How to choose the right colour paint for your room

When you decide to redecorate your home, it can often be better to use a professional painting and decorating contractor than to go the DIY route. Not only will this approach save you a lot of time and hassle, you will also end up with a much better final result when the job is complete.

However, regardless of whether you decide to hire a professional or opt to do the job yourself, you will first need to decide on the right colour paint to use. Choosing the right colour for each room to be decorated is vital, as getting it wrong can mean an expensive re-paint.

To help you get it right first time, here are some tips and tricks to help you make the right choice of colour scheme for your redecorating project.

Where to look for inspiration

Before you pick up a paintbrush or call the decorators, you’ll need to find some inspiration. If you have a clear idea of how you want the finished room to look, you will find it much easier to choose the right colours and plan how the project should go.

Home and garden magazines are a good source of ideas for décor schemes, as are websites such as Pinterest. Time spent mooching around local DIY or home décor centres can be all you need to give clarity to your idea. If you’ve admired a friend or neighbour’s décor, don’t be afraid to ask if you could have a quick look at their rooms; they are bound to be flattered and may even be able to give you some leftover paint to use for colour testing purposes.

Choose your accessories before you choose your paint

Rather than having your rooms decorated straight away, it works best to choose your curtain fabrics and other accessories first. You will then be a better position to choose paint that matches your décor, rather than splashing on the paint and then spending hours trawling round soft furnishing shops trying to find accessories that suit your décor.

Ask for expert advice

When the decorators visit your property to provide you with an estimate, it’s always a good idea to ask for their advice on what would be a suitable colour choice for the rooms you want painted. Experienced decorators will instantly tell you whether different colours work in particular styles of rooms, and under natural and artificial lights.

A good painting and decorating contractor will provide you with a paint colour chart and will be happy to talk through options that might work well in your rooms.

Fifty shades darker

Although a dark or bright colour might look fine as a single, small paint swatch on a wall, it could be much too dark and really quite overpowering when the whole wall is painted. As a general rule, colours appear darker when the paint is applied to a large area. Also, remember that more than one coat could be required to achieve the final colour, and this could easily make the end result much too intense.

Try before you buy

Before you spend money on all the paint needed for the job, buy a small sample pot and use the paint on large squares of each wall of the room you want decorated. This will allow you to see how the colour works under different lighting and from various perspectives within the room.

You can then apply a second coat of your chosen colour so that you can see what the final colour is like when the paint dries. Allow the colour to ‘rest’ on the wall for a while and then look again. If you still like the effect after a couple of days, you’ve made the right choice!

In conclusion

Choosing the right colour paint for your redecoration project can be tricky so never be in too much of a rush to get started. Take your time, carry out plenty of research, and always ask the advice of your chosen painter and decorator.

Based in Torbay, Devon, S&K Decorating provide expert, comprehensive painting and decorating services to residents in Brixham, Paignton, Torquay, Newton Abbot, Totnes, and Dartmouth. For more information and advice on the services we offer and to discuss your requirements, why not get in touch for an informal chat.

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