THE COLOR HANDBOOK
A GUIDE TO SELECTING PAINT COLOR
Tackle your design project with confidence thanks to these essential pointers to finding the perfect paint colors.
Color really does make the room. The perfect shade and finish can enlarge a small space, bring in more light, or deliver that kick of energy you need with your morning coffee. But finding the right one? Now that’s another story.
Color Wheel InsightsTake a look at the color wheel colors in totality: Warm reds, yellows, and oranges on one side; cool lavenders, blues and greens on the other. Creating a palette within the same half of the wheel tends to be more harmonious. Pairing two colors opposite one another adds a dash of invigorating tension. Which do you prefer?Key color wheel terms:
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Selecting the Perfect Room ColorThese three categories are a great starting point to help identify your personal color preferences:
Learn about the emotional impact of these color categories in The Psychology of Color. |
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Accent on TrimPainting trim in glossy white is a classic choice, but why not go beyond white or cream? Choosing a trim color—think Black Satin 2131-10—against a neutral wall is a striking way to showcase a room’s unique architecture.Consider an ombré color scheme: Paint walls with different shades of one color, keeping the darker hue closer to the bottom for a beautiful effect. Here, we use Green Grove 2138-20 on the base molding, Briarwood HC-175 on the lower wall and Bleeker Beige HC-80 on the upper wall. |
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The Theater of LightLight in a room changes many times throughout the day.From the natural light of early dawn to the artificial light of nightfall, the relationship between light and your chosen paint color is a crucial consideration. As seen here:
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Test. Observe. Repeat.Experimenting and observation is key when it comes to selecting paint colors for home interiors.To make sure you choose a color with confidence, buy color samples at your local Benjamin Moore retailer. At home, paint a board–foam core will do nicely–and move it around to different parts of the room. Monitor how the paint color changes at different times of the day so there are no surprises. |
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A Look at Paint FinishesSelecting the right type of paint finish can enhance paint color. Top design tips for sheen selection include:
Visit a local Benjamin Moore retailer to pick-up a paint sheen chart you can take home. |
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Sheen 101Sheen puts the finishing statement on your color of choice:
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The Color Handbook: A Guide to Selecting Paint ColorVisit our Benjamin Moore store, and pick up your own copy of The Color Handbook: A Guide to Selecting Paint Color for more inspiration.Get more step-by-step guidance on selecting color on our How To section. |