How to Choose Wall Colors

Whenever you walk into a home, the first thing that catches your eye is the color scheme. Accent pieces pop out to complement the decorator's wall color choices. This blending of furniture, knickknacks, curtains and wall color creates the overall ambiance of a room. Using wall color as a decorating tool to enhance the entire room requires coordination with all the elements in a room. Throw away the traditional off-white or stark white walls and add some spice to your home. Painting the walls of your home is one of the easiest and fastest ways to update the look of a room.

Things You'll Need

• Paint color samples
• Small paint roller
• Sample quart paints
• Dropcloth

Instructions

1. Evaluate the current color scheme in your room. Look at your sofa color, bedspread color, curtains and throw pillows, picture frames and accent pieces. Capture a few colors from one of these items and visualize how it would look on the wall. Take the item with you, if possible, to the paint store to match it to paint samples.

2. Address the mood and tone of your rooms before choosing wall paint colors. Create a relaxed atmosphere in a room using cool colors such as light greens or blues. Warm up a room using reds, yellows and dark browns to create a mood of comfort and radiance. Gray, beige and taupe reflect neutral contrasting colors that blend well with earth-toned colors. Contrast colors work well for both accent pieces and for walls.

3. Consider selecting colors based on room use. Kitchen and bathroom color schemes tend to be lighter and more airy to enhance the feeling of space. Bright white increases the perceived room size, but doesn't add interest to the room. Adding a tint to the paint, such as a light blue, green or pale yellow, adds a hint of color to a room. Also consider the size of the room. Lighter colors increase the feeling of space, while darker colors make the room feel cozy and comfortable. Many designers choose vibrant food colors such as reds or dark greens in the kitchen to add drama to this typically busy family gathering place.

4. Compare color swatches for your family rooms by selecting one set of earth-toned color swatches and another of light, airy colors. Evaluate the mood you're trying to create. Also, consider the visual lines from every entrance to the room. Decide if the color will blend well with the next room, the hallway or foyer area. Using a different color for each room is a snappy and fresh approach that adds drama and pizazz to your home.

5. Don't overlook the importance of ceiling color. The days of painting a ceiling white or off-white are gone. Instead, consider blending the ceiling color with the walls of the room by using a slightly lighter shade of paint. This technique blends the color rather than creating a stark contrast between the ceiling and walls.

6. Decide on your woodwork colors when choosing wall paints. Blend woodwork with the color of the walls in a slightly lighter shade. If a more traditional approach suits your style, paint woodwork in cooler-hued room (blues and greens) with bright white, and warmer toned rooms with softer, off-white paint. Crown moldings look best when painted a slightly darker shade than the walls, which enhances the tones of the walls rather than dividing the room.

7. Collect your paint swatch choices and visit the paint store to choose quart-size paint samples. Protect your carpet and furniture with the drop cloth. Roll your sample paints onto the wall in your room. Evaluate the colors before painting the entire room.