How to Choose the Right Paint Color for Anywhere

Choosing a paint color can be a stressful experience. Colors on the tiny color samples at paint stores may look entirely different when they cover a large area on a wall. Lighting and other furnishings can also affect the way a color appears. A color you think you like at the store may turn out to be a disaster after you take it home and paint your living room with it. Here are some fool-proof ways to make sure you choose a paint color you will love.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Poster board
• Brushes
• Hair dryer
• Paint color samples

1. Get an idea of the color family you want for your walls. Pick a color that will complement your furnishings, drapes and wall hangings.

2. Go to the paint store with a color in mind. Pick up paint color sample cards in a variety shades in your color. Most paint stores give these away for free, so pick up a generous stack of these samples.

3. Take the paint sample cards home and look at them in relation to your room. Look at them in different lighting, and narrow your selection down to two or three colors.

4. Go back to the paint store with your selected colors and have just a quart of each color mixed. Take the paint home and paint a piece of poster board with each color. Air dry, or help the drying process along with a hair dryer.

5. Tape the poster boards directly to the walls. Look at the colors in relation to the room and the lighting. Leave the poster boards up for several days and look at them often at different times of the day. Choose a single color you think looks the best with the room.

6. Have enough paint for the project mixed from the final selected color.

Tips & Warnings

• Some paint companies sell sample containers of paint even smaller than a quart. Be sure to ask if these are available.

[johnny777]

on 10/21/2009 You can also first try new colors on a photo of your own home at colorjive.com