“Apply multiple colors and sit with them for a few days,” recommends Erika Woelfel, Behr color expert. “Test them in multiple different parts of your room with different lighting to help you to better visualize what the color will look like in your space at any time of day.” Nicole Gibbons, the founder and CEO of Clare, shares similar advice: “Make sure you love your color both under daylight and in the evening when the sun is down and the artificial lights are on in your home,” she says. Luckily, Clare offers repositionable swatches (that are like large stickers) so you can move them around to different walls and brighter or dimmer areas of the room. “Once you’ve spent time with each color, then make your final choice. This can save you a lot of frustration and money in the long run,” says Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams. Taking your time now will help you avoid regrets later. “We always recommend painting a small board or piece of foam core and evaluating the color in different parts of the room and throughout the day,” says Andrea Magno, Director of Color Marketing and Development for Benjamin Moore. “This will enable you to see how the color looks with consideration of the light (both natural and artificial) and other surroundings (such as artwork, furniture, etc.), ensuring that you’ll love the color in all scenarios,” she explains. “If you don’t want to paint the area directly, paint the length of a large sheet of lining paper, and it becomes a movable feast that you can see on different walls in the same room and at different times of the day!” Magno suggests considering how the undertones of a paint color might draw out similar tones found in the furniture and decor throughout the room. “In addition to sampling the color in the space, compare similar shades that have different undertones (e.g., warm vs. cool) to help determine the best choice for the space.” Not sure if a paint color has a warm or cool undertone? Try this trick from Woelfel: “If you’re unsure about the undertone of a particular shade of white (whether it contains a touch of yellow, peach, blue or green) try placing your color swatch on a piece of white paper.” “When it comes to placing paint colors in a room, less is more!” says O’Donnell. “Too many can lessen the impact. If you desire texture and contrast, focus more on using fabrics and artwork to bring in additional layers and character,” he suggests.
