How to Choose Paint Colours for Your Home

It can be stressful choosing paint colours for your home when you are planning a home renovation. If it is just one room, you might be worried that the colour you choose will not transition well with the rest of your house. Or you may be considering several rooms or a whole floor, which means more choices to make. It doesn’t have to be a challenge if you know where to start and the right questions to ask in the planning phase. Here are some suggestions.

Think About Your Space and Personality When Choosing Paint Colours

Always build your room from the bottom up and choose your paint colour last. The colour you choose should create a balance between the floors, furniture and accessories. Select a ratio of warm and cool colours that will achieve that balance. It doesn’t have to be 50/50 but keep it simple. Sometimes just choosing a colour palette with only three colours can create the look you are going for.

Consider the size of the room to help you determine whether you go lighter or dark. Darker shades will make a room seem smaller; lighter will create a brighter, larger feel. Make your ceiling seem lower by choosing a colour that is slightly darker than the wall colour. Make it seem higher by going lighter. Painting your trim, moldings and ceilings the same colour can give your room a classic feel.

Think about your space. Is it to entertain or relax? What are your favourite colours? Take a look at the colour wheel and look at opposite and complimentary colours – how can you make them work in your space? What colours compliment your floor, furniture and personality? Do your research to see what might work and what colours may be trending.

Another thing to think about is the type of paint to use. Latex paint is easier to clean, long lasting, and dries quickly. Oil based paint is better suited for real wood, especially as a base layer as it will seal stains and knots. Oil takes longer to try, which is something to take into consideration when choosing the type of paint. The type of finish is also important – different finishes are better for different spaces. Eggshell is the most diverse – not too glossy, not too flat, and easy to clean, which is important in a higher traffic area or kid-friendly space.

Choose Paint Colours that Set a Mood

1. Calm and soothing. Soft blues, purples, pinks, yellows and greens are all shades that can achieve that calm and soothing feel. Going monochromatic and choosing the same colour in different shades creates layers. If your room is large, try a darker shade for the walls, with lighter shades for the trim, moldings and ceiling.
2. Sophisticated and classy. Neutral colours with subtle undertones can create an elegant look by bringing out the rich tones in your floors and furniture.
3. Bright and vibrant. Go bright and bold with oranges, yellows, reds and purples. Look at the colour wheel and pick two shades beside each other and one opposite to achieve balance. Only going with two colours beside each other will make those colours stand out.
4. You can never go wrong with grey. Sophisticated, calming, vibrant, classic – grey is a colour that can achieve any vibe.

Look for Inspiration to Choose Paint Colours

Sometimes a statement piece in your space can be all the inspiration you need. Look at the largest pattern in your room and draw from that to choose your paint colours. The same shade or subtle varieties can tie everything together to set the tone or vibe of your room. A favourite painting, collection of books, or vintage collection can all provide an amazing colour palette to choose from. Just make sure to choose colours that will make these pieces stand out – you want them noticed, not blending in.

Another approach is to keep it earthy and natural. Following the basic rule of building from the bottom up, think of your floor as the earth and go darker. From there, go dark to light vertically, finishing with your ceiling in a lighter colour, like the sky.

Who uses the space? A nursery will obviously have a different palette versus a man cave. A baby’s room doesn’t automatically mean soft pastels – go back to basics with primary colours. Paint colours inspired by food makes sense in a kitchen, like a warm, buttery yellow.

In the end, go for what works best for you. Remember to relax and have fun when you plan your next home renovation and choose paint colours for your space.