How To Choose The Right Paint Colour For Your Home

Choosing a paint colour can sometimes be harder than it sounds.

You might have a colour in mind when you visit the paint shop, but once you get it home and put it on the wall, it can look completely different from what you expected.

The size of the room, amount of natural light, flooring, furniture and even the direction the room faces can all make a difference.

If you're decorating your home in Spalding or the surrounding Lincolnshire area, here are a few things we'd recommend thinking about before choosing your colour.

Start with the room itself

Before choosing a colour, have a good look at the room you're decorating.

A large room with plenty of natural light can handle stronger colours, while a smaller room might benefit from lighter shades if you want it to feel more open.

That doesn't mean you have to stick to white in a small room, though. Soft greens, warm neutrals, light blues and other muted colours can work really well without making a space feel enclosed.

Think about the natural light

Natural light can change how a colour looks throughout the day.

A colour that looks warm and inviting in the morning might look quite different in the evening, particularly in a room that doesn't get much direct sunlight.

It's always worth testing a colour on the actual wall rather than relying completely on a small colour card.

If possible, look at the sample at different times of the day. You might be surprised by the difference.

Don't forget what's already in the room

Your walls aren't the only thing that needs to work together.

Think about your flooring, curtains, furniture, doors and other features already in the room.

You don't necessarily need everything to match, but the colours should work together.

For example, if you have warm wooden flooring and furniture, a very cool wall colour might feel out of place. A warmer neutral could create a much more balanced finish.

You don't have to follow every trend

It's easy to see a colour on social media or in a magazine and immediately think it would look great in your home.

And sometimes it will.

But trends come and go, while a good decorating job should hopefully last for a number of years.

If you're unsure, think about the sort of room you actually want to live in rather than simply choosing whatever colour happens to be popular at the moment.

Don't be afraid of colour

Neutral colours are popular for a reason, but that doesn't mean every room has to be beige, white or grey.

A feature wall, darker hallway or stronger colour in a living room can completely change the feel of a property when it's done well.

The key is getting the balance right.

If you're unsure about using a particular colour, it can sometimes help to start with one room or a smaller area rather than changing the whole house at once.

Getting the finish right matters too

Choosing the right colour is only part of the job.

The condition of the walls, preparation and quality of the finish will all affect how the final result looks.

A good colour on poorly prepared walls can still leave you disappointed with the finished room.

At LLB Decorating, we work with homeowners and businesses in Spalding and across the surrounding area, helping with everything from individual rooms to larger decorating projects.

If you're not sure which direction to take with your decorating, we're always happy to have a chat about the project and give you some straightforward advice.

Sometimes choosing a colour is the hardest part, we're here to help with everything that comes afterwards.