We're in awe of it's ability to transform. One gallon or one spray can of paint used in the right way has the power to produce a plethora of oohs and aaahs throughout the blogosphere like nothing I've ever seen. But choosing the right paint color is a dilemma that can cause even the most enthusiastic DIYer some sleepless nights.
That's why I decided to do a short series (mini-series?) of posts on the topic and I've asked a small group of talented designers/bloggers for their input. Each post will pose a question or questions related to paint, along with their answers. I'm honored that they've agreed to participate!
If you are not already following these ladies, be sure to click on the links to their sites (once you're done reading this post, of course :-)) and prepare to be inspired. You won't be disappointed!
_______________________________________________________________ QUESTION:
What are the top 3 things everyone should do/consider
when choosing a paint color?_______________________________________________________________
1. Spend a few dollars investing in a fan deck and look at all the color options in the room to be painted, in varying light.
2. Test the top choices by painting 'swatches' on the wall. Many companies sell test pouches or quarts of test quality paint for this purpose.
3. If painting over a wall that is currently a color other than white, first prime a section to test the paint colors on. It seems like a lot of work, but how the test colors will appear can be greatly affected by the surrounding wall color.
_______________________________________________________________
1. Choose your paint color last. It's much easier to find paint colors that work with existing fabrics, rugs and finishes than it is to try to match these items to the color of your walls.
2. Before you even go near a paint deck, decide what mood you want your room to have and what color on the walls will help you achieve that mood. Once you've narrowed down your color to something like white, pale blue,or dark gray, or have a specific color in your minds eye, then go pull out the paint decks and narrow down your colors from there. I like to start with as many options as possible and then go by process of elimination to get my final color or colors. Try the final few colors next to everything in the room that is staying and you'll find that the right color becomes almost obvious because so many of the colors you're looking at won't work with everything in the room.
3. Make sure you view the paint sample in your space. Paint samples and chips can look really different under different lighting conditions.
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1. In a perfect world, have everything chosen first, fabrics, furniture, bedding. It's way easier to match a $50 gallon of paint to your sofa than the other way around.
2. Look at the biggest elements in the room when considering wall colour, for example the drapery, sofa or wall to wall carpeting. 3 little leaves doesn't cut it.
3. Test the colour accurately. Hold a large painted sample behind the sofa on the wall, close to the carpet and on the wall, etc. laying the colour down on the floor or in front of the sofa tells you zip as to whether it's the right colour.
_______________________________________________________________
1. I always tell people that they don't have to put it on their walls. Go get a piece of coreboard, buy a test quart and paint the board.
2. You can then put it different areas around the room and at different times to see how the color "wears". If there are two colors they are thinking of using it is also a good way to compare them.
3. Put at least 2 coats on it to get saturation.
_______________________________________________________________
{ Erika - BluLabel Bungalow...}
1. Consider what direction the rooms face. The paint color in the inspiration photo will look different in your space if your room faces north and the inspiration room faces the south. Keep these variables in mind so you don't feel like a failure if your finished design is not a carbon copy of your inspiration room.
2. Consider permanent fixtures; countertops, cabinetry and coordinate paint color with fixtures you don’t intend on replacing within the next few months.
3. Choose a paint color that complements the undertones in your floor coverings (carpet, wood floor, stone).
_______________________________________________________________
1. Don’t overload yourself with 50+ paint swatches in the same color family. Keep it to a handful so that you don’t stress yourself out.
2. Once you’ve narrowed it down, use paint samples to actually see the color on the wall, and see how it shows up in both daylight and in the evening.
3. When in doubt, go a shade lighter on the color card.
_______________________________________________________________
Thanks again, ladies, for sharing this excellent advice! Tomorrow they'll be sharing some of their favorite paint colors, so don't miss it!
I know many of you have painted or are currently painting, either walls or some other project. Would you like to share your projects, paint colors and any helpful painting hints? If so, I'm having a linky party this coming Friday, January 28th and I'll keep it up through the weekend. I hope you'll link up and show off your project/paint colors!
That's why I decided to do a short series (mini-series?) of posts on the topic and I've asked a small group of talented designers/bloggers for their input. Each post will pose a question or questions related to paint, along with their answers. I'm honored that they've agreed to participate!
If you are not already following these ladies, be sure to click on the links to their sites (once you're done reading this post, of course :-)) and prepare to be inspired. You won't be disappointed!
What are the top 3 things everyone should do/consider
when choosing a paint color?
1. Spend a few dollars investing in a fan deck and look at all the color options in the room to be painted, in varying light.
 |
| Isabella and Max Rooms |
3. If painting over a wall that is currently a color other than white, first prime a section to test the paint colors on. It seems like a lot of work, but how the test colors will appear can be greatly affected by the surrounding wall color.
1. Choose your paint color last. It's much easier to find paint colors that work with existing fabrics, rugs and finishes than it is to try to match these items to the color of your walls.
 |
| Pure Style Home - Photo Helen Norman |
3. Make sure you view the paint sample in your space. Paint samples and chips can look really different under different lighting conditions.
1. In a perfect world, have everything chosen first, fabrics, furniture, bedding. It's way easier to match a $50 gallon of paint to your sofa than the other way around.
 |
| Maria Killam Colour and Design |
3. Test the colour accurately. Hold a large painted sample behind the sofa on the wall, close to the carpet and on the wall, etc. laying the colour down on the floor or in front of the sofa tells you zip as to whether it's the right colour.
1. I always tell people that they don't have to put it on their walls. Go get a piece of coreboard, buy a test quart and paint the board.
 |
| Sherry Hart |
3. Put at least 2 coats on it to get saturation.
1. Consider what direction the rooms face. The paint color in the inspiration photo will look different in your space if your room faces north and the inspiration room faces the south. Keep these variables in mind so you don't feel like a failure if your finished design is not a carbon copy of your inspiration room.
 |
| Erika Ward Interiors |
3. Choose a paint color that complements the undertones in your floor coverings (carpet, wood floor, stone).
1. Don’t overload yourself with 50+ paint swatches in the same color family. Keep it to a handful so that you don’t stress yourself out.
 |
| Emily A. Clark |
2. Once you’ve narrowed it down, use paint samples to actually see the color on the wall, and see how it shows up in both daylight and in the evening.
3. When in doubt, go a shade lighter on the color card.
Thanks again, ladies, for sharing this excellent advice! Tomorrow they'll be sharing some of their favorite paint colors, so don't miss it!
I know many of you have painted or are currently painting, either walls or some other project. Would you like to share your projects, paint colors and any helpful painting hints? If so, I'm having a linky party this coming Friday, January 28th and I'll keep it up through the weekend. I hope you'll link up and show off your project/paint colors!
