The simplest thing you can do to freshen up a room in your home is paint. We love this project because it doesn’t require a lot of materials, time, or expertise - just a little bit of creativity and a trust in the process.

What it does require is a bit of thought. Choosing a paint color can be easy as pie if you have a vision in mind, or it can be a fraught process spurred by spontaneity and, later, regret. We recommend the former if you don’t want to be heading back to the hardware store a month later to start over with a new shade!

Before we ever choose a paint color for a room in our home, we ask ourselves a few key questions. We thought we’d share them with you in this blog to help you craft your vision and save you the second guessing.

Photo Source: (L) oldbrandnew.com, (R) @jenbpeters

How to Pick a Paint Color

What room is the paint color going to be used in?

Helps you choose a color that can stand up to the room’s function

Okay, the first question should have an easy answer. Is your kitchen in dire need of a facelift? Or is it your bathroom that could use a bit of a freshen up? Though it seems silly, your response can actually help you eliminate a few colors right off the bat. For example, a room that has a lot of traffic, and potential wear and tear from toddlers, pets, etc. might not do so well with a light shade that will need to be touched up or scrubbed regularly.

What feeling do you want the room to convey?

Helps you choose the value of your paint color

Your answer to this question won’t dictate if the color is light or dark as much as it will indicate what direction you should go in with the tone or value of the color. If you are hoping to create a living room that is clean and fresh, you may want to go with a lighter tone, whereas a moody or comforting room may call for a color with a lower value. We also recommend looking into color theory and seeing which shades match your description of what you’re hoping for from this room.

Image Sources: (L) cupofjo.com, (R) @jenbpeters

How much natural light do you have in the room?

Helps you choose the undertones of your paint color

It’s not only the amount, but the type of natural light that your room receives that matters. A room that is well-lit from a south-facing window will tend to receive warmer light, and will need a cool-toned or neutral color to balance it out. The opposite will be true for a room with north-facing windows. If your room doesn’t receive much natural light at all, we recommend choosing a bright white or light grey to keep the room from feeling cramped.

What do you already have in the room?

Helps you decide how bold you can go

Most of the time, you’re not starting with a clean slate when you’re deciding to paint a room. So, take a look around. What furniture, artwork, and decor do you already have in the room you want to paint? Use your favorite pieces as inspiration for your color choice. If you have an eclectic array of decorative objects, perhaps a neutral tone would help balance out the room. Maybe it feels like something is missing, like you’ve just moved into your home even though you’ve been living there for years. This could be your chance to take a risk with your paint color choice, and choose something unique like peach, or dark and full of depth like forest green. Let your walls be the statement in this case.

Image Sources: (L) princepointreport.com, (R) @jenbpeters

If, after asking yourself all of these questions, you’re still stuck on what paint color to choose? We suggest sitting on it for a few weeks. Head to Pinterest, Instagram, and your favorite blogs and start pulling inspiration based on what draws you in and what would work with your home’s style. Soon, you’ll start to see patterns in what you’re picking, and your choice will become crystal clear.

Are you ready to take on a painting project? Which room will you tackle first? We’d love to see your progress and your paint color choices. Send us a DM or tag us in your post so that we can cheer you on!