How to Choose the Right Paint Colours for your Home

Selecting the right paint color for your home can feel overwhelming especially during a large-scale renovation. With the right approach, it can be an easy process that transforms your space. Paint colours can set the mood of a room, influence the perception of space, and complement your interior design. The key is choosing colors that work with the room’s purpose, size, and aspect. Let's explore how to choose the right paint colors for different rooms, tips for testing paint colors, and how to select colour palettes.

Gain an understanding of the natural lighting in the space.

Before choosing a color, it’s essential to understand how natural light affects a room based on its aspect or orientation. Rooms that face different directions will experience varying amounts of sunlight throughout the day, which will affect how paint colors look.

TIP: If a room has multiple aspects with windows on various walls or if your home is not pointing directly in one of the four directions, the aspect can be challenging to determine. Keep a "sun diary" for a few days (similar to one used when gardening). Note how much light a room gets during various weather patterns and how it feels. 

North Facing Rooms

Credit: YesColours

These rooms receive less direct sunlight and can feel colder or dimmer. To brighten up these spaces, opt for warm colors like soft yellows, peaches, warm whites, or earthy tones. These shades will help make the room feel more inviting and lively. If you would like to incorporate a cooler paint colour like blue or green, finding a paint colour with warm undertones is advisable. 

South Facing Rooms

Credit: FurnitureChoice

South facing rooms receive the most sunlight and tend to be warm throughout the day. This aspect is ideal as it is versatile with any colour. To balance out the warmth, consider cool tones such as blues, greens, and soft greys. These colours help cool down the room and create a serene, relaxed atmosphere.

Using guidelines for what colours work in a space depending on its aspect can help in narrowing down choices

West Facing Rooms

West-facing rooms can get strong afternoon sunlight, which can make the room feel warmer as the day progresses. Warm shades such as golden yellows, terracotta, and oranges work well to enhance this natural warmth, or you could balance it with cooler tones like deep blues and greens for a calming effect in the evening.

East Facing Rooms:

These rooms enjoy morning sunlight, so they are bright and fresh early in the day. Soft neutrals like light grays, off-whites, or pastels work well in east-facing rooms. If you prefer a bolder look, try rich tones like deep blues or purples for added drama.

Consider weather and seasons!

Take into consideration typical weather patterns for your geographical location. In sunnier locations, like along the Mediterranean or Southern California, homes can easily feature cooler colours and whites regardless of aspect.

If your home is in a rainier or cooler climate, like here in the UK, it might be important to consider warmer colours. Choose shades which compliment overcast lighting even in south facing rooms which can usually host cooler tones. Deep earth tones with warm undertones and small amounts of grey work really well for a bolder look in rainy and wintery locations.

Tips for Testing Paint Colours

Credit: Sophie Allport

Once you have an idea of what colours might work well based on the room’s aspect, it’s time to test them out. Here are some expert tips for testing paint colors effectively:

Test Samples on Your Walls: 

Purchase small samples and test them directly on the wall.  Colours can look different in real life than on a paint chip. Paint a few large swatches on different walls in the room to see how the light affects the color throughout the day.

Test Samples on a Poster Board

If you’re hesitant about painting your walls directly, try painting a large piece of poster board or foam board with your sample colors and moving them around the room. This allows you to see how the color looks in different spots without making a mess. Using a thicker cardstock paper is key to ensuring paper doesn't warp due to the paint liquid.

Credit: Lights and Lamps

Consider Room Lighting

Lighting plays a significant role in how paint colors appear. Natural light can make colors look brighter or cooler, while artificial lighting (such as warm incandescent bulbs or cool LEDs) can make them appear warmer or cooler. Be sure to evaluate your paint samples at different times of the day to see how they change in varying lighting conditions.

Test Multiple Colours

Don’t settle on the first color you test. Try out several shades within the same family to find the one that works best for your space. Also select one or two shades which you're not so sure about- they might surprise you!

Consider Sheen Levels

Different paint finishes can influence the way a colour looks. Matte or eggshell finishes provide a more subtle look, while satin or gloss finishes can make colours appear more vibrant and reflective. Consider the look you're going for and the functionality of the room.

Credit: Earth Born Paints

How to Choose Color Palettes for Home Interiors

Once you’ve narrowed down the preferred shades for individual rooms, it’s time to choose an overall color palette that will unify your entire home. Here are some tips for creating a cohesive look:

Start with a Neutral Base

Neutral tones such as whites, grays, and beige work well as base colors in any room. These shades provide a timeless backdrop and allow other accent colors to pop. You can layer on bolder colors in specific areas like accent walls, furniture, or accessories.

Use the 60-30-10 Rule

To achieve a balanced, well-designed palette, apply the 60-30-10 rule. The dominant color should cover about 60% of the space (often walls or large furniture), the secondary color should take up 30% (such as upholstery or curtains), and the accent color should make up the remaining 10% (accessories like pillows, rugs, or artwork).

Consider the Flow of the Space

If your home has an open floor plan, design the entire space in one colour palette. Choose colours that complement each other and create a sense of harmony and unity.

If your home is closed off- with separate rooms and spaces, avoid clashing colours from one room to another. An easy way to do this is to stick to similar tones in each space. For example, using muted earth tones in one room, and bright jewel tones in the next will not create cohesion. A consistent palette that includes subtle variations of a color family can help maintain a cohesive feel while still allowing each room to have its unique character.

Credit: Fermoie

Use Colour Theory

Colour theory can be a helpful guide in selecting complementary or contrasting colours. You can choose a monochromatic scheme (variations of the same colour), a complementary scheme (colours that are opposite each other on the colour wheel), or an analogous scheme (colours that are next to each other on the colour wheel). These combinations create a visually appealing and harmonious look.

Consider Your Lifestyle and Preferences:

Ultimately, the colours you choose should reflect your personal style and create an environment where you feel comfortable. Do you want a calming sanctuary or a vibrant, energizing space? Take into account how you use each room and what emotions you want the colours to evoke.

Final Thoughts!

Choosing the right paint colours for your home can dramatically impact the look and feel of your space. By understanding the aspect of your rooms, testing paint samples, and creating a thoughtful colour palette, you can transform your home into a beautifully cohesive and welcoming environment. Whether you're painting a single room or updating your entire home, the key is to experiment, trust your instincts, and enjoy the process of creating a space that reflects your personal style. Happy painting!

If you need help discussing colours and creating a palette, please get in touch to learn more about our services!