You want to hire some painting work but your heart hesitates in the face of the vast palette of colors available to you. In this case, it is recommended to use a color chart. To help you in your selection, we invite you to follow 5 steps.
1 – Get a paint color chart
The choice of a color is not done directly in a store because the optimal conditions are not met: the lighting, for example, will inevitably be different from that of your home. real source ofinspiration, a color chart will allow you to define the appropriate color to dress your walls while thinking with a clear head. Available in several forms (fan, notebook, accordion, notebook, etc.), this small catalog can be found in DIY, decoration and paint stores, and also on the websites of these shops and the main paint brands. Note that a paint color chart is often paying. It can also be downloaded from specialized sites, but its precision may leave something to be desired compared to the paper version because the brightness of a computer screen can slightly alter the real rendering.
2 – Study the part to be painted carefully
Before looking at the family of colors that might interest you, it is recommended to take into account the characteristics of the surface to be painted. If it is a dry or wet room you will opt for a matte or glossy paint (there are color charts adapted to these options). Note that if you paint all four walls of a room in the same color, the end result may seem more sombre than expected (the application of a white or very light tone will contribute to attenuate this effect – source). On the other hand, a color applied to the wall on the window side, backlight therefore, you will also appear darker than that of the other walls of the room. Also think that the furniture and decorative objects must go harmoniously with the paintings.
3 – Find the main color
You have carefully studied your room, its luminosity, its furniture, then the hour of arbitration has come! The color chart deploys a degraded ranging from the lightest to the darkest shades for the same color family. You will see a board for the shades of yellow, blue, red, green, orange, black, gray, white, purple, pink, brown, etcetera. It’s up to you to see the atmosphere you want to give to your universe. The light colors enlarge the impression of space and the dark ones apply to the brightest walls. The timeless colors (brown, grey, etc.) provide a cozy atmosphere perfect for places of reflection such as offices or libraries. Stimulating, the colors red and yellow wake up the living rooms.
Cold colors (blue, green, etc.) bring serenity and concentration to a space of relaxation and rest. Very trendy, the earth, sand or vegetal colors weave a soft and warm atmosphere. Proceed by elimination, because there are bound to be colors you don’t like. Once you have refined your selection of families, place the color chart in front of you and scan the different pages to find the ideal tone. It is important to operate in daylight. Once you have determined the dominant color, you can proceed to the correct combination of hues.
4 – Choose complementary colors
The main color is found? It’s time to narrow down your choices for complementary colors. To do this, take your color chart and open it to the pages closest to the color initially chosen. Some marriages make the walls sing, others don’t. If you can’t decide, cut them out. squares of tint and place them on a black support to bring out the subtlety of each shade (very useful when it comes to deciding between gray, very light or dark tints for example).
The tones evolve according to the lighting of the rooms, the outside light and the color of the floor. Place the colors that make you hesitate side by side on the wall (with masking tape) and leave them for 24 hours to accustom the eye. Observe the result at different times of the day, to identify the impact of the color according to the variations of daylight. Do not hesitate to move your color square to other walls to confirm your choice.
5 – Do a test on the surface to be painted
If the crush is confirmed, you can buy the paint based on the color chart, without any additional steps. Not 100% sure? In this case, opt for double security by obtaining samples of paint that you will apply in small touches to your wall under the same conditions as those recommended above (brightness, observation at different times of the day, etc.). Most brands offer pots or applicators miniatures to be tested directly on the surface to be painted, but also large squares of color to be taped to the wall. Samples are usually chargeable but the end result may justify the expense. To perfect your decor, why not create gradients, monochromes, contrasts on furniture, baseboards, around windows and doors? Child’s play for you who have now mastered the use of a color chart!