We're finishing up our house project and I'm writing this just as the last room is being painted. Over the years, I've chosen paint dozens of times and still, I can't get over how drastically color can change the way a room looks and feels. If you're looking to paint soon, here's my best advice for finding a paint color you'll love living with.
Gravitate toward colors you love
It's good to be aware of interior design trends, but you don't have to paint everything chocolate brown because it's popular. You'll be happiest if you choose colors you want to live with over the long term. I also try to think of all of the wall colors in my home to make sure they play nicely together. They don't need to be in the same color family, but it's nice when the colors tell a story.
Preview your color
Most paint brands now let you upload a photo of your space to see how a color will look on the walls. This is a great starting point to narrow down color families and to figure out whether a statement color is just right (or too much) in any given space.
Choose color samples
I always pull color sample cards from Farrow & Ball and Portola Paints and try them in different rooms. Some people paint swatches directly on the wall, but I don't unless I'm down to two colors. You can also paint a large piece of cardboard and move it around the room to see how it looks in different lighting and with the other elements of the room.
