How to Pick the Perfect Paint

Here are some tips from Interior Designer, Ryan Brown of Bravo TV's 'Flipping Out,' on how to find the perfect paint and paint color.

How to Pick the Perfect Paint

June 19, 2008

We all have heard that paint is the least expensive yet most effective way to change the look

of a room. Despite this, most people are too scared to take the plunge and commit to a new color.

Designers have an advantage in picking paint colors since we do it so often, but we always start the paint selection process with a strategy.

Here are some tips to ensure that you end up satisfied with your new room!

enjamin Moore's website offers downloadable color palettes that make the early stages of color selection easy. The company also has color sheets available that are larger than traditional paint chips, allowing consumers to get a better idea of the color on a large surface.

Pick out three shades of the color you like and buy sample quarts. Don’t be afraid to pick a shade darker than what you think you want. Colors look different once they are painted on the wall and the final color depends on the light you have in the room. Our favorite paint brands are Dunn Edwards, Benjamin Moore and ICI; they have a broad range of colors in muted and bright tones.

Use the sample quarts to paint 3’x3’ squares on 2 different walls with at least 1’ separation between each color. Be sure to mark the name and number underneath the color so when the time comes, you aren’t buying the wrong paint color...believe us, it has happened. Most importantly, make sure you look at the colors at different times of the day and give yourself a few days to choose your favorite color.

Remember to choose your color wisely; lighter shades will open up a room and give the illusion of more space, while darker colors will create a warm, inviting environment. The color palette of the master bedroom in our Valley Oak project is light, with white walls and a single accent wall in a pale sage. We chose this color scheme to complement the low-slung, loft-like architecture of the house.

The ashy blue shade of the living room of our Beverlywood project creates depth and highlights the bright white woodwork of the mantle.

The deep cocoa color in the dining room makes for a warm and appealing area for conversation and entertaining. With substantial moldings in a striking white, the space feels modern yet sumptuous. Many people worry that by painting the ceiling of a space, it "lowers" the height of the room. This isn't the case, as painting a ceiling actually makes the area feel richer and warmer.

As a final tip for picking paint, buy the sample color you want in the finish that you intend on using. A color in an eggshell finish will often look much different than the same color in a flat or semigloss. Also remember that higher gloss finishes are better suited for high-traffic areas, as they are easier to wipe off. High gloss paints should be reserved for flawless woodwork. Happy painting!

Picking the Perfect Paint Color

December 05, 2008

We receive a lot of emails asking for advice on how to pick a paint color. We are going through that process now with a Los Angeles project and thought we could best explain our process by showing you images of actual mock-ups that assist us in making those tough color decisions.

Start by choosing several options within the targeted color scheme. Buy a sample quart of paint in each color option. Mock selected paint color options on the wall in neat squares as we did below. Try to complete your paint mock up as close to any existing surface materials in the room such as flooring or tile as this will allow you to better visualize what the finished room will look like. You can also do this process on a large foam board for portability allowing you to move the paint samples from room to room. One color may look amazing in one room, but not good in another room.

Note, be sure to apply multiple coats of the paint to bring out the true color of the sample.

Clearly label each sample with its name and number on a small piece of tape, as demonstrated below, to ensure you are able to keep track of the selected color when it comes time to purchase the paint.

Leave your mock-ups on the wall for several days and view them during different times. The colors will look different in the daylight than they do during the evening.

Taking the time to go through each of these steps will ensure that you will love the end result!

For the project displayed above, these were the main colors chosen (All by Benjamin Moore):

Edgecomb Gray, Clay Beige, Stone Hearth

While on the subject of paint, we have received numerous questions about the paint colors used in the Valley Oak home as seen on Season 2 of Flipping Out. Here are the details about a few of the main colors used in the home.

In a previous blog, we showed the master bedroom and have since had a number of questions about the brand and color used. For the master bedroom and bathroom accent walls, we selected Dunn Edwards Riverbed.

For the downstairs living room's niches, we selected Dunn Edwards Porous Stone. The kitchen accent wall and venetian plaster on the fireplaces were also painted in the color.

The ceiling and baseboards throughout the house were painted in one of our favorite whites, Dunn Edwards Whisper.

For more Interior Design tips and ideas, visit Ryan's blog: http://browndesigninc.typepad.com