12 Top Colors for Night Owls

I would add a couple of steps to what K. Peltier advises about painting sample patches. Start by using the largest samples (swatches) that are available. Most paint companies provide at least 4x8," and some, up to full "poster" size. Look at them in the room at all times of day and narrow your choices. If you are unable to secure anything larger than a small chip, get the small sample bottles and paint them up in the room on more than one wall. The same paint will look completely different depending on the plane of the surface and the amount of light that strikes it. You may feel confident enough at this point to go all the way with your paint purchase, IF the color is nothing radical. But because as a designer I am responsible for getting it absolutely right before the client goes to the expense of a painter, I (or the paint contractor) buy a quart and do a big roll out on several walls. Furthermore, I highly recommend brushing the paint up to a window or door trim, so that the existing color is completely covered on one side of the roll out. The existing paint, when viewed against the new color, can completely throw off your perception of the new color. Stand back and with arms outstretched, form a frame with your hand to view the color while totally blocking the old color- you'll be amazed what a difference it will make! Do this with different walls and at different times of the day and at night. At this point if the paint is not exactly right, it should be easy for you to recognize the direction it should go- e.g., a little darker, less green, etc., and using a full paint deck as reference, choose the more appropriate shade. This might seem like a lot of trouble, but compared to the expense and effort of putting up a color with which you are not completely satisfied, it's nothing.

As far as using terracottas, pinks, or yellows, if you don't have the patience to follow the steps outlined above, beware: it you see any pink, yellow, or orange in a small chip, you can be sure it will be intensified tenfold on the wall, especially if you get any intense direct light.

As a side note, I would not have painted that ceiling orange as in picture #1- it's too much. In in case of all but the palest colors, it always looks to me that somebody was just too cheap or lazy to do it right. (You see this in a lot of spec properties.) And for God's sake, don't slap up a different intense color in every room unless you have always wanted to join the circus and this is just as close as you can come.

ps, to dejavous: It would do you no good to have the paint name. A photo never looks like the actual color and even if it did, it wouldn't look the same in your room. Just follow the steps above.

@scarbowcow, I am excited for you and your dining room! I think the right shade of terracotta or blush would really warm up your room and look fantastic! I too am about to paint a very dark living room that has little natural light coming in, and a warm color is going to help it out a great deal. If you are feeling really ambitious or want to hire a decorative painter you could go with a sheer metallic glaze either over the wall color or on your ceiling. Done correctly it will add a beautiful shimmery glow that helps reflect light and adds atmosphere and warmth when candles are lit or dim wall sconces are on in the evening...lovely!

For a beautiful terracotta color, try Sherwin Williams Armagnac, SW6354. I painted my dining room this color 4 years ago and I STILL am amazed at how beautiful and glowing the color is in the evening, and fresh and crisp in daylight. I am one to change paint color in rooms frequently ~ but this is one color I still haven't become tired of.