How to Stop Procrastinating on Paint Colours
If you're surrounded by paint chips but no closer to pinning down a hue, help is at hand
If you have found yourself staring at a wall that’s marked up with dozens of sample colours, yet still can’t quite decide upon the best shade for your space, you have come to the right place. Here’s how to get over your paint choice paralysis.
Skip the paint rack confusion
Those chips at the hardware store are not the place to begin your hunt for the perfect colour!
It may be fun at first browsing through hundreds of chips or booklets, but it’s not likely to result in the perfect hue for your living room. Do as the pro’s do; start with a vision for your space instead.
Consider which look you are aiming for, save the room photos you love and take a picture with you to the paint store to narrow down the choices.
Those chips at the hardware store are not the place to begin your hunt for the perfect colour!
It may be fun at first browsing through hundreds of chips or booklets, but it’s not likely to result in the perfect hue for your living room. Do as the pro’s do; start with a vision for your space instead.
Consider which look you are aiming for, save the room photos you love and take a picture with you to the paint store to narrow down the choices.
Pay attention to existing finishes
If you are seeking paints for your kitchen, bathroom or another area with existing finishes to consider, start there. For example, grey tile floors or granite benchtops almost beg for a cool wall hue like blue or grey. Bring a sample or photo of the finishes in your room to the paint supplier to assist in matching it.
If you are seeking paints for your kitchen, bathroom or another area with existing finishes to consider, start there. For example, grey tile floors or granite benchtops almost beg for a cool wall hue like blue or grey. Bring a sample or photo of the finishes in your room to the paint supplier to assist in matching it.
Start small
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a long list of rooms to tackle, start with the smallest one. Choose your colour based on either the finishes in the room, a piece of fabric or an artwork that’s there and just get started!
The sense of accomplishment you’ll get from a job well done should help you to face the rest of your tasks with more confidence.
If you’re feeling overwhelmed by a long list of rooms to tackle, start with the smallest one. Choose your colour based on either the finishes in the room, a piece of fabric or an artwork that’s there and just get started!
The sense of accomplishment you’ll get from a job well done should help you to face the rest of your tasks with more confidence.
Don’t be afraid to snag exact shades
Have you seen a wall you love in a magazine, on a blog or on Houzz? If the paint isn’t mentioned in the mag, take the page to a paint supplier for colour matching. Ask the blogger for more details if none are provided. On Houzz, clicking the photo can lead to more information and there is no reason not to use that precise colour yourself.
Tips for matching colours from photos to real life
Have you seen a wall you love in a magazine, on a blog or on Houzz? If the paint isn’t mentioned in the mag, take the page to a paint supplier for colour matching. Ask the blogger for more details if none are provided. On Houzz, clicking the photo can lead to more information and there is no reason not to use that precise colour yourself.
Tips for matching colours from photos to real life
Always, always do a sample test
Test your chosen shade with the exact finish you plan to use; high gloss will look very different from matte or eggshell. If you don’t want to deal with sample pots, look for a paint supplier that offers large paint chips and tape them to your wall instead. Even with this approach, when you think you have a winner, it’s still wise to test the paint itself before buying it.
Test your chosen shade with the exact finish you plan to use; high gloss will look very different from matte or eggshell. If you don’t want to deal with sample pots, look for a paint supplier that offers large paint chips and tape them to your wall instead. Even with this approach, when you think you have a winner, it’s still wise to test the paint itself before buying it.
Help from the experts is more accessible than you might think
Many designers and decorators offer colour consultations and the wisdom you glean from them in your sessions can be worth its weight in gold. Don’t be afraid to reach out.
YOUR TURN
Tell us your best paint tips and upload a high resolution photo in the Comments section below.
Many designers and decorators offer colour consultations and the wisdom you glean from them in your sessions can be worth its weight in gold. Don’t be afraid to reach out.
YOUR TURN
Tell us your best paint tips and upload a high resolution photo in the Comments section below.
If you’ve had no luck choosing the right paint colours in the past, it could be that you were making things harder on yourself than was necessary. Some colours like pink are especially difficult to get right. Neutral hues like grey, beige and soft browns, as well as pale silvery blues are quite forgiving.