There are many things to consider when choosing an interior paint color for your home. Here are 5 things that I think are so important to keep in mind when choosing the best color, so it suits your space and personality perfectly.
Choosing the perfect paint color for any room can be a pain in the a**! There are SO many colors to choose from the rainbow. Who knew all those shades of white existed?!
Paint is one of the easiest and least expensive upgrades you can do to your home and choosing the right color can really bring out your personality.
I am here to guide you and give you some tips and tricks on how to pick the perfect paint color and things you should look out for.
This post is all about choosing an interior paint color for your home.
1. Lighting:
The first and most important thing to consider when choosing an interior paint color is LIGHTING. Lighting makes a huge difference! Both natural and artificial light play a role in how a color casts.
There is a lot to color and light theory. I won’t dig too deep into this, but here is just a little glimpse into that. Did you know that any color can have a different hue & can cast a different undertone? Not many people can tell, but as designers we have an eye for that.
There are so many colors in the world & they all cast different hues which is so cool! They all have different temperatures. Some have more warm vs cool tones. Let’s take the color green for example. It can be warm or cool and it can have many different undertones like yellow, gray, blue, and pink.
Colors can look different in a variety of light settings. It might look great at the paint store, but at home it could look like a completely different color.
I recommend grabbing a small sample size of the paint color you chose from the paint store so you can test that on your walls in different lighting. The actual paint can look much different than the paper sample.
Live with these samples on your walls for a few days to a week. Really pay attention to how the color changes during the different times of the day and evening. You’ll be amazed by how much natural lighting can affect a color’s temperature and hue.
2. Materials:
I also recommend taking any material samples home with you that you are considering using in your project, whether that be countertops, flooring, or cabinet stain if you are starting from scratch with a new build or remodel.
This is important because the color can change even when it is next to other colors and materials.
If you aren’t planning on starting over and plan on keeping all your materials the same and only changing the paint color, take note of all the different materials in your home like flooring, countertops, and cabinetry.
Many people forget to take all of these things into consideration when choosing a paint color. Pay close attention to how the paint color plays off of each material in your home.
All of the materials need to work together, but nothing should really match. If you stick to 3 to 4 colors in a color scheme, you can avoid things looking too busy.
3. Furniture:
The color of your furniture plays a big role in choosing the best interior paint color for your home. Furniture includes sofas, coffee tables, end tables, beds, console tables, etc.
Are you planning on purchasing new furniture or keeping what you already have existing? If you are purchasing new furniture pieces, you have some flexibility with the paint color that you choose. But if you are planning to use existing pieces, don’t forget to factor those in when making your decision.
Maybe you have some furniture that is more of a statement piece or maybe you have a very special family heirloom such as a china hutch that is very sentimental and has a lot of meaning to you. Build off of that and take inspiration from that beloved piece.
Also, keep in mind the furniture’s fabric and finishes. Are they a patterned, colorful, neutral, textured, metal, or wood fabric/finish? Take all of these things into consideration when choosing an interior paint color.
4. Room Size:
Consider the size of the room you are painting. Is it a small room or a large room? Does this room have any windows? How tall are the ceilings? All of these variables are important to keep in mind when choosing an interior paint color.
If you want the room to feel bright and airy, choose a lighter color. If you want your room to have moody vibes, choose a darker, richer color.
Also, think about how you will be using the space. Is this an office or a bedroom? Both of those rooms can provide completely different vibes. In an office you might want feelings of motivation and energy. In a bedroom you might want it to feel serene, peaceful, and relaxing.
Colors have a direct effect on your mood and you really want to consider how you will be functioning in each given space.
If you are someone that works from home or someone that spends a lot of time in their home and likes to entertain, the color of your home can affect how you feel and perform in your space.
I know when our house was painted dark gray with golden oak cabinetry and millwork everywhere, it felt depressing and drab. Now, everything is white and bright and it feels so much more open and full of life.
Another idea for you is color drenching. Have you ever heard of this? Color drenching is when you choose the same paint color for your walls, ceiling, trim, baseboards, and any other millwork like cabinetry. You can do this with any color.
Make sure to consider the paint sheen for each surface as well. For interior walls, you are going to want to have a satin or eggshell finish. For trim, baseboards, cabinetry, and interior doors, you will want to go with a semi-gloss finish.
Also, consider how the paint color is going to look when it transitions into another room. You will want your entire house to flow together seamlessly. This does not mean that you need to paint every surface the same color because, what is the fun in that?! But, it is important to take into consideration how each color plays off one another because cohesiveness is key.
5. Decor, Artwork, Rugs, Accessories:
Don’t forget to keep in mind all of your decor, artwork, area rugs, and accessories! You can find inspiration from any of these in your home. Sometimes that is how I find my inspiration for a design project. I will find a rug, vase, or piece of artwork and use that as my starting point in the design and build off of that.
This is the fun part and these items are the easiest thing to switch out whenever you would like. I always recommend to clients that this is where you can bring out those fun pops of colors or maybe even your favorite color.
Maybe there is a pop of light blue in your favorite vase. You could bring out that color and paint that on your walls or cabinetry. Have fun with this!
Changing up your decor, artwork, rugs, and accessories is also going to be the least expensive way to change up the entire look of any space. That’s why it is so fun to play with color here.
So, if you ever get tired of how these items pair with your interior paint color, switch them out for something new. Or again, maybe use these items as inspiration for your next interior paint color.
My biggest piece of advice is to consider all 5 of these points all together before choosing an interior paint color. You want everything to work together in your home, not against one another. By implementing these ideas into your home, you are sure to have a designer inspired space!
