A new color changes how a room feels faster than almost anything else you can do to it. It’s also personal: there’s no right color, only the one you’ll enjoy living with. These steps help make sure the color you choose looks the way you pictured it once it’s on the walls.
Start with the light
The same paint can look completely different from room to room, because of the light.
- Rooms with lots of direct sun make colors look brighter and warmer.
- Rooms with little direct sun make colors look cooler and darker.
- Lamps and bulbs change colors again at night, so look at samples with the lights you actually use.
Think about the flow
Stand in a doorway and look into the next room. Colors that work together from room to room make a home feel calm and connected, even when each room is different. An easy approach is one main wall color for the shared spaces, with stronger colors in rooms that have doors.
Where bold colors work
Bold colors are a great way to give a room personality. They work best where they have a clear job:
- An accent wall behind a bed, a sofa, or a fireplace.
- Small rooms such as a powder room or an office, where a deep color feels cozy instead of dark.
- Doors and built-ins, for a pop of color that’s easy to change later.
If you’re nervous about a bold color, try it on one wall first. It’s the easiest repaint there is.
Test big samples
Small chips are hard to judge. Paint samples a couple of feet square, on more than one wall, and live with them for a few days. Look at them in the morning and at night before you decide.
Don’t forget the finish
The sheen changes how a color looks as much as the color itself: a flat finish looks softer and hides flaws, while satin reflects more light and cleans more easily. Our guide to interior paint finishes covers which sheen to use where.
Any brand, any color
We mostly use Sherwin-Williams, along with Benjamin Moore and, less often, BEHR, and we can match any color from any brand, so bring us the color you love. Curious about our own favorite colors? They’re in the FAQ.
Ready to pick a color?
See what’s included in our interior painting, or get a free estimate.
