Agh! Decisions, decisions, decisions. SO many decisions. As a homeowner, it may be easy to know that you want to make a change in your home, but it can sure be difficult to decide what you want that change to look like. Even just in the realm of paint colors, finishes, and textures out there, how is a person to decide? When we speak with homeowners during initial site visits after a project is submitted, it is not uncommon to not yet know exactly what it is that you’re looking for. Do not fret however, there are tools out there to make your paint decisions easier for you, and our on staff paint experts can help to provide clarity. Below, we will provide you with some tools that you can use today to help you along the way.

start easy… find inspiration online

One of my favorite ways to start narrowing down what it is that I am looking for, is to scour the internet for inspiration. Even just a Google search goes a long way! Do you have a Pinterest problem? Channel that! Same goes for Instagram. There are countless images online that you can look at and say “NO WAY” to or “Ohhh, see I like that one.” I would recommend the following elements in your searching:

Color Palettes: Try starting easy by searching broad color palettes. Some examples include “earth tone,” “calm,” “pastel,” “light,” “dark,” “neutral, “refined,” “fluorescent.” Search _______ color palette and see what comes up.
Eras: If you are trying to keep you home to a certain era, such as when it was built, then you may want to search keeping that in mind. For example, you could search “1890s home interior paint” or “1970s home interior paint”. Another example may be “traditional Victorian home interior paint”.
Aesthetics: Here is where you can get really fun! Whether you like steam punk, cottage core, retro, bohemian, coastal, farmhouse, modern, art deco, there is something out there for you. Try searching _______ color swatch to find some inspiration.
Today’s Trends: Maybe you want to keep it to what is popular today, such as if your home is going on the market after your project. Try using searches as simple as “most popular interior paint colors 2024,” “best paint colors in the midwest 2024,” or “paint colors that raise your home value”.

Keeping it online… ask the experts

Once you’ve gotten a little brain storming underway, my next recommendation would be to check out what resources the major brands have for you to utilize. Shermin-Williams, Benjamin Moore, and Behr are three great brands to start with.

Note: Mind that colors on computer monitors can look different from real life because nearly all screens use RGB light to display colors, while real-life objects reflect a broader spectrum of natural light. The same goes for any examples you’d print in color at home or even at a printing service. It is important to verify color selections in person and to get samples from the source, and better yet in the space where they’ll be painted. More on that below.

Shermin-Williams: Shermin-Williams offers an array of options including exploring a digital color wall, preset color collections, color matching any photo that you upload (Like your favorite wedding or vacation picture), and also allowing you to virtually paint a picture of your room that you upload!

Benjamin Moore: On the Benjamin Moore website you can explore colors by color family, color collection (ex: Historical Color Collection, Off White Collection, Benjamin Moore Classics), color palettes, and color insights (ex: Jewel-Toned, Pale & Pastel, Complementary Colors) and more!

Behr: Use the Behr website to explore colors by color family, virtually paint your room, view curated colors, and utilize a color wheel selection tool.

Take things offline and hit the stores

Once you’ve gotten your fill of options online, you may find yourself eager to get out there and see some of these colors for yourself. We recommend visiting your local paint stores to see what options are out there and also to pick the brains of the professionals in shop. Some helpful tools you could walk away with include swatches and peel & stick paint samples (seen below). Once you have swatches or peel & stick samples, you can check them out in the actual space to see how they look, especially as the light changes throughout the day. If you’re feeling extra ambitious, you could get an actual paint sample along with some primer (if the change is more than subtle) and check out how the actual paint looks on your wall.

For those in the Madison, WI area, we recommend the following store options (in no particular order):

Sherwin-williams
Benjamin Moore
Ace Hardware
Home Depot
Menards

Ah yes, can’t forget about texture

You may want to consider altering the texture on the walls in your home. Texture can add character while also hiding any imperfections in your walls amongst the many small shadows they cast. We can assist with both the removal and addition of textures. Here are some examples below:

Additional Considerations

Paint finish: Consider whether you want a glossy, semi-gloss, satin, eggshell, or matte finish on your paint. More to come on that in a future post.
Room size: Lighter colors may make smaller rooms feel larger.
Existing decor and furnishings: Consider if you want to match the current furnishings in your room.
Natural light: More natural light may give you more flexibility to pull off darker colors.
Color psychology: How would you like your room to make you feel? What types of colors will help you achieve that goal?
Type of room: Once you’ve determined the type of room, research what kinds of colors it is best suited for. For example, serene and calming colors may be best for a bedroom. Google is your friend here!
Type of room pt. 2: Some rooms require specialized paint to last for the long run. For example, bathrooms benefit from primers and paints that can withstand high amounts of moisture and humidity. Speak with in-store experts or the Ace of Space team to make sure the right type of paint is being utilized.

In conclusion

While this has all been a lot of information to take in, I hope that it provides you with a sense of direction. Not sure where to start first? Just take one of the tips and give it a shot. Trial and error is a great mindset to have, as you may have two days where you don’t find an answer, but then all of a sudden something may click when you see a different image or get a new tip from an expert that gets you back on the right track.

Make sure to check out our services page to see some of the many services we have to offer and submit your project when you’re ready to get the ball rolling!

the right colors make your home a work of art