Choosing Paint Colors
Always a Difficult Task

Well chosen collection of paint colors can revitalize every surface of your home, from the walls and ceilings to the exterior siding and trim. An entirely new look is possible, but with thousands of house paint colors dozens of manufactures and many sheens to choose from the possible combinations of house painting colors can be mind numbing.

This subject is the one that most people have the greatest trouble with, including my customers. Although the processes involved with house painting are relatively simple to understand, selecting a paint color can be extremely difficult and time consuming.

The challenge is to find the best colors to fit your ambitions and still have a color scheme that will be enjoyable or increase your homes resale value.

It’s best to get this right the first time, but fortunately paint is fairly inexpensive and in many situations the color can be easily changed with a little more effort and a few more gallons of paint.

There Are No Easy Rules For Choosing House Painting Colors

The basic principles of color are hue, value, intensity and temperature. By combining these four ideas all potential combinations are possible.

The Basic Terms of Color

• Hue – Hue is another word for color. All colors you see and can imagine are hues. Typically the term applies to combinations of primary colors with different values and intensities. Hue is a favorite term of decorators.
• Value – This term refers to the lightness or darkness of a color. Value is determined by the amount of white, gray or black that is added to a pure color. Think of this as "light", "medium" or "dark". Other related terms are tint, shade and tone.
• Intensity – Intensity is the measurement of the brightness of a color. If a color strikes you as light, medium or dark you are judging the value. While intensity is bright or dull. Low intensity hues are commonly used as main colors while higher intensity hues are used for accents.
• Temperature – Colors are often referred as warm or cool. Red, orange and yellow seem warm, like fire. While blue and green are cool. Neutral refers to a combination of warm and cool, example is beige. The temperature of a color helps set the mood and can affect your perceptions of a room or space.

A hue can be combined with another then lightened or darkened in an infinite number of ways. The goal is finding balance between these four ideas and achieving a look you can live with.

The best place to start is with yourself and the colors you like. Determining which paint colors you like or should avoid is your biggest challenge. An understanding of color and its effect on your mood will help you make choices. Developing your own paint color scheme and sense of style is a large part of this process.

A great way to begin is to see different combinations of paint colors used by others.

Books and magazines are a perfect place to start. As you probably found out, the amount of inspirational resources is astounding.

Many of my customers start with magazines, such as Better Homes and Gardens. These magazines are inexpensive and full of pictures. You will find a lot of variety concerning interior decorating and home improvement. Use magazines for inspiration only. Applying the exact colors seen in a magazine will almost never produce the same pleasing results.

Books are your next source; seek out books on specific topics concerning your needs. The advantage, more detailed information will be provided and with pictures. An example of a topic is choosing exterior paint colors. A book with specific information on a specific topic is better than several with general information, no need to purchase 3 books when one will do.

Another resource is a manufactures paint color fan deck. These can help you choose the best combinations of house painting colors for your interior or exterior project. Every color fan deck is arraigned to provide the maximum amount of possible color schemes.

Unfortunately the volume of paint colors often adds to the confusion. A paint manufactures fan deck is basically a color wheel taken to the extreme.

You don’t need a full understanding of color theory or years of professional experience, but comprehending the effects of color on a space will be very useful.

Once the colors have been chosen you need to apply paint samples and check the real look of the paint. All colors will be affected by the surrounding environment and almost never look exactly as you think.

Double checking the paint colors will save you time, effort and money. This applies to both interior and exterior house painting.

Exterior House Painting Colors

A sense of style when choosing exterior paint colors is as important as the landscaping, and let’s not forget the visitor and neighbors. Your home is visible to the entire world and the right choice of paint colors for the main body, trim, and other ascents can increase the sense of pride and the homes value.

Paint does more than make the exterior look good.

Choosing the best colors for your location can add years to the paint job. Not all colors retain their original look when exposed to sunlight and harsh weather. Plus some colors can take many coats, 4-6, before the desired look is achieved.

The best exterior colors are neutral toned with a medium value. All light to medium browns and beige colors cover well and have a better than average resistance to UV light. The worst colors to work with are pure colors, reds and yellows. These colors will require mutable coats plus will oxidize faster, especially reds.

Other considerations are covenants or restrictions that will dictate the range of color combinations that can be used on the exterior of your home.

This can involve newer subdivisions as well as older homes with historic value. Confirm with your homeowners association which types of color combinations they desire and the approval time it takes for your colors.

If you are currently involved with restoring an older home check with you’re local housing authorities on the use of historic colors and color schemes appropriate to your houses architecture. You could even receive tax credits and other incentives to restore your home to its original beauty. Past customers have received as much as 50% of the contract price for an exterior paint job. Well worth a few phone calls.

Interior House Painting Colors

Choosing an interior paint color is one of the most difficult parts of any house painting project and should be done before any paint is purchased or applied. When choosing interior color schemes you will need to take into account all aspects of your current and future decorating styles.

From the flooring materials to your furnishings all colors and textures will affect the possible choices and the final outcome of your interior design. All surfaces will change the appearance of any paint color.

Unless new carpet is in the immediate future the floor surface will influence the final appearance of your chosen color. Furnishings, window treatments, art, and all accessories also have an effect on the outcome of any room’s style.

Another aspect of color is its ability to change the perceived proportions of a room. A room can appear larger, smaller or taller; an example is a lighter ceiling will make the walls appear taller.

The choice of paint sheen also affects the final look and overall feel of every room. From cozy to formal, with the right choices a distinct mood can be created using paint colors and your existing furnishings.

There are many decorative painting ideas and possibilities available to you. Some can be dramatic, such as accent colors, and others hardly noticeable. With the needed hours (or days) spent choosing and applying samples, the best color can be chosen.

Professional Help with Choosing House Paint Colors

Now that you have read about some of the challenges ahead or most likely experienced them for yourself, you might be considering professional help.

With the internet other cheaper options are available. In the past I have purchased computer programs designed to use a photo of a room or exterior and show what it will look like with different paint colors. These work pretty well and some have the ability to show multiple colors on different surfaces, including ceiling, walls and trim each with a different color.

An alternative to purchasing a computer program yourself is using on-line services. This type of service offers the same ability to upload a picture and choose paint colors but some services offer the help of a real live color consultant. This is a great way to see the general affects before buying any paint.

Another Choice Is To Use A Interior Decorator

This option can remove a great weight off your shoulders. Hiring a professional decorator can be a great investment, possibly saving thousands from bad decisions and questionable choices. Unfortunately this service can be expensive depending on the extent of your project.

An alternative is a home analysis. This concept is a consultation that can point you into new directions. Typically, this option is cheaper than hiring a decorator for the entire duration of your project. In this case the decorator helps you with the general ideas, leaving the details up to you.

Crowder Painting has always spent a great amount of time helping each customer find that special paint color. This process will take time and cause some stress. So relax and take a deep breath. It doesn’t have to be a difficult and mind boggling experience. Choosing the paint colors is just the start of a painting project.

Your Ideas

Have you used a great color combination in your living room or den? Or you have found a perfect color to go with your brick and front door. Your ideas and experiences will be a great help, so share your ideas or tips and help us all!

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Utilizing Accent Colors 
We all love bold and vibrant colors. Yet most homeowners are reluctant to use bold paint colors in their home. Why? There are several reasons, I think....

Color Matching: Not an Exact Science! 
It is hard to color match old paint especially if you don't know the exact brand and color of the old paint.

The first thing you should do is peel ...

The Affect of a Paint Color 
With so many wonderful colors to choose from it can be quiet difficult to decide what to use or how you want your room to look. Well one of the first things ...

WAYS TO DECORATE A LIVING ROOM WITH A SOUTHWESTERN THEME  Not rated yet
The American Southwest is known for its desert landscapes, gorgeous sunsets, simple architectural structures that blend into the natural surroundings, and ...

Room Color Choices and How they Affect Mood  Not rated yet
Most people choose a color for a room according to preference. If they love the color blue they select their favorite shade for a particular room in their ...

Selecting Paint Colors for Open Areas  Not rated yet
Selecting paint colors for open area floor plans can seem daunting. Keep these points in mind and you’ll see how easy it is to put together a cohesive ...

Like a bold or dark color but afraid its too much??  Not rated yet
Using really dark or bold colors can be a little scary! Will it over power the room? Will it make the room feel to dark? Will I like it?

These were ...

How to Choose Paint Colors that You’ll Love Living With  Not rated yet
Deciding on interior paint colors for you home isn't a life-altering experience, but it can certainly be stressful and intimidating. It's disheartening ...

Choosing Color: How Color Affects Mood  Not rated yet
Blue or red might be a favorite color, but before choosing a paint color for a particular room, think about how color influences mood. For example, while ...

Using a Monochromatic Colour Scheme Without Getting Bored  Not rated yet
A monochromatic colour scheme is one of the classics: all serene blue, or all sunny yellow, or all stately green. Monochromatic colour schemes are easy ...

Painting Brick  Not rated yet
All brick is almost always beautiful, but if you want to spice up any space, it would be a good idea to paint your brick. For light, airy spaces, such ...

Making Wise Colour Choices  Not rated yet
Colour choices for your home are very personal. But there are some tricks that can help you make the best decision: Try a fairly large size of paint sample....

Customer Color Confusion a Loss of Time and Money for the Contractor  Not rated yet
A customer with COLOR CONFUSION can be a roadblock to the painting contractor from securing the job, let alone completing it. Some people have no idea ...

Panoramic photos for a room border.  Not rated yet
Here's a neat idea! Panoramic photos for a room border and use painters tape to adhere it to the wall. By the time it loosens you'll be bored with it and ...

Tips for Choosing Paint Colors Before Putting Your House on the Market  Not rated yet
The last thing potential buyers want to see when looking for a new place to call home are walls that require painting, and this is why it is important ...

Choosing Exterior Colors  Not rated yet
Choosing Exterior Colors for Your Home

It may sound surprising, but the first rule for choosing the color for your home’s exterior is this: don’t ...

Choosing Interior Colors  Not rated yet
Fresh paint gives your home new life! How can you be sure to choose the colors that will make you feel best about your home's new look?

Here are some ...

Changing Paint Colors  Not rated yet
Ever felt like your environment needs a little change? When you're always looking at the same old scene day in and day out, after a while it can be a bit....

Tips on Choosing the Right Paint Color for the Master Bedroom  Not rated yet
Choosing paint can be frustrating and confusing, plus small paint color samples on tiny cards do not provide enough of a sample to really see what the ...

Painting Tips to Make a Room Appear Larger  Not rated yet
Darker bolder colors may be in vogue, but they are not always the best choices, especially for smaller rooms. Dark colors make a room appear smaller than ...

Start with what makes you happy!  Not rated yet
It's just that simple! Visualize the places where you have happy memories - hiking in the woods in spring, sunrise on the beach, picnic in the park in ...

Don't be Affraid of Color  Not rated yet
Often my customers are hesitant to add dramatic paint colors to a room, even though they might have bright or vivid colors already in the room. These colors ...

Go For It!  Not rated yet
Find a color that you like, then go for it. Paint and work around with colors you already have around the house, accessories etc from other rooms. It works ...