How do I pick paint colors for my home?

What colors make YOU feel good?

Don't give too much weight to what AI says, or your friends. Personally, I love saturated, loud colors. Think hot pink, orange, emerald green, turquiose. It's all about the balance of color (see my blog post on balance) and making sure there is enough area for the eyes to "rest". Maybe you prefer earth tones. There is no wrong answer. Just pick colors that make you happy. I do encourage clients to push the envelope a bit. While it's a bit scary, clients also find it liberating. Love the earth tones? Think about the rich colors you see in nature as well as the soft ones.

What are the focal points in your home?

Do you have a great view? If you have a water view, I try to bring watery colors into the palette. Do you look at the woods? Maybe incorporate some of the colors you see outside. Have a modern loft? Intersperse a few funky colors here and there. If the most impressive focal points are primarily outside, bring the outside in. No view? Take more liberties!

How many colors are going on in your home?

If you have many wall colors throughout your home, you should consider making your next selection quieter, or more neutral. If the opposite is true, go ahead and throw in a bit more variety. See the top image with the accent of a rich, earthy green. Drop that into a room like the one below and, "wow"!

What is your lighting situation?

Do you have a lot of natural light? If so, you have more flexibility to add deeper tones, or ones that have a bit more "muddiness" to them. Not a lot of light? Stick to "cleaner" colors that feel light and crisp.

There are many factors I think about when picking paint colors, however, the most important one is how it makes you feel. There is no paint police! Do whatever makes you love your space.