Choosing the right interior paint color may seem simple, but it plays an essential role in shaping the overall feel of your home. The color of your walls can influence not only the aesthetics of a room but also your mood and how you interact with the space. For this reason, a well-chosen paint color can make a small room feel spacious, a dark room feel brighter, or a cold space feel cozy and welcoming.
Beyond the visual appeal, colours have emotional and psychological impacts. For instance, calming blues are perfect for a bedroom, while energizing yellows could uplift a kitchen or workspace. The power of choosing the right paint shade is such that it can complement your furniture, hide imperfections, or even increase a property’s resale value.
In this guide, we’ll walk you through the key do’s and don’ts of selecting interior paint colors to help you avoid common mistakes and create a space that truly feels like home.
The Dos of Choosing Interior Paint Colors
Choosing the right interior paint colors can completely transform a room’s look and feel. The right shade enhances your decor and creates the desired mood for each space. Therefore, planning and testing before painting ensures a cohesive and visually pleasing result. Here are some dos for your help.
Do Consider the Room’s Natural Light
Natural light has a powerful effect on how paint colors appear in a space. A soft beige that looks warm and inviting in the morning sun can appear dull or gray in the late afternoon. Similarly, cooler tones like blues or grays may feel crisp in a sunlit room but turn cold and flat in one with limited daylight. That’s why evaluating the room’s natural light exposure, for instance, north-facing vs. south-facing, is crucial before making your final color choice.
If you’re unsure where to start, consider consulting a local expert. Like for example, if you live in New Hampshire, working with an expert interior painter in Concord is the best bet. A professional’s experience with homes in the area can make all the difference in finding a color that truly complements your space.
Do Test Samples on the Wall
One of the biggest mistakes some homeowners make is selecting a paint color based solely on a swatch or a digital preview. While these tools are helpful, they can’t account for how light, wall texture, and surrounding elements will affect the final look. Hence, it’s important to always test real paint samples directly on your walls.
You can test by applying sample patches to different areas of the room and observing them at various times of the day, e.g., morning, afternoon, and evening, under both natural and artificial lighting. This will help you to analyze and have a realistic sense of how the color behaves throughout the day and help you avoid costly repaints.
Do Think About the Room’s Purpose
Every room in your home serves a different function, and your paint color should reflect that. Warm tones like taupe, rich beige, or soft terracotta can make a living room or dining area feel inviting and cozy.
In contrast, cool tones like pale blues, soft greys, or sage green promote relaxation and work well in bedrooms or bathrooms. Understanding basic color psychology helps you choose shades that support how you want each room to feel, whether energized, calm, focused, or restful.
Do Coordinate with the Existing Decor
Your paint color should complement and not clash with what’s already in the room. Take cues from your existing furniture, flooring, rugs, artwork, and window treatments. For example, a space with dark wood flooring may benefit from lighter wall tones to create contrast, while rooms with light-toned furniture can support deeper and more dramatic hues. Creating harmony between your paint and decor is essential for a cohesive look that enhances the overall aesthetic of your home.
Do Use Neutrals as a Foundation
Neutrals offer timeless elegance and unmatched versatility. Shades like soft white, warm grays, and beige create the perfect foundation for layering bolder colors through accent walls, furniture, or decorative elements. They also help make small spaces feel bigger and brighter.
Neutrals are an ideal choice if you plan to update your decor over time, as they pair easily with a wide range of styles and color palettes.
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The Don’ts of Choosing Interior Paint Colors
When it comes to interior paint, knowing what not to do is as important as following best practices. Poor color choices, overlooked lighting conditions, or rushing into trendy shades can lead to disappointing results. Here’s a list of some don’ts for you to avoid for a more cohesive and beautiful living space.
Don’t Follow Trends Blindly
Trendy paint colors can be tempting, especially when featured in design magazines or all over social media. However, what’s popular today may feel outdated in a year. The worst part is that it might not suit your space, match your decor, or personal preference.
Therefore, always prioritize colors that align with your home’s character, lighting, and lifestyle. You can consult professional interior painters as they can help you adapt trends in a way that still feels timeless and tailored to your home.
Don’t Overlook the Finish Type
The selection of your paint finish is just as important as the color itself. Matte and flat finishes offer a smooth, non-reflective look ideal for ceilings or low-traffic areas. In contrast, satin finishes are great for living rooms and bedrooms due to their balance of sheen and durability. Semi-gloss or gloss finishes are more moisture-resistant and easier to clean, which makes them perfect for kitchens, bathrooms, and trim work. Skipping this consideration could leave you with a beautiful color that wears poorly or looks out of place.
Don’t Rely Solely on Store Lighting While Choosing Paint Color
Paint colors often look completely different in store lighting than they do at home. Fluorescent lights in stores can distort color perception, making hues appear brighter or cooler than they really are.
Therefore, never finalize your decision based on what you see in-store. Instead, always take paint samples home, apply them on different walls, and evaluate them in your room’s natural and artificial lighting throughout the day.
Don’t Overwhelm the Space with Too Many Colors
Bold colors can make a statement, but overusing them can overwhelm the senses and create visual chaos. Instead of painting all four walls in deep navy or bright coral, consider using bold colors as accents on a single wall, in artwork, or through accessories.
With interior paints, remember that balance is key. Opt for complementary striking shades with more subdued tones to ensure your room still feels cohesive and livable.
Don’t Ignore the Flow Between Rooms
Paint colors should work together across your home to create a sense of cohesion. This is especially important in open floor plans or homes where rooms open directly into each other. Clashing colors between adjoining spaces can disrupt the overall flow and make your home feel disjointed.
For this reason, stick to a cohesive color palette with complementary tones to maintain harmony. Consulting with experienced interior painters can be helpful as they’re familiar with designing palettes that enhance flow while giving each room its personality.
Paint Wisely & Live Beautifully
Choosing interior paint colors may feel overwhelming, but following a few simple do’s and don’ts can surely help you avoid costly mistakes and ensure beautiful, lasting results.
Remember: the right paint color doesn’t just change a wall but also transforms how you live in your space.
