In a world where there are quite literally millions of paint colour options, how do you tackle the daunting task of choosing the right one for your house!? It’s a little overwhelming, especially when you believe white means white, and then find out that it’s actually pinkish, or blueish, or yellowish — after you’ve repainted an entire room.
Today we’re diving into my five fail-proof paint colours, ones that are tried and tested — and that you can’t possibly mess up.
1. A perfect white
I typically go for one that doesn’t pull other colours and is a little desaturated, like the colour of paper! Did you know that you can take a sheet of printer paper into your favorite paint store and they will colour match it?
2. Deep black
Just like white, black is really easy to see other colours coming through. I usually go for one that is a little warmer, that way it doesn’t read too purple or blue. A great way to test your colours is to line them up against a white background, you’ll immediately be able to see what hue they favor!
3. Pink
Pink can be a bit harder, but it’s undeniable that this colour has evolved from a shade for little girls to something completely universal. Stick to lighter hues that have a some warmth to them. That way, the paint will appear more blush and less childish.
4. Green
Green is on the dawn of a huge moment. You’re going to see it everywhere, from kitchens to exteriors. Olive is a great balance between embracing the colour without making it too in your face; it’s a deep muddy green and a great colour for an accent wall.
5. Charcoal
Moody charcoal straddles the fine line between almost black and gray. This colour is a great way to make a statement, whether you’re using it on an accent wall or covering your entire room. If you’re struggling to find a great charcoal, but have a certain black paint that you love, try asking the paint counter to mix the black at 75% strength!
Remember to Sample the Paints!
If you’re testing out different colours, make sure to place the paint samples on all of the walls in the room. The colours can appear very different depending on the location of the source of the light and the time of day.
This happened to me once when we were testing paint colours in my in-laws’ house where the outside dirt is red. When we were testing white paint colours, they were all looking very pinkish. It wasn’t until we tried the colours on another wall that we realized that the colours were reading pink on a wall that had the window light shining on it. The sunlight was reflecting off of the red dirt and making our paint look pink! Now that the yard is properly landscaped the colours are reading the proper white shade.
At the end of the day, remember that it’s just paint. If you don’t love the end result, it can easily be changed! I’ve had my fair share of paint fails and all it took to fix it was a quick trip to the hardware store and another coat of a better colour!
— Houselogic.com