Paint Selection 101

All too often my clients tell me the paint colour they thought was perfect didn't look exactly as they expected once it was on the walls. Paint comprises a large amount of the visible colour in a design, but it can be very tricky to select one that fits your space. If you have trouble picking colours, here are a few tips to help you when making selections for your next painting project.

Keep it simple - There are so many paint colours to choose from, often it becomes hard to pick just one. Your best bet is to choose one main colour for your home and then add some accent colours for specific spaces you want to pop, like a powder room or your master bedroom. If you are going to have more than one colour in your home, make sure all the colours you select will compliment one another. A disjointed paint scheme can feel chaotic, so make sure your paint selections coordinate with each other even if they aren't in the same room.

Find the hue - When selecting your colours, choose a hue that you can see in your furniture or interior finishes. Colours always have a base hue that is either cool, warm, or neutral. Cool colours will have an underlaying hue that is green, blue or purple and warm colours will have an underlaying hue that is red, yellow or orange. Neutral colours tend to fall in the middle between warm and cool, and will be your safest choice when you're unsure. Pick a colour from a piece of furniture, area rug, painting or tile that you like and find a paint colour that has the same hue. Remember, a hue can be very subtle or very bold, so have some fun.

Err on the lighter side - A paint that is lighter will make your space appear bigger and brighter. If you're looking at a swatch with several shades of the same colour, I recommend looking at one that is one or two shades lighter than the one you like. When looking at a swatch on a paint fan, a good trick is to isolate the colour you like so you can see it without interference from the other swatches. You might find that the lighter ones on a swatch will still have enough colour without being too dark.

Lighting is key - Anytime you are selecting a colour for anything, you need to see it in the space you're planning to use it. Lighting varies greatly from space to space; natural light can be direct or indirect and can be warm or cool, as is also true with artificial lighting. The quality of the light in your space will change the colour and it is important to make your decision after you've seen it in the correct lighting.

Get a tester - If you have gone through the above steps and are still unsure, I recommend doing a test patch in you space to really see colour(s) you've picked. Some paint companies sell small test samples or you could order a quart size of the colour(s) you like to try out. It is an extra step, but could save time and money in the end.

Painting is a great way to really change the look of your space with minimal investment and the options are endless. If you are worried about trying something new, want to take a risk or are just not comfortable with the decision, we Design Professionals are here to help. Happy designing!

Torie Findlay Designs

Calgary, AB

info@toriefindlaydesigns.com