How to Use Paint Samples to Choose the Right Color for Your Home

A new color on your walls is an inexpensive way to breathe new life into a tired room. If you’re preparing to sell your home, it’s a good time to freshen up the space. Choosing colors can be very tricky depending on your intended outcome. Here’s how to use paint samples to choose the right color for your home.

Which paint should I choose?

There are two types of paint – oil or latex.

Latex is the most commonly used because of the ability to clean it and it’s durability.

Paint comes in a variety of sheens as well as in either oil or latex.It will stand up to more abuse and clean to a beautiful look. Latex paint is best suited to walls, especially in rooms where messes happen frequently.

Oil-based paints are great for wood trim and moldings. This paint allows wood’s beauty to show through the sheen of the paint. It takes more time to dry so allow plenty of time before resetting your room.

Which sheen should I select?

The more shine in the paint, the more durable it is for cleaning up. If you are looking for a paint for the kitchen or a small child’s room, you’ll definitely want to go for a high gloss. It will allow you to clean up the walls with soapy water or magic sponges. Hi gloss can make your trim and architectural elements pop with a shine. It should be avoided in rooms with lower traffic as the shine can be overpowering.

Semi-gloss is a good option for kitchens or baths since it’s also cleanable without providing as much luster from the walls. The shine will make imperfections and issues on the walls more obvious, so more prep work is in order to hide them.

The most commonly used sheen is flat or matte. It doesn’t hold up to big messes very well and will show fingerprints for sure. Eggshell provides the ability to hide some small dings and nicks in the wall. It’s easier to watch and more durable. It’s good for most rooms and is recommended for use in nearly every color and setting.

Which color should I choose?

Depending on the intentions of the paint job, your color choice will vary. If you are looking to list your home for sale, it’s recommended that you stick within the neutral palette. This allows the new owner to more easily envision their life set within the walls. Take advantage of the plethora of colors available at your local paint provider.

If you are wanting an update to a home you intend to stay in, it’s more about what you like. What colors appeal to your tastes. Use magazines, websites and apps to envision your room in different colors and see what gives you the feel you are looking for. Many times, painting companies will provide color consultation to help you choose your color palette.

Ceilings

Your color choice for a ceiling can create the illusion of a higher or lower roof. Selecting a lighter color than on the walls will create the feeling of air and lift the ceiling higher. Tinted ceilings can give a feeling of calm with particular colors. It’s a way to add a subtle shade to your ceiling other than white.

Creating Focal Points

When you want to change the look of a room dramatically, but you are low on budget and time, try adding a focal point. Change one wall to a dark or vibrant shade that compliments the other colors in the room. Another option is to change the trim or an architectural piece of the room with a contrasting color. Particularly in dining rooms, adding a wainscoting feature with a color will impact the room an incredible amount.