How to Choose a Paint Color

by Zoe Newman

Choosing paint can be difficult when you’re just starting out designing a space.  What are the needs of the space? What type of paint is the most durable? The most color-rich? Below, we’ve asked our designers how they approach adding paint to the rooms they design. 

Gala Magriñá, Gala Magriñá Design

Don't be afraid! Experiment. The worst thing that can happen is you have to repaint a wall over again which in the grand scheme of things is not a big deal. One way to avoid this is to do a couple of test samples on the wall. I always like to do one on a wall close to a window and a wall far away from a window so I can see the color in natural light and artificial light.

Rozit Arditi, Arditi Design

Be adventurous!

Ruchi A. Mohan, designbyRUCHI

Always always see the paint color in the space... lighting makes all the difference.

Clara Song, Clara Song Design

Color is so personal. Start with what kind of feeling you want to evoke in the room. Do you want to be happy, calm, energetic or moody? 

Francisca Trujillo, Francisca Trujillo Interior Design

Be bold!

Julia Blanchard, Blanchard Design LLC.

Get large swatches and tape them up in the space for a few days before committing.

Ahmad AbouZanat, PROJECT AZ

Observe how much natural light the space gets , is it direct light coming through or just a well lit space but no direct sunlight. Get large paint swatches and tape them to the walls, see them during the day (natural light) and at night (artificial light), observe them during different times of the day. If you have west-facing windows, how does the sunset colors look with the paint swatches? Neutrals and whites are the hardest because they react with other interior finishes you choose. Be mindful that undertones make the color, it's why some off-whites look more pink or yellow and some grays look greenish or bluish.