The 3 Biggest Mistakes People Make When Selecting Paint Colors

Have you ever selected paint colors only to be disappointed with the outcome? You’re not alone. The most frequently asked questions I get as an interior designer from homeowners are about paint colors. Why? Because selecting paint colors is difficult and most people are afraid of making costly, or even embarrassing, mistakes.

I see the same blunders over and over again. Here are the most common:

1. Not Considering a Color’s Undertone

Most colors, especially neutrals, have at least one undertone. Have you ever picked a gray color, then later realized it’s actually blue? That’s an undertone. Most grays have either a blue, lavender or green cast to them which aren’t visible in a small sample. Most beiges have a pink, yellow or orange undertone.

PRO TIP: compare the paint chips you are considering to a fan deck (available wherever paint is sold) and note where along the color spectrum your colors fall.

2. Not Considering Different Light Conditions

Paint colors can be dramatically affected by the type of lighting they’re in. Natural sunlight can make a color appear lighter. Artificial lighting can make colors appear more yellow, green or blue. A color can look one way indoors, and another way when painted on outdoor surfaces.

PRO TIP: Do test patches on the actual surface you’re going to be painting and view them in the various lighting conditions they’ll actually be in. Large sample cards can be purchased from manufacturers or on samplize.com and are convenient.

3. Color Matching With Another Brand of Paint

The quality of latex paint varies wildly from manufacturer to manufacturer. It’s due in part to the type and quantity of different pigments which are combined to create colors. If you take a paint chip from a high quality brand, like Benjamin Moore, and have it color matched using a Glidden paint, the result will not be a perfect match. Often this can be disastrous.

PRO TIP: Don’t color match across different brands of paint

If you are planning on painting a room, some cabinets or the exterior of your house, you probably need professional help.

No, not that kind of help! I’m referring to guidance you can get from an architect, interior designer or a color expert who specializes in choosing paint colors. We do paint color consultations for interior and exterior projects where we select colors using our specialized paint color training plus years of experience. We can even do digital color renderings.

Set up your paint color consultation today at https://amorganinteriors.com/contact. We can’t wait to help you!

Until next time,