Have you ever chosen a paint color, knowing it is the “perfect” one, only to have it painted to discover it looks completely different than what you imagined ?!
If so, you are not alone!
Take the guesswork out of choosing a color by following this process. It will ensure the color you achieve on your walls is what you are hoping for.
The important first step in choosing a paint color is getting it out of the store. Choose a handful of hues, or borrow the entire fan deck of colors, and bring the chips back home.
We like to make our own swatches so we can be sure the color is what we think.
Nothing will help you choose a color better than seeing the hue applied to the wall.
Take the samples home and brush them on the walls of your room. If your walls are dark, paint the samples on a white piece of poster board so the current color doesnt interfere with the new ones.
Look at the colors at all times of day, from bright morning light to golden afternoon light to lamp-lit darkness. Sun, or lack thereof, can make a huge difference in how a color reads.
Always paint two very good coats to get a good idea of what the color is going to look like on the wall. Once the test sections are dry, hang artwork over them, push furniture in front of them, and stand back in the room to see how they look.
This image shows your the difference in one and two coats.
When choosing a sheen, remember that flat paint gives you color closest to the original cardboard paint chip, where semi gloss paint will have a moderate reflective quality.
Remember with so many color choices available, it is necessary to take your color for a test drive before you buy.
These are some Sherman Williams and Benjamin Moore colors we tested for a current project we are working on.
Have you ever chosen the “perfect” color for a room- or better yet, had a color suggested to you by a friend- only to find out the color looks horrible when painted in your space?
Repeat after me:
“Undertones and lighting play a huge part in how a color looks in a room.”
If you are familiar with my work, you know I mostly mix custom colors for each particular project. I have one client who calls the color in her main living area my secret sauce. Ha!
That being said, here are a few neutrals I consider to be “fail-safe” picks.
Benjamin Moore Classic Gray. I just painted a bedroom in this color and it is BEAUTIFUL. It’s light, warm, and not stark white.
Benjamin Moore Ballet White. This has a slightly warmer tint without being too golden. If you are wanting to cut the yellow undertones such as in a kitchen where you are working with white marble, mix it at half formula. Otherwise, it is beautiful in main living areas.
Benjamin Moore Titanium. This gray has a bit of greenish undertones. Very soft for a bedroom needing a little color.
I hope these color suggestions work for you and your home. If you end up using one of these colors, let me know it looks.
Have a great day, everyone-
Dana
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