The Home Depot, Friends, Jumping Guns, Near-Sighted and avoiding a KISS? I’ll tell you! They are all common pitfalls when choosing color for your home or office. But, not to worry if you have fallen, I am here to pick you up, dust off your shoes and direct you to the solutions and guide you toward your perfect color palette!
1. Home Depot
How many of you have decided to paint your home, then headed out to the Home Depot or paint store to grab 10-20 color swatches and brought those home to pick your perfect color? hmm? Let’s be honest, most of us have done this. Hopefully only once. This is a big mistake, choosing your paint color OUT OF CONTEXT! As well as painting all those samples in your room, you’ve overwhelmed yourself…
Solution: Determine the undertone color of the room, pick a color with that same undertone or complement of that color. Choose samples that will match your carpet, furniture, and décor. Once you have 3 colors that you really like, go put those colors on at least a 8 x 11 board and look at those true paint colors throughout the day. Usually, you can eliminate one, and then it’s down to two, pick the one you like best at all times of the day.
2. Friends
Choosing a paint color that a friend, family member or designer has used. Why is this wrong? Well, the lighting is probably much different in your home than where you saw that great wall color. Or, the furnishings in your home are nothing like that of your friend’s home. Trust me. A few colors will translate, make sure you get something that works with how the light shines in your home as well as your furnishing and décor.
Solution: Go back to #1, the same solution here friends!
3. Jumping the Gun
Don’t rush beauty! If you want a beautiful home, then plan it. A large number of new homeowners rush to pick their color first when they have no idea of how they are decorating their home. It really helps to have at least the carpet, cabinets, counters, chosen before going the way of the paint, furnishings as well.
Do you know the solution to this? Yes, same as #1, again. If you don’t have everything picked out, then I suggest creating an inspiration board. Use Pinterest, it’s a great tool for planning. When you go shopping you won’t have a big, expensive mistake staring at you every single day.
4. Being Near-Sighted
Don’t focus on just the color because you like it, you need to make sure it works within your home as a whole. Does it work with the furnishings, the paint color in the room next to that everyone can see when they walk into the room?
Solution: Planning is key, don’t rush! Map out your whole space and color influences before committing to a color plan. Use sample boards and change the curtains or rugs if you have to make it work.
5. KISS
You have to know what KISS means, Keep It Simple, Sweetie! It is easy to overcomplicate when choosing colors.
Solution: My advice, keep your color pallet classic and understated and pop the color or personality with the accents, such as the photo above by designer Benjamin Dhong. Still use color, but if you’re looking to keep costs down, use a neutral, classic paint color.
These are a few solutions of common pitfalls when choosing color with clients. If you are still making these or other mistakes and can’t seem to find that perfect solution, not to worry, give me a call and I will walk you through it online or in your home to bring you to the best color for your home or office.
