Painting a room’s walls and trim can dramatically change the look and feel of the space.
Once you’ve decided to paint a room, you will likely spend lots of time deciding on the right color before the painting actually gets started. You might pick up samples at the local hardware store or have heated debates with your spouse or roommate.
After deciding on a wall color, you then have to figure out what color you’re going to paint the trim, starting the whole cycle over. Let’s make the process a bit smoother with some tips and things to avoid.
Before you decide on colors
There are a few things you can check off your list before you get into debating on a color: first, the finish of the paint. Trim should be a semi-gloss finish. Trim is often susceptible to bumps from moving furniture, high foot traffic and other life elements, and semi-gloss is highly durable and can easily be wiped clean.
Do you want to go bold or subtle? Before deciding on a color for your walls or your trim, decide if you want to accent the trim or the walls. If the color you choose for a trim is darker than the walls, it will drastically standout. If you want to not draw as much attention to the trim, you should pick a neutral color lighter than the walls.
Deciding on colors
Now that you’ve decided if you’re highlighting the trim or the walls, it’s time to decide on a color. No matter if you’re drawing attention to the trim or the walls, the colors should complement one another.
If you go with a cool color for the walls, consider something cool for the trim—and the same goes for warmer colors. Or if you go neutral on the walls, like tan, then you should consider a neutral tone for the trim as well. You don’t want the colors to be completely different like a warm with a cool color.
Don’t rush the process. Once you have decided on a few colors, bring swatches home from the store. You should take the swatches to each piece of furniture and a few accent pieces. How do the colors coordinate with each other? There is a 60-30-10 rule. Sixty percent of color in a room comes from the walls. Thirty percent comes from upholstery and 10 percent from accent pieces. You want to make sure your color works well with the supporting colors of your furniture, rugs and decorations.
When you’ve narrowed down your decision to a few colors, pick up samples of paint. You can paint a few two-foot by two-foot swatches. Let them stay on your wall for a day or two—that way you can see how the light in the room plays with the color as well.
After a few days, you should have your colors narrowed down.
Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting Colors
When deciding on paint, there are some simple mistakes you will want to avoid:
- Don’t be afraid of color. As you explore what colors you want to paint the room, don’t be afraid to consider bold colors, especially if your decor is neutral.
- Don’t rush the selection process. Use the tips above to take your time deciding on your colors. Once you’ve committed to a couple of gallons and a day or so worth of work, it’ll be hard to change your mind.
- Don’t forget the primer. Primer helps the color stay true to what you expect, especially when painting over existing color.
If you follow these tips and avoid the mistakes, picking a paint color might be less of a debate at home.
Bring in the professionals
Choosing to update your home’s paint is both an exciting and wise decision, and for anyone living in Richmond, Virginia, Dependable Home Services is the smart choice for your interior and exterior painting needs.
At Dependable Home Services, we understand the desire for a beautiful home. If you live in the Richmond, Virginia, area and are in need of a high-quality interior/exterior paint job, schedule your free consultation with us today!