A lot of homeowners don’t consider painting their closets, as typically they’re only used to store clothing. However, if you have a walk-in closet that flows into your bedroom, a fresh coat of paint can truly make the space pop. Generally, most will opt for neutral or light tones when it comes to colors for their closets.
However, this doesn’t mean you have to do the same. Just like any other room in your home, there is a myriad of color options for your closets. Let’s explore them all below:
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Choosing Between Dark & Light Colors
White and soft neutral colors are the most popular choices amongst homeowners when it comes to painting the inside of their closets. The main reason for this is that these types of colors have the ability to cast light inside the closet and can be a great advantage. Most standard closets have only one light.
If the closet is brimming with items such as clothing, packages, and other things, the majority of the light will be blocked. If a darker shade of paint is used on the walls of the closet, this will negate the positive impact of the light in the closet ceiling. This will cause it to be difficult to see what you have inside.
When White or Neutral Tones Should be Avoided
There are some situations in which painting the inside of your closet with white or neutral tones is not the best option.
Closets Without Doors
Some closets within a home may not have doors. In this case, the closet turns into part of the interior design of the room. This type of closet typically is included in rooms in which the contents of the closet are used often.
The homeowner may opt to go without doors for the sake of convenience. With these types of closets, the inside looks greatest when the shade or tones correlate with the room as a whole. This then ensures the closet does not become the focus of attention in the room.
If you believe a dark paint in the closet will cause it to look overly dim, a slightly lighter tone may help.
Closet Accent Walls
One of the latest movements in the realm of interior design is painting accent walls. An accent wall is a great way to shake things up a bit inside a normal, bland space like a closet. An eccentric burst of color can change everything.
Wallpapered Closet Interiors
Many people choose a wallpaper for their room decor. When this is the case, it is generally best to match the interior of the closet to the main color in the wallpaper. This is another valid motive to not use white or other plain colors inside the closet.
Closet Nook
If you have a small workspace or hobby den somewhere in your home, chances are it’s actually a double closet. Using these closets in this manner, you can create a pleasing aesthetic by adding a bright accent wall. It also helps if the accent wall matches or flows with the decor of the room as a whole.
How to Pick The Best Paint Finish for a Closet
Flat paint is one of the most widely selected paint types to use on walls; however, there are exceptions where flat paint is not the ideal choice. There are instances in which flat paint should be swapped out for an alternative.
Satin Finish Paint
One type of finish to consider for more heavy-duty usage is satin finish paint. This type of paint sits between flat and semi-gloss on the finished scale. It is a great pick for closets that may see more wear and tear such as those that house large items like an outdoor gear.
Semi-Gloss Paints
Semi-gloss can be used if you are looking to increase the brightness and reflectivity inside a closet. This type of finish can create greater luminosity in dark space.
Flat Paint
Since the majority of closets have a white or neutral-toned interior, a flat finish is used. The soft colors themselves are enough to reflect an appropriate amount of light in the closet
High-Gloss Paints
If your closet needs the greatest amount of illumination possible, you might consider a high gloss paint. This paint finish provides the highest reflectivity and is the strongest.
Other Factors You Should Consider
There are cases where certain colors or closets need a semi-gloss or high gloss finish. Such cases might be:
Pantry
A closet that serves as a kitchen pantry gets a tremendous amount of use. Because of this, you want to choose a stronger, more enduring paint. The most popular color selection here is the color of the room, but you could also choose white or a plain color.
Whatever the color is, a semi-gloss will be the best finish choice to ensure it can resist damage and be easily cleaned.
Closets Inside or Near Mud Rooms
The closet located inside or near a mudroom will endure some of the highest traffic and damage of all the spaces in a home. This is because this room sees many people coming and going, and the closet in this room stores heavy-duty items like shoes, outdoor equipment, and more. It is often suggested by designers to use a white or light shade in this space, as it is usually cramped and full of items.
Using this type of color will make the most use of the light in the room. As for finish type, a semi-gloss or high gloss will be best suited to handle a high level of wear and tear.
Dark Paint Colors
If you use a dark color paint with a flat finish inside your closet, it will not aid in reflecting light. If you instead choose a semi-gloss finish, this may slightly increase reflectivity.
Time to Make a Decision on Closet Color!
We hope we’ve given you some inspiration when it comes to colors for your closets. As you can see, if you consider the amount of time you plan on spending in your closet, along with the items you will be stored inside it, this can help narrow your search pretty easily. For more tips, be sure to keep up to date with the Home Stratosphere blog!
