A living room is such a special place. It holds huge opportunity to share your specific style and taste, but it’s also a place where you do life more than almost anywhere else. From entertaining guests to watching your favorite movie, this room is a central hub.
So, how do you pick the right paint color? Here are a few practical tips to keep in mind.
Pick swatches and samples at the paint store, but don’t pick your actual color there.
There’s just no way to properly gauge a color based on a small square of cardboard under artificial lights. Pick your samples, sure, but then bring them back home for a closer inspection.
In fact, we recommend either painting sample sections directly to your wall, or painting squares of poster board and taping them up in various places. This way you can really see the different colors clearly in your room, gaining a better sense of how they’ll look.
Find color inspiration within the biggest pattern in your living room.
This is such a simple but clever trick. If you want to find a wall color that works well with an existing piece of furniture or textile, choose a color within that feature and color-match it. Love your rug, for example? Take a closer look and see if you can draw a paint color from within the pattern. This way you can fast-track a coordinated, cohesive palette.
Find color inspiration online.
Google is designed to work with longer search terms these days, like: “Paint colors for large living rooms.” Or, “Paint colors for living rooms with little natural light.” Get specific with your searches rather than just skimming through trendy color options.
You might also like to leverage websites like Houzz.com that offer tons of real-life examples of home improvement projects, including painting.
Make life easier with a neutral paint color.
Neutral does NOT have to equal boring. Especially if you have other colors to introduce, like artwork, decor, or patterns in your furniture, neutral paint is a stylish, versatile choice. For more info, check out this blog we published recently: Picking the Perfect White Interior Paint.
Get inspired by colors in nature.
If you’re an outdoorsy person, think about your favorite places to be. And your favorite seasons too. Blue skies of summer? Green of fresh growth in the springtime? Maybe rustic autumn colors like bronze or burnt orange?
Natural colors have been shown to promote relaxation and calm, especially if they’re connected with a fond memory or positive association. Get inspired, then draw those colors indoors and enjoy them year round.
Don’t forget the paint colors in your surrounding spaces.
A room might feel like an island, but it’s not.
Each space should flow into the next, or at the very least have a point of connection. For example, what works with the room next door, or is there a specific color you love in the hallway that can be developed in your living room?
Pick colors you love
We always come back to this when we share paint color tips. At the end of the day, you’re the one who will be living in the spaces you’re painting. Pick what you love, and don’t let convention or hot trends get in the way. They can be helpful for ideas and inspiration, but more than anything we want you to enjoy your palette and have it be a reflection of who you are.
Have more questions about interior painting here in Portland? Reach out to us at Sundeleaf Painting! We’re here to help and would love to serve you.