How to pick the right colors for the inside of my house?

Question

My family bought a new home and all the walls are tape and texture and were painted with flat paint. I have never owned a home before and the thought of repainting a whole house is overwhelming. I need to paint the Kitchen, living room, dining room, my two son's rooms, their bathroom, master bedroom, and bathroom.Where do I start with such a huge task?

Answer 1

I am sure you will get lots of ideas, but if I may suggest, use the colors you are most comfortable around. Personally I prefer white walls, that way I am free to add any colors in accessories I want without fear of clashing, and it is also very cost saving to buy a 5 gallon bucket of paint, over single gallons. It also makes the painting of large areas faster and goes right from room to room. Retouching is a snap, it is all the same, you don't have to keep 12 different colors of paint in cans around and try to remember which one goes where. Be sure to use a semi gloss on the woodwork to make it easier to clean. You can use the money saved to buy something nice for the house. However if you do prefer to do different colors, choose those you are comfortable with, not those that are "in" or modern. Remember painting over DARK colors is difficult, and they tend to make a room smaller, stay with light tints, unless you have an area you want to dramatize.

Answer 2

It's so difficult to say. We were challenged with the same task. We started with the living room and then moved on to the hall way. It was a lot of work!!! THen, we did the 3 bedrooms. We left the kitchen to the end and let me tell you... we never did come around to the bathrooms. I was told to do the rooms you would spend the most time in so I figured if I just do personal business in the bathrooms, they can wait. I honestly don't think there is a quick or easier way to do it. The hardest part is getting started and preparing. The preparation takes the most time. The painting of the walls will be easy and quick. I suggest you start in your living room. You are lucky the walls have flat paint, this is a plus! Our walls are textured and this is harder to work with. As far as color schemes, it has to be something you are comfortable with. Don't worry about what your guests will say. You are the one living in the home! Go with your gut instincts. We did that and it turned out nice. I picked all the colors for the house except for the kitchen, my husband chose it. He loves it. I don't care for it, but I will admit it's nice and we get lots of compliments, over all. I think that when a home speaks the personalities of those occupying it then, you cannot go wrong. So, trust yourself and good luck. Just make sure the colors you select will go with the items you will place in the rooms.

Answer 3

I would start with the bathrooms and kitchen. They are the hardest because of all the trimming that has to be done. That way when you complete those it will be all easy street from there.I always do the things that are the hardest first so I don't have to face them in the end when I start to get burnt out. And usually do a better job when their done first. Try and have fun while doing it. You'll be surprized when you get done on how good you did. Put some great music on while your doing it. As for colors just remember if you go with neutral colors you can change the curtains and furniture to any color you want. Other wise you'll be stuck with the same color scheme and you might have to do more painting. Why not wallpaper something, or try boarders.

Answer 4

Start with the rooms that you would be entertaining in.

That would be livingroom, kitchen, dinningroom. That is a lot of house to paint. I was faced with the same task.

You just take one room at a time. Set a goal for yourself.

You will start with what ever room you see when you enter the home. That might be the livingroom. Give yourself a week to paint that one room.

Pace yourself and set up realistic goals. Work each day, for say 3 hours on that room. Until it is finished. Trust me, it will look great and it will inspire you to continue.

May I suggest you buy Kilz paint for the job. You can buy it at Walmart. Its a little more expensive but well worth it. It can be so frustrating to buy cheap paint and have to apply several coats. With the Kilz it usually takes one coat. Also, make sure to buy painters tape, its blue, it really helps with all the trim work!

Dont let it overwhelm you, you will be really happy with the end results!

Good luck. Hope this helps!

Answer 5

You start by deciding on what feeling you want the room to convey. And then pick colors that you really love--think outside of the box. Don't just think about "normal" house colors--tres boring. Go with colors that make you feel good. Check out your closet--what color do you love to wear? Feel free to do what YOU like--you have to live there. And, if you find you don't like it--it's only paint--re paint it.

Answer 6

Buy some magazines and look for a picture that best describes the character and theme of the house you envision. Then go to the store and get some paint samples/swatches and have the paint computer-mixed so that you get the exact color, shade/tint.

You might want to consider the existing architecture and color of your house to start you off.

Answer 7

if you want to see how its going to look, then draw a basic outline picture of the room on the paint program on your computer and look at different color combinations. using your favorite colors is a good place to start. i suggest choosing colors that go with decor or colors that completley contrast to it. start with one of the smaller rooms, depending on that paintjob, decide how, in which order, and what color the other rooms will go into.

Answer 8

Take one room at a time. Decide what color would be best, then do it.Finish it and go on to another room.You will come up with your own ideas as you go.Make it fun.

Answer 9

start with the room with the color you like least

Answer 10

There is a lot of good info on this subject right here.