So, you've remodelled your home like a master surgeon, repairing structural faults but keeping the unique architectural character of each room. But there's still something missing. That something is most likely colour for your living room, the renovator's hidden weapon.

Did you know that depending on how the crown moulding contrasts with the walls, it can visually increase or lower the ceiling? Or that a clever use of colour for your living room, can transform one area into a lively meeting spot while another becomes a calm spot to cuddle up with a book?

Colour for your living room is utilised to help define interiors and provide focal points in generally featureless rooms in today's open-plan homes, where kitchens, living rooms, and dining rooms are often one enormous space. Of course, the trick is deciding which paint colours to use and where to put them.

1) To create an appealing visual effect, choose a finish

Consider the finish you'll use once you've chosen your colours. Despite the fact that today's flat paints have improved stain resistance, traditional knowledge has long held that a satin (also known as eggshell) finish is better for walls because it is scrubbable and hides flaws. High-gloss and semi-gloss finishes were once regarded to be superior for trim, as they could highlight the curves of a moulding profile or the panels of a door.

On the other hand, finishes are now being used to create visual effects throughout the entire wall. Paint one wall in a flat or satin finish and the other in a semi-gloss finish, both in the same colour, and the light will give the impression of corduroy or velvet. Similarly, you can achieve a matte and sheen contrast by painting the walls flat and the ceiling semi-gloss. (The more light-reflective the ceiling, the higher it will appear.) Keep in mind that the higher the gloss, the more sheen and attention the surface attracts. Colour for your living room and sheen, when used wisely, may draw attention to your interior's best features.

2) Create a colour scheme for your living room that complements the furniture

Here's a 4-step safe way to create a colour scheme:

• Choose three colours from an existing object in your home to begin. Carry a pillow from the sofa in the family room, your favourite tie or scarf, or a painting, all of which is comfortable or emotional, and take that object to the paint shop. Find three sample strips of these colours, and you may immediately use between 15 and 18 colours, as every sample strip usually has six colours.
• The forward step is to pick one of the three paint colours for your living room as your wall colour and save the other two to utilise in fabric or furniture throughout the room.
• Finally, pick a fourth accent hue: Splash a little of that colour into every room in the house—through a pillow, plate, or piece of artwork.

3) Match the colour to the mood you want to create in the room

Paint professionals have a minor fascination with colour psychology. Many people believe that you should choose a colour for your living room based on how a room is used and the vibe you wish to create.

Keep in mind that when it comes to emotional impact, one person's welcome-home orange may be another's scram signal.

Red will enhance your appetite—and your blood pressure—while blues and greens are soothing and natural-looking; purple is popular among youngsters but not necessarily adults; yellow is cheerful; and orange, depending on the tint, tone, or shade, may be both welcoming and irritating.

According to Behr's research, yellow can excite the brain, making it a good choice for areas where homework is done; however, avoid yellow in bedrooms, where the purpose is to relax. Instead, experiment with these calming hues in your bedroom to help you get a better night's sleep.

4) You should know your whites

Whites come in a wide range of colours. Without coloured overtones, pure, “clean” whites are created. Designers choose them for showcasing artwork or furnishings, and they're frequently utilised on ceilings to create a neutral backdrop.

Warm undertones (yellow, crimson, pink, or brownish) or cool undertones (green, blue, or grey) characterise most other whites. “Use warmer whites in rooms lacking a lot of natural light, or to make larger spaces look cosier,” suggests Mary Rice of Behr.

5) Using Colour in the Architecture

Playing up a room's architectural elements is one of the most effective ways to employ colour for your living room, to change it. Moulding, mantels, built-in bookcases, arched entrances, wainscot, windows, and doors are all excellent ways to make colourful walls more interesting.

Doorways and mouldings should be painted

Painting mouldings for doorways one step brighter or darker than the main wall for subtle emphasis. It's only a slight colour shift, but it really attracts your attention to the details.``

Another technique to capture attention is to paint a metallic glaze directly on top of an existing painted element, such as a ceiling medallion. Copper or bronze coatings are translucent and give a wonderful gleam that draws attention to the architectural features.

When switching from door to casing, where do you change the colour?

It's not a black-and-white situation, but here's a general rule of thumb: Paint the door's face the same colour as the trim in the room it swings into when closed, and the door's edges the same colour as the trim in the room it swings into.

If you're utilising various trim colours in adjacent rooms, be sure they complement one another. Painter Susan English says, “Doors tend to stay open, so you'll have the trim colour from a nearby room in any given space on a frequent basis.” Assume you enter a room with pale yellow walls through a barn-red door. This can be a terrific accent colour in a setting where it doesn't belong if researched carefully. Maintaining a constant trim colour in contiguous rooms with open entryways creates a sense of cohesion and a nice visual line. Consider painting all of the trim in an open plan white, even if the wall colours differ.