How to Choose & Paint a Color Scheme for Your Home

Choose and paint a color scheme for your home.

Choosing a color scheme for a room in your home can be a daunting task. Choosing a color scheme for your entire home may seem nearly impossible. With all of the color choices, painting techniques, paint swatches, room simulations and the list goes on--trying to choose a main color and a trim color and then accent colors on top of it all for every room of your home begins to look like an insurmountable task.

Things You'll Need

• Computer with internet

Instructions

1. Use the wonderful tools created by some of the well known companies of major paint manufacturers. You can go to these websites and load a digital photo of your room to be painted, choose a color scheme and digitally paint the room to see how it will look.

2. Pick up paint swatches. There are many different paint swatches to look at in these stores. In order to prevent feeling overwhelmed by all of the options, determine if you are a neutral colors person, an airy and light colors type, or if you tend to favor the more bold color palette, you may prefer the more warm colors for your humble abode. Whatever the preference, determine it before you leave the house. This way, you will most likely stick with that color family and options while picking swatches versus being all over the place and leaving with your pockets and bags stuffed with booklets and swatches.

3. Ask questions. Go to your local hardware store and and/or take a do it yourself painting class. These classes are helpful if you are wanting to attempt a painting technique like creating a linen look or other textured looks on your walls.

4. Purchase your supplies. Once you have gathered your information, purchase your supplies. Again, you will want to find out from your local hardware store or paint supply stores which brushes, trays, rollers, etc are of the best value. A mid-grade paint brush may work just fine, however you do not want to use a brush that will leave paint bristles to dry all over your freshly painted walls.

5. Start small. Start with the smallest room of your home to be painted. Once you complete one room you will feel more confident as you forge ahead to tackle room number two, which should be the next biggest.

Tips & Warnings

• It may be easiest if you have furnished your rooms already and can pull from the colors that are already in the room to determine main, trim and accent colors.

• Be sure to use a drop cloth to protect any floors and/or furniture.

• Don't rush it. You want to look back at your hard work and see a job well done and not see spots and spaces that need retouching and/or redoing.