Choosing the Right Paint Color

We all make mistakes, and I have made my fair share of mistakes when it comes to choosing paint colors. You get this idea in your head that something is going to turn out awesome, then you finally finish it, and it’s not.

When we first bought our house, I was so ready to get in there and get my hands dirty. I created a book of all my ideas, and paint colors were swirling around in my head. We’ve lived in our home for 5 years, and I can honestly say I painted most rooms twice (with different colors) learning as I went. I think the only color I didn’t change was our bedroom walls, and I still love that color and may paint it in a room in our next house. It was Behr Himalayan Mist, such a light and happy blue.

Color can really affect your mood. I honestly thought I wasn’t one of those people, until I painted my living a bright coral/orangy color. Every time I walked past that room, I felt a wave of anxiety and anxiousness that I couldn’t describe if I tried. Crazy, I know. With time though, and decorating my home as an adult, I found what colors really worked well for my husband and I (he lives here too, so his opinion does matter). I personally, am more of lighter toned, neutral pallet type of person. I like a pop of color (like my bedroom light blue, it calms me), but for the most part give me a neutral wall where I can accessorize and bring in accents, then I’m a happy camper!

Paint can bring an amazing transformation to any space! It really can transform an area or project for very little money, and you can easily do it yourself. When we painted the exterior of our home, we vowed after the fact, that we would buy or rent a spray gun the next time we decided to tackle another big project like that. As homeowners, we are learning as we go. And as homeowners on a tight budget who buy fixer uppers, you learn real quick what works well and what you will do differently next time.

Stuck on picking a color? Always buy samples of a few you are leaning towards and put them up on a wall. See what they look like in different light (sunrise, midday, sunset, and nighttime) and wait and see what will work best for your space.

HOW I PICK PAINT COLORS – What I’ve learned after lots and lots of mistakes

1. Get samples. Like a color and are going to paint your whole house or a very large room? Get a sample of it and also get a sample of the slightly lighter version of that color. Rule of thumb, paint usually dries a shade or two darker than you’ll anticipate. Don’t ask me why, maybe it’s lighting? But from experience, when in doubt, go lighter.
2. Think about your decor. Do you plan to accent with paint on the walls or let your furniture and wall decor do the talking?
3. Choose a good paint with primer. Think about what finish of paint you want (if it’s interior, you’ll want eggshell or satin so you can easily wipe dirt and grime off). For trim, you usually go with a higher sheen, like a semi-gloss.
4. Invest in a good roller and paint brush. DON’T buy the cheapo rollers and the 99 cent paint brushes. By a nice brush so you can paint clean lines and make your life 1,000,000 times easier! I cannot tell you how much I love the Purdy brand paint brushes. When my friends ask me to come help paint, I bring my own brushes with me. Note: I always buy angled brushes, makes edging easier.