How to Pick the Perfect Paint Hue

Choosing the ideal color for your home can be fun but daunting at the same time. Here are a few questions to consider and guide you in the right color direction.

How is the space used?
If you are painting your bedroom, you might want to choose a calming color such as blue. A study in the United Kingdom by Travelodge found that those who slept in blue bedrooms slumbered the best and woke up in a happy, positive mood. For a kitchen, you may want to use a cheerful, bright color to get your morning started on an energizing note.

What items are not being replaced?
This includes furniture, carpeting, and drapes, which are all large investments. Unless you plan to replace these items, you’ll want to keep them in mind when choosing a color so that they don’t clash.

What is the lighting like in the room?
A room’s natural lighting will change throughout the day as the sun moves. Also the direction of the room’s sun exposure will cause paint colors to present differently. Artificial light will also affect the appearance of a color. Benjamin Moore recommends looking at color swatches in the actual space and under different lighting conditions. For the best test, buy a paint color sample and paint one or more test areas in your room. Observe how the color looks at different times of the day in both natural and artificial light.

Do you have any inspiration for the room?
Pinterest and home decor magazines are great starting points to get ideas on the overall look you are hoping to achieve in a room. The Benjamin Moore website also showcases creative room inspirations that require only in a coat of paint. Visit www.benjaminmoore.com for inspiration and encouragement.

What is the traffic like in the room?
A room’s traffic patterns will help you narrow down a color choice as well as a finish. Benjamin Moore paints offer several different paint sheens so that you can choose the one that is right for you. Flat is the least reflective finish and provides excellent depth of color. It’s a great choice for hiding surface imperfections. Matte is more reflective than flat and is also great for minimizing surface imperfections while providing a durable finish. Eggshell imparts a softly polished glow and provides an easy-to-clean surface. It’s perfect for busy areas such as kitchens, dining rooms, and family rooms. Satin, or pearl, is a medium-sheen finish ideal for high-traffic areas like hallways when the full sheen of a semi-gloss in not desired. Semi-gloss creates a smooth, highly reflective finish that is durable and withstands repeated cleaning. It is used to highlight interior trim, doors, and window frames and is also popular for bathrooms.

Do you have a color in mind?
While you may be drawn to the hottest new color you see on the runways and in fashion magazines, is it a color you can live with? Maybe you adore a beautiful tangerine orange—but for an entire room? Start off by painting just one accent wall in a fun color and see how you enjoy it. Every color has many variations. If a bright, sunny yellow is too much for you in the kitchen, tone it down a bit to a more subtle shade. And if you really aren’t sure about a color, try a few accent pillows, a throw rug, or curtains in your new favorite shade before committing to it for your walls.