Decorate DIY Paint/ Stencil Paintings. January 3rd, 2025

What Color to Paint Your Walls? (50 DIY Projects)

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Walls have a significant impact on the visual appeal of a room. Walls are like empty canvases that are excellent for narrating an interactive story, complemented with decorations and accessories. Selecting an appropriate color to paint your walls is important as it enhances the architectural features of a house and creates a balanced and inviting atmosphere.

One can spend millions of dollars on home construction, renovation, and decoration, yet one cannot achieve the desired look without finding the right paint for the walls. This article presents all the guidelines to help you select the right shade of paint for your walls.

How to select the right shade for your wall?

Colors exhibit different energies and behave differently in different rooms. To avoid mishaps in interior design, it is important to spend a substantial amount of time selecting the right colors. Here are five easy steps to help you select the right shade for your walls.

Understand personal preference:

The first and foremost thing about selecting colors to paint your wall is a person’s personal preference. A welcoming color for one might be uninviting and unappealing to the other. Remember, wall painting aims to create an inviting space for a person.

Understand color psychology:

Color hues profoundly impact people’s emotional and behavioral responses. This is why the interplay of psychological effects with chromotherapy must be well understood before selecting the shades for respective walls according to a room’s functionality.

Use colors to evoke emotions and atmosphere:

The right shade in the right proportion can help set the desired ambience in a room. For instance, calming shades such as blue, green, and grey promote better sleep and a relaxing environment. In contrast, warm colors such as red, orange, or yellow stimulate the brain and are ideal for study rooms and libraries.

Create a coordinated color scheme:

A color scheme firmly holds all decorative and architectural elements together in a house. A seamless color palette is advisable for narrowing evergreen and long-lasting color schemes.

Select different paint colors for different rooms:

Each room serves a unique purpose and looks best with differentiated colored walls. Bedrooms, living rooms, kitchens, and dining rooms have aesthetics that must be preserved for a clean and calming effect.

Natural vs. artificial light sources in a room:

Colors appear different when provided with natural and artificial light during different times of the day. If rooms receive limited natural light, using light or neutral color shades for walls is advisable. If a room has abundant artificial and natural light sources, one can experiment with dark and light-colored paints to achieve the desired look.

Which light color vs. dark color is better?

Each color has its own diversity and impact on the wall and one’s preferences, so it is difficult to provide a standardized answer to this question. For instance, light colors look good in bedrooms and bathrooms whereas dark colors look good in hallways, dining rooms, and kitchens.

Yet several things should be well understood before selecting an appropriate shade for the walls.

Light-colored paints

are excellent for smaller rooms with limited natural light sources. They help make the rooms larger and brighter and promote a calm, relaxing ambiance. Most importantly, light-colored walls can be styled easily using various accessories, accents, and decorative items. Despite their numerous advantages, one must remember that light-colored walls require more cleaning and may feel sterile or cold if not accessible properly.

Dark-colored paints

radiate sophistication and intimacy, adding a dramatic touch to the atmosphere. They are excellent for hiding imperfections and are easier to maintain. However, they must be applied proportionally to avoid oppressive, darker, or overwhelming effects.

Experiment with light and dark colors to find unique and bespoke accent walls using the shades you choose to create visual interest in your home decor. This article lists examples from the most creative mindsets to help you achieve this task.

How to find a paint color without knowing its name?

If you want to find an exact match of a paint color without knowing its name, bringing its picture or a sample to a physical store will help you achieve this task. It is important to note its tone and expression well to get a perfect match from the store. Thanks to technological innovation, every paint manufacturing company has a free application that helps you find your desired color in no time.

Simply take a photo of the color and upload it on the app. In return, the app will analyze it, find the closest match from its database, and provide you with the closest match in no time. One can always rely on Amazon’s paint color finder, which finds the easiest substitute of a paint color in no time.

If you have a nameless paint at home and you want to make sure to get the same color tone or if you want to find out the paint color you have in your new home, simply take the paint on a piece of swatch or scrap a layer of paint from a not-so-obvious corner of your home to take to the paint store. They will analyze and advise you on which color you are looking for!

Why is it important to know the type of paint finish before wall painting?

Wall painting is an art and depends on many factors, including the paint finish type. Each color appears different with different kinds of paint. Therefore, a color must be selected after careful consideration and testing. For instance,

Hi-gloss Enamel is ideal for heavy traffic areas due to it’s high sheen but it highlights imperfections.

Semi-gloss Enamel is good for trimming and cabinet painting but might not be suitable for wall painting due to its rich glossy look but has a satin sheen.

Satin Enamel has medium sheen and washable, making it suitable for furniture, cabinets, doors and frames.

Eggshell Enamel is popular for it’s low sheen and smooth texture, making it ideal for wall painting in high traffic areas.

Matte has low gloss finish and reflects less light that perfectly hides imperfections in low traffic areas.

Flat has very little shine and is used for ceiling and trim.

60-30-10 rule

Thanks to the growing wall aesthetics industry, thousands of wall color inspirations can help elevate your home interior quickly; however, it is important to understand the right proportion and distribution of shades to create a majestic display.

It is important to understand the impact of color during the selection process. Imagine a room painted in orange or dark brown with no other accents! The results would be devastating and a major threat to the house’s visual appeal. However, combining these shades with secondary and accent colors would not only distribute the color well but would also help to add character to the walls.

Sara Lynn shares a simple technique, the “60-30-10 rule,” for developing a well-coordinated palette for a space. This simple yet effective technique suggests that 60% of a room should be a dominant color, 30% a secondary color, and 10% an accent color. This technique can be followed by using multiple color gradients on the walls, using accents, floors or upholstery, or accessories to complete the final look without over or underwhelming feeling.

Selecting different colors for different impacts:

Paint the walls with light colors to make the room look bigger: white, light grey, light green, taupe, blush pink, and light shades of blue.

Color paints on walls to make the room feel cozy: Warm and neutral colors such as beige and brown radiate a cozy ambiance in a room.

Color paints on walls to make a room feel cool: Colors that bounce light off help impart a cool vibe. White is the most reflective color and helps to keep a room cooler. However, if you want to skip traditional white, consider using pale greens for improved results.

Color paint on walls with brown furniture: Neutral colors, earthy tones, cool shades, and rich accents look splendid with brown furniture.

Color paint on walls with white furniture: Soft neutral shades such as beige, taupe, and light grey help elevate white furniture and upholstery in a room.

Paint the walls with wooden flooring: Light neutral tones look best with wooden flooring. However, experimenting with beige, tan, olive green, and ivory can boost the room’s mood and vibe.

Evergreen paint colors for walls:

Each color significantly impacts the mood and surroundings of its residents. The selection of the right color and shade helps to set the mood, makes a living space intimate, and makes the transition between rooms and shades more appealing. Here is a list of evergreen wall paint colors that have helped achieve a marvelous finish for a long time.

What Color To Paint Your Walls?

To inspire you we have covered beautiful shades of each color to help you decide the perfect paint tone to compliment your space.

Black:

1. Thunder Sky by Fresco

Nearest match: Storm by Rodda

Bianca Dudink? creates paint color inspiration using black on the wall complemented with Classico Black Truffle on the doors. The designer has completed the look using wooden and ceramic decorations.

2. Basically Black by Dulux

Nearest match: Krylon Chalkboard black

Steady Eddie Renovation uses black wall paint in a windowless connecting room as a major home transformation project.

3. Jet Black by Benjamin Moore

Nearest match: Prestige Black Magic

Haneen Matt creates a sophisticated monochromatic bedroom with earthy-tone accents.

4. TriCorn Black by Sherwin Williams

Nearest match: Tricorn Black by Prestige

Andrew Dibonge creates a flawless backdrop for a hallway using a flat finish.

5. Iron Ore by Sherwin Williams

Christina Landsman incorporates timeless charm and elegance in her bedroom.

6. Caviar by Sherwin Williams

Andrew Aubrey Painting uses satin finish on feature wall for outstanding results.

Red:

The color of love and excitement, red stands out due to its immediate impact on people. Red promotes excitement and encouragement and helps to arouse conversations in rooms; however, it only looks good when used on accents or feature walls with the right furniture. Adding too much red to the room can result in a design disaster and a visual catastrophe.

7. Crimson Red by Farrow and Ball

Nearest match:Burgundy Rose by Benjamin Moore

Piabaroncini shares breathtaking pictures of her daughter’s room featuring flat finish.

8. Nicolson Red by Sherwin Williams

Nearest match: El Cajon Clay by Benjamin Moore

A budget-friendly aesthetic boost to your bathroom by Reunion Interiors.

9. Showstopper by Sherwin Williams

Nearest match: Heart Throb by Sherwin Williams

Alec Lafate Willard radiates instant positive energy from a room.

Pink:

10. Soul Mate by Benjamin Moore

Tiffany DeLangie shares her perfectly tranquil bedroom radiating strong feminine energy.

11. Farrow and Ball Pink Ground

Nearest match: Peony by All-in-one Paints

Alice Kate Interiors creates a perfect calming ambiance that compliments her peach sofa and natural elements in the living room.

12. Dusky pink o8 by Lick

Nearest match: Ballet Slipper by Glidden

Pink with warm brown and yellow undertones is perfect for imparting an earthy feel to a home as shown by Deorling.

13. Light pink 02 by Lick

Nearest match: Coral Cove by Glidden

Zac and Ivan used pink to soften up his bathroom with dark accents.

14. Regal Cotswold by Benjamin Moore

Nearest match: Taupe Tapestry by Prestige and Delicate Honeysweet by Rodda Paint

Each hue appears different under different lighting. Use muted taupe and proposal pink shades to elevate the room’s look and feel.

Purple:

Due to its association with luxury and lavishness, purple is widely acclaimed for its artistic and rich effect. Lighter shades like lilac and lavender are calming, whereas darker shades are ideal for intimate corners.

15. Eau De Voilette by Paint and Paper Library

Nearest Match: Bayberry by Prestige

Paint and Paper Library share a specular cocooning hue that binds a multi-surface wall with perfection.

16. Chippendale Rosetone by Benjamin Moore

Nearest match: Chippendale Rosetone by Prestige

Nina Watson replaces her old wall paint with a lighter and brighter wall color that blends beautifully with the outside view.

17. Capri pink by Annie Sloan

Vibrant and bold living room accent wall by Liz’s Beautiful Things.

White:

18. Sherwin Williams all White wall paint

Nearest match: Prestige Pure white

The Hoss Homestead

Bold and statement furniture in a bright dining room.

19. Cozy beige 02 by Lick

Nearest match: Moroccan Moonlight by Glidden

Laura Greenhalgh uses paint to complement her neutral sofa, curtains, and flooring.

20. Canvas by Annie Sloan

Neutral colors offer a versatile foundation for any room, a sophisticated finish, and an ideal backdrop for boho, rustic, and farmhouse-style decor by Annie Sloan.

21. Paper-white by Benjamin Moore

Jenna Kate balances the natural settings of the room.

22. Alabaster by Sherwin Williams:

Bless This Nest provides a comprehensive guide on using earthy-toned accessories, furniture, and natural elements.

Blue:

Blue promotes relaxation and helps to lower blood pressure. This color stimulates calming effects and is ideal for bedrooms and bathrooms.

23. Charcoal blue by Sherwin Williams

Nearest match: Polo by All-in-one-Paint

Elite Home Designs used charcoal blue to design a dining room accent wall for a glorious finish.

24. Gifted by Farrow and Ball

Nearest match: Acapulco Blue by Prestige

The House on Dolphin St used blue with a contrasting green door for an airy and chic interior of a bedroom.

25. Dark Night by Sherwin Williams:

Nishtha Sadana creates an eye-catching backdrop for a living room.

26. Good Jeans by Clare

Nearest match: Curious Blue by Prestige

Color drenching reduces visual noise and makes small rooms appear bigger. Pepper Home has used this technique with red curtains and brown furniture.

27. Van Deusesn Blue by Benjamin Moore:

The Paint Diva shares a color-saturated wall called “board and batten” with a contrast pumpkin orange couch for a dramatic finish.

28. Dead Flat by Farrow and Ball

Nearest march: Moody Blue by Sherwin Williams

This Time In Colour creates a bespoke display using color drenching technique on multi-surface bedroom walls.

29. Accessible Beige by Sherwin Williams:

Complete your hallway renovation like Allison House of Hepworths.

30. Pale Oak by Benjamin Moore

Nearest match: Pale Almond by Benjamin Moore

American Colors have chosen an excellent warm and elegant display for lobby.

31. Cap Cod Bay by BeautiTone

Nearest match: Cap Code Bay by Rodda

Hanna DIY Home and Design revamps her son’s bedroom.

Green:

Green is the color of peacefulness and helps to promote comfort in a calming and relaxed environment. This is why this color can be used in part of the house.

32. Evergreen Fog by Sherwin Williams

Nearest match: Evergreens by Sherwin Williams

Check out this dazzling neutral staircase transformation by Lindsey Mahoney that is a perfect blend of modern and traditional styling.

33. Pigeon by Farrow and Ball

Nearest match: Spa by Jolie

Sarah Williams creates an inviting and cozy space in her living room.

34. Olive green by Lick

Nearest match: Crete by All-in-One-Paint

Create a statement wall that complements red and brown shades like Seven Pine Doors.

35. All the Sage by Clare:

Nearest match: All About Olive by Glidden

To bring in your bedroom’s cozy vibes, paint your walls like Orlando Soria. As the room has a small window, this color, combined with earthy-toned furniture and a neutral-shaded door, helps make the room bigger.

36. Knightsbridge Green by Annie Sloan:

Monika reinvigorates her living room by choosing a moody yet cozy wall paint for an ultra-modern look.

37. Calming Green by Lick

Nearest match: Green Mist by Rodda

Jessica transforms her mainstream bedroom with neutral furniture and a feature wall.

38. Dried Thyme by Sherwin Williams:

Alicia Fawn Treasure remodeled her tiny bathroom into a stunning artistic wonder. The artist has paired contrasting long curtains to make this bathroom appear taller.

Brown:

39. Leather Saddle Brown by Benjamin Moore

Nearest match: Bird House Brown by Glidden

Inner Banks Paint and Decorating share the warmest shade to bind all elements of the dining room together.

40. Wainscot by Farrow and Ball

Nearest match: Muddy Mississippi by Valspar

Molly Kidd gives a mandatory makeover to her home office that reflects comfort, stability, earthiness.

Orange:

Orange wall paint is one of the most widely used paint colors due to its warmth and calming effect on the muscles. This paint promotes excitement, deviation, and eagerness and is ideal for kitchen and creative corner interior painting.

41. Tuscan Terracotta by Dulux

Nearest match: Orange Marmalade by Prestige

Kate Moorehouse creates a breathtaking view with beige and green accents.

42. Sea Pearl by Benjamin Moore:

Carly has used Sea Pearl for her kitchen and hallway adding charm and elegance to her modern house.

43. Intrigue by Benjamin Moore:

Jennifer Gizzi sorted her bathroom renovation project by switching to a calming gray.

44. Hematite by Behr

Nearest match: Hematite by Valspar

House of Valentina transform a worn-off walls with a solid and powerful upgrade at the lake house.

Yellow:

Yellow is a widely used secondary color associated with joy and happiness. When used in the right proportions in kitchens, dining rooms, and bathrooms, yellow spreads an energizing effect.

45. Dorset Cream by Farrow and Ball

Nearest Match: Harvest Time by Benjamin Moore

Josh Young expertly blends yellow hues of historic charm with modern design.

46. Indian Yellow by Farrow and Ball

Nearest match: Indian Yellow by Schmincke

Witness an avant-garde living room transformation by Claire Jafford.

47. Pablo Honey by Backdrop

Dabito transformed her guest bedroom by choosing a bright yellow.

Other Wall Paint Color:

48. Beige Limewash by Rustoleum:

Greige color falls between gray and beige tones on a color card. This shade is popular due to its warmth and calming effect. Candice uses it for the hallway upgrade.