People love lists. They are easy to read and get right to the point. Here I listed some really important factors in order for you to get the best color possible for your home. I've mentioned them before in previous posts but wanted to compile the important ones and list them here.
This is a no brainer. The store lighting is NOT what you have in your home so therefor, the color will look really different once you view it in your home.
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2. Hold the paint chip vertically not horizontally.
I can't stress this one enough and again, it has to do with the lighting. Why would you hold a paint chip flat when it's going to be applied vertically? Look at it the way it's going to be applied to the wall - vertically. Again, lighting plays a huge roll here.
3. Don't sample your color on the wall.
It's just one extra step to take to ensure the color you choose is the right choice for you. Not sure of a color? Purchase a Small Wall® paint sample board and test it out. You can get them at Ace Hardware stores and Sherwin Williams. Don't settle for any other boards, you might as well paint on printer paper if you do.
HUGE. Take a look at one of my previous posts on this. Lighting can really be a Color Killer.
5. Don't color match.
And people will argue with me about this one. It's not that other paint companies can't color match, they can. The problem is when you run out of a “color matched gallon” and need more, the chances of those two gallons looking the same are slim. I know, I did this for a living for many years. Does it come close? Yes but in my eyes, “close” is not good enough. Just keep it simple and precise and don't color match.
You may have great color but it the walls aren't in good condition, your paint scheme is doomed. I've seen this happen before with some of my clients. They love their new color palette but didn't hire a professional painter or SHOULD have hired a professional painter. From drips, spills, crooked paint lines to painting over nail holes and not priming, it's these details that can make or break you color. I've seen it happen.
Although this one can fall under the category of “personal preference” it's really a boring and safe way to decorate. Your home will have more appeal and life if you coordinate your look rather than match everything to a T.
8. Don't follow color trends.
Another rule that is really important. Choose color in your home that YOU love. Just because a color is trending somewhere doesn't mean it'll look good in your home or that you'll love it. However, if you stumble upon a trendy color you like - go for it! Color is fun and the ones YOU love, should be the choice for your home - even if it's Boyz-n-Berry.
9. Get proper window treatments. They too will effect your color choices.
This is another one that falls under the “lighting” category. Choose window treatments that coordinate with your home and then choose a color that compliments that.
10. Use a highly quality paint like Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore.
I've lived in the Wesley Chapel/Waxhaw area for four years now and 99.9% of my clients ask for one of these two paint companies. It's not that the other paint companies are bad it just these two have great colors and a high quality product. What more do you need?
Still need help with color? You can contact me at DecoratingbyDonna@mac.com. My office is located in Wesley Chapel / Waxhaw, I'm a Color Specialist and I'd love to help you get the perfect color for your home.
Very helpful advice, Donna! My husband and I used Small Walls paint sample boards last time we painted and found them to be very helpful. Curious about #5, though. Paint stores typically will store a color formula in their data base, so I thought that would have prevented the problem of not getting a perfect match to the previous gallon. However, if your experience has been not positive in that regard, perhaps that is something that works better in theory than in practice.
ReplyDeleteOh hi Diane! I knew I'd get feedback from #5. For the most part, colors can be matched fairly well - the first time - but when the client should need another gallon of the same custom color - THAT'S where the problem lies even though there is a formula.
ReplyDeleteI've worked for various paint companies over the years mixing hundreds of colors using all kinds of machines and even by hand. That's one of the reasons I know it so well. It's not the fact that the color is being matched but when a second person goes to match it again, on another day, when the machine is calibrated differently, that's where the inconsistency lies.
Every drop of pigment counts when color matching. When a machine is not calibrated correctly or a gallon isn't shaken for the proper amount of time, there will be variations in color. For the most part the homeowner may not be able to see it but I sure will.
Thanks for stopping by Diane. Your blog (and Tammy's) looks great!