by Jennifer Adams
Who hasn’t been overwhelmed by all those swatches in the paint section? You thought you wanted white, but did you know there were so many different whites? And, where does white stop and gray or some other color start?
Is white the right color anyway? It’s so easy to get overwhelmed looking at those hundreds of paint chips! Here are my tips for helping narrow down the options.
The first step to choosing a color for any room is to collect ideas.
Do you have a piece of furniture, art or an area rug you love in the room? Reduce your choices by looking at color swatches that mostly match those pieces. If your sofa and area rug have lots of colors, too, choose a color that seems to be the background color.
Narrow your options to eight or so colors from the same color family. Bring chips home from the paint store and tape to the wall. Look at them at different times of day and night, and during different weather if possible. Note your 2-3 favorites.
Buy test paint in those 2-3 colors, and paint a large area at least 3 feet square. You may need to prime the wall first if you are painting over a color that’s quite different than the new colors. Try both a corner and next to trim so you can better see how everything will work together.
For a calm, tranquil effect particularly for bedrooms, use colors that are soft and light, such as white, ivory, buttercream, sky blue, lavender, sage and grays. These colors are comforting and coordinate very well together, and they are not overtly feminine or masculine.
For a welcoming warm glow in main living areas including kitchens, consider off whites, deeper grays, pale wood tones or buttery yellows. Choose bolder accents such as deep reds, oranges, brownish yellows, and earthy green colors which also work well.
Still can’t make up your mind? Choose a neutral color such as warm white, tan or gray, and just go for it! Ask at your paint store what their most popular interior colors are, and decide from those! You can always paint again later. The next time you go through this process should be easier.
Jennifer Adams is an award-winning designer, writer and TV personality. Connect with her on Twitter @JenniferAdams. For more tips, watch Jennifer’s YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/user/JenniferAdamsHome or visit www.jenniferadams.com