THINK before you PAINT: 7 Thoughts to Consider

1. Looking to buy? Never judge a house by its paint colors.
Any loyal HGTV viewer knows this simple rule because it really is true. If you are buying a home, tell your eyes (and your brain) to look beyond any paint colors that don't strike your fancy. Paint is an easy fix and can immediately transform the aura of a room. Always look past the color of the walls!

2. Choose a color palette that's "you."
Think about colors you to which you gravitate. Are they pastels? Bold colors? Cool colors? Neutrals? Do you have a favorite color combination like blue and yellow or black and white? Get to know which colors you love.

Don't know where to start? That's okay! Look in your closet, your [past/future] wedding color scheme, your furniture, or your pins! Whether you realize it or not, I bet there is a palette you love the most.

 This is my palette: "seaside neutrals" (as I like to call them). These colors flow throughout each room in my home.

3. Go beyond the walls.
There is more to painting a house than merely the walls. Also consider the trim, doors, cabinets, and ceiling.

Trim is most commonly white. You can also match it to your wall color or do something funky and unique. It's your preference.
Don't forget doors! Even though I love light colors in general, I LOVE the contrast of a darker interior door.
Cabinets with builder's grade oak grain? Paint 'em! It's much easier on the eyes (and in sync with your color scheme!).
Look up at the ceiling! If there is a special room in your house, consider adding a P.O.C. {pop of color} to the ceiling. Envision light blue on your sunroom or porch ceiling, light pink in your baby girl's nursery, or maybe even a painted pattern above your home office. The possibilities are endless!

Left: Don't be afraid of the dark! Dark doors make a regal statement--especially when paired with light colored spaces.

Right: Look at the difference some paint makes! The kitchen hasn't been touched except for painting the cabinets and walls. What a change!!! (And just think...this will look even better with some fresh counter tops and shiny hardware! Oh, and painting the outlets too. Which leads to my next tip...)

4. Don't forget the electrical outlets and switches!
These little guys are all often neglected and remain the same color as when you purchased them from Lowes. Don't be afraid to paint these too! It's a little move that makes a big difference on a wall.

5. Professional vs. DIY
Know your budget. Decide what works best for your family. If you're the boss, great! If you hire someone, great! Be sure to check in often if you hire a professional. They might have questions you didn't think to tell them beforehand. And--if you're like me--you enjoy popping in unannounced to make sure everyone is on task. Time is money in this case...make sure the job is done smoothly and steadily! Know where your dollars are going. Try to keep track of what the house looks like at the beginning and end of each day (and in the middle if possible). You'll feel better knowing what work is (or isn't!) accomplished in a day's work.

6. Light Types
The truth is, it's very difficult to envision a paint color from a swatch...even with the larger swatches. If you are hesitant about a color or set of colors, pick up some samples from your preferred paint store. Paint portions of the wall -- it's okay! It won't matter since you're going to paint over them again anyway.

The paint color will look different throughout the day. Know that. Depending on how much (or how little) light is in the room, the paint will appear lighter or darker. Additionally, turn on a lamp. Surprise! Your paint "changes color" again with artificial light.

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7. Save colors you love.
Write them down, file them, back them up in an email...do whatever you need to do to make sure you keep record of the color of each room (company, name, and numbers). You might have some wear and tear that needs a little paint fix up over time, or if you move one day, you won't have to reinvent the wheel if you've already found what you love!

Happy painting!

Frankly, my dear...you should pop over here to visit my sweet sponsor, Jenni!