I had a new build and my lights were not connected when I had to pick paint colors. I went to the house when it had the most natural light and used that to select colors. I've done enough painting over the years and still picked a "not quite right" color! I started repainting soon after we moved in last year! I have a couple of bathrooms left as I took a break for a few months! I'm not young, had 12 ft high walls and had no problem repainting by myself, so my additional expense was another dozen gallons of paint.

What look are you going for? Light and airy? Moody?

I had wanted the house to be light and bright. My initial color was BM Winds Breath (left). It just felt dark and pulled very yellow in my house (not obvious in this photo). I repainted with BM White Dove (right). I was happy with my initial trim selection, which was BM Chantilly Lace.

I'm much more happy with the lighter and brighter color.

I think the problem is more that you're looking at cards - whatever that means, it means they're not large samples. You can choose a color in natural light, but it's harder for everyone to pick correctly from a small sample. I don't know how much time you have to make a choice, but if you have time, start with the cards and then paint a larger sample, at least ten square feet, on a scrap piece of drywall and walk that around the house to see how it looks. The board you use should be primed and you should do two color coats so you're looking at a true representation of how it would look on a wall. Even if you've never painted you can get small rollers and roll on a small amount of paint. If you don't know where to start, start with the most popular colors from the manufacturer that the painting contractor wants to use. They're popular for a reason.

I think it's even more important to get the trim color right. It's not too hard to roll walls over again, but painting trim is a pain and if you pay to have it done it is more expensive than having walls painted. Don't choose something oddball. There are commonly used colors for trim such as SW Pure White, Extra White and High Reflective White. In BM the most commonly used colors for trim are Simply White, White Dove and Chantilly Lace. When choosing a wall color keep in mind the flooring and whatever furniture you already own and will be using in the new house.

If you hire a professional to pick your wall colours, it will almost certainly save you money in repainting down the road.

@partim a professional as in a designer? Not a painter right? Not sure I have time for that but I have a neighbor w a beautiful home that loves to decorate - she may be my best bet!

@kandrewspa oh I have tons of large samples from Samplize attached to poster board for jumbo samples. :) it’s an addiction.

@chispa
We did Winds Breath in our old house but we had 12’ + ceilings and a full wall of windows in Florida so it didn’t pull dark. I know what colors look like w that situation as I obsessed and bought tons of large samples (seriously don’t do the math on my Samplize STACK) but we had tons of light and tons of greenery reflecting in - which caused my headache there. Things looked nice in the evening then daylight the green came flooding in.

And regarding what I want - I don’t know. I love light and bright and since our low 8’ ceilings and less windows that’s probably best - but I love a moody room. Might just do a fun foyer for that.

Only thing I need to get right is the stairwell - everything else I’m willing to repaint myself if I hate it I guess. That White dove looks beautiful!

@kandrewspa we had Pure White in our old house and it looked nice. Went with everything. So at least I feel confident there.

I agree walls are doable but the thought of trim just makes you put off the project!

It is not recommended to choose paint colors before the lighting is installed, as the lighting can significantly affect the appearance of the colors on the walls. It's important to consider the type and location of the lighting in the room, as well as the natural light that enters the space.

In your case, with minimal natural light and six can lights, it's important to choose colors that will look good under both natural and artificial light. Holding up color cards to the window can give you an idea of what the colors will look like in natural light, but it's not a complete representation of how they will look under artificial light.

I would suggest considering smart dimmable RGBCW (Red, Green, Blue, Cool White, Warm White) recessed lighting. These lights have the ability to change color temperatures and adjust brightness levels, which can help to create a more balanced and natural-looking lighting scheme in your room. By choosing these types of lights, you can be more confident in your color choices, knowing that they will look great in any lighting condition.

I would also recommend testing your paint colors in the actual space before making a final decision. You can purchase sample sizes of paint and apply them to a small section of the wall to see how the color appears in different lighting conditions. This will help you to make an informed decision and ensure that you're happy with the final result.

Overall, it's important to consider the lighting in the space when choosing paint colors, and I encourage you to explore smart lighting options to create a more balanced and natural-looking lighting scheme.

I’ve used a color consultant to help me choose paint colors- it was not particularly expensive, took about two hours, and saved me a ton of money on samples, as well as a lot of anxiety. 15 years later, I still love the colors we selected.

Of course it is a mistake and it sounds like you know that but what are you going to do? I don't understand people on here who think that contrators are going to be willing to do things the right way. I have never experienced that. You are right, it is bonkers to just hold up paint by a window because you want to see what it will look like in all areas of the room and what it will look like from one room to the next. Can you at least buy time while they prime everything? Perhaps you can get a color consultant in while that is happening?

I'm in the same position with my current project because my GC doesn't want to have an eletrician come in, hang all of my fixtures and then have to paint around them - many are delicate antique fixtures and complex architectural scones and the space is small and tight. I'm using a color I have used before and know well but am risking it in the bathroom.

Just because you hire a color consultant doesn't mean they are going to be good. As with anything, some people are great at their jobs, others not so much.

I've used three different color consultants. The first was a high end interior designer who never does stand alone color consults but I kind of flirted with her on the phone and she said yes. (I'm shameless!) She waited until my walls were primed, had the painters paint on the wall large samples of four different colors in four different places in each room of my house and in the hallways. She came to my house four times to look at them in different daylight. The results were absolutely stunning, subtle, and luminous neutrals that flowed yet felt different from room to room. It was worth every penny, and I can't imagine getting the same results in a two hour consult.

The second was for exterior house colors and I didn't use any of her recommendations. I knew they were off.

I now live in an apartment in NYC and splurged to hired a big shot knowing how expensive labor is here and not wanting to have to repaint. He was a shmuck, was here for an hour, only brought a few Farrow and Ball large sample cards with him. He nailed my largest open space and my bedroom. My god are they spectacular. I love the one color so much I decided to do my entire kitchen and cabinets in it as well. Others I'm finally repainting after two years.

You just need the flooring. Either installed or large sized samples down in order to compare and view paint color samples adjacent to it.

Artificial lighting is transient. Meaning it will change. The floor won’t.

Can you tell me more? Is this a renovation?

So, you have a 22 x 17 room with only one window and that one window has a covered patio outside.

One thing we can conclude: this room will be dark. So, already you know you are going to start with a high lrv (unless you like dark paint).

What are he colors of the adjacent rooms? What rooms are these?

Lighting is key to picking paint colors. So, yes. Would definitely have lighting installed before you select your interior colors.

I mean a professional who does this for a living. Your neighbour may have a good eye, but she probably chose her colours with everything in place. She won't have that. You need someone who has seen these colours in all different lights already, in other places.

@CDR Design, LLC

It's a remodel of a 1974 non updated, new-to-us home. Only attached rooms are a foyer w solid wood door (no light) and kitchen (on opposite side of family room from the single window) that we took down a partial wall. So there's a small window over the kitchen sink and 1 window in the dining nook. 8' ceilings.

Definitely keeping things light w high LRV. Similar old home we had we used Accessible Beige but we had more windows and AB definitely felt dark in here when I held up the sample. We do have our wood floors. Before we laid everything out on the floors and found the right undertones and started w that.

Spend $35 on a Farrow and Ball fan deck. They have WAY fewer colors to choose from so it makes it much easier to select. If you can't afford to actually paint in Farrow and Ball, look online to see what the equivalent color is in another brand. For example, I'm in love with FB White Tie. Benjamin Moore Linen White is nearly the same color. It is a great creamy white with a sunny undertone. They break up their white into different categories of undertone so it is easy to avoid grey undertones and know you are picking something that will brighten up your space.

I’d look for a white with the undertone that you like and if you are lucky, can choose one that will suit all the rooms (direction of room regarding light intensity will affect the color, so that will help with deciding).

This article might also help.

https://thediyplaybook.com/warm-white-paint-colors/

Easy to live with and coordinate around. Down the road, you may decide to paint a room(s) a color to suit fabrics, rugs, etc. If wanting to do immediately, hire a consultant, and they will work with your flooring, accessories and N\S\E\W daylight.

You always will have to use lighting in the space. So, you want to see a color when the lights go on. Don't go with a light paint because all you will get is shadowed corners.

What piece are you putting in the room? Sofa, rug? Choose your paint color from what you have. For instance: Blue sectional and blue walls.

Or, white sofa with a rug in browns:

Okay. Thanks for that information. Yes, accessible beige with lrv in the 50's. No way. If you like lighter,in general, even with windows, I recommend nothing below 70.

Based on your like of accessible beige, I recommend either BM Pale Oak (70) or Seapearl (77). They both feel fresh yet warm.

But, can you please show me other elements that will be in the space (flooring, cabinets, tile, countertops, fireplace surround, etc.

Thanks.

Living Room I recently did in Chicago with Pale Oak.

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Dinette I did in Springfield, MO with Pale Oak.

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