A fresh coat of paint brings a new look to a room. It isn't just the color that brightens the space, however; it's the texture as well. A smooth, creamy surface can add sheen or a silky affect to the room. An orange peel application on the the wall plays up light and shadow, giving the paint color added dimension. Faux painting adds visual interest.

Color is, of course, the most notable characteristic of paint. Dynamic reds bring vibrancy to a space. Blues and greens are calming, soothing colors, perfect for beach and cottage style rooms. Earthy oranges and deep browns add warmth and comfort. Creamy whites and yellows speak to purity and quietude.

When considering a new paint color for your walls and ceiling, keep in mind the overall design scheme of your room. You don't need to stay in the same color family, of course, but a radical change may require adjustments in your current scheme.

Colors have a psychological impact on humans. How you feel in a room will change when you make a radical change in color. The look of the room changes and you react to it.

If you've lived with Navajo white walls for several years, and your furniture fabrics are pale blue, swathing your walls in a rich coco brown will alter your visual perception of the pale blue fabrics. You may enjoy the way the coco color cocoons the quiet blue. Or you may feel the fabric colors appear washed out and lack substance.

How the paint changed the room is subjective, determined by your perception.

Faux painting is another aspect to paint that can alter your perception of a room. If, instead of changing from Navajo white to coco, you used a golden yellow with a glaze, you may find the room has gone from cozy cottage to quiet sophistication. Or you may perceive it as bringing an Old World feel to the room, as if you were now in old Tuscany.

Paint changes a room by changing your perception and reaction to the room. Your walls and ceiling are expansive elements in your rooms, and the color and texture you apply to them can alter your design scheme, for better or worse.

Your walls and ceilings, though, aren't the only place you can use paint in a room. Try painting some time worn pine furniture, or an old wooden chest. The paint will not only transform the furniture, it will bring new life to the design scheme.

Your ceiling and floor moldings also offer an opportunity to introduce color into your room. Paint these a contrasting color to your walls for pop. You can also paint them a shade or two darker than your walls to provide a framework.

Paint is an inexpensive way to bring color and texture into a room. It transforms a tired design scheme, refreshing it and livening it up. It changes your perception of a room, giving you an opportunity to re-experience your home all over again.

Learn more about this author, Shelly Mcrae.
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