All About Paint
Today’s all about paint! I'm currently working on a fun bathroom renovation. Our goal for the space is to give it a bright and airy feel, however, there isn’t much natural light due to the lack of windows (design dilemma!!). Because of that, selecting the right paint for this space is key. As I work on this project, I'd like to share my learnings and tips on how to select paint that is right for your space to achieve the look you’re going for.
As I was starting out, I worked on selecting paint for my home’s interior and exterior. Through that process, there was a lot that I learned (the good, the bad, and the ugly) about paint. Thankfully I knew the look I was going for, but like many others, made all the wrong moves. My first “no no” was that I went straight to Pinterest and selected colors that I liked based off of images that others had posted - I would look up the name of the paint I found and try to see it in different homes. Now, that isn't necessarily bad. However, I was solely selecting colors off of that, and that's where mistakes happen.
Colors change from wall to wall, and from day to night. When working on my home, I did not test the paint in the space, nor check if the paint was accurately mixed to match the color chip I selected (makes my stomach hurt when I think about it). My only saving grace was that I did have formal training in color theory from design school, and therefore knew how to identify and mix undertones. Because of that formal training, the final results weren’t bad (indeed, they came out pretty good, which eventually motivated me to pivot into interior design). However, had I not had training, I would've been in a pretty bad situation.
In order to help you avoid my mistakes, below I’m sharing my tips for selecting paint the right way for your home, and why it’s important to really give it the time and effort it deserves in getting it right.
When to select paint
You want to select the paint color that goes with the pieces in your home like your floors, furniture pieces, materials, finishes, textiles, etc. Paint should be the last thing you select after you have all of the other elements in the room picked, so that it completes the space. Although it’s the last selection in your design scheme, it’s also needed quite early on in the project - you'll need to have your selection by the time framing and drywall is complete, so have that in mind so you can keep the project moving without delays. How do you do this? Plan ahead and start designing your room before the project begins. Once the project begins, things move pretty quickly, so you may end up rushed into making selections if you wait.
What to consider when selecting paint
Consider different brands based on availability of colors and quality desired. You have low end, moderate, and high end paint brands all at different price points due to the quality of their paint. You need to decide what you want to spend on paint early on. Typically, the higher end paints will cover surfaces with less coats, which gives you assurance that the paint job will look great without requiring multiple coats and touch-ups.
Consider each room and the transitional spaces (like the hallways). You want to make sure the colors transition nicely and work together. You can do that by getting larger paint sheets from the brands you’re considering and comparing the undertone of the colors.
If you have family members with health or breathing difficulties, you may need to consider eco paints with zero VOC to avoid harsh chemicals in your home.
Consider sheens that are best for your needs and lifestyle. Below I describe the basic sheens. Note that the names vary from brand to brand but, for the most part, are the same. Also, get a sheen card from the brand you plan to use.
Flat: This type of paint has no sheen, and really makes colors look rich. It also hides imperfections in the wall nicely, since it doesn't reflect. However, it’s the hardest to clean. You want to use this in low traffic areas like master bedrooms, dining rooms, ceilings, offices.
Eggshell: This type of paint has a very light sheen and is a little easier to clean than flat. You can use this anywhere other than locations exposed to moisture such as bathrooms.
Satin: This type of paint has a pearl shine to it and is easy to clean. You can get away with using it for any room, as it’s durable and perfect for high-traffic areas. Also good for moisture exposed rooms.
Semi Gloss: Light gloss finish. This type of paint is very easy to clean and stain resistant. It’s commonly used in kitchens, bathrooms, trims, cabinetry, and exterior doors and trims. Because it reflects any defect in a wall, make sure to properly prep walls when using this finish.
High Gloss: The highest sheen finish. Full gloss, making it super easy to clean and stain resistant. However, it reflects any defect in the wall meaning the walls need to be perfectly prepped to take this sheen. Use this in kitchens, bathrooms, cabinetry, and trims.
Finally and as mentioned above (but worth repeating due to its importance), remember that before landing on a potential color, you'll want to make sure you've selected all of the elements in the room, including floor, furniture, product, style pieces, etc. The color should complete the space and work harmoniously with all the elements in the room.
Practical steps to follow to select paint
First thing to select is your paint brand based on availability of colors and quality. If you must color match, note that the color will not be exactly the same. It’s best to choose paint color from the brand it’s from, or choose a similar color from another brand.
Choose multiple options that you feel will work best for your space.
Get large color “brush-outs”, which are large paint sample sheets. You'll be able to select the best options to narrow down from there.
Get samples of those narrowed down colors and test them out.
To test, you’ll want to paint a 2-foot strip on your wall from top to bottom (make sure you keep track of color name). Do this on multiple walls to see how it takes the paint and how it’s affected by the light in the room. Next is to review it at different times of day (morning, day, night). You might love it in the morning and hate it at night. You’ll also want to test it out with the light you’ll be using in the room in the evening. Doing this will ensure you select the paint that you absolutely love.
I hope this helps you select the perfect paint for your home improvement project without the headache of guessing how to go about it. Although following this guidance does take a bit of planning ahead, I’ve found it totally worth it in the end.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me via my contact page.
Until next time!
Janiece
