If the architectural beauty of interior columns were not enough, you have options when it comes to selecting paint colors to further enhance their appearance. The style of columns may present opportunities to work with existing interior trim detail. You may prefer to make your columns stand out using a bright color to give the room some “pop.” Are you ready to give your columns a distinctive look? We have some helpful hints when it comes to making your decisions.
Once You’re Done Selecting Paint Colors, There Are Considerations Before You Paint Interior Columns
Before we provide any suggestions, it is important to clarify up front that we highly advise you do not use spray paint or sprayers to apply any water or paint to your columns. A 2- or 3-inch paintbrush will do great starting from the top of your columns and working your way down. You will want to do some preparation such as:
- Using a damp cloth to clean columns
- Using soap and water for anything a damp cloth cannot clean
- Sealing caps and bases to eliminate any small gaps
- A light sanding applied to columns using 120-grit sandpaper
Your columns will look their best with a primer coat. We recommend Acrylic-Latex primer and paint for all column materials. It is essential to allow paint to dry between coats.
Evaluate Your Available Light
When selecting paint colors for your columns, stand in the room and evaluate how the available light falls. Color schemes typically follow the trim or molding that make up the column construction. These are often the neutral colors such as white, ecru, light tan or beige, just to name some examples. In more dynamic schemes, you can use the columns to create contrast between wall and trim colors since the columns command a bold presence.
Wood is beautiful as a decorative accent, but if furniture, flooring, balustrades, banisters or trim work are dark in color, these elements can extract light from the room. Take a moment to look and see how the light bounces off your walls, floors, and counter-tops. This can be most useful for your use of lighter or warmer colors to amplify the natural light that enters the room.
Ready to Prime and Paint Interior Columns
Our selection of interior columns are all ready to prime and paint. For builders as well as homeowners, our FRP columns are among the most popular choice for their many advantages. Made from the most advanced construction material found anywhere in the world, these rotocast fiberglass-reinforced columns deliver on strength, value, and beauty. With the built-in protections against invasion from pests and moisture penetration, they are virtually maintenance-free.
Finally, when selecting paint colors for your interior columns, it is helpful to decide with dispatch. Science shows us that our visual receptors respond immediately to reflected light waves sending signals to the brain just as quickly. Lengthy deliberations over which colors you like best only end up with the colors appearing to be indistinguishable. Come to your selection with fresh eyes, and be prepared to make note of your first impressions. You can make your most accurate identification in less than a minute of seeing colors. It’s the light qualities you are making a judgment about more than the color. It is through our intuitive nature we can discern color nuances.