How to Choose a Wall Color & Not Screw Up

Before you get out your painting tools, you must first choose a color for your walls.

Painting the walls in your house can prove a daunting task, especially if you're unsure how to select a color without making a mistake. While you may think it best to play it safe and choose a neutral color for your walls, doing so could cause you to miss out on a variety of bolder color options that more accurately reflect your style. With a few helpful guidelines, you should find no trouble in selecting a hue you will love.

Things You'll Need

• Color wheel
• Paint brushes

Instructions

1. Examine the style and color of the furniture in your home. Choose a wall color that creates cohesion within the room by coordinating with existing pieces, and select a trim color that accents your wall color.

2. Look over paint chips to determine your color temperature preference. Blocks of wall color can drastically "warm up" or "cool down" the visual temperature in a room, so opt for a green or blue hue to cool down your room or a red or yellow hue to warm it up. Experiment with color intensity--a range would include pale blue to midnight blue, for example--to exaggerate the effect.

3. Create a color scheme with complementary color combinations. For example, paint your walls with two dominant colors and then accent the combination with a neutral color such as tan, black or white. Obtain a free virtual color wheel online or contact a paint manufacturer for an actual color wheel; complementary colors are those directly opposite one another on the wheel.

4. Dare to be bold. Bright, bold color schemes and customized color combinations offer an alternative to standard primary colors. Create a feature wall with a fire engine red or other signature color. Contact a paint manufacturer for color options.

5. Test a small area before painting your walls completely. Colors may be complementary in tone and intensity, but until you see how the combination changes the overall color and style of your house, don't paint an entire room without first seeing a sample presentation. Proceed if the color combination complements your room as a whole. Start again with a new color combination if it does not.

Tips & Warnings

• Color samples are available for free at paint retailers. Oftentimes samples feature complementary or other color schemes suggested by the manufacturer, which can make your choice easier.

• Always wear a face mask when painting. Exposure to paint fumes can be hazardous to your respiratory health.

References

• Color Matters: Color Guide
• Home Decorating Made Easy: Paint Colors