How to Choose the Right Paint Color for Your Home's Interior

Hold paint samples up to the wall.

Painting is time-consuming and hard work, so finding the ideal shade before you start is an important task. The color is right when it complements the furnishings and appeals to the inhabitants. Find the right paint color by looking in magazines for inspiration and using a color wheel to find contrasting colors. Choose a color you like on the color wheel, and look at the color directly across from it; these are two complementary colors. Use this technique to find accent colors.

Instructions

1. Consider what tone or mood you want to set in the house. Use warm colors if you want a warm, cozy feel and cool colors for a tranquil mood.

2. Study your current furniture, and think about what colors would complement it. If you are planning on replacing furniture in the near future, consider what colors would go with the future furniture. If your furniture is made of neutral colors, like black, white or gray, you can use almost any color with it.

3. Bring paint samples home, and hold them up to the walls. This lets you see the color in your own light. Alternatively, bring furnishing to the paint store and have the technicians use them to match the color or find complementary colors. Decorative pillows, for example, are low-maintenance items to bring to a paint store.

4. Limit your use of bold colors to smaller sections, like a highlight wall. Use complementing colors to make a vibrant room.

5. Buy the best-quality paint you can afford. Lower-quality paint is harder on the respiratory system and may not last as long. Use matte paint to hide flaws in the wall or gloss paint to reflect light.

References

• University of Nebraska-Lincoln; Choosing Colors for Your Home Interior; Lorene Bartos
• "Good Housekeeping"; Decorating Your Rooms With Color; Lauren Payne
• "Reader's Digest"; 10 Paint Colors to Perk Up Your Room; Libby Langdon

Resources

• "Reader's Digest": 7 Can't Miss Paint Colors