Bringing in the exterior is a popular inspiration for color schemes,
so whether you choose green foliage or the relaxing blue of the beach,
exterior-inspired color schemes are meant for relaxation and comfort.
Be sure to try on your favorite paint colors at all times of the day and night
and with the windows closed and open for a more realistic view of your possible choices.
If you’re going to use your landscaping as inspiration,
keep an eye out for some tips and things to avoid when decorating with green.
Find your paint color in the artwork
The interior designer’s secret is to pick colors from the artwork in your home,
and most artists are masters of color and light.
They create their own color schemes for their pieces,
and you can benefit from their insight by choosing colors from a favorite piece of art.
You can also choose complementary colors from the same artwork to create a color scheme.
Historical color inspiration
Just because you love Craftsman color schemes doesn’t mean you have to decorate in Craftsman style,
historical paint colors are offered by many of the paint industry’s leaders.
Use these collections as inspiration and customize them according to your decorating style.
Benjamin Moore’s damask yellow is a rich and warm wall color that would work well in a variety of decor styles.
Including handcraft and mid-century modern.
Try a shade lighter or darker
Sometimes, all you need is a simple adjustment to find the right interior paint color.
Before you give up on choosing your paint color too quickly,
consider a shade lighter or darker than the same color.
Many paint colors appear on the paint strip in gradient shades,
but you can also ask your paint store to customize them with percentages of light or dark shades.
How to use color grading to find the perfect paint colors
You can be unpleasantly surprised by undertones when choosing interior paint colors,
because undertones are the colors under your favorite paint color.
Simple beige might not be that simple if it has a strong green undertone,
the only way to read how an undercoat looks in your home is by sampling the color.
Tones from other surfaces in your room can also change the way paint appears due to reflection,
so sampling is essential.
Check catalogs and magazines before shopping
Choosing the right interior paint color starts at home, before you head to the paint store to collect paper samples.
Just take inspiration from catalogs, magazines, and canvas swatches,
as this will prevent you from having too many paint color options on your first trip to the store.
The hardest part about choosing a paint color, at first, is having so many options.
Once you’ve narrowed down your paint color options,
head back to the store for paint color samples to try at home, this step is important to finding the perfect color.
Experiment with your paint colors before committing
This is a simple rule that should never be ignored, always experiment with any paint color you can think of,
when you dedicate gallons of paint and hours to your project, you have to get the right color the first time.
You don’t want to skip this step, as if you look in the back of the paint store,
you’ll find piles of returned paint cans from people who didn’t take the time to sample first.
Don’t be one of them, and also be sure to calculate exactly how much paint you’ll need,
in order to reduce waste.
Remember that sampling paint colors is the most important step in finding the right colors for your home.
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How to Choose Interior Paint Colors to Match Furniture (Part 1)