How to Pick the Perfect Paint Color Every Time- An Introduction to Color Theory

First of all, congrats! I heard you’re looking to put a fresh coat of paint somewhere around your home. You got tired of staring at that old, dingy paint job the previous owners did. So, you decided it was time for a little painting session. This will be an easy project, right? Go to the store, look at some samples, and take a gallon or two of the chosen color(s) home. If only it were that easy! But, unfortunately, it’s not. Picking paint colors– especially the perfect colors for your space– is extremely challenging. But, I have some good news. It’s not impossible. All you need is quality paint, the right tools, and a little color knowledge. And, you’ll have that old, dingy paint job fixed in no time!

In today’s blog post, I’ll be taking you to the roots of picking paint colors– color theory and the color wheel. You may already know some things, or you might not. Either way, the point of this blog post is to prime you for the two follow-up blog posts I’ll be writing on picking paint colors. You’ll want/need this refresh on color theory and the color wheel before reading the next two posts. So, buckle up! You’re about to dive knee-deep into color theory. 

*Short Disclaimer: Before I dive into the basics of color theory and picking paint colors, I just want to state that I’m not a professional painter. However, I am the daughter (and employee) of the owners of Superior Hardware in Grand Marais, MI. Superior Hardware mixes and sells Valspar paints. Therefore, I’m surrounded by all things painting. Although I don’t paint for a living, I thoroughly enjoy all that goes into it and know the basics. In fact, I love painting so much that I took a 2-hour Udemy class on it by Alisa Connely. And, that’s where I was able to learn most of what I know about picking paint colors. If you would like to check out Alisa Connely’s Udemy course on “How to Choose Paint Colors for Any Room” or the Superior Hardware Website, I’ll link them below. 

Links:

1. Alisa Connely’s “How to Choose Paint Colors for Any Room” Udemy Class
2. Superior Hardware in Grand Marais, MI

What is Color Theory?

Color theory is an accumulation of rules and guidelines that artists, interior designers, and even landscapers use to create a cohesive piece of art. If you would like to learn more about where and how color theory came to be, click HERE.

The Color Wheel

A color wheel is a special tool that was created to help people remember color theory. You probably learned a bit about color wheels back in your elementary years, but I’ll give you a refresher. A color wheel is shaped like, well, you guessed it- a wheel. It looks sort of like one of those peach ring candies. But, instead of being all orange, it’s rainbow! The color wheel displays all three primary colors (red, yellow, and blue), all three secondary colors (orange, green, and violet), and all six tertiary colors (red-orange, yellow-orange, yellow-green, blue-green, blue-violet, and red-violet). This color wheel holds a lot of information for being so incredibly small. So, don’t go yet. 

Primary, Secondary, and Tertiary Colors

The first thing to notice with the color wheel is the careful placement of each color. You probably remember back from grade school years that the primary colors are mixed to create the secondary colors. And, tertiary colors are created by mixing a primary color with a secondary color. Each primary, secondary, and tertiary color is placed next to its component colors. Pretty genius, right? 

Cool, or Warm?

The second (less obvious) thing to notice about the color wheel is that one side has all colors we associate as having a “cooler” tone to them. For example, blue, blue-green, blue-violet… basically anything that has blue or green in it. And, the other side of the color wheel has all colors that we associate as having a “warmer” tone. Red, orange, and yellow are a part of the color wheel’s “warmer” side. Knowing the difference between cool and warm colors will play a huge role in picking paint colors that work for your home. So, make sure you tuck this information away safely in your memory. 

Complementary Colors

The third (and last) fun thing that the color wheel shows us is which colors complement each other… and which don’t. Colors that are opposite of each other are complementary. Complementary colors work together to make a room feel like one, complete work of art. Conversely, colors that are adjacent to each other are not complementary. Non-complementary colors do not work well together. They make a space feel incomplete and confusing. When it comes time to pick paint colors, this information will definitely have to be considered.

Neutrals

Moving on from the color wheel, there lies a whole other world that cannot be found on that fun piece of rainbow candy. This world is the world of neutrals. The four neutrals are beige, gray, taupe, and greige. You’re probably wondering… “well, why aren’t they on the color wheel?” That’s because neutrals aren’t technically “colors.” However, all neutrals have underlying color in them. Okay, seriously. What do I mean by “underlying color?” I mean that each one has different potential undertones.

What’s an Undertone?

An undertone is an underlying color that shows through a neutral. Colors that you see on the color wheel can be found as a neutral’s undertone. The tricky part? All neutrals have different potential undertones that can be found in them. Unsurprisingly, all of them have an enormous impact on how a neutral is perceived by the human eye. 

Beige

Beige has the largest amount of undertone possibilities. It often leans more on the warm color spectrum. Therefore, it should not be used in a room that has lots of blues and bright whites. The five undertones that can be found in beige are green, pink, yellow, orange, and gold. Each undertone makes beige look like a completely different neutral. If you’re looking to make a room feel cozy and welcoming, beige would be a great option to consider. 

Gray

Gray has the second largest amount of undertone possibilities. Unlike our neutral friend beige, gray leans more on the cool spectrum. Gray shouldn’t be used in a space that has lots of warm elements, as it will look stark and argumentative. The four undertones you’ll find in gray are blue, green, blue/green, and purple. Gray works well in any space and can make a room either cozy and inviting or clean and airy. You just have to be sure that you stick to a cooler color pallet. Otherwise, it’ll take over the whole room!

Taupe

If you ask me, taupe looks like a dirtier version of gray. I’m not saying I don’t like taupe. In fact, I love it. But, it really does just look like a dirtier version of gray. Taupe has two undertone possibilities– pink and purple. The difference between taupe and gray? Gray is a cool neutral, and taupe is the exact opposite. Seeing that it has pink and purple as its undertones, and pink and purple are warm colors, that makes taupe warm as well. And, it should stay with its warm-toned family. Taupe would be an excellent choice if you’re wanting a cozy, warm feel but aren’t a fan of beige. 

Greige

Greige is probably one of the most interesting neutrals of them all. It has two possible undertones, just like taupe. But, unlike taupe that has pink and purple (two very similar colors) as undertones, it has green and purple! Talk about a weird mix. Green-greige and purple-greige look way different from each other (as you’ll see below). And, that’s not a bad thing. If you want to add a neutral to your space but struggle to pick out undertones, just go for a greige. You’ll most likely be able to spot the greige’s undertone relatively fast. 

A Super Handy Neutrals Tip

If you struggle to decipher what undertones a neutral has, use a white sheet of paper as a guide. Place that white sheet of paper next to the object or wall that needs undertone deciphering, and it’ll help bring those undertones out. This tip will be super useful to you when you go to paint a pre-furnished room. 

A Quick Little-Side Note On Undertones

Not only can undertones be found in all four neutrals, they can also be found in colors on the color wheel. The difference? Undertones found in colors are actually just labeled as “tertiary” colors! Isn’t that interesting? 

Now, What About Black and White? 

Black

Is black a color? This can be a very controversial dinner conversation in some households. Some will claim that it is, and others will not. But, I have some great news! Both sides are correct! Black isn’t a color… but it is a color! Confusing. I know. Black is actually labeled in its own little box as being a color without hue. This means that it doesn’t have any color or shade to it. It’s simply… black. If you like a bold, contrasting design, incorporating black (either via the walls or room accents) is a great way to achieve that look. 

White

Okay, so black’s a color…but it’s not a color. What about white then? Is white a color? Guess what? Same answer! White is a color that’s not a color! How is this possible? No matter what type of white is being discussed (yes, there are different whites), all of them have an undertone. The possible undertone in a white can be any color on the color wheel or even a neutral! Isn’t that crazy? If you’re considering putting a nice, clean white on your walls, don’t assume that all white paints will look the same! Picking “just white” is not as easy as it sounds. Trust me! Account for those undertones!

Conclusion

I hope you’re able to walk away from this blog post feeling one step closer to picking paint colors for your home with confidence. I know that touching on the color theory may have felt tedious and unnecessary in helping you pick the perfect paint colors. But, trust me! This knowledge will be a huge help to you in the next two follow-up blog posts of this mini course. My goal is to teach you all that I know about paint. I don’t want you to have any regrets about the colors you choose to paint your walls. So, come ready next week for the second “How to Pick the Perfect Paint Color” blog post. You’re not done learning yet!