The Affordable Paint Project That Instantly Adds A Pop Of Mood-Boosting Color

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The recessed window is a fixture in many kitchens, but these can be found in other rooms, as well. These windows are recessed boxes that, sometimes, though not always, come with built-in shelves where plants and other knick-knacks can find a perch. Thanks to the window's design, they sometimes have less natural light. However, there's an easy and affordable hack you can use to enhance the room's natural light, and your happiness quotient in the process. Just paint the recessed box a bright color, like lemon yellow or mint green. 

The design of these windows makes them a potential focal point because they are architecturally prominent, and often in the center of the room over the kitchen sink. However, there's an argument for augmenting the effect of such an architectural feature by adding a coat of bright paint to the window. A sizable pop of color right in the kitchen's center draws the eye in, and if the color scheme in the room has been planned well, it encourages the viewer's eye to continue around the room after taking in the stunning window feature first. 

But what if the architectural features of this window are weak, like the window gets visually "drowned" out by the cabinets and other elements around it? The answer is still to paint the window a bright color. The brightness of the new paint color fools the eye, creating the illusion that there's more to the window than there actually is. Who knew that a $9 half-pint can of Rust-Oleum Sunburst Yellow gloss paint could mimic the effect of a thousand-dollar renovation?

If you'd like to create a luxe color scheme in the kitchen (or wherever your recessed window is located) with this wee reno project, then adopt what's known as the 60-30-10 color rule. Using this interior décor mantra, 60% of the space is painted with the main color. If you'd like the window to be a standout feature, then make it part of the 30% — the secondary accent — or the 10% pop of color — rather than the main color. This strategy is exactly what you need to boost the mood in the room. There's some science to this, actually. Using bright, bold colors in a home's decor has been proven to boost your brain's dopamine, one of the chemicals in your brain that's responsible for creating pleasure. 

The perfect shade of paint for your recessed window is one that's a high contrast to the main color — the 60%. If the cupboards and the walls are painted navy blue or watermelon red, then the technicolored window should be something like bright yellow (or some other equally happy, contrasting color). By painting the window this way, you ensure that it really stands out, thanks to the dramatic juxtaposition between the primary and secondary colors in the room.

Finally, most recessed windows in kitchens, even the larger ones, aren't actually that big — at least from a home-improvement perspective. They range from 36 inches by 24 inches to 60 inches by 72 inches. The depth of the window varies, depending on the build. As such, painting recessed windows is the kind of DIY you could finish when you just have an hour or two to spare.