Are you ever confused when trying to choose paint colours for your home improvement project? You are not alone. Did you know that 80% of homeowners make mistakes when choosing their paint colours? For example, they pick the wrong shades, or they paint the wrong colours in the wrong rooms. Or they just completely pick the wrong paint colours altogether. Unfortunately, this results in regretting painting in the first place and having wasted their time and money.
Indeed, selecting paint colours for your house interiors is never a piece of cake. The fact is, in a marvellous world of a broad spectrum of tones, tints and hues, your choice of wall paint colours still boils down to your taste. What you should pay attention to and what doesn’t, however, is to prevent making paint colour mistakes that all of us are most likely to, especially at this stage. There are things that your favourite paint shops will not tell you and some things that will just entice you.
For instance, you may think that the colour you chose right off the bat is the right decision. But there is a lot of research that must go into this selection. There are some common mistakes to think about when you’re thinking about picking colours for both interior painting and exterior painting. So, let’s dig into both!
Mistakes while Choosing Paint Colours For Exterior Painting:
1. Selecting colours in fluorescent light at the paint store.
Don’t trust that lighting! Always take the swatches home and assess them in your own home’s lighting.
2. Choosing paint colours as the focal point rather than complementary to the furnishings/room.
In fact, you should really work towards everything from your furniture to your flooring as well as your interior paint colour perfectly complementing one another.
3. Sometimes, you’re creating an all-bright or a really neutral room unnoticeably.
If you’ve opted for a bright and intense-looking wall, let the rest of the room be shrouded in lighter, more neutral colours to balance out the peg of your walls. Likewise, if you’ve chosen a soft shade for a wall in your space, it’s best to brighten it up with some bold and contrasting accent colours.
4. Picking paint colours that have the wrong hues in them.
Think about whether you want warm tones or cool tones. Keep in mind that every space has its own inspiration or a mood you want to particularly curate for, just like if you want a peaceful environment in your living room, it makes sense to opt for soothing colours like lavender, blue, and light grey. Red and orange will not be your best choices here. Consider browsing Toronto’s best living room paint colours in 2024 for your reference to spot what will match your preferred look.
5. Forgetting to consider lighting depends on the particular room you want to paint.
Remember that natural light is one of the keys to your room’s overall appearance. If your space gets enough natural light, it’s simpler to have a broader range of colours to select from. However, if not, you must pick a lighter colour that doesn’t look too dramatic for your room.
6. Ignoring the side of the house
Paying no heed to which side of the house the room is facing (North and East facing rooms always get less sunlight than west and south-facing rooms).
7. Considering paint colours only from personal preference, forgetting to pick colours that will look good in the room.
While your personal taste should play a significant role in selecting paint colours for your home, it’s crucial not to overlook the characteristics and limitations of the space you’re working with. By focusing solely on your preferences, you may end up choosing colours that don’t bring out the best features of a room or create the desired ambience.
8. Not choosing the right paint finishes for the right rooms.
Remember that there are unique characteristics to every paint colour for walls. Consider this, when touched most of the time, water-based matte and flat paints may come off quickly. So, they’re better to be applied to the ceilings and walls that are unlikely to be touched. The satin finish can hold up to cleaning and light scrubbing. Thus, it can be utilized for high-traffic areas like your cooking area and bathrooms. While gloss is best used for ornamental corners like mouldings, cabinets, and doors.
9. Selecting paint colours throughout the house that don’t complement each other.
You probably pick wall paint colours first, isn’t it? It’s always a smart choice to look at the decor of the room you wish to paint for colour inspiration. For example, your pink-coloured carpet may not pair well with the shade of lavender you were preparing to use on your walls.
When selecting paint colours for your home, it’s essential to keep in mind the importance of creating a harmonious, unified atmosphere. Failing to ensure that the colours you choose for different rooms complement one another can result in a disjointed overall aesthetic, leaving your space feeling less like a cohesive home and more like a mismatched collection of rooms.
10. Picking the right colours but putting them in the wrong room.
So, Choosing a paint colour for a bedroom is totally different from choosing a paint colour for a bathroom. While any colour can technically fit anywhere, there’s a delicate art to assigning specific colours to the right locations in your home. This intricate dance is determined by several factors, such as the purpose of the room, its dimensions, natural light, and existing furnishings.
Colours you Can’t Go Wrong With
In 2024, the painting trends are constantly evolving every season. Therefore, it is paramount to know what colours are just fads and which ones are here to stay. With this in mind, try to aim for top-of-the-line paint from companies with positive reviews. Benjamin Moore and Sherwin Williams offer a vast selection of products to choose from with the highest quality possible.
- Sandy taupes
- Beige Taupes
- Light to medium-tone greys
- White and Black, are the classic paint colours that never go out of style.
Which Colours to Avoid
Steer clear of all these options listed below. For instance, your artsy friend who has rose-coloured glasses may suggest one of these colours but do not go for it. These colours are not going to be in style anytime soon, so it is best that you are ahead of the curve for these undesirable colours.
- First, scrap any colour with a pink hue. Sunlight will not be its friend
- Secondly, do not pick pastels like light green, light orange or light blue. These colours will look run down after time.
- Third, avoid all colours that do not represent a traditional or modern aesthetic.
- Lastly, steer colours that are not in natural light.
Mistakes while Choosing Paint Colours For Exterior Painting:
1. Ignoring their neighbours when choosing exterior paint colours.
A crucial step in selecting exterior paint is picking colours that compliment your home and your neighbours’ homes. Most people want to have a unique feel to their home, but they also don’t want to stick out like a sore thumb. There can be a nice balance there.
2. Not knowing if they want a more modern and contemporary look or if they want a more classic, traditional look.
Gather inspiration from various sources, such as magazines, online platforms, and interior design books. Organize your favourite ideas in one place to help clarify the look that speaks to you.
3. Nowhere near considering their landscaping when choosing an exterior paint colour.
Everything works together to create one cohesive visual message. So that includes your trees, shrubs, flowers and outdoor plants.
4. Picking the wrong hues.
Natural light has a huge influence on which colours to pick. So if you’re painting your home in a sunny location, choose colours that will look good in bright light. If you live in a shady area, go for colours that will still look great even when the sun isn’t shining.
5. Choosing paint colours inside the house or paint store versus outside in daylight.
Take your paint swatches outside and look at them against the exterior of your home. It makes all the difference!
6. Forgetting to consider the direction the front of their house is facing.
If you have a south-facing home, the sun will be shining directly on it for most of the day. This means that your paint colours will look brighter and more vibrant than if they were facing north or west. If you live in an area with lots of trees, consider painting your home a lighter colour so it doesn’t get too dark when shaded by foliage.
7. Disregarding weather conditions.
When selecting the right exterior paint, one of the primary considerations is the climate. Remember that heavy rains and prolonged direct sun exposure can affect the exterior paint finish. Some exterior paint finishes hold up better than others when exposed to the components over an extended period, while others do not, so it is better to choose the durable one.
8. Picking colour based on printed samples.
Printed paint samples are an excellent way to get a general idea of what a colour will look like once it dries. However, the only way to know how a paint colour will look is to see it on an actual product.
No journey ends without a few bumps along the way, but remember, those challenges don’t define you; how you respond to them does. Never hesitate to revisit the wealth of information provided to guide you on how to choose paint colours here, or reach out to us for that extra boost of clarity.
In addition, check out our Home Painters Toronto Pinterest page at any time for inspiration!
FREQUENTLY ASKED HOMEOWNER QUESTIONS
DO I HAVE TO MOVE THINGS AROUND AND CLEAR THE AREAS TO BE PAINTED BEFORE TORONTO PAINTERS COME?
Generally, here at Home Painters Toronto, we can do it for you; however, that will add to the hours of your job and increase your total estimate. Just note that if there’s any oversized product you cannot move on your own, it’s generally okay to ask our contractors to help you move it a bit to allow them to paint.
HOW SOON WILL I GET A QUOTE AFTER I CALL HOME PAINTERS TORONTO?
Stop looking around, as Home Painters Toronto is the fastest painter in the industry when it comes to both response and execution. This indicates we are open seven days a week and offer “same-day” quotes upon request if you are rushing to get things moving. We generally send our painting contractors out to see you within 1-2 business days, or whenever is the most convenient time for you if you are not in a rush.
HOW MUCH WILL IT COST TO PAINT A 2000 SQ FT HOUSE IN THE GREATER TORONTO AREA?
The rate generally ranges from around $7,000 to $9,000 CAD + HST. The rate per square foot to paint a 2000 sq ft home in the greater Toronto area ranges from $2.25 to $3 CAD + HST. Likewise, the average cost to paint a house is anywhere between $4,000 and $5,000 CAD + HST for interior painting for the walls only. Two floors of a home for interior painting for the walls range from $5,000 to $10,000 CAD + HST.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Indeed, selecting paint colours for your house interiors is never a piece of cake. The fact is, we’re living in a marvellous world with a broad spectrum of tones, tints and hues. But your choice of wall paint colours still boils down to your personal taste. What you should pay attention to and what doesn’t, however, is to prevent making paint colour mistakes that all of us are most likely to, especially at this stage. There are things that your favourite paint shops will not tell you and some things that will just entice you. Thus, you must be cautious about every decision you make.
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