the painted surface
Picking Paint Color Tips and Ideas
Choosing paint colors for your home is exciting considering all of the possibilities and paint color choices. The successful completion of your interior painting ideas will be seen in the color of the room. We hope these color tips will be helpful when choosing the right colors for your house. The final choice is yours. Check out “Six Step Color Choice” for help choosing a special color. Live with what you love!
Viewing Colors... Look at the swatches at different angles and under different light sources. A color viewed under natural light will look different when viewed under artificial light. And different artificial lights (incandescent, flourescent, halogen, etc.) will show colors differently. Whenever possible view color samples in the room where they will be painted.
Paint Color Contrast... When choosing colors to paint a room of woodwork (trim) and walls, consider the contrast between the two. Sometimes the same paint color is used on both. Usually the trim color is different than the walls. A classic look is a shade of off-white or cream on the trim and a color on the walls. Choose paint colors varied enough to see a definite difference. Two similar colors used in the same room can look odd if they lack enough contrast.
Avoid Pure White... Walls painted with dark colors should not be matched with pure white trim. Use an off-white, cream or a light color on the trim to soften the contrast with the walls. Sometimes using the same dark paint color on the trim is a pleasing look.
Color Durability... Dark paint colors made in flat (no sheen) paint can scuff or bruise easily. They are more durable and attractive when made in eggshell, satin, semi-gloss or gloss finishes. Kitchen paint colors are often made in an eggshell paint finish to increase the washability of the surface.
Paint Sample Cards...To paint color sample cards may be the best way to make a final decision. When the choices have been narrowed down to two or three colors, buy sample amounts and paint cards at least as big as 8x10 inches. These can be moved around the room, viewed in various lighting conditions and compared to the furnishings in the room. Seeing the actual paint color on large swatches can be a huge advantage over the small swatches found in color fan decks.
Compare Like Colors... Compare groups of like paint colors to each other to rule out unwanted hues. For example, in a group of similar beige colors some will look pink, some green and others gray. By comparing them side by side you see which ones do not match your goals.
Sample Evaluation... Consider the background on which the colors to paint a room are evaluated, the same color will appear different depending on its surroundings. If spot samples are painted on a wall they will look slightly darker or lighter than if the entire wall were that color. The following illustrates how contrast alters the appearance of the same shade of color.
NOTE...Color viewed on a computer monitor will not look like true paint samples.
Inspiration... A source of painting ideas for colors to paint a room are color charts found at paint dealers. Look for the brochures displaying groups of complementary colors. These are great for finding groups of paint colors in themes such as Victorian, Modern, Elegant, Playful or Historical. You will find inspiration in both the Interior and Exterior paint sections.
These tips should help when choosing colors for your painting project. More details about specific painting subjects are covered in the additional articles. In those will be found details, tips and techniques gathered from over 20 years of painting experience. Here is a list of links to the articles:
More helpful painting tips, techniques and how-to articles can be found by following these links.
How To Paint a Room ◊ How To Paint a Stairway ◊ How To Paint a Two-Story Room ◊ How To Choose Colors ◊ Six Step Color Choice ◊ Popular Color Ideas ◊ How To Choose Paint ◊ Tools ◊ How To Caulk ◊ How To Patch a Hole ◊ How To Patch a Crack ◊ How To Cut In a Wall or Ceiling ◊ How To Roll a Wall or Ceiling ◊ How To Paint Woodwork ◊ How To Paint a Window ◊ How To Paint Baseboard ◊ How To Paint a Door ◊ How To Paint Crown Moulding ◊ How To Paint Kitchen Cabinets ◊ How To Choose a Premium Paintbrush ◊ How To Paint a MDF Bookcase ◊ How To Paint Aluminum or Vinyl Siding ◊ How To Paint Over Faux Finishes ◊ How To Use Magnetic Paint ◊ How To Use FrogTape ◊ How To Paint Repair Water Damaged Drywall ◊ Hiring a Contractor ◊ Paint Stripper Safety ◊ Painting Louvered Shutters ◊ 2013 Color Trends ◊ Choosing Front Door Colors
