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How to choose a paint color for a room

Paint is cheap, but painting a room twice is not. The color on the chip almost never looks the same on your wall. These steps help you pick the right one the first time.

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How do you choose the right paint color for a room?

Start from what stays in the room, like the floor, sofa and countertops, and pick a color whose undertone works with them. Check which way the room faces, test large painted samples on several walls, and look at them in morning, afternoon and evening light before you decide. Then choose a finish that suits the room.

A plain living room with paint swatches on the wall, painter’s tape and a sofa under a drop cloth
Before
The same living room painted warm sage green with white trim and fully furnished
After

Same walls, same window, same camera. Only the design changed.

7 steps to choose a paint color

  1. Start with what you are keeping

    Floors, sofa, rug, cabinets and countertops. The paint should work with them, not the other way around.

  2. Check the undertone

    Every neutral leans warm (yellow, red) or cool (blue, green). Hold samples next to plain white paper to see it.

  3. Consider the light

    North-facing rooms get cool light, so warmer colors help. South-facing rooms get warm light and can take cooler colors.

  4. Narrow it to three

    Choose three close options rather than ten very different ones.

  5. Test big samples

    Paint large boards, at least 12 by 12 inches, and move them around the room. Small chips are misleading.

  6. Look at every hour

    Check the samples in the morning, the afternoon and at night with your lamps on.

  7. Pick the finish

    Matte for low-traffic rooms, eggshell for living rooms and bedrooms, satin or semi-gloss for kitchens, bathrooms and trim.

Large sample boards on different walls show how the light changes the color.
Large sample boards on different walls show how the light changes the color.
Sage green in evening lamp light. Always check a color at night too.
Sage green in evening lamp light. Always check a color at night too.

Common mistakes

  • Choosing from a tiny chip under store lighting.
  • Painting test swatches right next to each other on the old wall color.
  • Ignoring the undertone of the floor or countertops.

Try it on your room

  1. Take a photo of the room. Daylight photos give the most accurate colors.
  2. Try wall colors. Use the wall color feature to see several colors on your actual walls, with your furniture and light.
  3. Shortlist, then sample. Buy sample pots only for the two or three colors you like best.

Questions, answered

How many paint samples should I try?

Two or three close options. Testing too many very different colors makes the decision harder.

Which paint finish is best for walls?

Eggshell is the most versatile for living rooms and bedrooms. Matte hides imperfections but is less washable. Use satin or semi-gloss in kitchens, bathrooms and on trim.

What is a paint undertone?

The subtle color underneath the main color. A beige can lean pink, yellow or green, and that undertone becomes obvious once the whole wall is painted.

What color should I paint a north-facing room?

Colors with warm undertones, such as warm whites, creams and warm greige. Cool grays and blues can look cold and dull in north light.

Should trim be the same color as the walls?

It can be. Same-color trim gives a calm, modern look. White trim gives a crisper, more traditional look.

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