1.    Start with mood.  Color has a dramatic impact on mood.  Determine what mood you want your room to evoke and choose a color that evokes that mood for you.  This, more than anything, will determine if the color you choose will feel right to you.  No need to pick that ultra-trendy soothing aqua color for your kitchen if you want to have a lively feeling there.

2.    Let go of verbal connotations.  Color names tend to hold too much weight with many of my clients.  But don't let a color name throw you.  If you like a sage green called "Chatroom Gray" don't let yourself be deterred from using it just because it doesn't sound cheery.   And don't choose a color because it sounds nice, - that color called "Delightful Sunshine" which you wanted to make your kitchen feel bright and spacious, may just make it feel like a preschool playroom instead!

3.    Don't choose vibrant colors. Unless you just simply want a vibrant room, choose shades of  red, yellow, orange, or green that have a  little black or brown in them.  This will make them much more "liveable."

4.    Choose a durable finish and the best paint you can afford.  Some companies now have low sheen, high durability paints.  They cost more, but they look much better on most walls than an ultra-glossy finish, while still having much of the same "scrub-ability."

5.    Test, test, test.  It's always worth the money to test a color before you put it everywhere.  Look at it in several lights as the day goes on, and especially after the paint completely dries, so that you know you'll love it.
 
BONUS TIP:   Consult a pro and not your neighbors.  The best person to ask about your color choices is a pro who works with color every day. (And guess what? I know someone!)  Ask 10 neighbors, friends, and relatives and you'll get 10 different opinions. 

 

Give me a call and I can help you select the perfect wall color to match some new custom window treatments.  I even have a great painter I can recommend!