How do I choose paint colors?

Barbara
by Barbara

Paint color...How many are are in my boat? How do you choose a paint color when you and your spouse have two very different opinions on the subject? Can I get a show of hands??? Errr, rather, feedback on how your journey of the color spectrum?

  4 answers
  • Kelli L. Milligan Kelli L. Milligan on Jan 13, 2019

    You start with a color from multi colored pattern you have in an existing space. Like a bedspread, rug, sofa .... The color needs a reason not just a choice to tie it all together.

  • Ebbjdl Ebbjdl on Jan 13, 2019

    Barbara,. What are you painting, and how big is the room??? Please be more specific about what you want us to answer. Aloha!

    • Barbara Barbara on Jan 13, 2019

      Building house from ground up. Open concept room - kitchen/living space and leads to hallway that’s visible. Barndominium w/ very high 18 ft. black ceilings. Our desired end game is a mixture of industrial and rustic. For example, we have installed a fully commercial kitchen with stainless steel tables, not tiled cabinets/countertops. However, there is a wood stove fireplace and sliding barn doors. We love space and balance of contrasting statements, but oh, that opinion of color for the walls!!

  • Oliva Oliva on Jan 13, 2019

    Many couples experience your dilemma. Some partners are stuck on monochromatics of white or off white, some cannot imagine anything outside their "comfort zone", and some fear hours of trying to neutralize and repaint dark colors.

    Try easing your spouse into color changes by purchasing a sample paint, then painting a 3' x 3' area of wallboard that you've purchased specifically for "test colors". If he hates it after you've held it up against the wall, you can try going slightly darker (think tints), via beiges with yellow or orange undertones, very pale blues with or without green undertones, pale greens, etc.

    Sometimes they'll argue that they don't want a different wall color than on the ceiling, in which case you must be prepared to do the work yourself, knowing you may have to again "ease" him into acceptance.

    Keep in mind how daylight and artificial light ( warm vs.. cool LEDs, incandescent, etc.) wll change paint color selections before commiting to a color. Your furniture and fabric colors will not necessarily work with all paint colors.


  • Never in my life had I ever had difficulty choosing paint colors. Pull out a color wheel and refresh yourself on the basics of color and complimentary color and how they convey mood. When working with a partner, it takes a bit of compromise, trial and error. Best bet is to head over to your paint store and pull every paint chip that appeals to you and tape them to your walls. By process of elimination, get them down to 3 or 4 colors then but sample sizes and put them up on your walls. If you don't like them, start the process over. Here are some sites to get you started!


    https://www.hgtv.com/design/decorating/color/how-to-choose-a-color-scheme-pictures


    https://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/ask-sherwin-williams/painting/choose-a-paint-color


    https://www.bhg.com/decorating/color/paint/how-to-choose-paint-colors/


    https://youtu.be/idxNrWfTVXQ