My Painter Has Given Me a Paint Color Fan Deck to Pick Colors, Now What?
For many, the thought of looking at a paint color fan deck to pick paint colors is totally overwhelming. Why are there so many paint colors to choose from? How do you know which one is the right one? Unfortunately, some painters are not color specialists, so they leave that task to the homeowner. They pass on the color chart to you expecting you to pick a color within a certain amount of time so that they can get their job started and finished in a timely manner.
Once that fan deck is in your hands, the confusion begins. You look through it for days and then finally think you found a really great color. You ask your spouse or friend about it – and they don’t like it, so you are back to square one. Sometimes picking paint colors can become ever more confusing and overwhelming when you ask the opinions of others. Each person will have their own idea or opinion about what would look good. But ultimately it comes down to what YOU like – not them (unless you are married of course and need to work out a compromise with your spouse).
So, before you waste a lot of time getting frustrated over the color choice process, try to approach it with a plan. Here are some tips that you might want to consider when getting ready to pick paint colors within your home.
1. Look in Your Closet. We have the tendency to gravitate towards certain colors and those colors are usually represented within our wardrobe. So, before you open up that color chart, go to your closet, and pick out your favorite outfits. What color are they? Some will like earth tones and neutrals. Some may like bold or brighter colors. Whatever your color preferences are, think about those colors that you really like and write them down on a piece of paper. Why not take those colors and use them on your walls? If you like to wear it, then most likely you will not mind living with it on your walls as well.
2. Check out Resources like Books, Magazines, and Internet. Some people work better by seeing a picture of a room already painted. They can look at it and think – do I like that? So, a great way to find color inspiration is by looking through books, magazines and even over the internet. Once you have a picture picked out, you can then take a look at your color charts and find the closest color and go from there.
3. Ask for Advice. Sometimes asking for advice can be helpful. Another set of eyes can help you put things into perspective. But be sure to limit how many people you are asking. As we said above, it is easy to get confused by everyone’s different opinions. Seeking the advice from a professional color consultant is your best bet. They can sit down with you and come up with a plan that would best fit your taste and style.
4. Use Sample Boards. Once you choose your colors, take the time to pick up paint samples in those specific colors. Don’t paint them directly onto your wall because this can confuse the eye, especially if you have several different color options that you are working with. Paint the colors onto separate sample boards. Be sure to apply two coats so the color is the actual color it will be when actually painted on the walls. Once dry, you can then take each paint sample board and bring them to different sections of the room. Some areas will be brighter because of windows or lighting and some areas may be darker because of shade or shadows. Also look at the samples at different times of the day. This will help you see how light and dark can change the look of colors.
Yes, picking colors from a fan deck can be a daunting task, but if you are well prepared and have a plan – it will be much easier to come up with a color that you will enjoy for several years to come. Look for inspiration in your wardrobe, in books, magazines, and on the internet. Ask for advice from a friend or better yet, a professional color consultant. And once you have your color options picked out, take the time to paint a few sample boards to see the paint color in action before having the walls painted. These steps should really help you make the best decision for choosing the right paint colors within your home.
So, before you waste a lot of time getting frustrated over the color choice process, try to approach it with a plan. Here are some tips that you might want to consider when getting ready to pick paint colors within your home.
1. Look in Your Closet. We have the tendency to gravitate towards certain colors and those colors are usually represented within our wardrobe. So, before you open up that color chart, go to your closet, and pick out your favorite outfits. What color are they? Some will like earth tones and neutrals. Some may like bold or brighter colors. Whatever your color preferences are, think about those colors that you really like and write them down on a piece of paper. Why not take those colors and use them on your walls? If you like to wear it, then most likely you will not mind living with it on your walls as well.
2. Check out Resources like Books, Magazines, and Internet. Some people work better by seeing a picture of a room already painted. They can look at it and think – do I like that? So, a great way to find color inspiration is by looking through books, magazines and even over the internet. Once you have a picture picked out, you can then take a look at your color charts and find the closest color and go from there.
3. Ask for Advice. Sometimes asking for advice can be helpful. Another set of eyes can help you put things into perspective. But be sure to limit how many people you are asking. As we said above, it is easy to get confused by everyone’s different opinions. Seeking the advice from a professional color consultant is your best bet. They can sit down with you and come up with a plan that would best fit your taste and style.
4. Use Sample Boards. Once you choose your colors, take the time to pick up paint samples in those specific colors. Don’t paint them directly onto your wall because this can confuse the eye, especially if you have several different color options that you are working with. Paint the colors onto separate sample boards. Be sure to apply two coats so the color is the actual color it will be when actually painted on the walls. Once dry, you can then take each paint sample board and bring them to different sections of the room. Some areas will be brighter because of windows or lighting and some areas may be darker because of shade or shadows. Also look at the samples at different times of the day. This will help you see how light and dark can change the look of colors.
Yes, picking colors from a fan deck can be a daunting task, but if you are well prepared and have a plan – it will be much easier to come up with a color that you will enjoy for several years to come. Look for inspiration in your wardrobe, in books, magazines, and on the internet. Ask for advice from a friend or better yet, a professional color consultant. And once you have your color options picked out, take the time to paint a few sample boards to see the paint color in action before having the walls painted. These steps should really help you make the best decision for choosing the right paint colors within your home.