Spent three weekends repainting my living room because I picked the wrong gray. Looked perfect on the chip. Turned purple on the wall. Lesson learned the hard way.
The Undertone Problem
Every color has undertones hiding underneath. That gray you like? Might lean blue, purple, green, or brown depending on your light.
Whites are even trickier. Warm whites, cool whites, pink whites, green whites. A “white” room can feel completely different depending on which white.
Light Changes Everything
North-facing rooms get cool light all day. Cool colors look even cooler – sometimes cold. Warm up with warmer paint.
South-facing gets warm light. Cool colors work fine here. Warm colors might turn orange at sunset.
East and west flip between warm and cool morning to evening. Test colors at different times.
The Test Process
Buy sample pots. Paint big squares – at least poster-sized – in different spots. Live with them for a few days.
Look at them in morning light. Evening light. Lamp light. Colors shift constantly.
Playing It Safe
Warm whites and greiges work almost everywhere. They’re safe because they’re chameleons.
Bold colors on accent walls or rooms you can easily repaint. Don’t paint your whole house trending emerald green unless you’re committed.
Flow Between Rooms
Open floor plans need colors that talk to each other. Doesn’t mean identical – same undertone family works.
White trim throughout ties everything together. Cheaper and more forgiving than matching every room.
