Remodeling is a gift we love sharing and our super power. Nevertheless, the journey from “remodel my home” to a satisfying and cohesive result is a marathon of decision making. Including picking interior wall colors.
Have you ever bought a gallon of paint, rolled it on, and realized it was too dark, garish, or just plain wrong? And what about trying to figure out room colors based on those tiny paint chips? How do you choose the right sheen: matte, flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, or high-gloss? Which paint colors and paint quality are best for walls, trim, and doors? Not to mention 150,000 shades of white and Benjamin Moore’s 3,500+ color wheel to choose from.
No wonder people throw in the towel and slap on Sherwin Williams Pure White or Benjamin Moore White Dove. We get it. But, we believe bringing color home is worth the effort because it uplifts the spirit and soothes the soul.
A few tips:
- Try before you buy: test 8 oz. paint and “peel and stick” color samples
- Seek inspiration: online, color families, magazines, the world…
- Connect rooms with subtle variations of the same color
- Think clean and bright or soft and subtle
- Use neutrals as a backdrop
- Consider the finishes, fabrics, and elements in your space
- Don’t box yourself in with one color
- Test your paint color in natural, incandescent, fluorescent light
- Know that textured walls are less expensive than smooth walls
- Incorporate bursts of color here and there
- Look for paint with zero VOCs, when possible
Overwhelmed? Ask Beckner Contracting & Management about our remodeling and design/build services, including interior design direction for paint, finishes, fixtures, windows, doors, flooring, tubs, lighting, etc.
Then again, it’s only paint. You can always cover it over and start anew!
For more insights on color selection, tap these links for Architectural Digest and Better Homes & Gardens. Learn about color psychology here.
“Color is the place where our brain and the universe meet.” – Paul Klee
Photo Credit Above: New York Times, Trisha Krauss.
