Choosing Paint Colors for Your Whole House

Painting an entire home at once is a huge undertaking. However, you are probably excited by the potential results, even if you are not looking forward to the task-at-hand. That’s okay, though, because you have a challenge ahead of you. The most important being: choosing paint colors for your whole house.

Color schemes are important for a number of reasons – outside of the technical recommendations for a perfect paint job. The impact on mood, alone, is something worth considering when you paint your entire home. A family unit thrives on the atmosphere in a home, which means you will have to choose colors that keep everyone happy.

Measuring Your Painting Surfaces

You will have a lot of ground to cover, so making sure you buy the right amount of paint is paramount. You can easily measure each area by calculating the square footage from the width of the room multiplied by the length from the floor to the ceiling.

If you are painting multiple rooms in the same color, add your results together so you will have an accurate estimate of square footage when it comes time to purchase your paint. Remember you are not obligated to purchase your paint by the gallon. If you can mix gallons with pints, and achieve the coverage you need, you may save money.

Connected Spaces

Connected spaces are places like hallways that lead into another room without distracting the eye. If you intend on creating a uniform effect for your connected spaces, remember to calculate the square footage as a whole, subtracting any windows and doors from your total. You will need enough paint to easily cover all these areas.

For entryways, we advise you to use neutral colors so guests feel welcome and aren’t overwhelmed as soon as they step foot in your home. Mild shades of popular colors such as yellow, blue, and green are also ideal for hallways that are designed to impress visitors.

Trim and Accents

Semi-gloss as a trim color will likely never go out of vogue. It is the perfect choice for interior trim uniformity. However, there are two colors that are fast emerging as contenders for the ultimate trim – black or silver-fray. More homeowners are opting for these bolder colors because they want their homes to stand apart.

Accented walls are also becoming the number one choice for homeowners in Arizona. When you have a feature such as a fireplace, which is spectacular to look at on its own, why not help draw attention by creating an accented wall? Make sure to choose colors that compliment the room and do not change the perceived dimensions in a way that makes you feel uncomfortable in the living space.

While dark colors are a bold choice for an accented wall, you may want to tone it down a little if you expect to create a comfortable environment for visitors. Reserve your darker shades for rooms that receive more natural light. On the other hand, if a room feels too large and cold, a dark accented wall will close up space. Ultimately, it all comes down to personal preference, so choose your color palette wisely.

Know Your Rooms

The place to get creative is in rooms that are not continuous, such as sitting rooms, bedrooms, and bathrooms. These rooms do not need a theme that is uniform with the rest of your home. You, therefore, have more room for creativity. Bedrooms, especially, deserve a unique approach to painting.

Bedrooms are the personal space of the occupant. While you may like a larger, brighter room, your kids may appreciate a more comfortable space. It all depends on the individual, so you should have a family conversation before purchasing the paint for each room. It helps to discuss how paint impacts on light and dimensions in a room. It’s safe to assume unless you have a budding painter in the family, you are all exploring the impact of color for the first time.

Color Testing

You are about to paint an entire home in a DIY project that will likely endure for years to come. This is not a simple undertaking. Some of your continuous rooms will account for a large surface area. If you buy paint without taking measurements, you will either run out or end up with a huge amount of excess paint.

To avoid wasting time and money, purchase a quart of your color so you can perform color testing. You can paint small areas to see how your chosen color works. It’s better to waste a few dollars on a quart of paint than splash out for a couple of gallons, only to find out your chosen color scheme just doesn’t work.

The Arizona Painting Company is waiting to take your call today. We are your local experts who can help you bring your project to life.