June 17, 2021

How to Choose the Right Paint Colours for Your Home

With so many colours available in limitless shades, hues and tints, it can be challenging to settle on a scheme for your home. To help you overcome your choice paralysis, we've put together a handy how-to guide full of tips, tricks and bucket loads of inspiration.

Before we give you our expert colour recommendations for each room, let's explore some of the critical things to keep in mind throughout the painting process. They include:

• Amount of natural light
• Colour theory
• How-to use neutrals
• Samples and testing

Amount of natural light

Before picking a palette, you should assess how much natural light a room receives and whether it's north, east, west or south facing. It's important because the quality of light will impact the paint's final appearance, and specific colours will make spaces look larger or smaller.

North-facing and windowless rooms can feel gloomy, even during the warmer summer months. Therefore, cold colours like white, blue and grey only make spaces look less inviting and darker. Instead, choose neutrals or pastels with warm yellow or beige undertones. You can also give rooms more dimension by choosing bold, saturated colours.

East-facing rooms feel cooler as the day progresses, whereas west-facing rooms warm-up over time. So, choose combination colours that give you the best of both worlds like teal (green and blue), purple (blue and red) and yellow (orange and red).

South-facing rooms are everyone's favourite because they receive plenty of flattering light morning to night. Opt for neutrals and cool colours as they reflect light to make spaces look larger and airier.

Colour theory

The easiest way to finalise a scheme is by building around colours you love with colour theory.

Firstly, think about colours that bring you joy or inspire happy memories. Then, use a colour wheel to find complementary pairings (top tip – they're opposite each other). When put together, these duos create a standout contrast when divided between walls and accents.

How-to use neutrals

If you're unsure about the showy colour wheel combinations of red and green, blue and orange and purple and yellow, stick with neutrals or a neutral/colour combination.

Implementing neutrals is safe without being boring, but you must choose the right undertone for your desired effect. Warm neutrals have yellow, brown or orange undertones, creating a sense of cosiness, while cool neutrals draw from blue and green. Go back to how much natural light your room receives before making a final decision.

With all-neutral rooms (especially all-white rooms), create texture through furnishings. Layered throws, lace details, pillows, accent shelves and wall art gives much-needed depth.

Samples and testing

Please, please, please get sample happy. Otherwise, you could waste excessive amounts of time and money. It's crucial to check the colours on actual walls or furniture rather than in the shop because testing cards only show a tiny amount of paint without considering the surrounding space and light.

We make every effort to match our online shop colour swatches to the paint. However, we cannot guarantee an exact colour replication as devices can display differently due to screen types and device settings. In addition, colours can appear differently once in your home due to lighting and surroundings and can present differently depending on surface texture and porosity.

There is no substitute for visiting a Stockist to see the colours yourself or try out the paint by purchasing a smaller 250ml ‘Dinky’ tin.

What are the best colours for a bedroom?

Choosing the right paint for your bedroom depends on your personality and habits, then finding colours that introduce balance.

If you're a chronic snoozer, combat sleepiness with vivid yellow. Those with overactive brains benefit from clean neutrals and whites. Do you struggle to fall asleep? If so, opt for soothing blues and greens that promote rest.

Generally, darker shades are less stimulating and snugger, cocooning us as we doze. For this reason, we suggest Smooth Operator or Velvet Crush for walls. You could even upcycle old furniture with a luxurious shade of dark green like Victory Lane.

What are the best colours for a living room?

Communal spaces, including living rooms, should feel convivial and spark joy, so prioritise colours that mean something to you.

What makes you happy? Perhaps, it's family holidays abroad with golden sand and turquoise sea. Maybe, you feel your best when walking through sage green fields, drinking in nature's abundance. It could be as simple as just liking pink or red (because we don't always need a reason).

Whatever it is, now's your chance to experiment. Clash wall colours with patterned throws, pillows and rugs. Fill wall space with photos, postcards and trinkets. Above all else, make sure there's plenty of natural or artificial light to make the area feel as welcoming as possible.

What are the best colours for a kitchen?

Nothing shines brighter than a clean and uncluttered kitchen. Cue white - exceptionally versatile and ultra-chic no matter the setting.

Modern homes benefit from monochrome schemes in varying shades of white, black and grey. Alternatively, go for shabby chic vibes by pairing white walls with wooden furniture and accents.

A hot trend right now is to use a different colour for the top and bottom cupboards, with the top typically paler against the darker base.

If you're a family of fussy eaters, how about choosing a colour that incites appetites? Red, yellow and teal stimulate the senses, making difficult mealtimes a thing of the past.

What are the best colours for a bathroom?

Many bathrooms are smaller with fewer windows, so run the risk of feeling dingy and confined. Consequently, choose a colour that maximises space and promotes relaxation (for all the obvious reasons).

Spa-like colours are perfect if you're a bubble-bath lover who soaks in the tub. Think gentle lavenders, serene blues and warm sands. For something bolder, teal creates a seaside vibe, while navy blue invokes the nautical.

Additionally, pale greens immediately make small spaces feel lighter and more expansive because it brings the outside inside. Alongside taupes, browns and plenty of indoor plants, you'll practically feel the fresh air on your skin.

Choose the right colours with Frenchic

Whether you're decorating your bathroom, kitchen, living room or bedroom, Frenchic’s extensive collection of award-winning paint won't disappoint. We have a treasure chest of options to suit every theme, personality and setting.

You're sure to discover the ideal shade for your home. For furniture paint, take a closer look at our Original Artisan Range and Lazy Range. Frenchic Al Fresco Inside/Outdoor Range is a durable, weatherproof, UV resistant chalk paint specifically developed to protect and transform your garden and inside furniture. While the superior coverage and velvety finish of the  Chalk Wall Paint will enhance any room it graces. 

To find the perfect partner for your home's interior decor, browse our selection today. Or, if you want some more colour inspo, why not check out our list of the best quotes about colour to set off your imagination.

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