Painting tips for your home

HOw to choose the Right paint color

When picking out your paint, be sure to ask yourself not just how well a certain hue matches your couch and curtains, but also how the colors make you feel.

Defining a color's "meaning" is highly subjective, however here are some of the more typical descriptors to help give you a sense of how to achieve the moods you desire in each room space.

Red: High-energy, passionate, excited, romantic, stimulates appetite

Deep reddish-brown: Warm and welcoming, contemplative

Brown: Calm, earthy and natural

Yellow: Energetic, bright, cheerful and optimistic

Golden: Warm, welcoming, sophisticated

Green: Calming and neutral, natural, earthy, comfortable

Purple: Creative, artistic, passionate, magical, posh

Light blue: Soothing, cool, tranquil, calms appetite

Peach: Warm, delicate, happy, nice on skin tones

Gray: Neutral, plain, cool, stylish, sophisticated

Brown: Warm, comfortable, secure, mature

White: Bright, pure, neutral, refreshing, clean and tidy

Pink: Soft, sweet, romantic, innocent, tranquil

"Don't let the salespeople convince you that you want [a particular designer color]," advises Broc Clark of Bróc Interiors in Dallas, Texas. After all -- you're the one who will be living in the space, not them! "Get a color you like and will like for a long time." 

Avoid trendy colors of the season unless you just love them, or if you plan to update and repaint often.

Coordinating wall colors & techniques

Want a look with a little more zing? Don't think you have to limit yourself to just one color -- or just one style of application. Jamie Hurd, Academic Department Director of Interior Design at The Art Institute of Portland in Oregon, suggests you consider adding visual interest with the background colors in the room.

"Perhaps choose one wall to paint a different color than the rest, and embellish that wall with stencils and accents, or divide the walls from top to bottom, similar to a wainscot," she says. "This allows for more color in the room, as well as the opportunity for semi-gloss paints to be used [on the bottom portion] for easy cleanup."

For a bold, classic look, consider choosing two colors that complement eachother and paint stripes!

Find out how to paint stripes on your wall >>

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