Some would argue that there is no such thing as ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ when it comes to paint colors. They’d instead suggest that just as long as the respective buyer is happy, that’s all that matters.
Unfortunately, this doesn’t make things any easier for those struggling to decide which way to go. Planning to give your interiors a makeover is one thing, but knowing which paint colors to choose is something else entirely. Even if you know what you like, this doesn’t mean you’ll be happy with your choice.
As we always say, the biggest mistake you can make with any aspect of interior painting is to rush things along. Take your time from start to finish and you’re guaranteed a more impressive final result.
Aside from this however, there are a few common mistakes that should be avoided when choosing interior paint colors.
The five most common of all being as follows:
Not Considering Light
First and foremost, you need to think carefully about how the colors you choose will work with the light in the room in question. If there isn’t an abundance of natural light making its way into the room, darker colors could result in a perpetually dull and dreary space. It’s also worth taking into account the various artificial light sources you’re currently using to illuminate the space, with respect to how they will complement (or otherwise) the colors you choose. The last thing you want is to find yourself with a room that’s painfully dull or blindingly bright.
Overly Bright/Bold Colors
It’s always best to approach bright and bold colors as the perfect tools to create eye-catching features and accents. In most instances, using these kinds of colors to paint an entire room really isn’t the way to go. There’s a very fine line between a creative color for an interior space and an outright eyesore. As you won’t know how things look until the job is completely finished, it’s better to err on the side of caution. This doesn’t mean you have to stick with the same boring neutral tones as always – just be careful with anything at the exact opposite end of the scale.
Matte, Gloss, Semi-Gloss
Never overlook the importance of selecting the right finish, which can have a dramatic impact on the effects the paint has on the rest of the room. For kids’ bedrooms and high-traffic areas, gloss paints can be great for keeping things clean and tidy. But at the same time, they don’t necessarily look quite as elegant or understated as matte finishes. Make no mistake about it – the exact same color in two different finishes can and will look completely different, by the time the paint dries. Be sure to take this into account when painting your walls, ceilings and features alike.
Failing To Furnish First
If you’re planning to bring any new furniture or fixtures into the room, always do this before you go ahead and paint it. The last thing you want is to paint your room in the dreamy colors of your choosing, only to find that said colors clash painfully with your new furniture. Either leave the painting until a little later, or carefully consider the colors and styles of the furniture you intend to introduce when shopping for paint. Just because it looks good at the time it’s applied doesn’t mean you’ll be happy with the overall result.
Understand what you’re trying to accomplish with the color, and that’s easiest to do once you’ve already furnished a room. If you paint first, you may find the ideal bed or night table only to realize that it won’t work with the paint you’ve put on the walls.
Trusting Swatches
Last but not least, swatches have been trusted by homeowners across the world for generations. The problem being that in most instances, swatches don’t provide a particularly accurate representation of how the paint will look after being applied to your actual walls. As such, it’s a good idea to go for samples of the paint itself, applying it to a discreet area and seeing how it looks when it dries. A great way of ruling out any nasty surprises at the end of the project.
For more information on choosing the right paint colors or to discuss our services in more detail, contact a member of the team at Homm CPS today.