A great post on how to choose paint colors like a pro. If you’re overwhelmed, read through this guide on how to pick paint colors.
One of the things I get the most questions on is paint colors: What paint color is that? How to choose paint colors? How to pick paint colors that will look good in my house? How to know which paint colors go well together?
I get it. Paint colors can be hard. It’s great there are so many options out there, but again, there are SO MANY OPTIONS.
It would be great if someone could just tell you the secret formula for how to choose paint colors so you can move on and stop worrying about them, right?!
We’ve painted countless rooms in various houses over the years, so I’ve come up with a method for how to pick paint colors without going crazy. There have been times I’ve tried to skip the research / sampling, and believe me, I’ve regretted it and ended up repainting. It’s worth the work!
How to choose paint colors
1. Look online for paint color inspiration
I always start my paint color search by checking out my favorite home decor blogs, magazines and Pinterest. Search the colors you like and see how they look in real spaces.
Keep in mind, how a paint color looks in someone else’s house is NOT necessarily how it will look in your house.
But this is a great place to start and gives you a general idea of what paint colors look like.
If you want a starting point, here are blog posts I’ve written on specific paint colors we’ve used over the years:
- Aesthetic White by Sherwin Williams
- Agreeable Gray by Sherwin Williams
- Camelback by Sherwin Williams
- Krypton by Sherwin Williams
- Sea Salt by Sherwin Williams
- Ryegrass by Sherwin Williams
2. Look at undertones on the paint swatches: warm vs. cool
Undertones: Look at the darkest, most saturated color (the bottom color) on the paint swatch you’re looking at to see what the undertone is. Is it warmer or cooler?
Whites can look yellow, blue or green. (see how the top two colors on the swatches above look similar, but then you realize one has gold undertones and one has blue.)
Blues can look purple, green or gray. Grays can look black, brown or blue. Undertones definitely matter!
Tans vs grays: Most people tend to decorate with more tans or more grays. If you’re a tan person (raising my hand), you’ll probably want to go with colors with a warmer undertone. For example, a white with more of a yellow than a blue undertone (This does NOT mean your white has to look yellow! Just that it will lean more yellow than blue.)
If you’re more of a gray person, you’ll probably want to go with colors with a cooler undertone. For example, a white with more of a blue than a yellow undertone.
North vs. south-facing: Keep in mind which way your rooms face. South-facing rooms will have sunny, warm light all day, so you may want a color with cooler undertone to keep it from feeling too warm.
North-facing rooms won’t have much natural light, will appear cooler and have more shadows, so you may want a color with warmer undertone to cozy the space up.
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3. A few more things to consider when choosing paint colors
Because these things tend to come up whenever I’m chatting about how to pick paint colors with someone …
Trends: Let’s talk about trends for a quick second. Trends are awesome and all, but go with what you love.
There’s been a time (and will be again I’m sure) that tan paint colors have been in, then gray paint colors, and now a lot of things are trending towards white colors and dark, moody colors. Those are all great in their own ways, but don’t pick a paint color you don’t love just because it’s popular. It’s your house!
Picking paint colors for rooms that open up to each other: You definitely don’t have to choose a paint color and stick with it throughout your entire home, but in rooms that open up to each other, be sure they don’t clash.
Neutrals almost all go together, or you can pick paint colors up or down on the same color paint swatch to ensure they’ll have the same undertones and coordinate well together.
Sherwin Williams also lists 3 coordinating paint colors on its website for each paint color, which is helpful to look at.
A lot of paint companies also put out various paint color collections each year. Take a look at those, since those colors are designed to work together.
4. Buy the paint samples
Those little sample cans can add up, I know.
But spending some money on paint samples is way cheaper than buying gallons in the wrong color, painting the room said wrong color, hating it, agonizing over it, then buying more gallons in the right color and painting all over again.
(Been there, done that. Not fun.)
So after you’ve poured over inspiration picks and paint swatches, just buy the samples. Really. It saves your sanity and stops you from worrying.
I usually go anywhere from about 3-8 paint samples depending on what colors I’ve been looking at, but this part is really up to you.
5. How to sample paints so you choose the right paint color
Stir each sample pot, then take a paint brush and brush the paint onto white poster board or right onto the wall itself in a few places throughout the room. (For example, near a bright window and in a dark corner.)
Painting on a poster board allows you to then easily move it around the room (once the paint is dry!) to see the paint color in various lighting throughout the day.
Painting right on the wall lets you see exactly how the paint color will look with any texture of your walls, but keep in mind, the current paint color of the wall may affect your view of the new paint colors.
You can always tape white computer paper next to your painted samples if the original wall paint color is really throwing you off!
Let the paint dry, then do a second coat so you can really see what the paint color will look like. (Because you’ll most likely do two coats of paint on your walls for good coverage.)
Look at your paint samples throughout the day so you can see them with different lighting. This is key to picking paint colors you’ll love!
Walls look different in the morning than in the evening as the sun moves around your house. Overhead lights, floor lamps and table lamps (and various light bulbs) all effect lighting, and therefore, paint colors, too. Turn lights on and off, and look at your paint colors.
Look at your paint samples close up and from across the room.
Look at the paint colors against trim, flooring, furniture, artwork and fabrics (pillows, etc.), too. All of this factors into choosing a paint color that works in your room.
Hopefully this all helps if you’ve been stumped on how to choose paint colors. Picking paint colors should be a fun part of decorating. It’s amazing what fresh paint on the walls can do for a room!
Be sure to check out all of my other paint color blog posts here if you’re looking for paint color inspiration.
Happy painting!
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Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
I actually really like grey walls! It has to be the right grey though, otherwise it can be quite cold. LOVE that swatches book!
GreenWithDecor says
I definitely agree – the wrong shade of gray can seem cold. Love the swatches book, too – so many fun colors to choose from!
Crystal says
I have the itch to paint our house! My house was built in 2006…I think it’s time for a facelift! I agree that tan is warm and cozy. I’m kind of in-between – maybe a greyage!! Great tips
GreenWithDecor says
Thanks, Crystal! Good luck painting your house – it’s fun to have new paint colors on the walls!
Kate says
so many options you picked great colors!!
GreenWithDecor says
Thanks, Kate! I’m so happy with the colors we chose!
Elizabeth R says
I am terrified of choosing colours for the house. Partly because it takes my husband a loooong time to agree to repaint again so I am definitely stuck with what I choose. Want to come paint my place??
GreenWithDecor says
Haha, painting one house is enough for now! Good luck picking a color. If it will be around for awhile, would lean towards a more neutral shade!
Ashley@blondegirlcravings says
Great tips, I am in the market for a home and these will come in handy!
GreenWithDecor says
Thanks, Ashley! Good luck house searching!
Christina says
I like grey walls but I agree, I still would probably go with tan. I think it’s neutral and can go with any thing you want to add to the room. 🙂
GreenWithDecor says
I totally agree – I am a tan walls kind of girl!
Holly housewife says
ooooh all such good advice!! I love a fresh coat of paint but it is so so hard to pick the perfect colour!
I think I know exactly what I want but then spend hours in the pair chip isle looking at and re looking at chips. Taking them outside and inside and holding it next to things. Hahaha
It’s a major process.
I adore grey and have quite a few rooms painted in varying shades but it’s very very tricky to pick the appropriate one!
GreenWithDecor says
Thanks, Holly! It can definitely be a process figuring out the perfect color for your walls!
Betsy @ Happily Ever After, Etc. says
Love these tips! Especially the part about picking whatever color YOU love! I work at a little paint store called Sherwin Williams and it’s amazing the number of people who want to pick what’s popular… and then end up re-painting! Pick what makes you happy and you’ll never go wrong!
GreenWithDecor says
Absolutely! Everyone should love the paint colors in their home – whether they’re on trend or not!
Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods says
Choosing the right paint colors can be so tricky! Thanks for the tips!
GreenWithDecor says
Thanks, Ashley!
Emily, Our house now a home says
I agree with these tips. I use a lot of gray in our home. But in our bedroom I am using a light tan paint. I like the warm feeling of it for a bedroom space. I have never picked paint for the whole house. I usually go room by room.
GreenWithDecor says
Love tan in a bedroom!
April Rutherford says
I love picking paint colors too, although it can be overwhelming!
GreenWithDecor says
True!
Sara says
I enjoy picking out the colors too! I love gray walls! My whole house (main living) is brown. I need change! I’ve been a “brown” “Pier One” gal for too long! . The green you picked out is great.
GreenWithDecor says
It’s fun picking paint colors, glad you agree!
Eli Richardson says
It really helped when you talked about paint samples and the importance of trying them out first! Last week, my wife and I moved into another house, and we’re eager to start decorating it! We want to change the colors of our walls, so we’ll be sure to follow your tips! Thanks for the advice on how we could choose the best colors for our home!
GreenWithDecor says
Congrats on your move! Happy painting!