How to Choose a Paint Color for Interior Walls in a House

Choosing the perfect paint color for your home can be quite a daunting task. Start narrowing down the process by knowing the correct type of paint to purchase for each job.

Instructions

1. Home remodeling can be costly, but resist the temptation to buy cheap paint. High quality paint will save you money over time because it is more durable. Typically, it will also take less paint coats to cover the wall.

2. Latex paint is the most common paint purchased for interior paint projects. It cleans up easily with water and has less odor than other solvent based paint.

3. Look for low or zero VOC (volatile organic compounds) paints which release less toxins into the air. These natural paints are great for projects like a child's bedroom.

4. Once you have picked out the type of paint to purchase, you next need to decide the sheen you want on the wall. The sheen describes how glossy or dull the dried paint surface appears. Typical paint sheens are flat, eggshell, satin, semigloss, gloss and high-gloss. The glossier the finish, the more imperfections will show on the surface. On the other hand, glossier paints provide a harder, more durable finish. Glossy finishes are primarily used for trim, flat paint for bedroom walls and semigloss for areas that get moist, like a bathroom.

5. Finally, we are ready to pick a color. Selecting paint colors can be very overwhelming. Keep in mind that it is only paint and can be easily changed if you really do not like the end result.

6. The lighting in a room will show the paint color differently. If the room has a lot of natural light the paint will look different than a room in a basement with no windows and fluorescent lighting. Many home stores now have displays with several lighting options. You can place a paint chip and see how the paint looks with the lighting.

7. Bring home lots of choices with many paint chips. Tape them to the wall and keep looking at them during different times of the day and at night. Narrow your choices and purchase a sample size of the paint. Paint large areas of the wall with the new color.

8. You can also paint boards to lean against or hang on the wall. Painting the boards can be helpful if you have several colors you are still trying to narrow down. Place board on different walls each time of day to pick up the various light sources.

9. Once you have decided on the perfect color, get the paint and start rolling that paint on those walls.