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How to Choose the Perfect Paint Colors for Your Home

Paint Colors for Your Home hero
Paint Colors for Your Home
Simple Tips to Make Color Selection Easier

Step 1: Choose Colors You Can Live With

Select colors that resonate with you and fit your daily mood. Think about how you’ll feel over time. Do you want your house to be more calming or do you like loud pops of color? At the end of the day it’s your home and you should choose colors that you want to see day in and day out.

Examples
  • Warm Tones: Great for creating cozy, inviting spaces.
  • Cool Tones: Ideal for spaces meant to be calming and relaxing.

Step 2: Consider Lighting and Undertones

Lighting impacts how colors appear, while undertones can subtly shift a color’s look. All those paint swatches might look similar upon first glance but once you get a whole room painted you will really notice the difference between them.

Tips
  • Test color swatches in natural vs. artificial light.
  • Consider undertones (e.g., gray with blue undertones for a cool look or white with brown undertones for a warm look).

Step 3: Select a Color Palette Based on Style and Flow

Create a cohesive color scheme for flow throughout your home. It is much easier to make changes to your color scheme before you start painting so it pays to take that extra time to see how all of the colors in your house blend together prior.

Tips
  • Start with a neutral base for versatility.
  • Pick an accent color that can repeat in accessories across rooms.
  • Use a color wheel to decide on complementary colors.

Step 4: Test Colors Before Committing

See how a color feels by applying sample swatches or using peel-and-stick samples. You can even apply small amounts of paint to the walls to get an even more realistic look at it.

Tips

Observe colors at different times of the day and make sure to test them in different parts of the room as well.

Step 5: Use White and Neutrals Strategically

Choose the right whites or neutrals for a fresh, versatile look. Whites and neutrals vary more than you think they do, especially when in a room with other colors, so pay attention to the undertones again here to make sure you choose the right ones.

Popular Shades:

  • Soft whites with warmer undertones for cozy spaces.
  • Cooler whites for a more contemporary, clean look.
Tips

White can serve as a balance when pairing with bold colors or create a bright, airy feel on its own.

Step 6: Pick the Right Finish for Each Room

Different finishes serve different purposes so depending on which room you are painting make sure to factor in the finish. You can also create contrast in a room just by using different finishes. For example, having a flat finish for the walls and a glossy trim.

Options:

  • Flat: Great for hiding wall imperfections.

Satin or Semi-Gloss: Works well in high-traffic rooms and areas that require easy cleaning.

Tips

Use higher sheen finishes in areas like kitchens and bathrooms.

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Bonus Tips

Ideas
  • Try darker tones in small rooms for a dramatic, cozy feel.
  • Refresh small spaces with light, neutral tones
  • Bring in nature with earth tones
  • Experiment with accent walls to add interest without overwhelming a room.
  • Use color to define zones. This works especially well in open concept homes!
  • Play with texture and finish. There are many more options than just flat, satin, or semi-gloss.
  • Don’t forget the ceiling!

Final Thought

It may seem more challenging than anticipated but with a little testing and planning, you can find the perfect colors that make your house truly feel like a home!

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