Regardless of whether you live in a house or a condo, own or rent, we all face the exact same agonizing decision at some point – choosing the “perfect” paint color.
Just like choosing the right furniture, picking the perfect paint color is very personal and can be an intimidating process. There are so many paints to choose from—how can you pick the best color that both reflects your personal style and makes the space look fantastic?
One thing that can really help you get a jump start on narrowing down your color choices is to think about mood. Ask yourself what sort of mood or ambiance do you want to create for the space you are going to paint? For example, in a bedroom do you want the feeling to be restful and soothing or dramatic and intimate? Soft, cool colors and neutrals usually create a quieter feeling while stronger colors are for drama. Home offices can use colors that evoke energy or vibrancy. Children’s rooms can have bright colors for fun – or soothing colors to create a place to unwind after a busy day of dance classes and karate.
Here’s another tip that interior design pros use. Be sure to consider how the paint color you choose for one room will work with the rest of the home. Consider the colors in the adjoining rooms and how they will appear as you walk from one room to the next. Will the colors compliment or clash? When you’re in one room, look around and you’ll see parts of other rooms as well. As you choose colors, consider how they will flow from room to room to create a compatible flow of color.
Some well-known paint companies such as Benjamin Moore and Sherwin-Williams offer free online resources for helping you visualize and choose the right color for each project based on information you provide about your personal style, tastes, functionality needs for the room and design eye. Check out Benjamin Moore’s “Design by What Matters” and Sherwin-William’s “Visualizer” to make sure the colors you’ve chosen will really hit the mark.