Home Painting

10 Expert Tips For Gorgeous Schedules |

Choosing paint colors correctly can make or break a room. Paint colors can transform a room no matter its size, shape or aspect. It can create an atmosphere from calm serenity to warmth and joy and make all the difference to the success of your interior design project.

While it always makes sense to choose paint colors that appeal to you personally, there are factors that affect how you view a particular hue. For example, natural light varies depending on the direction of your room and the time of day. Some parts of your room will be brighter, others darker, while your furniture, rugs, and other furnishings can also affect how you see the shade.

If you’re having a hard time choosing a paint color because you can’t imagine what the color will look like in your space, use a tester jar to make a swatch, preferably on a large sheet of liner paper, and move it through your room in a few days to see if you like it.

Here, interior experts advise on how to choose paint colors so that your paint ideas come to life the way you want them to.

How to choose paint colors

Whether you are looking for living room paint ideas or bathroom paint ideas, your dilemmas and solutions will be the same. Whether you want to paint an entire room or just paint a wall, or just spark interest with paint tricks, choosing the right paint colors is key to success. Keep in mind, however, that different paint finishes will change the look of paint colors, so always experiment carefully first.

1. Choose the right white paint color

(Image credit: Sims Hilditch)

Always popular for creating a fresh, light feel, there are a surprising number of shades that can create a subtly different effect, from room-enhancing cooler tones to warm whites that can be used to create a softer feel. “A combination of white creates a soft contrast in a room, while keeping the design classic and timeless,” says interior designer Emma Sims-Hilditch, founder and creative director of Sims Hilditch. (opens in new tab)which uses Farrow & Ball white paint.

“We like to use a darker white, like Farrow & Ball (opens in new tab) Shaded White, on the walls or a bosom and a fresher, brighter shade on the mantelpiece and woodwork. A good option here would be Farrow & Ball’s School House of All White.’

2. Choose bold paint colors with confidence

(Image credit: Stephanie Barba Mendoza)

“Bold hues can make a space feel warmer and cozier, but only if you use the right lighting,” advises interior designer Stephanie Barba Mendoza, who especially likes to use such colors in living rooms, hallways, and powder rooms for the sense of ambiance they can create.

“I lean towards using low level and candle lighting when using a rich tone, which helps to create an intimate atmosphere in the evening.” But bold shades also transition beautifully during the day: if you have a good source of natural light, they feel energized during the day and blend with smart lighting at night.”

3. Choose paint colors that match the room temperature

(Image credit: Annabel Grimshaw/Photographer: Emma Lewis)

Colors are classified according to their temperature, from warm to cool. Warm colors include red, orange and yellow on one side of the color wheel, while cool colors run from green to blue to violet.

“Warmer colors work really well when you want to create a cozier feeling and draw people into a room,” advises interior designer Annabel Grimshaw (opens in new tab). ‘Cooler colors can be more soothing, so blue and green, for example, work well in bedrooms. They also give more of a feeling of space.’

4. Find cool-toned paint colors that don’t feel cold

(Image credit: Mylands Walpole)

Known for their calming properties, cool colors tend to recede, making rooms feel more spacious – adding to their serene feel. Here, Myland (opens in new tab)‘s Walpole, an off-white with soft teal tones, is combined with woodwork in Long Acre, a deeper gray-blue, to create a soft scheme.

Cool colors can be used in rooms with lots of natural light, like this one, to add character without overwhelming the space. Pops of warm red, in the armchair and rug, add a touch of warmth.

5. Choose the right bright paint colors as accents

(Image credit: Fox Interior Design)

Accent color ideas can be limited in the area they cover, but limitless in their effect. Painting a wall a contrasting color can add impact and interest to a room scheme and draw attention to a focal point, according to interior designer Sarah Fox of Fox Interior Design (opens in new tab) explains.

“Here we used a vibrant color – Farrow & Ball’s Yellowcake – to frame the internal window, bringing light and a ray of sunshine into the room,” she says. “It’s an unexpected, sparkling hue that brightens up the scheme and draws your attention to the atrium beyond.”

6. Find out how to prepare a color palette

(Image credit: Paint and Paper Library)

The color wheel can help you select shades for your scheme. Contrasting or ‘complementary’ colors (those opposite each other on the wheel) will stimulate each other, while harmonious colors (adjacent on the wheel) are aesthetically pleasing. Tonal colors are lighter and darker variations of the same color.

Here, bright yellow Paint & Paper Library Parasol walls are combined with leafy greens for a natural harmony.

7. Create balance with paint colors

(Image credit: Katie Knight / Eric Piasecki)

While cheerful colors can be uplifting and add a lot of personality to a room, too much can be overwhelming. One way to ensure success is to balance the bold color with soft tones, as interior designer Katie Ridder (opens in new tab) reveals in this elegant scheme.

“A neutral ceiling and carpet are important calming factors that draw our attention to strong colors elsewhere,” she says.

8. Liven up ceilings with tonal paint colors

(Image credit: Olivine Design/Photographer: Simon Brown)

“If you paint the walls an off-white, we recommend painting the ceiling the same color as it makes the ceilings feel higher,” explains interior designer Taline Findlater of Olivine Design. (opens in new tab).

“If you chose a deeper color for the walls, such as Farrow & Ball Oval Room Blue or Green Smoke, we recommend a warmer white, such as White Tie, rather than cool white, to soften the contrast between the walls. walls and ceiling.’

In this lovely bedroom design, Olivine Design used Old Ocher from Fired Earth to create striking ceiling ideas, echoing the pink of the striped wallpaper.

“Of all the pinks available, this is an absolute favorite because it has a warm undertone with a small dose of yellow, rather than some with too much lilac.”

9. Choose paint colors to create contrast

(Image credit: Annie Sloan)

“Red is a color of joy and passion, the boldest of all shades,” said Annie Sloan, paint color expert and founder of Annie Sloan. “It brings a lot of warmth, dynamism and personality to a room, so it’s a great choice for active areas, such as hallways.”

Here, walls in Primer Red are contrasted with Cambrian Blue for a warm versus cool contrast, with a Pemberley Blue border and a checkerboard floor in Chalk Paint Primer Red and Original for extra impact.

10. Work with modern neutrals

(Image credit: Valspar)

Neutral paint colors, from whites to creams, grays and taupes, can be easy to live with and provide a soft backdrop for bolder colors — or layered with other neutrals to create a sophisticated blend of texture and shade.

If you find it difficult to determine whether a certain color has a cool or warm base for your neutral room ideas, it can help to compare it with a piece of real (bright) white.

Here walls painted in a soft cream, Valspar (opens in new tab) Biscuit Crumbs, are combined with a warm white ceiling and border, combined with wooden furniture for extra warmth. To avoid a boring result, a dark coffee table and sculpture add definition.

How do I choose the right paint color?

Choose the effect you want to create from the colors that naturally appeal to you, from cool soothing to warm dynamic tones. Consider how the color fits with the room’s decor and whether you want to create a simple background for bold paintings or use vibrant colors to make an impact, for example. Create a mood board (a collage of images and examples) to develop a contrasting scheme, if you prefer, or do you prefer something more harmonious with layers of texture? Then paint a swatch and test your scheme to see if you like the result.