Selecting an appropriate paint color for a room in your home still remains today as one of the most daunting tasks faced by homeowners who are either simply updating their home or starting a remodel/new build project. As an interior designer I regularly receive pleas for help because the homeowner made a poor choice already or is simply overwhelmed by the vast array of paint options available.
That's why today I'm breaking down 3 simple steps you can implement now to have better success with selecting color. Of course if you are color challenged then contact a local interior designer immediately to reduce stress and avoid costly mistakes.
1. View color swatches on a white background – When you’re ready to select paint colors for your interior, start by placing the color swatches on a solid white background to get a true reflection of the color before painting a large sample of the paint on your wall in the room where you want to paint. While making selections ensure you’re also wearing neutral clothing and don’t have bold colors nearby on walls or furnishings that could reflect on your paint sample, and skew the color.
2. Make your color selection during daylight hours. Once you've narrowed down your selections to one or two choices, view your preferred colors in different types of lighting from sunny to cloudy along with artificial lighting only after sunset to get a full perspective on how the color appears in different scenarios.
Besides viewing colors during daylight hours with ample interior lighting turned on, don't forget to take your paint samples outside also to get a better idea of how the true color appears to ensure that hue is what you want.
3. Paint large swatches of your paint selection on a backed poster board – All too often I walk in as an interior designer and see clients who’ve painted a light neutral over another bold color on the wall and the original color is bleeding through or distorting the new color. Once you have the board painted, place it against a neutral white background to give yourself the accurate picture of the hue.
But what if you are someone who doesn't know where to start with selecting paint colors. Then I recommend as a designer that you pull inspiration from your closet, artwork, or a rug unless you have furnishings or finishes that need to coordinate. And then let the fun begin!