There are so many paint colors out there! How does one choose a paint color? And how do you know what to pick for different rooms in your house? These are the most asked questions people have! People just get paralyzed when thinking about paint colors. I don’t blame them. There are so many trends and options, so how can you possible narrow them all down to 1 or a few? I’m hoping some of my tips can help solve your paint conundrum.

Tip No. 1 - Purpose + Cohesion

Each room serves a different purpose, so choose colors that align with the desired atmosphere. Calming tones for bedrooms and more brighter shades for living areas, etc. Finding one color for your main entry, hallways and open living spaces can create a cohesive aesthetic. Traditionally trim and ceiling were painted a white color while colors were for walls. Not anymore! A recent trend that we love and believe is here to stay is painting your trim the same as your walls. This creates a high end clean cohesive look that creates a beautiful aesthetic and calming feel. I feel like when the trim is a different color is breaks up the flow of the room and creates a ‘busy’ look.

Tip No. 2 - Harmony + Existing Elements

Coordinate paint colors with your existing furniture, flooring and decor. Not everyone is fortunate to start from scratch, so take in consideration the undertones in your current fabrics, fixtures, tiles and wood tones. Create a look that meshes well rather than clash by laying out samples of your current furnishings or holding up paint chips to your existing finishes.

Tip No. 3 - Start with Neutrals

Neutral colors provide a timeless and versatile base. They also make it easier to layer art/decor and change decor out without needing a complete repaint. Neutrals don’t always have to be a stark white! We absolutely love white but there are so many different types of whites, creams, beiges, grays etc. that can be considered not so boring. Also, color CAN be neutral. If you like a specific color then consider a muted not so vibrant version of the color of your choice.

Tip No. 4 - Accent Colors

If you’re hesitant about color then try experimenting with a smaller space like a powder room, office, bedroom, mudroom or laundry room. These spaces are enclosed areas that don’t necessary needs to ‘match’ other spaces. Treat them as their own project separate from the main living area. As mentioned before, consider a ‘muted’ version of the color to help keep it neutral and cohesive with the rest of your homes color palette.

Tip No. 5 - Sample!

Always test paint samples on the wall of the space you intend on painting before committing to a full room. Make sure it’s at least 1x1 foot sample, so you can get a real sense of the color in your space. Depending on what color exists on the wall make sure the wall is primed or very light before painting your sample. Or you can use a white poster board to paint and paste on the wall. Live with it for a while and look at it at different times of the day. Paint can look different in various lighting conditions. The same paint can look totally different in different rooms in your home! And can also differ from other peoples homes or inspirational photos you find on the internet (such as here lol). We highly recommend ordering sample sheets from Samplize. Happy painting!