Interior painting for your Portland, Oregon home is the most budget-friendly and dramatic way to change the look of a room. Even though painting a room isn’t as intense as other interior design ideas, you still need to take the time to choose the right paint colors. Bluenote Painting understands that this can be a very big task, so we have put together some of the most common mistakes to avoid when choosing paint colors for your home.

Being afraid of color
We all know someone who would feel much safer just painting his or her entire home beige. Maybe that person is you. But there’s no need to be afraid of color. Color totally transforms a room. Painting your room an actual color other than gray or beige doesn’t mean you have to go crazy and paint it electric blue. Look for house paint colors that you are drawn to. If you lean toward neutral colors, find some paint colors that are a little richer or darker than what you might initially choose. If this is still a little scary, start small. Paint your entryway or even a half bath a color that pushes you slightly outside of your comfort zone. You may find that you’re so inspired that you are ready to take the next step and paint your living room a beautiful, bold paint color.

Picking your paint color first
This tip is for those moving into a new home or redecorating with paint and furnishings, and it is a tough one. Some designers will say to choose paint first, others say to wait until your home is furnished. In reality, it can really be a little bit of both. You don’t want to choose your paint colors, paint your room, then find that the furniture you are in love with clashes with your paint color choice. Start by choosing the paint color family, but remain open-minded. If you’re shopping for new furniture, let these two choices work together. If you are using furniture that you already have, then choosing paint colors will be much easier. Then, decide if you want to paint the whole house before moving in.

Depending on paint swatches
Those little paint swatches are great for taking the first step in choosing paint colors. But it is necessary to buy paint samples in the colors you love in order to see how they really look in your room. Paint a big sample on each wall in order to see how your color reacts to light and shadow. You may be surprised at the colors that look best in your space.

Being too trendy
Trends can be fun to follow when it comes to things like fashion and home decorating ideas. But if your home is too trendy, you will be redecorating every couple of years, which can become very expensive and exhausting! Stick to more classic styles and colors that can last in your home for many years. Using a few trends can be fun, but try them in small doses; on accent walls, smaller rooms, and with accessories like pillows and artwork that can be changed easily.

When your home is ready to be painted, Bluenote Painting has the professional painters to help get the job done. Whether you are starting small and painting just one room, or painting your whole home, we will be sure you are happy after the job is complete.