How to Choose the Right Interior Paint Color

Try out paint samples before making bold decisions.

Choosing the right paint colors for interior painting can be a challenge. It's not uncommon to fall in love with a color on a paint swatch only to discover that it does not come across the same on the wall. Colors really do appear to change under various lighting conditions and at different times of day. While it may be tempting to give up and paint everything white, selecting the right colors will create an environment that fits your taste and temperament.

Things You'll Need

• Paint swatch book or individual swatches
• Drop cloth or plastic sheeting
• Poster board
• Paint samples
• 2-inch flat paintbrush
• Low-tack painter's tape

Instructions

1. Consider the function of each room you will be painting. Choose colors that will permit easy changes in accent colors for rooms where you will be spending a lot of time. Save bold colors for special occasion rooms like dining rooms and guest rooms.

2. Select a calming color for the bedroom. Opt for neutral versions of favorite colors. Specially mixed historic colors generally contain an earth tone or gray for a more muted effect.

3. Think about what colors will match the room's furniture and flooring. Decide if the permanent surfaces in the room have a warm, cool or neutral tone. Paint colors should aim to complement, rather than contrast with, the existing hues.

4. Narrow down your selection of colors for each room. Limit the number of possible colors to the number of samples you are willing to paint. Purchase sample paint for each color.

5. Cover a table with a drop cloth or plastic sheeting to set up a workstation. Paint a different color on each sheet of poster board. Be sure to paint all the way to the edge of the board. Apply two coats of sample paint for solid coverage and a true test of the color.

6. Place the samples around the room. View the samples next to the floor, as well as taped to the wall at eye height. Consider how the colors look with furnishings, views out the window or wall colors in adjacent rooms.

7. Look at the samples at various times of the day and on different walls and notice the effects of sunlight and artifical light on the paint color. Allow a few weeks to make your final decision and investment of time and labor.

References

• Martha Stewart: Choosing a Paint Color
• Martha Stewart: Kevin Sharkey's Painting Pointers