Its easy to get the right paint colour if you follow a few guidelines. But don't feel bad if you don't have to have this skill. If you don't feel confident there is nothing wrong with getting a little help from an expert. I am really bad at taxes so I don't mind giving this job to my Accountant- its just too complicated. Colour schemes can be like that too so give me a call if you are really needing some help.
10 Dos and Don’ts in Picking a Paint Colour
1) Chose it from a fan deck in the light where its going to be used.
2) Chose the colour that speaks to you not the one that MATCHES everything. I get a distinct emotional impact - some people get chills – it just strikes you as being the right one – knowingness.
3) After you choose the colour, wait 24 hours if you can. Look at in the different lights. You just should observe that it is going to look different in different lights. Look at in morning, afternoon and night.
4) If you can’t find a colour that strikes you – go to a different manufacturer's fan deck. Use another two or three – I often do no have enough colours to choose from.
5) If you are starting from scratch in a room – chose the paint last. Paint is like the topping on a desert– it covers the largest area – and there are many toppings you can put on a sundae. Chose the colour AFTER you make a good layout, good focal point and a good message.
6) If you are having trouble picking one colour – find 5 possible – RELATED – colours shades. Lay them out and chose the one that you like the best.
7) Bend the colour card so you are only looking at one sample at a time. Hold it up vertically in the room. If picking a ceiling colour hold it horizontally above your head.
8) Figure out if you are doing a warm shade or a cool shade to start. I suggest warm almost always in BC, but I've done dynamic colour schemes by contrasting warm with cool – like coffee and stainless steel.
9) In matching white: window trims, white cabinets and white appliances are all around the same white, but there are a hundred different whites in the paint stores. Take as much time to choose a white as you would a colour. Benjamin Moore's 'Oxford White' is perfect match to the 'frosty' white paint Pacific Rim Cabinets uses which is exactly the match to a Wilson Art’s laminate chip ‘frosty white’ which is a match to most major appliances white. Use the laminate chip of white or wood chip to give to your painter - its faster than trying to find a white on a colour card .
10) While you are at - it choose three samples that work nicely together – even if you are only intending to use one. Tape the samples to a piece of card and use for accents, pillows, trims, or your focal point.
Bonus Tip: I have done colour schemes for exteriors by using swatches from leading stucco suppliers and brought the tints I am using outside into the building or home for a super integrated look.