How to Paint Interiors With Color Combinations
- 1). Look through the array of paint color cards, often called paint chips, at your local paint store, and take home any colors you like, regardless of whether you think they will go together. If the chips are arranged with multiple colors on a single card, cut the colors apart with scissors and cut off any background that is not the color.
- 2). Shuffle the paint chips and spread them on the floor in the room you want to paint, making sure they are all face up. Play with pairings, lifting two out of the pile and holding them side by side against the wall or a neutral colored background. Try complementary color pairings (opposites on the color wheel) and try different shadings of the same color, such as a pale lavender with a dark violet.
- 3). Consider a dark or vibrant color on a single wall, known as an accent wall, then placing a lighter version of the same color on the other walls. Another option is to combine dark or bright walls with pale, contrasting trim for a modern look, especially if your room has trim around the ceiling. Vibrant colors combined with neutrals like browns and grays can also be effective.
- 4). Purchase your primary wall color, making sure you have a little more than enough for two coats, particularly for dark colors. If you have multiple cans of a single color, pour them into a 5-gallon bucket and stir them together before using them, because individual tint batches can vary. Always stir any paint well before you use it.
- 5). Mask off anything you don't want painted with masking tape, then apply paint with a brush around the edges of the walls, trim, windows and light switches or sockets before using a roller over the rest of the surface.
- 6). Test the paint with your finger in an inconspicuous area to make sure it is dry, then tape off the painted area and use the same process of brushing the hard-to-reach places first for your next color.
