Your eyes are incredibly complex human machines. If you don’t believe me, google any one of the thousands of optical illusions that get passed around the internet – like what color is the dress or are the plates upside down or right side up. The eye can play tricks on you and when it comes to painting and choosing paint colors, you often have to try and outthink your eyes. We sat with a designer recently and discussed how choosing paint colors can be difficult but with the right mindset, you can overcome some of the common things that come up.

Darker isn’t always darker. One of the first things people think about a particular color is that it’s too dark. While it can be, it’s not always the truth. Dark colors can actually draw in more light and make rooms seem brighter. Painting an entire room black probably isn’t going to work to make it look sunny, but you’d be surprised how dark colors can actually lighten a room.

Test in large areas. Most people will paint small swatches on their wall when trying to make a decision. The designer suggests painting large patches – think feet, not inches to truly get a good idea.

Let the paint dry. Paint colors change as they dry (and they dry differently on different walls and surfaces).

Don’t always count on a color that looks good in your friend’s house. Paints are affected by a lot of factors and what looks one way in your friend’s house may not look anything like that in yours. Everything from the surface to the natural lighting to the objects in the room can make the color look completely different.

If you just don’t feel you have an eye for it, don’t be afraid to ask the experts in the store or to hire a designer or professional painter to assist. Not everyone has the natural ability to bring color and design together to make those picture perfect rooms that we all dream of having.

image courtesy of acme