Whether you’re redecorating a single room or your entire home, there’s nothing more exciting than picking out a new colour scheme. This simple decision can completely transform the atmosphere of a space.
Your chosen shade should, of course, reflect your personal style and preferences. But with such an enormous variety of colours to choose from, finding the right wall paint can be a daunting task.
Unsure where to start? Read on to discover our seven top tops for choosing the ideal wall paint colour.
1. Decide on the Ambiance You Want to Create
When choosing colours to paint walls, be mindful of the ambiance that you’re trying to create. Research suggests that colour can have a measurable impact on our mood.
Consider your own personality and lifestyle. Do you prefer brighter, warmer hues that bring energy into the room? Or would you rather opt for soothing, cool tones that restore peace and balance?
The room’s function is also important. Restful, calming shades of lavender or sage are perfect bedroom colours for walls. But if you’re choosing colours for the kitchen walls, a joyful, stimulating yellow may work better.
2. Consider Space and Light
Light colours, being more reflective, can help to open up a room and create the illusion of more space. White and pastel shades are therefore the perfect wall paint colours for small or low-ceilinged rooms. They’re also ideal for naturally darker rooms that don’t get much sunshine.
Dark shades, such as navy, absorb more light. They make big, bright rooms feel cosier, and can also work well as feature wall colours. In large but poorly lit rooms, a combination of light and dark walls can help to create balance.
3. Choose a Shade that Suits Your Furniture and Flooring
Unless you’re planning to replace them, keep your furnishings and floors in mind when choosing colour for paint. Walls should always be decorated with consideration of the room as a whole. For example:
- Vivid, colourful walls can add personality to rooms with neutral furniture and flooring (e.g. light wood)
- Neutral wall colours such as grey, white and magnolia work well with busy, patterned furnishings and curtains
- If you have dark floors, such as slate, a light-coloured wall paint can help brighten up the room
Remember, you don’t have to stick with your old colour scheme. You can always select a wall paint that contrasts boldly with your existing décor. Just make sure it has a similar undertone so that it doesn’t clash.
4. Experiment with Accent Colours
Who says you have to paint every wall the same shade? Creating an accent wall, or painting colour on wall trims, is a great way to draw the eye and add some visual interest. There are three main types of “colour combo” for walls:
- Analogous: shades that are adjacent on the colour wheel e.g. navy and purple
- Complementary: contrasting shades e.g. orange and teal
- Monochromatic: lighter and darker variations of the same hue, e.g. pale sage and forest green
Analogous accent colours feel soothing and harmonious, whereas contrasting colour palettes are bold and fun. Monochromatic rooms give off a minimalistic, contemporary vibe.
5. Be Mindful of Wall Colour Trends
If you’re struggling to choose paint colours for walls, searching for visual inspiration can be helpful. Furniture showrooms, and sites like Pinterest and Instagram, offer an abundance of wall colour ideas.
However, it’s important to be mindful of trends, such as the all-grey interior decorating fad of the 2010s. As with fashion, wall colour trends come and go, and can end up making your home look dated.
If you don’t want to have to redecorate too soon, try not to get distracted by the latest design obsessions. Focus on shades that you love – colours associated with good memories or that reflect your personality.
6. Don’t Forget About the Finish
When choosing internal wall paint colours, bear in mind that emulsion comes in many finishes. Similar shades can appear quite different once dry depending on the paint’s texture and reflectiveness. Select the wrong finish and you could end up with the wrong colour paint on wall – a classic painting mistake.
Silk emulsion has a mid-sheen finish and can help rooms appear bright and airy, especially in sunlight. Matt paint is not significantly altered by lighting conditions and can deepen and intensify colours. Learn more about the differences between matt and silk emulsion here.
7. Try Out a Few Wall Paint Colours Before Committing
When it comes to selecting the best colour wall, don’t rush into the decision. It’s difficult to judge paint colours accurately on a screen compared to viewing them in person.
So, it always pays to test out various wall colours before placing a big paint order. Request paint swatches or samples of a few different options and see how each one works within your space. Check back at different times of day, and in varying weather conditions, to gauge how the light affects the hue.
Find Your Perfect Wall Paint Colour at Greenshop Paints
At Greenshop Paints, we specialise in sustainable, natural paint that is better for you and better for the planet. Head to our online shop to discover one of the widest selections of eco-friendly paints and finishes in the UK.
Earthborn Lifestyle and Auro 555 are two of our best-selling wall paints. These hardwearing low-sheen emulsions are both available in a fantastic array of beautiful shades.
If you have any questions about our products or their application, contact Greenshop Paints today. One of our specialist team will get back to you as soon as possible.
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