Choosing the right paint color

When it comes to painting, people either love it, or hate it. There’s not much middle ground. I’m one of those people who loves to paint. I love the instant gratification of getting color up on the wall and how quickly it transforms a space.

After painting almost every room of our last house, including the trim, I did get a little burnt out. Being in a rental and unable to paint has me itching to get some color on the walls.  Of course, there are ways to bring color and personality into a rental, which I'll cover in another post.   Paint is by far one of the cheapest and easiest ways to do it.  

Choosing a paint color can be a bit overwhelming. Just walk into any paint or hardware store and you're faced with a wall of choices. Do we really need to 200 blues to pick from? Well, choosing the perfect color doesn’t have to be that hard. Enlisting the help of a designer is certainly one way to ensure you get it right. If you’re going it alone then there are a few tips to keep in mind.

There is a lot to be said about the psychology of color.  There are numerous articles about how different colors have been shown to evoke different feelings.  For example, there is a reason why restaurants use the color red – it is known to stimulate the appetite.  This translates into our homes with the surge of red dining rooms in the 1990's.  Places like spas or salons notoriously use cooler, softer blues and greens for a calming and relaxing feeling.  Really consider what space you are about to paint and what type of feeling you want to create.  

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The saturation of the color you choose is very important.  Muddier or less saturated colors are generally going to be your best bet. Colors are going to look more vibrant on your wall than they do on the color swatch. Choosing muddier tones will also help with choosing consistent colors throughout your home. It can be a bit jarring to see a less saturated blue paired up with a very saturated green.

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After you’ve narrowed down which colors you’re leaning towards get lots and lots of samples! There is no shame in having six different grays painted on your wall while you are trying to decide. There are several options when it comes to color brands, but Sherwin Williams is always my go to source. I typically order large paper samples and tape them up all over the walls. The other option are the small sample containers you get at the paint or hardware store. Go grab a couple of those in your selected shades and paint good size swatches on the wall of whatever room you’re intending the color to go in. The last key factor for selecting the right paint color is your lighting. This has a tremendous impact on how your color will turn out. From natural light to artificial light and the temperature of your lightbulbs all play a role. I prefer a warmer, softer light so I use LED's at a temperature of 2700K. This especially helps with my use of darker and cooler colors to not make my spaces feel too cold. Observe your color sample at various times of the day to see how it changes. Also, don't rush your choice, that is when mistakes happen. I like to marinade on it for a day or two before committing to a color.

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Following these tips will help you pick the right paint color the first time. If you're in doubt feel free to reach out to SCD some color selection help. We have all made paint color mistakes, myself included. In the end you just want a color that feels right for you and your space. I’ve rounded up a few of my favorite go to Sherwin-Williams colors to make your decision making a little easier.

Pure White - The perfect white for trim

Grasslands - A nice soft sage great for just about any room

Accessible Beige - The perfect soft beige for those wanting a warmer tone

Worldly Gray - My go-to gray that's got just the right amount of warmth

Romance - A lovely soft pink perfect for a little girls room or romantic master bedroom

Quite Coral - A fun pop of coral for accents on furniture or doors

Sea Salt - A versatile color that can read blue or green and go wells with almost anything

Grasshopper - A true Kelley Green for a fun pop of color

Riverway - A muddy blue/gray with green undertones that I have used over and over again

Naval - A perfect navy, great for bedrooms, dining rooms or any cozy space

Attitude Gray - Great darker gray with green undertones for a moody feel

Iron Ore - Black with green undertones if you're so bold as to put black on your walls (I did and I loved them!)

Happy painting!