How to Choose a Paint Color You Won't Regret
Sample, observe and test: a practical method for picking paint colors that look right in your actual light.
Paint is one of the least expensive ways to change a room, which makes it easy to rush. A little testing helps you avoid repainting.
Understand undertones
Most colors lean warm or cool. A gray might lean blue, green or even purple, and a white might lean yellow or pink. Undertones show up next to other colors in the room, such as flooring, countertops and fabrics. Hold your samples next to those items.
Test in your own light
The same color looks different in a north-facing room than in a south-facing room, and different again in morning light and at night.
- Buy sample pots or peel-and-stick samples of your top two or three colors.
- Paint large swatches. Use at least a square foot or two, or paint a large board you can move around. Avoid painting small patches directly next to each other.
- Look at them over several days. Check in the morning, afternoon and evening, with lamps on and off.
- Try more than one wall, since light changes across a room.
Think about the room
- Small rooms do not need to be pale. A rich color can make a small room feel cozy.
- Bedrooms often suit soft, restful tones.
- Kitchens and baths benefit from finishes that can be wiped clean, such as satin or semi-gloss, depending on the surface.
- Ceilings are often painted a flat white, though a tint of the wall color works well too.
Pick the finish
Flat or matte hides imperfections but marks easily. Eggshell and satin are popular for living areas and are easier to clean. Semi-gloss suits trim and doors.
Buy enough, and prep well
Measure the walls, and follow the paint can's coverage guidance. Clean and patch the walls, tape edges and use primer if you are covering a dark color or a stain. Good prep makes the biggest difference to the final result.
Trust your eye
Charts and trends are helpful, but you live in the room. Choose the color that feels right to you in your light.