Choosing paint colours is no walk in the park.
Thankfully, though a tricky process, more and more of us are willing to experiment with changing up our walls. And thank God! In years gone by it seemed we were all too fearful to take the plunge. Even though… as I always tell clients… it’s only paint! Easy to splash on – and just as easy to take off.
In today’s post I’m giving you a look into a few fab paint colours for your home, predominantly in the bedroom. I reckon if you’re going to start using colourful paint at your place, the boudoir is the best place to start. If you don’t like it, at least friends and family won’t be seeing it when they come around.
Of course, all the paints here can be applied to any room in your home. And to guide you through choosing paint colours – and getting it right – I’ve called upon the divine Shaynna Blaze to share her expert tips.
The Easiest way to Get Paint Colour Right
Below Shaynna will give you some food for thought when it comes to choosing paint colours. And down below I’ll give you the names of the paints featured in this story so you can replicate the look at home if you’re keen.
“Colours will change with different lighting and reflection and so each colour looks different in every house,” Shaynna explains. “Testing your paint colour with sample pots allows you to see the colour at different times of the day and see how it looks in your surroundings. This way you can test a couple of colours at one time to work out your best palette.
Paint can be a bit of a chameleon, and even the most seasoned designer or decorator (including myself) cannot be 100% sure of the performance of a colour.
Don’t get me wrong – a colour won’t change dramatically from a blue to a red, but the subtleties of a colour change in a room. For example, a blue might take on a greener tone depending on its surroundings, or what you thought was a very bright white might have a slight yellow to it in your house due to the timbers in the room or the direction it is facing”.
Practical Tips for Choosing Paint Colours
1. Trying only two colours at once – any more can get confusing. By process of elimination you can easily define the right colour for you.
2. Using an A4 piece of cardboard gives you the flexibility to move the colour around all four walls of each room (as every walls get different light and reflections). Not rushing to paint straight on your walls means you don’t end up with a rainbow while you are still working out the perfect colour.
3. View your colours in both morning and afternoon daylight, plus with lights on at night, ‘sitting’ with them for around three days – any more and you risk over-analysing.
4. Take your time! Colour should give you an instant feeling, so taking longer possibly means you are procrastinating on the work, rather than the colour choice!
Taubmans Paints used in this story: Exterior walls painted with Stormy Shadow, green bedroom wall splashed with Highland Meadow, light grey timber panel wall painted with Winter Mist, and white coastal bedroom sports Snow Drop. For more, see the Taubmans website here.
Are you Game?
Are you considering painting your walls at home? I would love to hear the colours you’re considering in the comments below. Soft greys are the new beige and I am DYING to use this shade on my own walls. How about you?
6 Responses
Hi, love your tips! By chance, do you have a reference for the pink coloured door in the first photo in this article? I have a grey house and that pink would be perfect! Thank you!
Hey! 🙂 Great tips, very useful. We are considering some green paint on our bedroom walls (something like Tikkurila Gorgonzola), one wall in 3d cork stripes (natural brown), bleached oak on the floor and flat white cork panels on the ceiling. Additionally white furniture and grey upholstered bed. We want to create natural, soothing, warm and calm space. 🙂 What do you think about it? Would you change anything? 😀
Hi Marta, sorry the team and I don’t have the capacity to offer individual advice on the blog. If you would like professional assistance with a few rooms in your home please send an enquiry.
I absolutely LOVE the minty green walls in combination with the neutral linens and rug! Fabulous!
Thanks Judith. I’m pretty smitten with this colour combo too. So soothing. And so nice to flip the concept on its head (colour on the wall and neutral bedding, instead of the other way around!).
Awesome tips! Choosing paint colours is difficult for most homeowners because there are lots to choose from and we may like a number of colours that it’s hard to choose which one to use. So, trying only 2 colours at once would indeed be a great way to reduce the dilemma. I think it is worth noting that we should also consider the furniture we already have or are planning to have.