- Having trouble picking the perfect paint color for your home decorating project? Not sure what type of paint you should use? Don’t feel bad -- even the pros need help from time to time.
The paint experts at Pratt & Lambert frequently field questions from home decorators and interior designers. Here’s a list of their top 10 questions and answers to help you better understand the basics of color and paint selection and transform your weekend project into a professional quality job.
1. What is the best way to decide which color is best for my room?
The first step is determining your color scheme by examining your existing furniture, window treatments, and other accessories (or shop for these items first). Choose your favorite colors in these items and visit your paint dealer to get coordinating color chips. Look at the color chips in the daylight and at night so you will see how lighting will affect your color choices. As a last resort, you might want to buy a quart of your chosen color and test it on one of your walls.
2. My room has a chair rail and I am using two colors. Which one goes where?
If you want an open, airy look, always paint the portion of the wall below the chair rail with the darker color. This allows the lighter color to dominate.
3. Should trim work be painted the same color as the walls, or a different shade?
The answer to this question depends on what you are trying to achieve with your room. Use the same color on the trim if you are trying to disguise ordinary or unattractive trim work, or if you are trying to create a uniform, monochromatic look. Use a lighter or darker color to accentuate trim work or to add subtle hints or bold flashes of color to your room.
4. Will the paint I chose look lighter or darker on the wall?
Over a larger surface area, most colors appear darker. It’s a good idea to choose colors a shade or two lighter than what you want. Clean, bright colors can appear either lighter or darker depending on the surrounding colors and lighting in the room.
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