Recently I painted my family room bright white and it has been such a game changer. The aesthetic has completely transformed from a farmhouse feel to minimalist Cali vibe I have wanted this room to have for a long time. Many people on IG commented about how they wanted to paint but just didn’t have the time, energy or means. Well, it got me thinking. How can I make it easier for my design besties?!
I take my job very seriously to help y’all out you know? 🙂 So here are three effective tips ensuring that you will definitely *not* fail with your next paint job!
3 Easy tips to pick the best paint color for any room
1. Get samples! Yes, it may cost a few bucks but it is completely worth your time to get those tiny samples at the local paint store. Whenever I paint, I go to the store and I peruse a good hour or so and then narrow down 2-3 choices. I buy the samples and rush home like a crazy lady excited to try them out. I know, the things that make me happy LOL.
2. Follow the color wheel. What’s a color wheel? You know those Pantone color strips? The varying shades from light to dark will give you a clear idea of how deep or intense you want the color to be in the space.
One thing I do want to warn you about is playing with the percentage of intensity when picking your paint. I have had many clients, before I step in to help, choose a paint color then ask the hardware store guy make it 50% lighter or make it 25% darker without really knowing what they are doing.
The thing is, once you start, its a slippery slope. Then when you want to get more, people cannot remember and its just confusing. Only if you know for certain you will love it, do the percentage route. Otherwise, there are always close alternatives that might even turn out better! Speaking from experience that is. 😉
3. Lighting. Something I wax poetic on. Just as it is important for taking beautiful pictures, testing out your paint swatches on different walls of the room is mandatory for success. Why do the paint stores have those light boxes? Â Look at what HGTV advises:
- Natural daylight shows the truest color;
- Incandescent lighting brings out warm tones and yellows;
- Fluorescent lighting casts a sharp blue tone.
As you can see, it was a huge risk for me to paint dark. Not because I do not love sultry dark walls. I am obsessed. But it was the *first* time ever I had done so. My oldest daughter  wanted a dark blue and she picked Stunning by Benjamin Moore, and I have to say, it most certainly is stunning!
But if I had not gotten 4 samples of different navy blues and painted them on each wall and observed the lighting during different times of the day, I would not have plunged for this color scheme. Well worth the extra effort!
So, what room are you going to paint now? Hope you show me when you are done!
Happy day!
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