Designer Tips: Choosing a paint color

I will say it over and over again - paint is one of the best DIY projects out there and easily gives you the most bang for your buck when it comes to updating your space. That being said, it can feel nearly impossible at times to find the RIGHT color for your space. I was chatting with another designer the other day whose client had tried eight, yes EIGHT, different colors in their living room and still couldn’t find one they liked (like, they had painted the living room completely eight separate times… not just eight samples). I don’t mind painting, but not that often. So, to help you avoid similar paint catastrophes, here are three dos and don’ts for selecting a paint color:

DON’T

1) DON’T pick a (final) paint color in the store.

There are too many choices and the fluorescent lighting is terrible, which will change the way the color looks. I know it’s so tempting to do it, especially if you’re super busy or live far away or another million other reasons, but I promise 9 times out of 10, you will be disappointed with the final result if you do this. Grab some chips (as many as you like - go crazy - and bring them home!)

2) DON’T pick a color (solely) because you liked how it looked somewhere else (magazine, blog post, friend’s house, TV show, etc)

If you love the feel of a color, definitely try it out and see if you like it in your space too, but you still need to grab a sample and check it in YOUR space. Lighting and other finishes make a huge difference in what a color looks like in a space. For example, Ben Moore’s Swiss Coffee looks like an amazing creamy white that is soft and bright on TV - but in my home with the red oak hardwoods, pure white trim, and cooler accent colors - it pulls yellow instead of creamy. NOT the look I’m going for. It may be great in your home, but you need to verify that. Use photos as inspiration, not as how to guides.

(IMAGE CREDIT: House Beautiful, February/March 2021 Edition, page 40)

3) DON’T pick a paint color by putting the chips on the wall and picking.

This is an issue for two reasons. First, you cannot tell from that little 2x3 inch chip what that color is going to look like. Even professional designers don’t do this. We get larger chips (at least 8x10) and move them around the room to make sure it pulls how we want it to. Secondly, you cannot tell what the color is truly going to look like when you put it against a different color, so unless you have white walls, the color on the chip is pulling from the previous wall color.

DO

1) DO get a sample of the color to try in your home.

If you don’t follow any other tips I give - this one is KEY. You need a sample to see how it will look in your home, with your lighting, and with your other finishes. You can do this in two ways - buying an actual sample of the paint from the store or ordering a sample from Samplize. Samplize is a great option, especially if you are using Sherwin Williams, Benjamin Moore, or Farrow and Ball paints because they are cheaper than the samples you can get and with significantly less waste. (Samplize does not offer Behr paint at this time). They also use real paint to create the samples which is always going to be more accurate than a printed swatch. In either case, make sure if your walls are painted any color other than white, that you put the sample against a white board to test it out.

(This is a peel and stick sample I created with Sherwin-Williams Color-to-Go sample paint - not from Samplize)

2) DO buy high quality paint.

Look, there is a reason why designers, painters and other professionals recommend Sherwin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, Farrow and Ball paints over those you can get at big box stores, and it’s because the quality is so much better. Not only do these brands provide better coverage (which means fewer coats and overall less paint), but the pigmentation is better and the colors are richer. Sherwin-Williams also has sales pretty regularly on their paints, and with their sale prices they aren’t that much more expensive than the top of the line box store options. If you don’t want to go with one of those, Behr is your next best option in my opinion.

3) DO pick your paint color last.

It is much easier to match paint to a fabric sample (say in a pillow or rug) than it is to match a rug to a paint sample. On top of that, paint is significantly cheaper/easier to change than other elements in your space (such as sofa, flooring or wallpaper). You can certainly have a general idea of the color you want to use prior to selecting furnishings and other elements of the design, but wait to pick your final color at least until you’ve picked out the major players in the room (furnishings, window treatments, flooring).

Finally, if you’re feeling overwhelmed, consider hiring a color consultant to help you pick a color or even a whole palette for your home. Designers and color consultants make more paint selections in a year than most people do in their entire lives. Paint may not be expensive, but it is a time investment if you DIY or costly once you’ve hired pros. Make sure you take some time to get it right - you’ll be that much happier with the end result!