Three Tips for Picking the Perfect Interior Paint Color

Do your home's interior walls need a refresh?  House painters reveal helpful tips for choosing the right paint color.  

1.      Set the mood. Different colors set different moods, so think about the mood you want to evoke in a given space. Strong and bright colors add drama and energy, whereas soft, cool colors and neutrals create an atmosphere for relaxation and balance.

2.      Be mindful of lighting. How a paint color looks on the wall will vary depending on a room's lighting. This is why paint stores have light boxes where you can test the paint chips under various lighting sources.  Be mindful of the lighting in a given room when choosing a paint color. For example, incandescent lighting will bring out the warm and yellow tones of a paint color, while fluorescent lighting brings out blue tones.

3.      Test the paint color. The only way to know for sure if the paint color is perfect for the space is to test it. Paint a section of the wall to be sure the color is right for the space. This is also a good technique if you are having difficulty choosing between two or three potential wall colors.

Four Common Mistakes People Make When Choosing Exterior Paint

 

There’s nothing like a fresh coat of paint to breathe some life into your home.  New paint doesn’t just make your house look fabulous; it also helps increase its value.  You could spend hours going over your ideas for redecorating the inside of your home, but you draw a blank when it comes to the outside.  You don’t really know what kind of color or look you’re going for, and you feel a lot of pressure because whatever you choose will drastically change the look of your home.  There are plenty of professional painting services that can make your house look beautiful, but you should still know a few basic things about outdoor painting so you don’t make common mistakes.

Using too many colors

You want your home to stand out and maybe have a nice pop of color, but if you use too many colors your home can look a little too mismatched.  Ideally, three or four colors seem to be the sweet spot for exterior decorators.   If you want to avoid a décor disaster, try to make sure that certain areas of your home all are the same color.  The gutters, roof, and fascia should all be the same color.  Also feel free to use window awnings, pathways, and fencing to give your home the pop of color you think it needs.

Going with a very light color

If you’re planning on using a very pale shade of paint on your home, think about how it’ll look in the sun.  Sunlight can make paint seem much lighter than it actually is, and you may have to go a few shades darker if you want to use a certain color.  Think about how the paint will look in cool morning light and warm afternoon sunshine.

Not thinking about surroundings

Do you currently have a big garden in your front yard that’s filled with colorful flowers?  Do you have a big fence?  Do you have a tree that people’s eyes are drawn towards?  The trick to proper exterior house painting is to take note of the homes surroundings and trying to find a way to make everything match.  If you don’t know what color to paint your home, your front and back yard are full of ideas of possibilities. 

Doing a beginner’s job

If you don’t know how to properly paint outdoors, your home isn’t a good place to start learning.  Paint jobs are an investment in your home, and doing it wrong can cost you a lot of money.  If you don’t have experience with painting outdoors, you’d be better off hiring a professional to handle the job.

What color are you thinking of painting the outside of your home?