When choosing paint colour, it’s easy to make rookie errors. A shade that looked crisp and modern when you saw it in the home improvement store can feel completely different when it’s covering your walls. Even small decisions can have a big impact on the end result.
So, before you make a colour commitment, learn the common mistakes to avoid when choosing paint colour for your home.
Using Bright Paint Colours
You may love bright colours, but they don’t always translate well in interior design. When you paint four walls in a room, the colour intensifies as it bounces off itself, making an already vibrant hue even more intense. If that’s the look you’re going for, great! If not, opt for a shade that is two tones lighter. Alternatively, you can use the bright colour on a single feature wall, and a lighter shade on the other walls to tone down its intensity.
Consider the room, its purpose and what kind of environment you’re trying to create, and that should help you get the right tone.
Choosing a Paint Colour Without Testing It
If you’ve spied the ultimate paint colour on a home design website or in-store, it’s really important to test it in your own home first. Colours that work in another home may not work in yours.
Lighting can dramatically impact how paint colour looks on the walls. You’ll want to see how the paint looks under artificial light as well as during the day. Remember that the natural light in a room changes throughout the day as the sun moves, and what looks great in the early morning light may be less appealing in the afternoon sun – or vice versa.
To avoid disaster, always test paint colours first. Invest in sample pots and paint two coats on a 30cm x 30cm test area. Painting directly on the wall is best, but you can also paint a sheet of cardboard and stick it to the wall instead. Check in regularly over the course of a day to note how the colour looks in different light conditions.
Ignoring Colour Undertones
When it comes to paint colours, residential painters know that white paint is never simply white. And blue is never just blue. In fact, there are many variations of every colour, and that variation is due to undertones.
Undertones are the hidden hues beneath the main paint colour, and this subtle tint can be warm, cool or neutral. For example, white paint can have cool undertones of blue, green or grey, or warm undertones of red, yellow, orange or beige. Neutral undertones are best if a true white is preferred.
So how does undertone trip up DIY painters? Firstly, the wrong undertone can alter the desired feel of a room, evoking a stark appearance in a room where adding warmth was the goal – or vice versa.
Secondly, fixed elements in a space – wooden flooring, cabinetry, countertops, etc. – all have their own undertones, and not all undertones play nicely together! For example, timber flooring with warm undertones can clash with walls with cool undertones.
Remember, undertones are subtle, so it’s very easy to get the balance wrong. When in doubt, professional colour consultancy is your friend – and experienced Perth painters include this as part of their service.
Inadequate Surface Preparation
Painstakingly researching and testing paint colours for your home is important – but if you don’t properly prep surfaces before painting, even the perfect paint colour choice can’t save the final result. Read our handy guide before you pick up the paintbrush!
Ditch Paint Colour Overwhelm. Call the Professionals!
Choosing paint colours is hard – and DIY house painting is even harder. If you want a flawless result, guaranteed, get in touch with AJ Cochrane & Sons today.
