Choosing Your Wall Color - 5 Tips
How do I choose my wall color?
TIP 1: Always Choose Your Paint Color LAST.
When designing any room, you want to create a design plan for the whole room. Select drapery, area rugs, furniture and artwork first, then choose a paint color that compliments all of these elements. You've probably noticed that there are endless colors of paints, and you'll always be able to find one that compliments your design elements. Even if you can't find one, you can have it custom mixed. This is so much easier than trying to find decor that matches your paint color. If you paint your walls first, you may be severely limiting your decor options. Paint has the most options and is also the least expensive part of decorating. Choose it last!
TIP 2: Don't Decide From Small Paint Swatch
No doubt you've all found yourselves standing at the vast color-chip-display pondering which color to choose for your project. We caution you to avoid making that final color choice based on a tiny, 1" x 2" square. It's important to note that paint stores are bathed in commercial lighting and have very little natural light. Make your first selections plentiful, including color variations that may not appeal to you in the commercial lighting. You may discover that a color looks very different in your natural lighting at home. Be generous is choosing colors swatches on your first trip. Take them home, hold them up on each wall, being sure to observe how the color varies when it's in a "shaded" wall versus a wall in full light.
TIP 3: Paint Samples on Each Wall in the Room
It can be tempting to paint-up only one wall in the room with samples in the interest of saving time. However, it's essential that you see the color on all walls to get a complete and thorough representation of the color. Sunlight, shadows, lamp light, north or south facing walls all effect that way a color looks in the room. Without testing color on each wall, you may find yourself noticing how those "gray" walls have a blue hue in the evening light. We recommend painting 12" x 12" squares on each wall to get an accurate picture of how the color will look.
hint: paint your wall sample white before applying the new color sample to your wall. Your eye can only distinguish true color with a neutral background
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TIP 4: Start With Only 1 or 2 Wall Samples
To keep from being overwhelmed and confused by color, starting with only 1 or 2 samples is a great place to start. Then, if neither are exactly right you can correct your direction by making small changes. For instance, if you start with cream but notice it had too much yellow in it, you can choose a slightly different shade that has less yellow in it. Continue until the color is right. Because you have to live with your color choice for a long time, it's worth it to take the time to select just the right color.
TIP 5: Use a Color Board
If you don't want to paint 1 foot squares all over your room, you can cut corners by painting a board with your sample paint. Poster board sold at your local craft store are inexpensive. They are white, too so they won't influence or change the appearance of your color. Not only that, but you can paint only 1 and move it around the room, placing it behind art work, drapes, and furniture.