Tips on Picking a Paint Color

To start, let me share a couple of pictures of our office that was repainted last week. I’m giddy about the change!!!

This is what it looked like before.

The color we selected was Woodlawn Blue from Benjamin Moore. Even without a new light fixture the room feels much brighter and more open. I’m sure it also helps that we cleared out a lot of the clutter {which is in the playroom awaiting a yard sale}. We still have some organizing to do and a few purchases to make. More on our plans for this room in the coming weeks!!

As mentioned in the “We finally picked a paint color” post, I recently (uh-um 3 months ago) attended a paint class hosted by Benjamin Moore. The session was free at a local West Elm store and they gave us a coupon for a free gallon of Benjamin Moore paint for attending!

What I Learned in the Paint Class

Here are a few notes to share from the class. I’m not a paint expert so these are just a few simple things to think about but when picking a paint color. However, I encourage you to to do more research should you feel so inclined.

1. Start with what is staying in the room – Whether it’s a rug or a sofa, you’ll want the paint to work with what you already have. If you can, take an item with you that you want to match or complement (i.e. a pillow, an accessory).
2. Determine the mood you want to create – Warm colors such as reds, yellows, and orange hues tend to make a room feel cozy and can be a good choice for larger spaces that receive plenty of natural light. Cooler colors such as blues and greens, which are on the other end of the color spectrum, can open up a small spaces while creating a more calm effect for relaxation. {This is what we needed!}
3. Look at the paint vertically – Hold the paint chip or sample up. A common error is to lay the paint samples on a flat surface and make a decision. Paint will look different vertically on the wall.
4. Evaluate the paint sample at different times of day – Either paint a large spot on the wall in a couple different areas of the room or paint a large piece of cardboard that you can move around the room to evaluate the paint color in the different lighting conditions available throughout the day.

Common Questions the Experts Answered

Q. How do you select which wall to accent?

A. Accent the wall that is the main focus of the room, whether it’s the TV, a fireplace or a window.

Q. What finish should you select?

A. This depends on a few factors including how the room will be used and condition of the walls. A flat or matte finish is typically used on walls and ceilings. It hides flaws and imperfections but it not something you can clean instead you would need to touch up the paint. An eggshell or satin has more shine and is somewhat cleanable. This is usually recommended in high traffic areas with small children and on trim.

My Personal Lesson Learned

A lesson we learned is if you find a color you like in a brochure picture, pull the paint chip first. The pictures in the brochure have been edited for publishing so the color in the brochere is not always true to the paint color. When I pulled the paint chip of the wall color we liked, it was actually a lot darker than expected. I ended up grabbing a few different paint chips to find a color that was truer to what the brochure looked like and that is how we settled on Woodlawn Blue. It turned out to be a pretty easy selection once we found saw our inspiration.