A home with bold colors can be a good idea if you do it the right way. Several designers were interviewed and shared three things you need to think about when going bold with paint. They give you tips on which colors best pair together, which paint finishes are most ideal, and which tools you’ll want to keep in your arsenal.
Choosing the right hues
According to designer Rosanna Bassford, when it comes to specific rules for selecting a hue, there are none. “Using a bright color, a color that is not ‘safe’ or expected, or taking a color everywhere, such as the walls, ceiling, and trim,” says Bassford. The color you choose should make you feel good whenever you pass by it. She suggests taking your time and going slow when choosing a bold look.
“If you have an open floor plan home, look for the architectural features to provide guidance on where to start and stop paint colors.” Bassford particularly enjoys going bold in “rooms like powder baths, dining rooms, home offices, and even closets and bedrooms.” She adds, “Usually these are rooms that are contained and small so bold colors feel exciting, rich and cozy rather than overwhelming.”
Finding the right finish
Choose your finish on the style of your home. If it’s a more traditional home, then I love to go high gloss with a statement color choice,” designer Mimi Meacham explains. “If the home is more modern or contemporary, a flat finish in a moody, bold color can also be chic.”
Bold colors can highlight any flaws in the painting or the walls, so bold colors should be in a low-sheen finish. A low-sheen finish will not reflect the imperfections. “Toning down the sheen level makes the bold color easier to live with and decorate around. It recedes and acts as a rich backdrop to other furnishings in the room,” says Meacham.
You can still go with a high-gloss to make a big statement. “It will reflect light, and light catches the eye, drawing your attention there,” Bassford explains. Another idea is to choose a paint finish that coincides with your lifestyle. DIY and home decor influencer Alisa Bovino says she likes to mix and match for example she will use an eggshell finish on a wall and a semi-gloss on the doors and trims. “My favorite rooms that I’ve painted dark have an eggshell finish, and you can really see the color depth through the slight sheen,” she adds.
Toolkits From the Pros
Always make sure that you have a sufficient supply of paint. You want to buy enough paint to make sure you have enough to adequately coat all the space. Bold colors usually require more than one coat. A great website that can help with selecting paint hues is Encycolorpedia. This website will explain everything you need to know about a paint color. It will tell you the LRV, color makeup, and similar matching paint colors from other brands. iPhone Compass is another tool that is great to use for paint colors. “Paint colors will look completely different depending on which way the room is facing,” says Bovino. Once you are ready, you must have painter’s tape and edging tools. These are two tools that will make your paint job a lot easier. Taping off the molding, ceiling, wainscotting and electrical outlets will make your job go a lot faster.
