Get Helpful Paint Color Tips from HomeRight Experts

Choosing Interior Paint Color

Paint color is typically an aesthetic, personal preference and can affect your mood and the general “feel” of a room. Sometimes though, choosing the right paint color for a room or home can be a complex process. Here’s a handy guide to consider when selecting the perfect paint color for a project.

1. Start by looking at the room and considering the natural light and artificial light that will be in the room. Also consider the color of the floor, woodwork and window coverings.

• Incandescent lights give a room a yellowish cast.
• Fluorescents add blue hints.
• Halogens give off nearly white light; each affects how the paint color appears in a room.

2. Determine how the room will be used and what feeling you want people to have when they’re in the room. Do you want them to feel motivated? Energized? Cozy? Do you want the room to appear larger than it is?

3. Colors can also look different in the day compared to the night. Check how the paint or swatches look at different times of the day and evening over the course of a few days. Colors used in rooms that get more northern light exposure may appear darker while colors in rooms with more southern exposure can appear lighter and brighter.

Some stores offer sample paint colors for purchase. If you’re deciding between a few colors, it might be a good idea to purchase a sample and paint a section of wall to test the color in the room. This can save you time in the long run, rather than deciding that you may not like the color and subsequently having to re-paint the entire room a second time.

Various shades of color can have a subliminal affect on people’s feelings. Here’s a breakdown of some of the colors and how they can make a room “feel:”

• Shades of white or yellow can make rooms feel spacious, comfortable and airy.
• Shades of brown and blue can make a room feel plush, cozy and warm.
• Shades of red and orange can liven up a room and stimulate a person’s senses.
• Shades of orange and yellow can make a room feel more welcoming to people.