Picking paint colors for your home is a major home improvement project.  It’s a great way to add curb appeal and aesthetic power to your home, so you want to make sure your choice of colors is a well-thought out one.

The experts here at Premier Painters have compiled a list of a few of the things you should keep in mind when making your choice.

Check What Buyers Want

If you’re painting your home with the intent to sell, take a few minutes to check out what paint colors recently sold houses are utilizing.  Different areas have different styles, but local trends can appeal to buyers.  Check out what’s popular in your area, and mimic that color scheme to create a unified look throughout your home.  Just make sure you’re picking local examples; what might work in a trendy urban loft in Toronto might not work in a rural farmhouse.

Lighting

Just because a color looks good in the store doesn’t mean it will look good in your home!  The light source in the room you’re painting can have a massive effect on the overall look in your home.  Sunshine and fluorescent light creates two very different lighting profiles, and the same paint color can look radically different in each.  This is why it’s important to use paint samples to test the look of a paint in the specific room you’re painting – you can see what the final product will actually look like.

Undertones

Don’t just pay attention to the colors you’re using – make sure there aren’t unwanted undertones that might clash with other items and colors in the room.  For example, all greys have some sort of tint to them – often blue or green.  If you wouldn’t pick blue as a dominant color in your room, a blue-undertoned grey might bring up many of the same issues.

Finishes

Again, it’s not just the color you should keep in mind – it’s the finish.  Matte and semi-gloss paints look very different when applied to a wall, and a color that doesn’t work in one sheen might look fantastic in another.  High-gloss is durable, but shows off every imperfection on your wall.  Matte finishes are cheaper, but are less durable.  Your choice for each room will depend on how the room is used and how much wear and tear your walls will experience.