Paint Ideas

Wall paint colors seem to come in and out of style, just like clothing styles do.

Did you know that the top painting manufacturers actually have numerous full time staffers working on color trends that are constantly working to find perfect colors for you?

That is why going inside of your favorite paint store can be so helpful. Avoid the “Big Box” stores if you can, like Lowes & Home Depot, and stick with manufacturers that SPECIALIZE.

Companies like ICI paints, Benjamin Moore, and Sherwin Williams, for example, have put alot more thought into paint colors then anyone else in the world!

Ask them if they have any of the latest books available for you to look through – most great paint stores have a design area where you can sit down and peruse their info. The latest books will give you the latest trends!

For example, check out this site that ICI put together about Color Trends:
https://www.duluxpaints.com/listFeatures.do

If you haven’t tried any online color visualizers, you can go to the following sites:

Sherwin Williams: Color Visualizer
Benjamin Moore:  Personal Color Viewer

These can help you think about what kind of colors you like, or don’t like.

Getting professional wall paint color advice:

Did you know that alot of major paint stores have color specialists on staff that can help you pick the perfect color?

Also, many reputable painting companies will send out a professional designer to help you pick colors for free, or for a nominal charge.

Are you the type of person that has a whole folder full of fabric samples, carpet samples, clippings from magazines you like, and paint samples?

Usually, the paint samples are really small and its hard to visualize.

If you go to your favorite paint store, ask them for a “DRAW DOWN” – they can make you an 8 and 1/2″ x 11″ piece of cardboard that is actually painted with the color – this is so much better to take around with you when trying to select your furniture and accessories then the small examples.

Test Patches:

The worst thing you can do is trust a small paint chip. It is ALWAYS worth the $5 and time to get a sample of the paint color and paint a little some on the wall.

If you don’t have a paint brush, buy a foam applicator on a stick – they’re about $0.50 and good paint companies can make you a sample of the paint you may want to buy for usually about $5.00

When applying the test patches, make them at least 2′ x 2′ wide, and pick a spot in the room that you will be able to see it well in morning light, evening light, and under artificial light, so you will really get a good idea of what the color will look like.

If you’re going to pay as much as $700-1000 to get your room painted, or do it yourself for 15+ valuable hours – take the time to make sure you love what you are going to do!

NOTE: When painting test patches, be sure to “feather the edges” out thinly on the paint, so that when you paint over it later – you don’t see the squares you painted before underneath.

Wall Color Thoughts:

Be sure to think about how daring you want to be, and how long you plan on spending at the house.
If you think you might be moving soon, you may want to stay with a neutral, earthtone beige color like SW “Wool Skein” or BM’s “Monroe Bisque” – two very popular, safe colors.

But if you’re not trying to sell soon and are looking for bold – GO BOLD! One of our friend’s painted their powder room a charcoal black with white trim and they LOVE IT.

Paint colors are relatively easy to change – and one of the biggest “complaints” we hear are that people wish that they had gone ahead and taken a little bit more risk with their paint color.

No risk, no reward.