Choosing the perfect paint color can be confusing. You walk into a paint store and see the thousands of color strips on the wall. Where to start? The obvious starting point is to decide on the basic color you want to paint the room or rooms and begin looking at color strips that are related to that color. Don’t hurry and don’t worry! Here are some helpful hints to guide you along the way.
SELECT SEVERAL STRIPS
Go down the wall of colors and start by picking out color combinations you like. Think about the mood you want to set for the rooms you are painting. Warm colors – red, yellow, orange and combinations thereof create an atmosphere of creativity and energy into a room. Cool colors – blue, green and purple evoke a calm and relaxing aura. Neutrals like white, beige and gray can be warm or cool depending on the undertones.
LOOK AT THE BOTTOM COLOR FIRST
The bottom, or darkest color, on the strip is your friend. Regardless of the color that drew you to that strip the bottom color will tell you what the tint of that color is. For example, beige can have one of four different undertones – pink, orange, yellow or green. Red can have a pink or orange base. You don’t want to wait until the color is on the wall to decide it is the wrong tone. Now you can eliminate a few of the strips and move on. You are on your way to picking the perfect color.
SATURATION IS KEY
Now that you’ve found just the right color strip its time to decide on the exact color. The rule of thumb is choose the color you like and then go one color darker. I know, I know… that sounds counterintuitive, but once the color is on your wall several things come into play. For one, the natural light in the room will tend to “wash out” the color. Also, consider the sheen of the paint and the ambient lighting in the room. For more on how light affects color check out this post. However, paint color – as is all decor – is a personal choice and the only person that needs to be happy is you!
BUY SAMPLE PAINTS
DON’T let $6 or $7 dollars stand between you and getting the perfect color. Sherwin Williams offers sample colors (most paint stores do) in small containers. Take one or two home and decide if you like color before you buy all the paint you need. Remember, the color on the paint strip is just a representation. You should see it in the actual setting first. NOTE: Paint samples are not “true” paints. They lack certain elements that make them apply and adhere like a typical paint product. Use the paint only to sample and not as part of the paint for your project.
BEGIN THE PROJECT
Now that you have decided on the color and sheen (finish) you have a very important decision to make! Are you doing to DIY or call a professional painter for an estimate? There are several things you need to consider before you make that decision.
- How experienced are you? Painting seems easy on the surface, but requires preparation, skill and materials.
- Do you have the time? Your project may require more time than you think. Are there knicks and scratches that need to be repaired first? Does the mud need to dry a day or two before you can sand and paint? Do you need one coat or two?
- What do you know about paint? If you’ve ever seen it tinted and mixed in the paint store then you know that even the same color can vary from batch to batch. If you are getting more than one gallon it is important to mix the paints together in a 5 gallon bucket before you start painting. This will help ensure uniform color on all the walls.
If you decide to call a professional painter once you have the color chosen you can sit back and relax. Call ColaTown Painting 803-603-6486 to get your project done and done right! The estimate is free and you won’t be disappointed. Please remember, all estimates are not created equal so check out our post on what to expect.
803-603-6486 ellib@colatownpainting.com
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