Choosing Wall Colors and Wall Paint Tips

Pull a color out of something else that is going to be in the room such as the chosen fabrics. Narrow down two or three and purchase a quart of each to paint sample boards (while no one wants to buy paint they won't use, this can keep you from buying gallons of the wrong color). Hold the dry sample boards up to the furniture, the fabrics and the surfaces already in the room (the larger swatch makes it so much easier to decide if a color is right or not).

If the choice between two colors is difficult, set one of the boards up and hide the other behind it. If you cannot commit, switch the boards as you will probably feel more comfortable with one. If not, don't worry too much about this as you'll eventually find the right color. Remember, it's just paint.

A perfect match isn't always the best wall color choice so allow at least one of the sample boards to be an imperfect match. It just might be the spark that gives your room that non-formulated designer look.