The power of paint.

I get just as excited changing the paint color of a room as I do redecorating one. Wish I could say that choosing the perfect color is fast and easy, but you’ll be able to achieve what you want using some sample testing tips below.

It can be overwhelming choosing a paint color since there are thousands of options out there. Start off with a color family (i.e. grays, greens, blues etc.) and pick a few variations of that shade to choose from. Don’t tape up the tiny swatches you get from the paint shop – these won’t give you an accurate idea of what the color will look like in your space. Do paint up larger swatches for walls.

This is where paint samples come in handy.

Photo from here

The first thing to know is what you see is not always what you get. Paint color drastically changes with lighting so it is important to put up several samples and see how they look in the room’s light. This means looking at the samples at different times of the day and with the room’s lighting fixtures on before making the final decision.

Lesson Learned: I once worked on a luxury condominium project where we chose a really warm and rich beige color for the common hallways. After all 9 floors were painted, the color looked like pea soup. Not the look you go for when selling million dollar condos. In the end, we found it was cheaper and easier to replace the bulbs which altered the lighting and restored the color. This proved how much lighting affects the color palette and how important it is to test out samples. Motto of the day: Try before you buy.

You can either paint large samples on the wall:

photo from here

 Or paint samples on big pieces of heavy paper and hang them around the room:

Photo from here

Since it takes me months to make a decision, I typically choose the temporary paper sample route. This also gives you the ability to move the color samples around to different parts of the room.

Benjamin Moore sells 2 ounce sample jars so you can test out the colors and avoid spending too much on a can of paint you probably won’t end up using. These little guys are also great to keep around for touch-ups later. Benjamin Moore quick tip: click “How to Use Paint Color Samples” 

Confession: I have a Benjamin Moore color sample hoarding problem.

I am a Benjamin Moore gal, but there are plenty of other paint brands to choose from.

You also want to make sure to choose the right finish for the room. For instance, Satin is the typical finish for bathrooms and kitchens since it is easier to wipe clean.

Check out “Which Paint Type is Right for You” crib sheet from Real Simple.

We recently went through this process when we repainted the common hall in our building. Although it was a slight improvement, it changed the feel of the space and gave the drab entryway an instant face-lift.

Hall Before

Hall After

We chose BM Stonington Gray for the top and BM White Dove for the bottom. Not a drastic change, but the white on the bottom of the chair rail brightened the space and brought out the dark woodwork. You will often find that changing the color scheme can enhance the architectural elements of the space.

Next paint-lift will be our foyer and dining room. Stay tuned and happy painting!