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Taking your interior paint ideas and making them a reality is an underrated skill, but learning how to match home paint colours is not as easy as it may seem.
Most homeowners have an idea of the colour scheme for their interior paint, but there are a number of factors to consider when matching paint colours as part of the overall colour palette. It’s best to explore a variety of interior paint ideas, taking into consideration your style preferences, architectural features in the home, and the level of light exposure in each room. The paint colours you choose will define your interiors, creating focal points and features in each room.
But when it comes to house painting, where do you start to match interior paint colours?
Table of Contents
Colour Palette Inspiration
Before you can match your interior paint colours, you first need to decide on your colour palette.
There are many places you can find inspiration for narrowing down your colour palette. The best place to start is the major household items in your home. Furniture is used to streamline the look of interiors. You should consider how your interior paint ideas will match and complement furniture.
For example, start by choosing 3-5 colours that match the primary colour of your lounge and dining suites. Choose colours that are more bold or of a deeper colour, as this will be the feature colour to add depth and dimension to the room.
Next, choose light colours – try whites, greys, creams – that are within the same colour spectrum as the feature colour. These are your base colours that will bring the whole look of your home together and give it a truly professional look and feel.
As an example, there are a wide variety of white paint colours, some have cool undertones such as green, gray, and blue, while others have a warm undertone such as pink, rust, and yellow. Warmer whites can work well in rooms that have lower levels of natural light or in rooms where you want to make larger spaces look cozy.
HANDY TIP: If you like having a pop of colour in your home, select an accent colour that you can use in each of the rooms of your house. This can be done by adding some artwork, cushions or interior decorations. This helps to create a strong connection between all the spaces of your home. Read more about our top tips for choosing the best paint colors for your home.
Create A Stunning Interior With A Great Finish
After you have chosen your colors, be sure to see how they look in a range of matte and gloss finishes, as you will use a combination to complete your interior. This is important so you can match the wall colours to skirtings and frames throughout your home. The most popular interior paint finishes include matte, satin, semi-gloss and high gloss.
Matte Finish
Matte finishes (also known as flat paint) provides a non-reflective and smooth appearance. It is particularly useful for hiding surface blemishes and is easier to touch up, making it ideal for walls that might need some repairs. It is ideal for rentals, drywall, ceilings and low-traffic areas of your home.
Satin Paint Finish
Satin finish – or an eggshell finish, which is similar to a satin finish – is mostly preferred because of its ability to resist stains and because it doesn’t draw attention to small imperfections.
Satin finishes have a beautiful lustre that appears smooth and velvety. It can show up as a bit more flat or more glossy, depending on the light level in the room, but it is overall more reflective and more durable than a flat or matte finish.
High Gloss & Semi-Gloss Finishes
Gloss finishes are the perfect trim finish! Gloss interior paint, whether semi-gloss or high gloss, are used most commonly on skirting, door frames and window sills and can accent the panel of a door or the curves of a molding profile.
Remember that a higher gloss paint means more sheen, which can draw attention to small imperfections that would otherwise go unseen.
Try Interior Paint Ideas Before You Commit
Now that you have selected your paint colours and finishes, it’s time to try before you buy. Take your colour options to the paint store, and get sample sizes in your colours. Add a strip of the wall colours to different walls to assess your best options. This will give you the opportunity to see how the paint will look dry, how it will look on different walls, receiving different levels of light throughout the day and how it will look with your existing home decor as well.
Once you’re happy with the chosen look, make sure to take notes or map out which colours will go on which walls throughout your home.
Mistakes to Avoid While Matching Home Paint Colors
While wading through the tons of interior paint ideas, there are mistakes that you should avoid, including:
Research Paint Colours & Finishes – Take Your Time To Choose
Put in the time and effort to pick the right colours for you and your home. Between the financial and time investment of house painting, you don’t want to waste a second or a cent by rushing the process. Following the tips above will help you to navigate the variety of options available and to pinpoint the colours that will bring out the best in your home.
Wall Prep Is Critical
Prepping your interior for a fresh coat of paint is critical to the end look and this is especially true when you are changing the entire wall colour.
Ensure you have repaired any imperfections in the wall or trims, such as nail holes, scratches or paint that has come off. Once these are fixed, ensure the wall has a nice smooth finish for your to work on and clean down the wall properly. A smoother clean wall will ensure each coat is applied evenly and will look seamless.
After repairs and cleaning are complete, don’t forget to prime the wall before you start applying coats of paint. A white or tinted primer is necessary to bring out the best in your interior paint colours.
One Coat of Paint Is Never Enough
When purchasing your paint, speak with a professional about the size of the space you are painting and how much paint you will need to do the job – and keep in mind that one coat of paint is never enough!
You will need to apply at least two coats of paint, however, a third coat is sometimes needed to get full coverage.
Key Takeaways
- Begin with furniture to guide your color palette, combining 3-5 colors with bold or deep feature colors and lighter base colors.
- Consider a range of matte to gloss finishes for different interior elements.
- Test colors in your space with sample sizes to see them in various lights and alongside decor.
- Avoid common mistakes by taking your time to choose, preparing walls properly, and applying at least two coats of paint.
- Seek professional advice for color selections and finishes to ensure the best results.
Listen To Professionals
The worst mistake you can make is to not get professional advice about your painting ideas. Working with professional painters benefits you in many ways, as they can help you with paint colour selections and what finishes to use. A reputable and reliable professional painter like Hunter Coast Painting is dedicated to making your interiors look great with world class painting service.
If you want to know more about upgrading your interior paint colours, contact us via our online booking form or call us now on 0478 798 854!
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Gavin, is the founder and director of Hunter Coast Painting who are experienced Newcastle Painters. Combining 10 years experience in the industry and having worked on multi-million dollar homes in Europe and Australia, Gavin is able to provide a wealth of knowledge and experience.
Gavin Kane
Gavin, is the founder and director of Hunter Coast Painting.
Combining 10 years experience in the industry and having worked on multi-million dollar homes in Europe and Australia, Gavin is able to provide a wealth of knowledge and experience.