3 Helpful tips for choosing paint colors
Crystal’s Dos and Don’ts When Selecting Interior Paint
I love paint! It’s an inexpensive and easy way to update any space. When your walls (ceilings, trim, and/or cabinetry) are looking worn and the cost of renovating is just too much, consider revitalizing with paint. It has a way of making a tired, old space feel bright and new again. Read on to learn my top 3 tips for selecting a paint color.
1. True Color Value
Never trust the true value of a color purely by searching online. Instagram, Google, Pinterest and other platforms are great for paint recommendations and visualizing whole rooms in the general color scheme and pattern, but they’re not accurate representations of the actual color and aren’t capable of expressing the shade in your specific lighting conditions. You’ve got to get your eyes on the color in the room that you plan to paint.
2. Large Samples
The tiny, paper paint samples available at hardware and paint stores are great when you’re narrowing down your options, but bigger is better when it comes to finalizing your color crush. When you find your top 3-4 colors, go to the paint company’s website and order the largest sample paper available. They’re cheap and invaluable. When comparing paint colors, it’s always easier to see the depth of color on a 8x10” paper vs a 2” square. These larger samples also save you from having to paint sample squares on every wall. (I don’t recommend doing this as it will require you to prime and paint over several time. Gross, more work! No thanks!!)
3. Lighting
This tip tops the rest! Test your large paint sample sheets in every corner of a room and in every light. Meaning, tape those suckers to the wall (or soon to be painted surface) and look at the color in the morning, mid-day, and evening. You’ll be surprised how colors can shift in different areas throughout the day and night. If you skip this step, you may paint your accent wall a beautiful shade of gray only to see it as a cool blue for ¾ of the day. Don’t paint until you know that you love the color in all lighting, or you’ll find yourself repainting all over again.
4. Extra Credit
Selecting and buying paint has gotten a whole lot easier and less time consuming in recent years. Online companies, like BIPOC and women owned Clare, offer all the transformative info, prep, paint, and supplies necessary and deliver them right to your door. Even better, Clare’s premium paint is made in the USA, Zero VOC, and GREENGUARD Gold Certified. Paint a healthier, happier home.