Testing Interior Paint Colors at HGTV Urban Oasis 2015

Hung up on paint? Get expert tips for picking the perfect interior colors from interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn and discover the bold choices used at HGTV Urban Oasis 2015 .

By: Dana Dalrymple

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Photo By: FlynnSide Out Productions

All White, Just Right

Although your first instinct may be to browse the walls of endless colorful paint swatches at the paint store, consider your furniture and accent pieces. If you have bold accents in your space, an all white or neutral room successfully showcases these accents and allows them to take center stage.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Guiding Light

Artificial light will cause colors to read yellow or even blue, so be careful when choosing colors for rooms with a lot of artificial light.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

From Every Angle

Evaluate how bouncing light from adjacent spaces effects the appearance of a paint color in a space.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Coordinate Fabrics

Cut extra swatches of fabrics you plan to incorporate into your space and take them to the paint store for easy comparison.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Prime First

If you are drastically changing your wall color, you'll need to prime your walls. Primer not only covers up colors and stains, it also adds a layer to allow the top coat of paint to better adhere.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Test Sizes

For a fraction of the cost, purchase sample pints of paint, take them home and test them out. Sample pints make it easier to judge how a space will look in a certain color better than a swatch alone. Better to be safe than sorry.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Paint a Section

Mark off a 12x25 inch section for a sizeable area to evaluate.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Must-Have Natural Light

Test paint near windows to gauge how a color appears with ample natural light. Different light sources change the tone of a paint color.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Color Change

Different rooms provide different lighting, so take a step back and register how colors read from different rooms.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Paint Before You Stain

Always paint before staining, because colors influence the appearance of a stain.

"There is a lot of layering involed in staining," says interior designer Brian Patrick Flynn. "I put all of the colors in place and then test the stains."

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

Bold Approach

Dark stains provide a bold statement in a room, but many shy away from richer stains for fear they will make a space feel dark and drab. Take into account the amount of natural light entering a space which can lighten the appearance of a stain.

From: Brian Patrick Flynn

HGTV Urban Oasis 2015

Testing Interior Paint Colors at HGTV Urban Oasis 2015

Related To:

Shop This Look

All White, Just Right

Guiding Light

From Every Angle

Coordinate Fabrics

Prime First

Test Sizes

Paint a Section

Must-Have Natural Light

Color Change

Paint Before You Stain

Bold Approach

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