Choosing the Right Paint Colors for Your Home

Learn how to choose the perfect colors based on your home's style, lighting, and architecture.

Start With Your Home's Style

Modern/Contemporary:

• Whites and grays (cool tones)
• Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
• Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray
• Accent walls in navy or charcoal

Traditional:

• Warm neutrals (beiges, taupes)
• Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter
• Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige
• Classic white trim

Craftsman (common in Seattle):

• Earth tones (greens, browns, warm grays)
• Deep trim colors
• Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray
• Sherwin-Williams Evergreen Fog

Mid-Century:

• Warm whites
• Mustard or burnt orange accents
• Natural wood tones preserved
• Benjamin Moore Simply White

Consider Your Lighting

North-Facing Rooms:

• Get less natural light
• Look cooler and darker
• Choose warm colors to compensate
• Avoid grays (they turn blue-gray)

South-Facing Rooms:

• Most natural light throughout day
• Can handle darker or cooler colors
• Be cautious with whites (may look too bright)

East-Facing Rooms:

• Morning light (warm)
• Afternoon shadow (cool)
• Neutral colors work best

West-Facing Rooms:

• Afternoon sun (intense)
• Evening light (warm)
• Cooler colors balance heat

Seattle-Specific Considerations

Gray Days:

• Seattle gets 150+ cloudy days/year
• Colors look different in overcast light
• Test samples on cloudy days, not just sunny
• Warm undertones prevent colors looking flat

Natural Surroundings:

• Evergreen trees visible from windows
• Consider how green exterior affects interior colors
• Complementary earth tones work well

The Test Patch Method

Never skip this step:

1. Buy samples (small cans, $5-8 each)
2. Paint 2x2 ft squares on multiple walls
3. View at different times:
   • Morning light
   • Afternoon light
   • Evening artificial light
   • Cloudy day vs sunny day
4. Live with it 3-5 days before deciding
5. Check against existing elements:
   • Flooring
   • Countertops
   • Furniture
   • Cabinets

Common mistake: Choosing color from tiny paint chip. Colors look different at scale and in your lighting.

Coordinating Multiple Rooms

Open floor plans:

• Use same color or same color family
• Vary shade slightly between rooms
• Maintain consistent undertones (all warm or all cool)

Traditional layouts:

• Can use different colors per room
• Keep hallways neutral (connects spaces)
• Repeat accent colors across rooms for flow

Popular Seattle Color Trends 2025

Interiors:

• Warm whites (replacing stark whites)
• Soft greens (sage, olive)
• Warm grays with beige undertones ("greige")
• Navy accent walls

Exteriors:

• Deep charcoals
• Forest greens
• Warm grays
• Black trim (modern)
• White with black accents (farmhouse)

Avoid These Color Mistakes

Too trendy:

• Bold statement colors date quickly
• Use trends as accents, not whole rooms
• Easier to change throw pillows than repaint

Ignoring undertones:

• Every color has undertone (pink, yellow, blue, green)
• Undertones clash if not coordinated
• Test with existing finishes

Not enough contrast:

• Walls and trim too similar = flat appearance
• Need value difference for definition

Too much contrast:

• Stark white walls + dark furniture = harsh
• Creates visual tension