Find Inspiration
CHRISTINA SCHMIDHOFER
Look for color cues in the places you frequent every day. "Think of places and spaces you love for inspiration. For example, I love the cream-color stucco walls I see in Italian churches, and I try to match that feeling," says Lulu De Kwiatkowski, textile designer. Once you've pinpointed your inspiration source, pick up similar colored paint chips at your local paint store. Then if possible, hold them up next to your inspo and see which color is the closest match.
Bring Color with You
STACY ZARIN GOLDBERG
Colors are very nuanced and can look different in your mind than how they actually look in real life. If you have any references to keep you on track, that can be a huge help as you navigate the seemingly endless variations in paint colors. "When you shop for paint, take along an existing pillow, a piece of drapery fabric, or a photo of your space. You'll make informed color decisions," says Alejandra Bernardez, designer.
Here, designer Melissa Colgan chose Benjamin Moore Mauve Blush for this living room.
Sample Color
Paint swatches are a great help when it comes to choosing colors, but to ensure you'll love your results, test a paint sample in multiple spots in your room before you commit. "Always sample paint colors. Paint a sample board so you can move it around a room," says Diana Hathaway Timmons, designer. Most brands offer small sample pots of paint for you to test out. You can either paint patches directly on your wall or paint a poster board that you can move around the room to see how it looks in various spots.
Match It
JIM FRANCO
Snag painting ideas from a favorite piece of art, pottery, or photography. "You can take just about anything to the paint store and ask the associate to mix a paint that's a perfect match using the store's color reader," says Danny Seo, lifestyle expert. Basing a room's color scheme on one piece of statement artwork is a great way to ensure a cohesive look.
Invest in Quality Paint
ALI HARPER
Not even the best painting ideas will succeed if you resort to poor quality paint—especially for bright paint colors. "Choose the best paint you can afford. Good paint has better pigments and a more livable finish," says Courtney Price, designer. Higher quality paint also goes on the wall more smoothly, needs less coats (so you don't need to apply as much to get even coverage) and is resistant to fading.
In this home office, designer Jamie Krywicki painted the built-in bookshelves Farrow and Ball Railings.
Set the Mood
BRIE WILLIAMS
Think about what mood you want to create in the room and which colors can help you achieve that effect—because different hues convey different feelings. "Warm colors like red, yellow, and orange have an energizing effect. Blue, green, and gray are calming," says David Bromstad, designer and HGTV star. Also consider the saturation of the color—pure colors tend to be louder while those that are toned down with white, like pastels, are softer.
Watch the Changing Light
It's also important to remember that lighting—both natural and artificial—has a dramatic effect on the way paint color looks in a room. To ensure you'll love your results, notice how your paint swatches look at different times of day. "Look at paint colors in the morning and at night, and put them near your furniture," says Emily Henderson, celebrity stylist.
Think About Layering
ANNIE SCHLECHTER
Too many bright paint colors in a room can be overwhelming. Tone them down with layers of softer hues. "Layer bold colors with midtones and neutrals to balance color in a room," says Khristian A. Howell, textile designer and color expert. Consider the 60-30-10 rule where you have 60% of one color, 30% of another and 10% of the last.
Designer Emily Butler used Benjamin Moore Timid White on the walls and Benjamin Moore Mountain Mist on the ceiling of this New York City apartment.
Consider a Room's Purpose
ROBERT PETERSON
"Choose colors based on the use of a room. Morning rooms can be brighter; rooms used at night can go dark," says Beth Kushnick, set decorator. The best gray paint colors are good for rooms that are used at all times of the day or night, such as the living room.
Benjamin Moore Fort Pierce Green creates a dramatic backdrop in this bedroom by Cloth and Kind.
Use the Color Wheel
ANNIE SCHLECHTER
Don't discount what you learned about the color wheel in elementary school. "Colors close together on the color wheel are analogous and will make a calm room. Colors that are farther apart are complementary and add drama," says David Bromstad, designer and HGTV star. Find your chosen paint color on the wheel and then use this handy tool to pick one or two accent colors for the furnishings in your room.
Here, the walls of Gabriella Skok's home office are painted Farrow and Ball Calke Green.
Go Gray
NATHAN SCHRODER
Blending paint colors to get the perfect hue can be tricky. One designer has a smart tip for colors that aren't too saturated. "When choosing wall colors, find versions of your favorite colors that are muted with gray," says Erica Lugbill, designer. Then, you can still use your favorite paints, but have a more subtle and sophisticated look in your home. To figure out which these are, simply choose your color then look at a paint chip in the store and see how it varies—the lightest tone is usually at the top, midtones (muted with gray) are in the middle, and the darkest, most saturated tones tend to be at the bottom.
Mary Kate Carl of Katie Davis Design used a chalky gray-blue to soften cabinets in this kitchen.
Try Tone-on-Tone Color
CHANGO and CO
Some house painting color combinations don't require much variety at all. Instead, they utilize one color with different tints and shades to create interest, say a light blue paired with a dark blue. "Play with intensity. I love monochromatic rooms that use a single hue in a variety of ways," says Sarah Richardson, designer.
Chango and Co painted the walls in this bedroom with Benjamin Moore Sheer Romance and the trim with Benjamin Moore Old Blue Jeans.
Look to Nature
HELEN NORMAN
"What's more livable than the colors found right outside your back door? Look to the colors of nature—blues, greens, beige, and taupe—when choosing color for your rooms," says Sehra Han, designer. The colors of water, plants, earth, and pebbles will all pair seamlessly with gray, white, and cream neutrals for example.
Customize It
MATTHEW WILLIAMS
Sometimes blending colors is the secret to creating that perfect hue and most paint stores and professionals have the tools and knowledge to do it for you. "If you find a color that you love, but you're afraid it might be too dark, ask the person mixing the paint to do a 50 percent tint of the color," says Gail Wright, designer.
Designer Jacqueline Schmidt chose Benjamin Moore Inner Peach for this bedroom wall.
Design Beyond Walls
ANNIE SCHLECHTER
Consider painting ideas that are outside the box. "Your home is made up of more than walls—ceilings, floors, stairs, and doors are also great places to have fun with paint," says Bob and Cortney Novogratz, designers. In fact, the ceiling is often called "the fifth wall" by interior designers. These are great places to play with fun color combinations.
Glossy cobalt blue highlights the ceiling millwork in designer Virginia Toledo's dining room.
Harmonize Colors
RYAN GARVIN
It's important to tie the colors in a room together, especially when you have a statement wall color. "Blend in strong colors. A bold color on the wall will feel jarring unless you consider the trim and ceiling color in your plans," says designer Patrice Cowan Bevans. Here, blue painted cabinets blend seamlessly with the color of glass mosaic tiles.
Take the Leap
ANNIE SCHLECHTER
If you're considering using bright colors, take the leap. After all, it's just paint, you can always repaint it later if you change your mind. If you don't want to paint an entire room a bright color, consider painting a single wall to create a bold accent wall. Or take a toe tip and start with accessories and slowly build your way up to wall color. "Give yourself permission to use a bold color. You don't have to love it everywhere—one throw or pillow might be just enough," says designer Nate Berkus.
Benjamin Moore Yellow Finch brightens the ceiling in designer Virginia Toledo's foyer.
Go Room to Room
DAVID TSAY
Open floor plans are a popular design style, but they should be treated differently than traditional rooms. "When rooms open to one another, avoid choosing radically different colors, or the space will look choppy and small," says designer Courtney Price. Instead, find one neutral color you love and use it for the entire open space.
Tone It Down
ROBERT PETERSON
"Choose your favorite color, but watch that it's not too bright," says Maria Killam, color expert. Bright paint colors are great, but they can easily go from stylish to overwhelming. If you're unsure which color to pick, best to air on the side of caution and choose the more livable shade.
Pale green cabinets enliven this Florida kitchen by designer Andrew Howard.
Accent with Accessories
ROBERT PETERSON
Neutral rooms don't have to be boring. You can add fun color with accessories and decor. "In the same way a bright shoe adds surprise and fun to a black outfit, an unexpected touch of trim along a curtain panel or in piping can add color in a way that's easy to live with," says designer Anna Lobell. You can even try painting the molding a contrasting color.
Here, a vibrant living room by Cloth and Kind features walls painted with Benjamin Moore Hazy Skies.
Use What You Love
BRITTANY AMBRIDGE
When choosing colors, don't worry about keeping up with trends. "Start with a color you love. Even if it's not a trend at the moment, it will always be on trend in a space that resonates with you," says Khristian A. Howell, textile designer and color expert.
Make a Statement
JULIE SOEFER
You won't have doubts using bright paint colors on rooms that aren't as visible. "Save strong wall colors for statement rooms that are smaller and visited less—a library, guest room, or a powder room," says Lulu DeKwiatkowski, textile designer. It becomes a fun surprise for all who enter.
Make It Flow
ANNIE SCHLECHTER
Many people struggle with finding color schemes that can flow throughout an entire home. "For a cohesive look, flow two or three of the same colors in each room. An accent wall in the family room is reflected in the primary bedroom bedding, for example," says designer Diana Hathaway Timmons.
Designer Sara Gilbane anchored the foyer of this New York City apartment with Benjamin Moore Venezuelan Sea