Choosing The Right Paints For Your Walls

To put the finishing touches on your home and make the most of that home construction loan, choose the right paints for the interior walls.  There are two main considerations: color and finish.

Color is the key to each room’s ambience, so choose paint colors that will reflect the mood of each room.  What matters most is how a color makes you feel.  Yellows and reds tend to create energy, while blues, greens, and purples create a more relaxing atmosphere.   A white or light neutral wall shade can set a background for bolder colors in the room’s décor.  Remember that light shades will make small rooms appear larger, while a darker color will make a large room look more intimate.

First, select three colors you like from objects in your home—anything that conveys comfort or has an emotional connection for you—and take the objects to the paint store. Find three sample strips with those colors, and you’ll have 18 colors to choose from, since each sample strip has six paint colors. Next, choose one color from one of the strips to be your wall color and save the other two strips for choosing matching fabric or furnishings. To choose the colors for adjacent rooms, take the same three sample strips and select another color.

Sunlight and room light can affect your perceptions, so check samples on different walls or at different times of day. Fluorescent light enhances blues and greens but makes reds, oranges, and yellows appear dull. Incandescent light works with warm colors but not cool ones. Even natural sunlight changes from day to day, room to room, and morning to night.

Homeowners in general select a shade of white or off-white for the moldings, doors, and windows. If you're feeling brave, consider the palest shade of color to coordinate with the walls. For a striking look, try lighter walls and dark tones or bright color for trim.

Once you have chosen colors, consider the finish you'll be using.  Interior paints are available in finishes ranging from flat (or matte) to gloss. The finish of semi-gloss paint is halfway between flat and gloss, and eggshell paint is halfway between flat and semi-gloss.  Higher-gloss finishes are more washable and durable, but they will show more surface imperfections. The gloss level will also affect your perception of the color. Flat paints and textured walls absorb light, so colors seem darker; glossy paints and smooth surfaces reflect, so colors look brighter.

High-gloss paint generally is reserved for trim. Semi-gloss is also excellent on trim, as well as on kitchen, bathroom, and other walls exposed to grease, moisture, and heavy wear. A flat or eggshell finish is best for surfaces that receive less wear, such as living room and bedroom walls.  Flat wall paint is especially good if your wall has small bumps, cracks, or other imperfections.