Choosing The Correct Paint Color

Color is a very important element of a room, it helps set the mood.  Color will bring your space to life and add interest, so don't be afraid of it.  Some people have an eye for color, others not so much.  When I worked at Betty Johnson's Interiors in Kohler, WI, we were lucky to tour the Baker Furniture Company in Michigan.  We were told that no man over the age of forty works in the artistic finishing department because men over the age of forty loose their ability to see color values.  Sorry guys, I don't mean to insult you, just make sure you consult a woman before making your color selection.  One of the most common mistakes I see people make is choosing a color that is much too intense in comparison to the furnishings of the room.  In order to avoid selecting the wrong paint color for your home, here are some important points that will help make the decision easier.

1. Never choose a paint color in the store without taking a paint chip home to view in your room. 
2. Instead of buying paint to sample on your walls, ask the paint dealer or your designer, to order you several 8-1/2" x 11" samples of the colors you like.  (These samples are a trade secret.)  Tape them up on the wall and view them during different times of the day.  The samples are free to the dealers and it will save you the cost of buying paint that you will end up not liking.  
3. Even the most simplest colors of beige and white will vary tremendously from cool to warm and reflect light differently in your home.  
4. Be careful of the finish.  Unless you are trying to create a special effect, a high gloss paint will give your room a cheap, tacky look.
5. The color you pick needs to relate to something in your home, a pillow, artwork, bedding or an accessory.  There is a large palette of paint colors to choose from and it is much easier to pick the paint color to match some item in your home then it is to pick fabric or artwork to match your paint color. 
6. Dismiss the idea that dark colors will make your room feel smaller.  

Good luck and happy painting!