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How do I know I am picking the right paint colors for my home?

sfbaird • April 25, 2012

There are many things to consider when painting a room or more than one room for that matter.

• Think of colors you like. What are your favorite colors?

• What other colors do you have in your home? Think of colors on your walls as well as the other colors that are through out your home in decor. You want the new color to compliment your furniture, carpet, curtains, or anything you plan on leaving in or adding to the room.

• Pick out swatches of material and/or paint swatches at your local store to compare. You may have something in your home with a color you want to match.

• When you are ready to try some colors most paint stores have sample containers they will give you or you can purchase for just a few dollars.

• Sit with the color once you have a sample on the walls. See what it looks like at different times of day. Remember paint will look different in different lighting. Make sure you like how it looks in the different light.

• If you customize a color to match material perfectly make sure you buy enough paint. Customizing paint may not be exact everytime.

• The finish of the paint is very important. The room will help you determine what finish you should use. The choices vary from flat, eggshell, gloss, semi-gloss, high gloss, etc. Consider the details of what each finish will do before you choose. A flat finish for example can be difficult to clean. Eggshell is a light sheen but can be wiped off more easily.

Picking your new color should be fun and exciting. Adding color to a room can make a huge difference. Consider adding a shade to the ceiling to really change things up.

Please remember picking a color is about what you like and what makes you feel comfortable in your home. Please let us know if there is anything we can do for you and picking your paint colors. We are happy to help.

These pictures show a change I made to our dining room wall. We bought our condo about 5 years ago and I painted this yellow checker board. I really like the checker board design. The wall is pretty large and I liked adding a little design to the wall because I really didn’t know what to do with it.

Painting in Edgewater, IL in North Chicago This past fall I was tired of the yellow but wanted to keep the checker board design. So I found colors I liked and spent a day painting the squares. I love the new color. It made it feel fresh and clean. I think playing around with color is a great way to create a new look while maintaing your style.