So many of us struggle with selecting the right paint color for the space and situation. Don’t fret! As an Interior Designer and Project Manager for home renovations, I get asked again and again to help choose paint colors.
The following check list of tips is a compilation of ideas to get you inspired with ideas, guide your perspective in choosing color, and ultimately help you choose paint color(s)!
If you have pieces in the space that will be staying even after the walls get painted, look to the patterned upholstery, accent pillows, artwork or a rug for inspiration to guide your paint color choices. Pick out colors from those pieces that you like. Any of those could be an accent wall or the whole rooms paint color. If you want a neutral color on the wall, look to the pattern or art for it’s neutral colors like white, beige or greys.
Dark to light, floor to ceiling.
The floor to ceiling, dark to light, vertically tip from designer Mark McCauley, says to use darker color values for the floor, medium color values for the walls and light values for the ceiling.
“Any interior space replicates the outside world.”
Accent color throughout the home.
Paint accent walls throughout your home, pulling from a favorite color or piece of furniture, for example a blue sofa in the living room. Take a version of that blue and paint an accent wall in your dining room. You can pull from the same color scheme by adding color to other spaces in the home like the office or bedroom.
Inspired by mood and the Color Wheel
Use the color wheel to suit the mood of a room. If you’re choosing colors for a bedroom where you want to relax, use 2 colors next to each other (analogous colors) on the color wheel, like blue and green.
Take a tip from your clothes.
Most people buy clothes in colors they like to wear and they look good in. Similarly, dress your rooms in colors that flatter you! If denim and khaki are your go-to’s, consider a navy sofa with the room dressed in warm wood colors and tan. Add accent colors in the room you don’t have to look good in, like yellow silk flowers, throw pillows and a yellow vase.
When in doubt, go with Grey.
The trendiest neutral color today is shades of grey. Working well with ANY style of interior design, grey will chameleon with other colors in the room, It can appear “warm” or “cool” and pairs great with both pastel hues or bold color.
