Choosing the Perfect Paint Color for your Home

In my 30 years working as an Interior Designer, the question I hear the most is: How do I choose the perfect paint color? I get it- its intimidating! But here's what I learned from helping hundreds of homeowners transform their spaces: Picking the perfect color is less mysterious than you think once you understand a few essential principles. The truth is, choosing paint goes far beyond picking a pretty color, that's easy! It's about creating a cohesive environment that reflects your style and enhances your daily life. Lets walk through the key factors that will help you choose the perfect paint color with confidence.

CONSIDER THE MOOD YOU WANT TO CREATE

Before you even look at paint chips, ask yourself: How do I want to feel in this room?

Dark and Moody: Deep, rich colors like charcoal, chocolate or mahogany create an intimate, cocooning atmosphere. These darker shades usually work better in bedrooms, dining rooms, or home offices where you want a sense of drama and sophistication. Don't be afraid of dark colors in smaller spaces- when done right, they can actually make a room more luxurious and intentional.

Light and Airy: Soft whites, pale blues, and warm beige open up a space and create a calm, serene environment. These lighter shades are perfect for living rooms, kitchens, and bathrooms where you want to maximize natural light and create an inviting atmosphere. Light colors reflect more light, making rooms feel larger and more spacious.

The mood you would like to achieve should guide your initial color direction. A restful bedroom calls for more soothing tones, while an energizing home gym might benefit from brighter more vibrant hues.

UNDERSTAND UNDERTONES - THEY CHANGE EVERYTHING

Here's where many homeowners go wrong: they pick a color they love on the swatch, only to discover it looks completely different on their walls. The culprit? Undertones.

Every color has an undertone- a subtle hint of another color beneath the surface. A white might have blue, yellow or pink undertones. A gray could lean green, purple, or brown. These undertones become much more obvious once the paint is on your walls and interacting with your lighting and surrounding colors.

How to identify Undertone (If you don't have an Art degree, like me)

*Compare your paint chip against a true white white piece of paper. What color do you see peeking through?

*Look at the color in different lighting throughout the day-morning, afternoon, and evening will reveal different undertones.

*Paint large samples on your wall (not just a small swatch) and observe them for several days.

Pay special attention to how the color looks next to your existing elements- your flooring, cabinets, furniture, and fabrics. That "perfect Greige" might turn pink next to your oak floors or green beside your gray sofa. Understanding undertones helps you avoid costly mistakes and ensures your colors work harmoniously together. This trick has saved many of my clients a lot of money from having to repaint what they thought was the "perfect color".

CONSIDER THE FLOW THROUGHOUT YOUR HOME

Your home is not a collection of isolated rooms- its a connected space where colors should transition naturally from one area to the next.

Creating Visual Continuity: When you can see from one room into another, those paint colors need to complement each other. This doesn't mean everything must match, but there should be a logical flow. Consider using varying shades from the same color family or with similar undertones that create a cohesive palette. If you have an open floor plan maintaining color consistency is especially important.

Transitional Spaces: Hallways, entryways, and staircases are your homes connective tissue. These areas often work best with neutral colors that bridge the different palettes used in adjoining rooms. Think about the journey through your home. As you move from the bright, airy living room to the cozy, darker bedroom, does the transition feel natural? Your paint color should tell a cohesive story, not create jarring visual interruptions. As a designer, I always try to get to know my clients prior to designing a space so I can paint a picture of what they are trying to achieve. In your home, it is critical to tell your story of how you would like to live, and the colors you choose set the foundation for that narrative.

TEST BEFORE YOU COMMIT

Never, ever choose a paint color based solely on a tiny chip under fluorescent store lighting.

Here's the right way to test paint:

• Purchase samples sizes of your top color choices.

• Paint large swatches (at least 2 feet by 2 feet) directly on your walls.

• Observe the colors at different times of day under various lighting conditions.

• Live with the samples for at least 3-5 days before making your final decision.

• Notice how the colors look next to your furniture, floors, and other fixed elements.

This small investment in samples can save your from repainting an entire room because the color didn't turn out as expected.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Choosing the perfect paint color is part science, part art. By considering the mood you want to create, understanding those tricking undertones, and thinking about how the colors flow throughout your home, you'll make choices that you will love for years to come.

Remember: Paint is one of the most affordable ways to transform your space. The most important thing is creating a home that feels authentically yours - a space where the colors support the life you want to live within those walls.

If you have applied all my designer tips and still need extra help, I'd love to work with you to create yourperfect space. Lets Chat!