The Process of Picking Paint

/

There are so many things to consider when redesigning or even refreshing a space. Between budget, colour choices, sheens, quantities, brands, the list goes on…

When it comes to picking the right products, colours, and people, we’re here to help! Below you’ll find the process of picking paint and tips along the way.

To begin, let’s start with the best part: picking colours! It can be so overwhelming with the thousands of colour options, but don’t let that scare you because when it comes down to it, it’s a process of elimination.

PICK YOUR COLOUR(S):

  • Research and gain inspiration, whether it be from Pinterest, Instagram, magazines, designer advice; figure out what you like and what you don’t like. This will definitely narrow down your options. If you’re gravitating to a certain style or feelings thats presented in images or ideas, the next step is to find colours that represent that tone.

  • Consider what’s realistic and what’s a dream and let’s combine them into one (because no dream is too big…except maybe covering red with white in one coat) or at least find a compromise. This step is about whether you’re starting fresh with a whole new build/design or just enhancing the current space with a fresh paint job. If it’s brand new, the options are pretty endless, but if you’re having to work around the existing style, furniture, flooring, and architecture then it will help to acknowledge that in order to find complimenting colours, in order to enhance or to blend new colours into the mix.

  • Now that we know what you want and what you currently have, we can narrow down what works. If you’re wanting contemporary design but live in a century home, we can modernize while respecting the history. That’s the best part about paint, it can change as many times as you’d like to and always be on trend or suit your own style. Once the colours are narrowed down, take the swatches home or invest in a Tester Pot and see how they look in your space. Lighting plays the biggest role in selecting colours because it can change the look dramatically. Once the process of elimination is complete, you’ll be able to select colour(s) that you’re confident in and move on to the next step.

SELECT THE SHEEN:

Selecting a sheen can be determined by a few things. The standard is to have flatter finishes for the ceiling and walls and shinier for the doors and trim. How shiny or how matte depends on your taste, the style of your space and the condition it's in. The flatter the finish, the more blemishes it will hide on your wall but the shinier the finish, the more washable it becomes. In terms of style, matte finishes are more modern because they portray a refined and soft look whereas the more gloss means the more reflection of light, so more attention is drawn to the surface. There isn’t a right or wrong choice when it comes to sheen (or colour) but the typical options are Matte, Eggshell, Pearl, Semi-Gloss (lowest to highest gloss).

PICK YOUR PRODUCT:

Once you’ve determined the colour and level of gloss, the next step is choosing the best product for the job. The considerations for this step include budget, durability needs, and product preference. We carry various lines of Benjamin Moore paints; however, the main ones are Aura, Regal and Ben. The majority of needs will suffice with these three products, but if not, there are many more. The higher the price influences the quality of the product, usually. For example, Aura is the highest price point because of it’s premium selling points: it contains Colourlock Technology which keeps colours staying richer and truer over time, the coverage is phenomenal, the dry time is faster than any other BM product and it even has its own colour line full of rich, vibrant tones. Aura is suitable for you if you’re looking for incredible quality, quick service, and long lasting colour retention. In comparison to Aura, our contractor level Ultra Spec 500 is on the lower end of cost but still a top seller because it meets the needs for different kinds of projects. For example, if you’re needing paint to sell your house, you don’t require it to be high end because you won’t get to reap the rewards of its longevity. Ultra Spec is a great product for less traffic areas (closets, basements, spare bedrooms) because while still good coverage, it doesn’t ware as well as its competitor rankings.

DETERMINE YOUR QUANTITIES:

After deciding your colour, sheen and product, the last step is figuring out how much you need to get the job done. Paint coverage is measured by square footage. To find out your square footage, simply multiply the measurements of the length and height of each wall and add together the totals. (Ex. a room is 10’x11’ with 8’ ceilings. The math would be: 10x8 + 10x8 + 11x8 + 11x8 = 336sq ft). 1 gallon of paint typically covers 400 sq. ft., so when you know the exact sizing, just see how much will cover per 400 sq ft in a gallon or 100 sq ft in a quart.

GET PAINTING:

You’ve now determined your colour, sheen, product and quantity! The only thing left to do now is get your supplies and get painting (or hire a professional!).

Don’t forget to show off your hard work and tag us on Facebook or Instagram!

@clancys_rainbow_paint