How to Select Paint Colors For Your Home

Are you stumped when selecting a paint color for your home? This article will help you select the perfect color to compliment your decor.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. 

   Paint colors should be selected after the decor of the room has been finalized. If you have dark items in your room, consider selecting a light paint color. If you have light items in your room, consider selecting a dark paint color. If you have a multicolored large object in the room, select a non-dominant color for your walls. Perhaps that object is a sofa, rug, large artwork, or bed covering that is primarily red, however has a green vine pattern with small yellow berries. Yellow would be a good choice for the wall color.

2. 

   When selecting a paint color, get many paint swatches to try - they are usually free from your local home improvement store. Attach them to your wall in different locations to see how they look. Do not look at them on the floor or next to an item that is in the middle of the room. Always look at the paint sample at least 5' away so you can see the paint sample and your decor at the same time. Make sure you look at the sample during many times of the day. Sometimes you see the color with just the interior lights, sometimes with just natural lighting from windows, and sometimes with both. Color changes depending on the time of day, so make sure you are happy with the color during all times of day.

3. 

   If you have so many paint choices that you cannot decide which one is best, then start by eliminating the ones that are NOT your favorite. Remember to stand back, perhaps sit down on your sofa, with all your paint samples attached to your wall. One by one, go over to the wall and take down the ones that are your least favorite. Eventually you will be left with one or just a few. If you are left with just a few, invite friends over to get their opinion and they will usually guide you towards one color.

4. 

   For interest, consider painting an alcove, niche, or the back wall of your bookcases a different value (lightness or darkness) of the same paint color. Many paint color samples come on a strip with lighter or darker values of the same color. Simply select a shade 2 levels lighter or 2 levels darker for your accent color. If you only select 1 level lighter or darker, the accent color is often unnoticeable.

5. 

   Don't forget about painting your ceiling - especially if you have decorative details like crown molding. This will make your home look more finished. A much lighter color than your walls would be nice. Also a very light khaki is popular. Chocolate brown, navy blue, and black ceilings can be very dramatic in traditional and contemporary homes.

6. 

   There are several factors to consider when selecting your paint's sheen (how shiny). Shiny paints are usually more durable while matte colors give a suede look that hides imperfections in your wall. An eggshell or satin finish is suggested for the walls because it is somewhat durable but not too shiny. A semi-gloss is suggested for bathrooms and because it is even more durable. Flat or matte paint is suggested for ceilings because it hides imperfections in the drywall.

Tips & Warnings

• Yellow paint tends to amplify on the wall. Unless you want a really bright yellow room, consider selecting a light yellow with beige undertones.
• Red paint is especially difficult to work with. I would suggest using a really good primer, good quality paint, and be prepared to use several coats.
• Fluorescent lights tend to make things look green, so be aware of all the lighting you have in your home and make sure your paint looks good in all types of light.

Resources

• Color Psychology

[deepthinkin]

on 12/29/2008 Many home improvement stores will sell small samples of paint so you can paint approx 2' swatches on walls to see if you like the look. Sometimes those paint chips are just too small. You've great advice here and great tip about the type of lighting and how it can affect your paint color. Thanks!