Speaker A
Imagine you've arrived at a store to pick out paint colors for your interior. You've used every single color fan available, and you've made your choice.
Learn how to choose the right wall colors to avoid costly mistakes and create a harmonious, timeless interior with expert tips from Igor Krasnov.
Key Takeaways
- Always consider the room’s function and existing elements before choosing wall colors.
- Use the 60-30-10 rule to balance background, secondary, and accent colors effectively.
- Texture and materials can add interest and depth without relying on bright colors.
- Bright, saturated colors should be used sparingly to avoid visual fatigue.
- Test paint colors in the actual room lighting before finalizing to ensure accuracy.
What the video covers
- Choosing the wrong wall color can ruin an entire apartment; the video explains why colors often look different in reality than on color fans.
- Before selecting colors, determine the room’s function and consider all elements like curtains, furniture, and decor for cohesive design.
- Use the 60-30-10 color rule: 60% background (walls, floors), 30% secondary elements (rugs, textiles), and 10% accent for bold personal expression.
- Two main color schemes: one with an accent wall and one with all walls as a background, using furniture and decor for color accents.
- Texture and material variation can create focal points and depth without relying solely on color contrasts.
- Overuse of bright, saturated colors like yellow and lime green can cause visual fatigue and stress, especially in frequently used rooms.
- Consider lighting, privacy, and desired brightness when choosing wall colors to suit the room’s atmosphere and function.
- Examples from projects like Stockholm and Moskovsky 65 illustrate timeless design and the use of texture over color for accents.
- Professional color matching and testing in the actual space are crucial to avoid unexpected results.
- The video encourages viewers to seek expert advice and offers a designer consultation to help with color decisions.
Chapters
- 00:00Introduction: The Problem with Paint Colors
- 00:51Determining Room Function and Color Coordination
- 01:56The 60-30-10 Color Rule and Two Color Schemes
- 02:56Examples of Timeless Design and Texture Use
- 04:39Risks of Overusing Bright Colors and Visual Noise
- 05:36Lighting, Privacy, and Choosing Light vs Dark Colors
- 06:42Final Advice and Encouragement to Like and Subscribe
- 07:45Using Texture and Natural Color Inspiration
- 09:48Consultation Offer and Importance of Paint Swatches
- 11:41Influence of Lighting and Final Color Testing
Full Transcript — Download SRT & Markdown
Speaker A
For instance, a grayish-blue. You send it off for color matching, pick up the can, paint the walls, and it actually turns out to be purple or just a plain blue color. It feels like this definitely won't happen to me, but I
Speaker A
have a very close friend who was working on his balcony, insulating it to make an office, and he ordered a gray color with just that kind of bluish tint. But in reality, it turned out to be just plain purple. And, you
Speaker A
know, a purple balcony. I mean, how is it possible that you have one color on the color fan, but it's another in reality? That is exactly what I want to talk to you about in this video. I will
Speaker A
tell you how to correctly choose wall colors so that what you saw in the picture actually matches what you end up painting in your interior. Just watch this video to the end so you don't miss anything, not a single point
Speaker A
from this video. So, let's start with the first and most basic thing. Before choosing any color for anything in an interior, you need to determine what the room is and what its functional purpose will be. And starting from
Speaker A
there, we can make some decisions. I usually try to use walls as a background, but, my friends, we mustn't forget that besides walls, curtains also have color, as does soft and cabinet furniture—it all has color, texture, and there's also decor, other
Speaker A
textiles, pillows, and so on. And all of this must definitely relate to one another. To simplify things, we can use a basic rule that probably every designer knows. A simple 60-30-10 ratio; this is usually the walls, flooring,
Speaker A
ceiling, and large pieces of furniture. Our second block is 30%. To this, we assign things like a rug, textiles, or perhaps individual pieces of furniture.
Speaker A
And the 10% is, friends, exactly for you to experiment and express yourselves. You can take something bright and striking to express yourself through that 10%, which can be used in individual, targeted pieces of furniture. It could be a few pillows on
Speaker A
the sofa, a bedspread, a throw, and so on. Through these kinds of elements, we can always add brightness and contrast to our interior. And based on this simple rule, I use two schemes. The first scheme—by the way, I talked
Speaker A
about this in my video on color. Be sure to go watch that, but only after you’ve watched this. You pick one bright accent and use it for one of the walls. And for all the other walls, we use a background shade. While you can
Speaker A
certainly use decor on this accent wall, it must be subtle, because the wall itself is already a significant accent, a focal point. The second scheme is when you make all walls a single background, and then the color comes
Speaker A
from the furniture around the room. This could be a bright armchair, it could be an entire composition: a sofa, an armchair, another sofa. In short, it all depends on your imagination and your boldness. Or you could, for instance, not use much color at all.
Speaker A
You can simply add interest and depth not through color, but through decor, wall moldings, and so on. So there are many options. The point is, there are two schemes: one with an accent wall, and the second without one. All our
Speaker A
walls serve as a single background. A great example of the second scheme is our Stockholm residential project. We did this wonderful project in St.
Speaker A
Petersburg, shots of which you see on screen now; it’s still relevant, even though we did it in 2021-2022. This is the very interior I’m talking about when I define the concept of timeless design. You look at it now, and it
Speaker A
still looks contemporary. There is nothing in it that could go out of style. It features natural materials, a light, calm background, and very neat moldings. And pay attention to the colors; there is nothing super-mega active there. Everything is achieved
Speaker A
through complex textures and finishes. At the same time, the wall colors as a background are truly solid and uniform.
Speaker A
I probably can't give you an example of the first scheme from our current projects because, objectively, that scheme is something we used to use before. Nowadays, we tend to lean more towards adding interest and depth to an interior. Not only and not so much
Speaker A
through color differences and contrast, but through different textures. An example of texture variation, which creates this contrast, can be seen in the Moskovsky 65 residential complex, which you see on screen now. Here it is. The wall behind the headboard is done
Speaker A
in the same colors as all the other walls in this bedroom. But thanks to the stone texture, it looks very interesting. It stands out, it’s contrasting, it acts as a focal point, and it performs all the functions an
Speaker A
accent wall should, just not through color. And this is exactly where there is a risk of making many mistakes. Why?
Speaker A
Because if we use all these accent colors in the bedroom and living room uncontrollably, whether needed or not, then, my friends, we will get tired of them very quickly. Because it’s one thing when we spend an hour or two in a
Speaker A
room, like in a bathroom, for example, each day. And that’s two hours if you’re a man, and a bit less if you’re a woman. If we apply all of this in the living room, for example, where we spend a lot of time, well,
Speaker A
we’ll quickly go crazy from this visual noise. Our attention will be scattered, and we won't be resting at home, but feeling stressed. See? And it seems that home should be a place of strength. Moreover, I will specifically highlight saturated yellow and bright
Speaker A
lime green as, probably, extremely unfortunate colors. You have to know how to work with them. There is no such thing as a bad color, I can say that for sure. But there are unsuccessful colors, and there are those that I
Speaker A
wouldn't recommend for the general public in videos; it’s very easy to make a mistake, so it’s better to look for proven color combinations. But it’s also important to understand that this doesn’t mean these colors are completely banned or that we as a
Speaker A
studio never use them. Of course, we use them, just, I repeat, you need to do it wisely. The foundation is probably how much and how actively you will use one color or another. Because if you drench everything in even the most noble shade
Speaker A
of yellow, nothing good will come of that room. But if you use it in moderation, if you apply the very rules I mentioned earlier, then you are obviously in for a very cool, beautiful, thoughtful, and very pleasant
Speaker A
interior. Besides these colors, combinations, and the functional purpose of the room, of course, I would also decide what you actually want from the space in terms of lighting levels and a sense of privacy or intimacy. Do you want a bright room or a dark room,
Speaker A
a certain level of brightness—based on that, you can use one background shade or another; because here in our studio, we can show you, for example, a great example of a bedroom in light tones. The same Stockholm residential complex that we all love so much. Light
Speaker A
tones, noble shades, combinations, textures—everything is perfect. And here, please, is another project: Ligovsky City. And it’s basically a cave there. Some might say it’s very dark, but I would say look at how noble it looks, how contrasty it is.
Speaker A
Beautiful. And I wouldn't say it's really that dark. I think everything has its place, and each of us has our own tastes. Exactly. If we are talking about a bedroom in a country house, for example, those emerald shades and
Speaker A
emerald accents create a great focal point. At the same time, the bedroom as a whole feels a bit darker than, say, a Stockholm-style interior. And there you go, two color directions: dark and light, and everyone can choose what
Speaker A
they prefer. Friends, let's go ahead and like this video now. Especially those who once painted a wall in their house or apartment a bright color and now deeply regret it because they didn't see this video earlier to understand how to handle such
Speaker A
situations. So, fri
Speaker A
can use some specific bright accents, and your apartment, or rather the room, will come to life. But it is important to make an important note here: many people know my attitude toward the color beige. I’ve released more than
Speaker A
one video, both short and long, about beige and how you need to know how to work with it. Unfortunately, there is currently a great temptation for everyone to say, "Let’s not do a white interior, let’s do beige." And
Speaker A
what happens, first of all, just like everyone else, is there’s nothing for the eye to catch on, and you don’t understand if you are in someone’s personal home or just in a hotel room designed for everyone. Therefore, the
Speaker A
task is not to slide into a "total beige." The task is to build the interior and individualize it using textures, materials, and perhaps some local, distinct color accents. That is if we are looking at the light vector, right? And there is a second vector,
Speaker A
which is when you want to create a dark one. Basically, the recommendations here are similar: definitely create a variety of textures. The more different textures and finishes you use, the more interesting the entire composition will look. But it is also important to
Speaker A
realize that many people somehow think that a dark interior necessarily means black—a total black look, and that’s it. And at the psychological and subconscious level. You don't want that kind of gloom. But take a look, for example, at this project of ours in
Speaker A
the Shagal residential complex. It is truly stunning work where we did indeed use predominantly dark shades. But because of how everything combines with each other and how we used the lighting , it all actually looks really, really great. So don't tell yourself that dark
Speaker A
interiors are a complete no-go. You can use them, it’s just important to get the color combinations right. By the way, my advice here about using a natural color palette is more relevant than ever, because you can simply take
Speaker A
a dark veneer and some dark emerald green accents, and you'll get a dark interior that isn't black, but is very beautiful. And why is that? Because any beautiful combination has somehow migrated to us from nature. Use what it
Speaker A
has gifted us and apply it to your own interiors. And if, friends, you like a certain style, in a sense it will even be easier for you, because, for example , take Japandi or Scandinavian style; well, you’re unlikely to encounter a
Speaker A
dark Japandi or a completely dark Scandinavian style. Yes, these are all light shades, so you don't have to rack your brains. If you like a style, you can just take it and follow the standard color palette that is
Speaker A
characteristic of that particular style . In principle, if we look towards Art Deco, it also has its own characteristic color palette. The internet is there to help you; you'll be able to find successful color combinations. However, it is very
Speaker A
difficult to adapt an interior that you liked. For instance, you saw something on Pinterest, or saw something in some media or social networks from your favorite designer, or saw it in a magazine. Although at first glance it seems like, well, I'll just take it and
Speaker A
do exactly the same thing they did. But unfortunately, it doesn't work that way . That is exactly why we created a thirty-minute introductory meeting with our designer, during which you can bring your references, show them, analyze them, and discuss your goals,
Speaker A
tasks, what you want from the interior, how you will live there, what your family composition is, what your budget is, what you should prepare for, what stages there are, and how the entire project development process is structured. Most importantly, you will
Speaker A
be able to decide for yourself whether you are ready to continue working with us or not. And we will also, as they say, take a look at you. Because I always tell our clients that any work on a project is a job for both parties.
Speaker A
It never happens that people are completely excluded from the process. You can delegate almost everything, but key decisions still remain with our clients. Here is an important disclaimer: within the framework of this meeting, this extended consultation, we do not provide advice
Speaker A
on individual rooms, curtain selection, and so on. We specifically talk about the best way to proceed in this particular case if you are considering the development of a design project and its subsequent implementation. You can submit a request for this meeting via
Speaker A
the link in the description below this video. Friends, we are now moving on to probably the most important part of this video. That is, of course, paint swatches, without which it is absolutely impossible to imagine that you will hit the exact color. This is
Speaker A
exactly what I started the video with. And this is what I want to continue with, because we have actually had several such stories, where in probably 50 percent of cases when we choose paint—despite all the projects completed, all the experience, and all
Speaker A
the paint purchased—listen, it always behaves differently. Here is a real story: our client, we chose everything in the store, after all, we choose everything with the client under lamps.
Speaker A
We selected several samples, had them color-matched, brought them to the site , and painted. And what do we get?
Speaker A
Exactly, a completely different color. It is important to understand that this very color, this very item number, we used on another project where this paint looked good, authentic, and was right for that space. But here, you see , there is different artificial
Speaker A
lighting, a different color temperature , a different ratio of window placement , cardinal directions, sunlight, and daylight. All of this strongly affects perception and color rendering. After that, naturally, we had to make adjustments. We went, had it re-matched
Speaker A
, and in the end, found the shade we needed. But the lesson here, friends, is simple: under no circumstances should you choose and rely solely on RAL charts or those tiny samples in stores, because that is usually not
Speaker A
enough. And even if you bring that same small sample to the site, the effect will still be completely different. You need something like a meter by a meter.
Speaker A
Only then can you draw some kind of conclusion. Moreover, what do we usually do on-site? We paint on a wall that is directly opposite the direct daylight, so that the light floods the wall or the sample, essentially overexposing the paint with the
Speaker A
external light. And on the wall next to the window, that is, on the wall we look at when we look toward the window, and it is clear that this wall is not lit up; on the contrary, we are looking
Speaker A
against the light, and we also see how this or that shade behaves in this specific composition and configuration.
Speaker A
And only then can you draw a real conclusion about whether the shade works for us or not. I want to say that while I told you in the video today not to pick yellow or lime green, our chief
Speaker A
designer, for instance, says you can use any color; it’s all about how you use it. We even argued a little bit about it behind the scenes. Both ways are correct. Choose the color that you like. It is important to pick the right
Speaker A
shade, make samples, consider the proportions, and you will be happy. Definitely listen to the advice on this channel, but do as you see fit. That would be the right approach. Listen, you can experiment, you can do exactly as you want. This is your home. But
Speaker A
there are still certain rules that are advisable to follow, and then your interior will not just reflect your personality, it will also be refined, sophisticated, and very stylish. In the comments, I suggest you share your experience: what mistakes you made with
Speaker A
color selection, or maybe, on the contrary, how you accidentally chose a shade and got it right the first time —those stories are also welcome. I will definitely read everything. I was Igor Krasnov. Be sure to subscribe to the channel, we will see each other
Speaker A
again. Bye-bye.
Topics:interior designwall colorscolor selectionpaint colorsaccent wallcolor theoryhome decorcolor matchingtimeless designinterior textures
