How to Pick a Paint Color
Paint is one of the best parts about re-decorating. It can completely change the feel of a room, in
a way that almost nothing else can. The difference can be stunning. But most of us get really
nervous about choosing paint colors. We feel like it is a hit-or-miss proposition. We put it off
forever. We live with boring beige walls for years, because we just don’t feel qualified to choose
a color. In fact, for most of my clients, nothing gives them as much anxiety as paint color!
Often people believe that a designer has a special eye for color, that cannot be taught, but the
truth is really a bit more complicated. First of all, yes, of course a designer should have a great
eye for color, and knowledge of current trends. However, even with that, designers can and do
mess up paint colors sometimes. But the real thing that designers have that you don’t is
experience. The longer they work in their field, the more colors they choose, the better they get,
and the easier it becomes. Most designers have favorite paint lines, and know those colors by
heart (I can recite so many Benjamin Moore and Sherwin William’s paint colors, sometimes I
scare myself!) They’ve seen these colors work over and over and over again, in different rooms
and different situation.
So, you’re not a designer. Now what? I promise you, that choosing paint colors is really not
that hard. While hiring a designer to choose your paint color does cut down on the risk, it is not
always necessary. With a few simple rules to remember, most people can pick a great paint
color themselves.
First let’s take the fear out of paint. It’s only paint people!! It can be…are you ready for
this…repainted, if you don’t like it! I know, I know. Who wants to paint a whole room only to
have to repaint it again. Not me, and definitely not you. But with a few simple tricks that will
not be your fate. So without further ado, here are my golden rules of painting:
Rule 1: Thou will not randomly pick a paint color
Don’t just walk into a paint store and start looking at the paint swatches. Really. Please. Do
NOT. Unless you want to actually feel your brain spin around in your head. All great color
projects start off with a theme. Too often, almost always in fact, people pick paint color first.
This may work some of the time, but it’s hardly a guarantee. What I really recommend is that
you find something you want to base your room around. Maybe it’s a beautiful painting, or a
special comforter that you love, or a toss pillow, or sofa pillow that makes your heart skip a beat.
You need to find something you love. I mean, really, truly, LOVE. When you have that item,
then and only then do you pick a paint color. You want your paint color to coordinate or match
this item. This tip alone, takes 75% of the guess work out of picking a color. Now you actually
have something you can take to the paint store with you to match up.
Also, keep in mind the space you will be painting. How do you want to feel in this space? Is it a
bedroom, where you might want to feel calm and cozy. A dining room, where you might want to
stimulate conversation and laughter? Colors play a large role in how we feel in a space. Warm
bright colors tend to stimulate, whereas cool, light colors tend to calm.
.
Rule 2: Thou will consider the light
Yes, I know, you are not a design expert. But you can look at your room and decide if it gets a
lot of natural light (i.e. lots of windows) or is a cave. Maybe it’s somewhere in between. But
light is a critical factor in the end result of a paint color. If you have a really dark room, and you
want to paint it a really dark color, guess what….your room will appear even darker. The
opposite is true with light colors. Another area to be really careful of is rooms with NO windows
(like some basements). No natural light can really make a paint color do weird things! I
discovered this first hand when I painted my very first room, in my first apartment. It was a little
powder room, and it was incredibly narrow, with no natural light. I painted it yellow, and the
way that yellow bounced around off the walls in there you felt like you might leave the bathroom
with a tan.
So be careful with light. But don’t panic. There are two tools that can help you with your
decision here. First of all, if you head to a professional paint store (like Sherwin Williams or
Benjamin Moore for example), there are people who work there who can really help you. Ask
them how they think a color will show up in a certain type of light. You’ll be surprised at how
knowledgeable and helpful these folks are. They will also have several different light boxes in
their store. Holding the chip under a natural daylight option, vs an indoor option, will show you
immediately how different the color may appear in a different light.
Next, flip that little paint chip you’ve been eyeing over. You’ll see a lot of information on the
back of that sucker. Including the acronym LRV. This stands for Light Reflective Value, and
without getting into a whole lot of boring detail, basically tells you how much light a color
absorbs or reflects in a room. For interior colors, we generally look for something right in the
50% range. Below 50% and the color will absorb more light than it reflects back into the room,
making the space feel darker. Above 50% and the color will reflect more light back into the
room than it absorbs, making the space feel brighter. Here are some examples:0
This paint has a really high LRV. You can see how it almost glows!
Here is a paint color with a very low LRV
Rule #3: Thou will go with the flow
I’m all for bold colors, and interesting paint choices. But you do have to have some regard for
how the room you’re painting will affect the rest of your home. In many rooms of our homes,
we can see into other rooms. For example, from my living room, I can see my kitchen, my entry
hall, my dining room, and a tiny snippet of my office. It’s important that the paint colors flow
together nicely. So if you have beige colored living room, and a chocolate brown dining room,
and a cream colored kitchen, the rooms all feel cohesive. If you have a room that is purple, next
to a room that is navy blue, next to a room that is green, you might start to feel like you’re living
in a circus. Flow is a tough concept, and one that takes a little practice to master. But if you’ve
ever been in a home or office where you move from one room to the other and feel a sense of
calmness and pleasure, I can almost guarantee it comes from good flow. If you are trying to
choose paint for an entire floorplan (i.e you’re building, remodeling, or moving into a new home)
I would seriously suggest that you hire a decorator to help. A few hours of their time is far more
economical in the long run, than living with a giant mistake that you can’t afford to fix.
Nowadays most paint stores have pre-made palettes that you can check out. These are swatch
cards that may contain 4 or 5 different colors that flow together nicely. An example is Sherwin
Williams Concepts in Color swatch cards.
Rule #4: Thou will absolutely, positively, promise to sample, sample, sample.
Ok folks, here is the real deal truth. We are currently living in a time period where there has
NEVER been more information available to consumers. When you think you have settled on a
paint color or 2 or 3 (I recommend 2 or 3, just so you have something to play with), you MUST
MUST MUST test. No one, and I mean no one, can tell how a whole room will look based on an
itty-bitty, paint chip. Just put that idea right out of your head. This is where people screw up the
most frequently. They invest a lot of time and thought in finding the “perfect” color and become
so convinced that this is “the one” that they decide to forgo testing. Big mistake.
It’s easier than ever to test these days. Sherwin Williams and Benjamin Moore both sells
sample pots of paint for $6 or less (I am a big fan of Sherwin Williams samples since they give
you a full pint to play around with for $6. Benjamin Moore is pretty stingy with their samples,
giving you about a Dixie cups worth of paint for $4. You’ll need to buy a few of these). Get
yourself some of these samples, take them home and put them on your walls. I like to paint a
good 2X2 size sample of my new color on each wall of the room. Put it right up next to the trim
work, so you can see how it looks next to white or wood trim. Be prepared for the fact that the
current color of your room may affect the color you are testing. For that reason, you want to
keep the sample color next to as much white as possible.
Some people prefer to paint poster boards with the samples, and then move them around the
room. There are some advantages to this, but I think nothing gives you the overall impression of
how a color is going to look on a wall, better than putting it on the wall. After you have painted
your samples on the walls, please let them sit for a few days. Don’t rush out to paint
immediately, unless you have an absolute love affair with the color from the minute you put it on
the wall! Notice the color every day as you walk in and out of your space. Pay attention to how
the light affects the color, and how the color makes the room feel. Be prepared to change
direction. Sometimes the color that seemed perfect on the card, or in your best friend’s bathroom,
just isn’t right in your space. Admit that and move on to a new color.
Rule #5: Ask for help when you need it
Many people think that the prices of a designer or decorator are out of reach. They worry that
hiring someone means they will need to commit to hour and hours of fees. This couldn’t be
further from the truth. Most design professionals would happily stop by, even for a 1-hour
consult, to give their opinion. If you’re going to pay a professional to paint for you, a small
service fee to a decorator is definitely worth the investment.
Understanding Paint Terminology:
Here’s a quick guide to understanding some of the things that you may see or hear about in a
paint store.
Primers:
Primers are used on walls that are in bad condition, or have never been painted before. Primers
are also used in order to “stretch” the dollar investment on your paint (i.e primers are cheaper
than paint, and when a wall is primed, you need less pain). An additional reason for always
priming a wall, is that it allows the paint to work as it is supposed to. The paint adheres better,
lasts longer, and looks better. Nowadays there are a lot of paints with a built in primer.
Sometimes this is fine, and other times not. For example, if you are painting a deep red over a
wall that was previously beige, you will need 3 – 4 coats of paint to cover the beige completely.
And even then, it may never look even. This is a time where priming can really cut down on
frustration and increase the quality of your job.
The Two Types of Paint:
Latex Paints:
Latex paint is the most common type of paint used today. It provides a beautiful finish, and is
easy to use. Best of all, it washes up with just soap and water. Additionally, it dries fast, has less
odor, is non-flammable, and is easy to touch-up. You should also see a reduction of cracking
and peeling with latex paints.
Alkyd Paint (oil-based)
Oil based paints (technically called Alkyd paints) tend to be more expensive than latex paints.
They take a long time to paint, as the coats must be very thin to stop sagging and bubbles, and
the dry time is much longer than latex. These paints however are incredibly durable. They are
best for floors, and metal.
Cheap Paint vs. Expensive Paint: Is there a difference?
Yes! Cheap latex paint is often mixed with water, which creates a runnier, and more difficult to
use product. Additionally, cheaper paint almost always requires 2 – 3 coats of paint, while a
more expensive paint may only require 1. The more water that is added to the resin in latex
paint, the less durable the paint. This means less scrubbable, and not intended for areas of high
wear and tear.
Paint Sheen:
The sheen of a paint refers to the reflective quality of the paint; how much light is absorbed by
the paint. There are 4 basic sheens:
1) Flat paints. These paints have a matte finished. They are often used by builders and
designers because their matte finish is very attractive. They are almost always used
on ceilings, and in rooms that are low wear and tear areas. The downside of flat
paints is that they are not scrubbable/washable. They are hard to “touch-up” and they
can end up looking dirty very quickly. Flat paint is a bad idea for areas that have high
exposure to kids or animals. Flat paints also have a coarse feel to them, so you won’t
feel your hand glide along a wall, as you would with other finishes.
2) Eggshell finish, also known as Satin, is a very soft sheen (think of an egg). This
finish is more durable, washable, and stain resistant, than a flat paint. This is a great
choice for kids rooms, living rooms, and high traffic areas.
3) Semi Glass paints are incredibly durable. They are stain-resistant, easy to clean, and
durable. They’re great for heavy wear areas, like kitchens, bathrooms, and laundry
rooms. They can also be used on trim and cabinets.
4) Glossy paint is the most durable and stain resistant of all. It is super easy to clean.
But, it can make imperfections more noticeable. This would hardly ever be used on a
wall, but is the standard for trim work, doors, etc.
What are VOC’s and Why Do They Matter?
One question I am frequently asked is about VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds) and what
they mean. Like everything environmental these days, it is an extremely confusing situation. I
have printed an article from Consumer Reports below. You should read this and make your own
decision. Based on the information we have, my advice is to go with the lowest VOC paint you
can afford. Low/No VOC paints can become quite expensive, and because they are such a new
product, their durability is not as well
understood. However, given the possible carcinogenic effect of high voc’s I would recommend
lower VOC’s for bedrooms, nurseries, and children’s play areas.
What are VOCs in paint, and is more or less of them better?
VOCs are solvents that get released into the air as the paint dries. (Other products emit solvents,
including adhesives, cleaning supplies, and even some home furnishings.) VOCs can cause acute
symptoms, including headaches and dizziness. The long-term effects are less certain, but
according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, some VOCs are suspected carcinogens.
The federal government caps the VOC content in paint at 250 grams per liter (g/l) for flat
finishes and 380 g/l for other finishes (low-luster, semigloss, etc.). However, some
manufacturers have opted to comply with more stringent limits—50 g/l for all finishes—set
by California’s South Coast Air Quality Management District. These paints include such
products as Benjamin Moore Aura, True Value Easy Care, and Glidden Evermore. In the past,
low-VOC paints have performed poorly in our tests, but these products all got high marks in
our latest tests of low-luster interior paints; see our Ratings (available to subscribers) for the full
details.
The top paints in our Ratings (available to subscribers) had among the highest claimed VOC
levels, including Behr Premium Plus Enamel low-luster and flat and Benjamin Moore Regal
semigloss. Lowering VOC levels can affect performance. "When you take out VOCs, you still
need strong performance properties, but you have to find other ways to achieve them," says Carl
Minchew, product-development director at Benjamin Moore. Still, some no- and low-VOC
paints did well in our tests (available to subscribers).
From a health perspective, the difference between paints with, say, a VOC level of 35 g/l and
those with two or three times that amount is hard to quantify. But experts we spoke with agree
that using paints with lower VOC levels is a prudent choice. Janice Nolen, assistant vice
president of the American Lung Association, says studies suggest an increased prevalence of
respiratory problems consistent with higher VOC levels in freshly painted homes. "Generally
speaking, less is always better," she says.
(Consumer Reports, April 2008)
I truly hope this information has been beneficial to you. If you use it to pick a paint color that
you love, please send me a picture! I love to see great results  If you have any questions or
comments about this document, please feel free to contact me!
If you enjoyed this document, please find my business on Facebook, and “LIKE” me. I provide
lots of decorating advice and inspiration on a daily basis on my page!
Susan McCusker
Owner, Cape & Vine Designs
Tel: (513) 206-3578
http://capeandvinedesign.com