Color Color on the Wall

Paint color

is one of the hardest decisions for homeowners to make, partly because there are so many choices it’s difficult to know where to start. Also because it doesn’t always look the same from the chip to the wall. Even neutrals are tricky because the undertones must work with the furnishings in the room for the room to look right.

Here are a few tips to help you with color selection:

– Determine the undertones that are in the existing furnishings. Why? it immediately narrows down the number of colors you should consider.

– Know that a gray with a blue undertone will look much bluer on the wall than on the paint chip. Why should you know? you can end up with baby blue walls instead of gray.

– The color’s undertone will be more visible if paired with its complementary color. For example, a color with a red or pink undertone will look more red or pink if paired with green, its complementary color. Why is this useful information? if you are trying to minimize a pink undertone on a tile, sofa, or other finishings, you should not paint the walls green.

– Gray undertones can be blue, green, or purple. Beige undertones can be yellow, green, red/pink, and orange. Why is this useful? If you want to mix different grays or beiges, you should stay in the same undertone or use no more than two undertones per room.

– The hardest beige undertone to work with is pink-beige. Why? It does not pair well with yellow beige or orange beige, undertones in so many of the furnishings available today.

– If you are buying new furniture or window treatments, choose those before you paint. Why? It is much easier to find paint to go with a fabric than fabric to go with a specific paint.

-Dark colors don’t make a room look small, contrast does. Why should you know? It’s ok to paint a small room or bathroom a dark color.