Whether you’re refreshing a room or renovating a home, fresh paint is the easiest and most impactful way to breathe new life into a space without breaking the bank. But after perusing thousands (yes, thousands) of tiny paint-color chips at the store, analysis paralysis takes over.
Is this white too warm? Blue too cool? Then, once you make tough decisions and narrow down your options to only the top contenders, you take your selected paint chips home. And guess what? They look different at home than at the store. Heck, they begin to look different in the various rooms of your same house. Pearls are clutched, and the cycle repeats. But not anymore! You aren’t alone in what may seem like a never-ending quest to find the perfect paint color for each room and special project at your home.
Here, we share why colors look different at the store and things to consider before purchasing your paint.
Let There Be Light
Lighting is the most important caveat to consider when picking out paint colors, both in the store and in your home. Stores are often lit with fluorescent lighting, while most homes have incandescent lights; the color will appear different depending on the light source. Also, natural light changes throughout the day, so there will be subtle variations in the morning versus afternoon.
Quick tip: Get a sample quart and paint a section on the wall to confirm that you like it throughout the day.
