Paint Color Selections Tips & Tricks

ByElle Murphy

Are you getting ready to paint during your home renovation? If so, the first thing you are considering is the paint color, and I have some color selection tips & tricks for you, so here we go!

  1. QUALITY PAINT. Always, always use a quality paint brand. I know that there is less expensive paint out there, but when you calculate how many coats you have to do of a cheap brand, you might as well just throw your money on the table and invest in: Benjamin Moore (BM), Farrow & Ball (F&B), C2 and Fine Paints of Europe (FPE). I don’t mind Sherwin Williams (SW) quality; I just don’t like their colors, so the painters will often have them match the colors but be sure that it is the RIGHT COLOR!!! (ie. Do not have Portsmouth, NH Sherwin Williams mix BM, Simply White – it’s too yellow/ green).
  2. PRE-SELECT COLORS. Before going to the store to buy a sample size, review colors and create a list of what you think might work. I typically spend a few hours gathering samples for my clients.
    1. The goal in pre-selecting colors on a table is so that you know that all the colors you are considering work and flow together nicely. This way, regardless of your final selection, you know that as you walk from space to space, the colors blend. 
  3. TEST RUN. Paint and paint are expensive, so you like the color. Typically, we paint one color in a large area, so you want to ensure it’s a good fit. In the New Englander Reno, we painted the first-floor common walls, the entire staircase to the third floor, and the second-floor hallway one color. BM Calm, Classic Grey, Grey Owl, and SW Repose Gray were up for consideration. The winner was… BM Calm. It is a beautiful color that will sometimes be ready white and is a true grey, whereas Classic Grey can read tan, and the other greys were too dark for the space.
  4. ACCENT WALLS: I’m a big fan of accents or “surprise walls.” These are typically walls that you can’t see until you are in the space, and they bring an element of joy to the room. For example, in the New Englander Reno, we use BM Raccoon Fur, a light black on the TV wall. I love the idea of the TV blending into the wall color.
  5. MOOD: There is no doubt that color creates a mood. Sometimes you want the space to feel fresh and clean, while other times, you want to feel cozy. At the New Englander Reno, their library will be painted BM Stonington Grey, a medium grey hue with Brass light fixtures, and the built-ins will be BM Hale Navy, a very dark blue, creating a cozy library feel.
  6. ORGANIZATION: Keep an excel sheet with your final selections. This is always helpful as a working document to keep track of paint selections so that you have it in the future for touch-ups. Keep this on a drive like dropbox or Evernote, print a copy, and keep it by your paints.

Long and short, paint selection can be fun and frustrating at the same time. Remember that it’s a process to get to the right color. But once you find it, you will be thrilled to love your walls!