Painless Paint Picking
Choosing the right paint color can be a daunting task for anyone. There are many places to seek an expert’s advice and look for tips online, for instance here and here. Online, there are many great resources available to you and I suggest doing lots of research before getting started with painting your home. Here are a few of my own guidelines on how to tackle paint colors for you home. These tips can be used for staging or for redesigning your current home with a nice refresh.
Paint is not permanent, so if you do make a mistake, it can be corrected. However, it’s still an expense and you will want to choose your paint color(s) wisely. Choosing paint color(s) should be the last thing you tackle after you’ve made all the other big decisions on flooring, furniture and counter tops. Since color options are endless, it’s much easier to match paint to your furnishings then it is to match the color of fabric or furniture to an existing paint color.
Home design trends come and go, so I tend to stay with more classic hues especially when it comes to staging a house for resale. Light, neutral colors blend into the background and allow potential buyers to envision themselves within the home you’re selling. What I call “almost whites” (whites with undertones of grey, beige or blue) work well in large, open rooms and living spaces that flow from one area to the next. It’s like having a blank canvas where buyers can imagine themselves and their own personal furnishings. A fresh coat of paint gives a refresh and makes any space “move-in ready,” a detail most buyers are looking for in their potential purchase.
I also love the idea of going bold with paint, to add character and stand out. However, my preference is to go bold in small spaces. With the right lighting and accents you don’t have to worry about a darker color making the room seem smaller. In fact, it can add something unexpected, whimsical or dramatic. I’ve personally used dark or bright colors in small bathrooms or studies. By combining the dark wall color with light colored floors, cabinets and accessories, along with plenty of lighting, the space comes together nicely.
Do your research. The size of the project, and investment you would like to make, can determine the colors and quality of paints available to you. It is always a good idea to work with color swatches and samples before making your final decision. Do small swatches or test paints on the wall(s) of the rooms you are wanting to paint. For an accent wall in my home, I had about 10 swatches of black paint. I worked by process of elimination until I got down to the one I wanted. I bought the smallest can of paint and went for it. I knew that if I just hated it, that I could change it rather easily since it was such a small project. When choosing an “almost white” for my own living, kitchen and hallway I used a similar process. I had at least 4 color samples painted on different areas of the house to see how the colors looked under different lighting conditions. After looking at all my choices, and in different times of day, I was able to settle on a color that worked great. Taking the time to do tests paints like this will allow you to make the best choice for that room and your home overall.
Remember, take your time on picking a paint color, work with a process of elimination and use plenty of samples.
Happy Painting!
