A new coat of paint is one of the quickest and most cost-effective ways to update your home. Choosing interior paint colors can be challenging for homeowners. Here are five tips to make the process easier.
How to Choose a Paint Color Like a Pro
1. Don’t Pick Your Paint Color First
Most designers agree that paint color should be the last thing you choose when designing a room. Paint can be custom colored to coordinate with the main furnishings in a room. Choose your flooring, furniture, and artwork first, then select a paint color that complements those items. Creating a mood or inspiration board is helpful anytime you redecorate a room.
2. Think About How You Want the Room to Feel
Colors have a significant impact on how a space feels. It’s important to choose a paint color that helps you achieve the right mood. Do you want the space to be cozy and intimate or clean and bright? Some hues like black, brown, gray, and darker shades of blue can read as masculine or moody. White, ivory, pastels, and lighter shades of green or blue are considered more cheerful or soothing. Bold colors create a lot of energy and are better suited for a kitchen and family room. Choose subtle, more subdued colors for bedrooms where relaxation is the primary goal.
3. Consider Your Lighting
Natural and artificial lighting dramatically impacts how a paint color looks in your home. Try out large paint samples and look at them at different times of the day to assess the effect changing light has on them. While lighter colors are best for areas that don’t receive a lot of natural light, bold colors can work in rooms that receive plenty of natural light. Gray is a popular color choice with interior designers because it works well in areas with and without a lot of natural light.
4. Select the Right Finish or Sheen
All paint colors come in different finishes or sheens. Five primary paint finishes are categorized by their gloss or shininess: flat/matte, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and high-gloss. Each finish will affect how a paint color will look on your walls. Flat or matte finishes are ideal for low-traffic areas, whereas an eggshell or satin finish works well just about anywhere. Semi-gloss paint is perfect for high-traffic areas such as kitchens, bathrooms, and children’s bedrooms.
5. Try Out Paint Samples On the Wall
Never select a paint color at the hardware or paint store. Stores have commercial lighting, high ceilings, and very little natural light. The only way to know how a paint color will look in your home is to try it out. Bring home many paint swatch color strips and look at them in your home. Once you’ve narrowed down your top three or four choices, you can buy some small 8-ounce paint samples and try them out. Paint a large area of at least 3 feet by 3 feet to determine which color looks best in the room.
Selecting a Home Color Palette
When selecting a color palette for your home, choosing colors that work together is essential. Each room can have a different color, but it should still harmonize with the other colors in your home. This is especially important in modern, open-concept homes. Many online tools can help you develop an interior color scheme. A professional painting contractor can also work with you to select the right colors for your next interior or exterior painting projec.
Experienced Painters for Historic Properties
Image Painting is a full-service residential and commercial painting contractor based in Falls Church, Virginia. We have served the Washington, DC metropolitan area since 2003. We are proud to be A+ Rated by the Better Business Bureau and are committed to completing every job with integrity and excellent customer service.
We offer custom color matching, a two-year guarantee with a written warranty, and free estimates. Our employees are licensed, insured, and background checked for your protection. Call us at 703-256-2271 or contact us online to schedule an appointment.