’re on the fence about a color, your best bet is to go with a neutral tone and use colorful decorations around the room to make the space pop.
Time to modernize the look of your home? Contact us.
At Bluenote Painting, our professional painters are here to help you not only select the best interior paint colors, but carry out the entire painting process from start to finish.
We’re proud to be the premier Northwest Oregon residential painting company and love helping our clients breathe new life into their homes with high-quality interior paint. We even specialize in refinishing cabinets and built-ins to look brand new.
Contact us today to learn more about our residential painting services and to schedule your free estimate.
