Five Tips for Choosing the Right Interior Paint Color
Picking a paint color sounds fun—until you're standing under fluorescent lights holding a handful of swatches that look like some version of Modern Greige. Suddenly, you're wondering how Alabaster Whisper is different from Whispering Alabaster. Or is it?
Choosing the right paint color for your home doesn't have to be frustrating. Here are five tips to help you pick a color you’ll love—with minimal stress and acceptable speed.
5 Tips To Choose The Right Paint Color
1. Start with the Stuff That Stays
Before you even touch a paint deck, examine the furniture, flooring, countertops, or rugs already in the room. These are your fixed elements—and unless you’re planning to swap out that sofa or backsplash, your paint needs to work with what’s already there. Find a color that complements your existing finishes instead of fighting them. Your couch may not have a vote, but it will silently judge.
2. Let the Light Do the Talking
Natural light can make a color sing or sink. A soft gray that looks airy in a sunny living room may turn gloomy and sad in a darker hallway. Always test your paint samples on more than one wall and at different times of day. Morning light and afternoon shadows. Also try warm bulbs and cool LEDs to explore lighting “mood swings” that can provide variety no matter what choices you make.
3. Go Small Before You Go Big
Never commit to a color based only on a paint card. It’s like judging an entire pizza by a single olive. Instead, buy a sample and paint a decent-sized swatch (at least a square foot, but the bigger the better) directly on your wall. Better yet, paint on a piece of poster board you can move around the room to see how it works in a variety of areas. Live with it for a couple of days to discover if it’s true love or passing infatuation.
4. Pick a Palette, Not Just a Paint
Think beyond a single color and consider how that color will connect to the rest of your home. The goal is flow. Don’t let your connecting hallway feel like a portal into another dimension. Let it flow. Whether you're fond of cozy neutrals or moody jewel tones, choosing colors that play well together from room to room will make your whole house feel intentional and pulled together. Bonus: a purposeful color scheme will makes decorating much easier.
5. Trust Your Gut (Not the Trend)
That trending Color of the Year might look fabulous on Instagram, but will you still love it in six months? If you’re drawn to warm, earthy tones, don’t force yourself into a sleek monochrome vibe just because it’s the hot color. Your home should feel like you. The best color is the one that makes you smile when you walk in the door. Period.
Final Thoughts
Colors can be dramatic, but choosing a color doesn’t need to be. With a little planning, a few big swatches, and a thoughtful approach, you’ll land on a color that makes your space feel just right.
Now, what will you do next to love where you live?
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