Five Things NOT to do When Picking Paint Colours for Your Home
A big part of my work as a designer is helping people pick paint colours for their homes. And I love talking about colour! But regardless of whether someone is looking for the perfect calm white or a bright and punchy hue, I end up repeating a few pieces of advice every time. Here are five things to remember when picking your next paint colour.
1. Don’t forget about your inspiration
When thinking about a room colour, always start with an inspiration piece (and paint colour doesn’t count as inspiration!). It is notoriously difficult to pick a paint colour for an empty room.
The blank-space situation is where people struggle the most. Lots and lots of overthinking and indecision happen because there are just so many paint colour options to choose from, and honestly; many that would work beautifully in any given space. Instead, start by picking something that you love or that inspires you- even if it’s not necessarily going to end up in the room. This can be a piece of art, throw pillow, rug, or even a piece of vintage furniture. The key is that this inspiration piece gives you a clear starting point and a way to narrow down your colour selections. Which leads me to my next point:
2. Don’t start with the paint colour
There are thousands and thousands of paint colours out there. It’s far easier to find a paint colour that matches the rug you love than to find a rug that matches your paint colour. Use your inspiration piece to start building a palette of colours, then finish by choosing your paint colour.
Room Source: Sarah Richardson Design
In this room by Sarah Richardson Design, the richly-coloured vintage rug acts as her inspiration piece. You can see turquoise, navy blue, coral pink, burgundy and ochre yellow in the rug, all colours that she repeated in the upholstered pieces, fabrics, art and accessories. A vibrant teal blue (Benjamin Moore’s Pacific Rim) on the upper walls ties the room together and keeps the room from feeling too traditional.
3. Don’t ignore what’s already in the room
If you’re choosing paint for a room that has hard finishes that are staying (think floor or wall tiles, a stone fireplace surround, or wall-to-wall carpeting) you have to consider how your new paint colour will work with these elements. Unless you’ve chosen timeless finishes (like a white or cream subway tile backsplash, for example) you’ll need to figure out the colour or undertone of that finish, and make sure the paint colour you choose works.
Room Source: McGrath2
In the bathroom above, a creamy white was chosen for the vanity which relates to the brown and beige veining in the Calacatta marble wall tile. While a pure white or grey-coloured vanity would also relate to the marble tiles, the creamy white works with the brass fixtures to bring warmth to the space, and also reflects the paint colour in the adjoining room.
Stuck on this step? Consider purchasing a colour consultation! As a True Colour Expert, I can identify existing undertones and recommend paint colours that will neutralize or complement the finishes you already have.
4. Don’t expect your paint colour to work miracles
Even the most perfectly selected paint colour will look sterile in an empty room. Before you start questioning your paint colour, decorate your space! This means hang art on your walls, display your collections, hang curtains and add in soft lighting with floor and table lamps. Wait until you’ve decorated your space before judging a paint colour.
Room Source: Ashley Montgomery Designs
5. Don’t skip the testing stage
I know this step is hard when you just want to get paint on the walls, but it’s so important to test your paint colours before committing. All of the major companies sell small tester pots of their paint colours, since paint changes so much depending on lighting and its surroundings, it’s absolutely worth the time and money to test your colours before painting the whole room.
When painting your test swatches remember to:
Make them big! I suggest at least a 12’ square.
Always do at least two good coats of paint and allow them to fully dry before judging a colour.
Paint your swatches on 2-3 walls to get a better sense of how the paint will look in different areas of the room.
Stick to sampling no more than 3 paint colours. Otherwise you’ll get overwhelmed by your options. Pick your top 3 and stick to those.
Looking for more help choosing your interior paint colours?
Learn more about our paint colour consultations: now available both in-person and virtually. Let’s figure out the right paint colour for your space!