House & Home

Painting the walls is an easy way to transform a room.
Experiment with colors online.
Consider options such as low-VOC and low-odor paints.

Pick a Palette

Perk up your home with paint.

Painting the walls is a fast and affordable way to give your home a subtle or dramatic change of mood.

One of the most affordable and dramatic ways to transform a room – giving it a subtle boost or a completely new feel – is to paint the walls. Your home should be a nourishing place that reflects your character and sense of style, and paint plays a big part in setting the right tone. Moving into a new house is the perfect time to set the mood with paint, but it’s not always easy to choose the right look. Here are a few tips to take some guesswork out of the process:

Don’t Rush

Take your time deciding on a room color. Get a paint sample and put some on the wall or a piece of poster board. Live with it and look at it under various light conditions.

Choose Your Refuge

Do you want a soothing space or an invigorating one? Select a cool color such as green or blue for a relaxing retreat, or a warm color such as red or yellow to infuse energy into a room. Remember that cool colors make a room feel more expansive, and warm tones make the space seem cozier.

Lighten Up

To make ceilings look higher, paint the ceiling of a room one or two shades lighter than the wall color. Just be sure to stay in the same color-strip family.

Experiment Online

Take advantage of the great online resources available that let you see a room “painted” the color you like. This will help you visualize the results and feel better about making bold choices – but you should still test them on the wall before you commit.

Avoid Overload

Pick a color and a palette and define a room by altering the shades, but don’t add too many colors.

The Right White

Trying to find the right white can be a challenge. Beiges and off-whites have subtle color, so compare paint chips to your furniture and flooring to determine if a pinkish, yellow-toned or blue-toned white is right for you.

Custom Color Matching

If you want to find a perfect match, your paint store or home center offers custom color mixing. You can bring in a fabric swatch, painting or other item and get a paint color created to match.

Find the Right Finish

Be sure to consider which finish will work best for your project. Matte or flat finishes hide wall imperfections, but glossier finishes will reflect more light and clean more easily.

Explore Your Options

You’ll find plenty of different kinds of paint these days, so be sure to explore your options with low-VOC or zero-VOC paints (which do not pollute the air with volatile organic compounds), stain-killing primers, low-odor paints, washable paint, chalkboard paint and more.

Story By Jessica Mozo

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