How To Pick The Right Paint Colour

So you've decided to paint!  That's the easy part.  Picking the right paint colour is the next step and there's a lot to consider.  Sure, you could walk into a store, grab a paint chip you like, buy the paint and go home but....you will likely end up with a colour that just doesn't work in your space.

So....if you are looking to paint - ask yourself these 10 questions BEFORE committing to a colour.


1.  Where am I in the decorating process?
If you are totally starting from scratch - so no floors, furniture, tiles etc...then you do have a lot of options.  Have a colour in mind, say grey tones, when it comes to make those selections and bring the paint fan with you so you can find a colour that works with everything. But if you have fixtures in place - flooring, sofa, other furniture, window dressings, wall paper etc... you will need to work with those items (unless you are doing a total room over haul).  So once the items you want to keep are in place start fanning through different colour options.

 

2.  How do I know if it is a colour I love?
In order to know for sure if you are going to absolutely love a paint colour - you do need to see it on the walls.  When it comes to narrowing down your choice - trust your gut!  Don't let others tell you what to do - an opinion is fine as long as they have you and your taste in mind.  If you like deep colour or bold colour - go for it, it's only paint!

 

3.  Am I rushing into this?
Take a breathe and take your time selecting your colour or colours.  Sit in your space and think about the mood you want and how you want it to feel for yourself and others.  Then look toward colours that support that mood. Take the time to test colours and look at them day and night.

 



4.  Have I looked at paint chips?
Going to a decorating store or a hardware store and seeing the walls of paint chips can be very intimidating - there is so much to look at.  Trying leafing through magazines before going to look at chips, and look at decorated rooms - that would help you focus on not only a decor style but a colour palette, too.  That way you have some direction and can easily weed out what you don't want.

 

5.  Have I tried any samples?
Still uncertain? but narrowed down to a few options? Don't rely on just the chip - get yourself some samples.  Buy a quart or pint of paint and paint swatches on your walls - don't worry they will cover up when you actually start painting.   

 

6.  Have I looked at the sample more than once?
Now that you have painted a few swatches on your walls.  Keep the swatches up for a few days before totally committing.  For some, this new paint (especially if it is very different from the old paint) can take a while for the shock to wear down. Be sure to look at the swatches throughout the day as the light changes, the colour may appear different, too.  Make sure you like the colour day and night.

 

7.    What other colours am I using?
Likely your paint colour won't be the only colour in the room.  Be sure that the wall paint colour will work harmoniously with the other colours in the room such as flooring, furniture, and textiles, even wallpaper. 

 

8.  Have I considered the room?
Before you choose the paint colour, pay attention to the room.  How much light does it have? In south facing rooms, colours run very true.  North facing rooms tend to be darker so the colours will look different.  And, in east facing rooms, the colour looks a little blue. Do you have high ceilings? With high ceilings you can get away with going bolder and deeper than with standard ceiling height.

 

9.  What's my sheen of choice?
So the sheen is very important - it affects how the light is either absorbed or reflected by the wall colour.  Higher sheen like a semi gloss or gloss will reflect more light from the surface so the colour will be deep and rich.  A flat or eggshell will absorb light creating a dryer looking colour.  If your walls aren't perfect, opt for a flat finish to disguise the imperfections. 

 

10.  Am I too hesitant?
Painting a room should take about a weekend of your time.  Compared to other projects it's straightforward and cost effective.  Plus it makes a huge impact and when you tire of the colour - it's an easy update!

In Living Colour - Tips for Picking the Perfect Paint Colour

Livable Color: Choosing Hues You'll Love to Live With

What's the secret to choosing the right color? Sure, there are principles and guidelines, but the real secret is to choose colors you can live with and will love to come home to. Use these tips from designers and color experts to help you reach that goal.

 

- "Think of places and spaces you love for inspiration.  For example, I love the cream-colour stucco walls I see in Italian churches, and I try to match that feeling."  Lulu DeKwiatkowski, TEXTILE DESIGNER

- "Warm colours like red, yellow and orange have an energizing effect.  Blue, green and grey are calming." Davi Bromstad, DESIGNER and HGTV STAR

-"Always sample paint colours. Paint a sample board so you can move it around a room." Diana Hathaway Timmons, DESIGNER

-"Look at paint colours in the morning and at night, and put them near your furniture." Emily Henderson, STYLIST

-"You can take just about anything to the paint store and ask the associate to mix a paint that's a perfect match using the store's colour reader." Danny Seo, LIFESTYLE EXPERT

-"What's more livable than the colours found right outside your back door? Look to earthy, natural colours - blues, greens, beige and taupe - when choosing colour for your rooms." Sehra Han, DESIGNER

 

-"When choosing wall colours, find versions of your favourite colours that are muted with grey." Erica Lugbill, DESIGNER

-"Choose the best paint you can afford.  Good paint has better pigments and a more livable finish." Courtney Price, DESIGNER

-"When you shop for paint, take along an existing pillow, a piece of drapery fabric or a photo of your space.  You'll make informed colour decisions." Alejandra Bernardez, DESIGNER

-"Play with intensity. I love monochromatic rooms that use a single hue in a variety of ways." Sarah Richardson, DESIGNER

-"Layer bold colours with midtones and neutrals to balance colour in a room." Khristian A. Howell, TEXTILE DESIGNER AND COLOUR EXPERT

 

-"If you find a colour that you love but you are afraid it might be too dark, ask the person mixing the colour to do a 50 percent tint of the colour." Gail Wright, DESIGNER

-"Colours close together on the colour wheel are analogous and will make a calm room.  Colours that are farther apart are complementary and add drama." David Bromstad, DESIGNER and HGTV STAR

-"Choose colour based on the use of the room.  Morning rooms can be brighter; rooms used at night can go dark." Beth Kushnick, SET DECORATOR

 

-"Your home is made up of more than walls - ceilings, floors, stairs and doors are also great places to have fun with paint." Bob and Cortney Novogratz, DESIGNERS

-"Give yourself permission to use a bold colour.  You don't have to have it everywhere - one throw or pillow might be just enough." Nate Berkus, DESIGNER

-"When rooms open to one another, avoid choosing radically different colours, or the space will look choppy and small." Courtney Price, DESIGNER

- "Choose your favourite colour, but watch that it's not too bright." Maria Killam, COLOUR EXPERT

-"In the same way a bright shoe adds surprise and fun to a black outfit, an unexpected touch of trim along a curtain panel or in piping can add colour in a way that's easy to live with." Anna Lobell, DESIGNER

-"Start with colour you love. Even if it's not a trend at the moment, it will always be on trend in a space that resonates with you." Khristian A. Howell, TEXTILE DESIGNER and COLOUR EXPERT

-"For a cohesive look, flow two or three of the same colours in each room.  An accent wall in the family room is reflected in the master bedroom bedding, for example." Diana Hathaway Timmons, DESIGNER

-"Save strong wall colours for statement rooms that are smaller and visited less-a library, guest room or a powder room." Lulu DeKwiatkowski, TEXTILE DESIGNER

-"Blend in strong colours. A bold colour on the wall will feel jarring unless you consider the trim and ciling colour in your plans." Patrice Cowan Bevans, DESIGNER