How do you choose paint colors for your home?

First, I find something I like - an article of clothing, a picture in a magazine, a curtain or drapery panel, even a piece of scrapbook paper. Anything that appeals to me is fair game!

Next, I take that thing to the paint chip samples at the store, and compare the cards to my "inspiration" article. I usually get six or seven or more colors that are close to my color(s) - I'll go a shade or two lighter, a shade or two darker, and a few shades with a little more or less gray/black (more or less muted/pure tones).

Then I'll take those paint chips back home and compare them in the light where I'll be painting them - and even at different times of the day, in case sunlight will shine on it or I will be using solely electric light, etc. This is important because I once painted a focal wall what looked to be a deep, rich chocolate brown, when viewed by the natural light coming in from the windows. However, when the the spot lights were later installed, and they focused down on my beautiful chocolate wall, they turned it a really gross shade of orange-y bittersweet!

Anyway, once I have gone through all these steps, a favorite generally emerges, and that's the color I go with. I then try to repeat that color, more or less, in the various rooms of my house. For instance, my current home is done mainly in shades of bright red, moss green, a misty robin's egg blue, chocolate brown, and soft black. In my dining room, it's mostly brown and blue and red, with a little green and black. In my kitchen, it's mostly black, brown, and red with a little blue and green. The family room is mostly red and green with a little blue and black. My bedroom is mostly blue and brown with a little red and green, and so on.... This way, one space "flows" into another and no room looks too jarring or out of place - really important with an open floor plan like mine.

The only exception to this "general" rule is my kids' rooms: I let them pick whatever colors they want, and just figure I can redecorate when they move out!

Don't buy on your first trip

Choosing paint requires two trips to the store. If you know in advance that you're not actually going to be choosing colors on your first trip, you can relax and get inspired. Stop by the store on a Monday evening after work to avoid the weekend crowd. Turn your fear into excitement and pull color swatches to which you're immediately drawn. Take as many paint swatches home as you want. I've been known to take 50 or 60 at a time -- that's why they're there

Know your shades

Perhaps the biggest mistake people make in choosing color is not knowing the difference between a background color and an accent color. In cosmetic terms, the background is the foundation and the accent is the lipstick, eye shadow, and blush. If we understand that wall color is designed to show off the accessories in a room, then we can understand why choosing accent colors for the walls instead of appropriate background shades is a mistake.

I go into Home Depot, Lowe's, or True Value and I pick up any paint chip that I think would look nice. Sorry Sherman Williams, your product is way too expensive, and I find other brands roll on better, with less coats and wear better. However, cheap paint, like at Wal-Mart is too cheap and is horrible to paint with, smells terrible, and doesn't wear well.

Then tape each chip up in the room, take out any that I do not like, and then I leave them up for a few days and look at each color as the light changes in the room. Any time I walk by and don't like a color, I remove it. Then when I have just a few left, I move them to a different wall, and different lighting, and do the same process. Sometimes I have a color picked out in a matter of hours, other times it can take a month. I've also had to go back to the store and get more chips, as everything in the first run I rejected. By taking my time, I've never regretted a paint choice.

I've also used the little paint samples when I've been down to two or three choices and have needed to see the color bigger.

I find a color I like, or use the color scheme of my room, such as curtains, bedding, etc. Then I get the paint sample cards I think would look good, and compare at home, limit down my options if possible, and go out and buy the different paints. I go home and paint at little on the wall and examine in different lighting before I paint the whole area. Usually I can make a decision by having a small portion painted, and make sure the color wont look hideous!

Go to a paint store and get the swatches/samples. Some stores will even mix up a small bottle for you to test with. Stick with the larger name brands. The quality is more consistent and you are more likely to be able to come back later and get the same color with little problem.

Another trick is to measure the space you are painting, and tell the people where you buy the paint. This way you will get enough to do the job, without an extra gallon unused. Most people buy too much paint. If the cost of the paint is important, this will help you buy just enough for the job. Or you can buy a better paint, because you aren't buying too much of a lesser paint.

I prefer to have just enough to do the job. If I need more later, I buy a fresh mix which is also more likely to match than paint I've stored for 8 months. Storing paint for several months is not a guarantee that it will be exactly the same color, so that fresh mix usually works better. This is really important if the paint is stored in a non-temperature controlled room, like a storage shed.

I think the question shouldn't be what color to paint because you can do two really easy things which are 1: paint your favorite colors on the walls or reflect what color different rooms should be. People usually like light colors in the bathroom, people like colors that reflect actual sunlight in the bedroom and generally stick to tans, greens, yellows, and browns for the rest of the house but people know what they like and sometimes put whatever they want rather than choosing what will sell quicker, general schemes always irritate occupants of a home so people usually go with whatever colors they like. 2: Find the latest fashions in a home deco magazine or website. You should paint with the appropriate paint. There are all kinds of paint grades and textures to choose from, study these and chooses what you think is best and don't worry about budget because the better the paint the longer it lasts and you will have picked something that feels right.

Take a color from a decoration in your room ie. pillows, painting, or anything that you like it that room. Choose one color that is from the piece, and one color that will compliment it... [a kind of basic color, not too dark] [maybe two]. Take the 'extreme' color and paint one wall, this wall should be a wall that you want to draw attention to [not a wall with a TV] maybe a wall with a window. Then take the other color[s] and either paint a strip or the remaining walls with the color [don't forget to do something with the ceiling] Crown molding looks great on the top of a wall, but it is expensive... creating the effect is just as good. Don't forget to do something that will open up the room ie. if there is a shortish window, put the blinds higher than the window, this will open up the window and make the room look great.

Best of luck

I am a painting contractor. What I do is have the home owner choose a color or colors from a fan deck. I then go to a paint store, bring them paint samples (quarts) of their liking and try them on a wall. These samples are really cheap," around $ 5.00 " and have them pick the colors they like the best. Sherwin -Williams is really " THE BEST " at mixing colors since that is their specialty. I've been to Lowe's and Home Depot, they don't even come close to mixing a true sample that you brought into their store. Customer service will always the be the deciding factor for me.

I bring home paint color charts from the store and I place them in the rooms where they will be to see how they look with that lighting at different times. Based on the use of the room, I think of furniture and what colors would clash, what rugs and curtains would need to be replaced, what accessories I could use in different places. After a few weeks of mulling it over, I go and get supplies to prime and prep. After it is all primed if the colors are still what I like, I go for it. I just re-did several rooms this way and it is really working. I also paint the ceilings the same color as the room. After long illnesses I have grown to hate white ceilings. Painting the ceilings the same color as the room makes the space look much larger and warmer.

I go and grab those little paint cards. Once I decide on a color I work on the right shade for that room. If I cant decide I go buy the little samples like the tiny Bear paint cans and paint the walls a few small squares. Look at it a few days then decide. Normally when I am painting the squares I am immediately attracted to one of the colors. So I normally go with that.

First of all - Sherwin Williams' logo is "cover the Earth" not "pollute the oceans". What a stupid way to choose paint.

Second - Look at the clothes in your closet. If you see a pattern of colors, those are the ones that you're drawn to naturally.

Third - Don't expect to get it right on the first try. Those tiny paint samples don't give you a good idea of how the whole room will look. I recomenned getting a sample can and painting the colors that you like in a big enough chunk to really get a feel for them. It also helps if you live with the color for a few days.

Fourth - Neutrals are great, but you can do one wall as an accent and you'll get some color without being overwhelmed.

Fifth - Cheap paint is not the way to go. Its cheap for a reason. I've had good luck with Sherwin Williams and Behr.