How to Choose Colours

Begin at the Beginning
Determine what features or existing finishes in the room you would consider permanent. Consider the cabinets, tile or a brick fireplace. For example, if the wood of your kitchen cabinets has a red undertone, make sure the paint colour you choose works well with that hue.

Create a Focal Point
Emphasize your home's attractive architectural features, such as crown molding or arched window treatments, with contrasting paint — lighter or darker than the wall — or by painting them with a glossy finish. You can also make one wall an accent wall by painting it a different colour, giving it a faux finish, adding wallpaper or a border.

Unify the Colour Flow
You can unify rooms by using a common colour palette. Create distinct spaces by altering the shade and hue within the common palette.

Emphasize or Minimize
Colour can emphasize certain features - and minimize others. A long narrow room will look wider if you use a slightly darker colour on the shorter walls and a lighter colour on the longer walls. You can make a ceiling appear higher by applying a lighter colour, or lower with a darker colour. To give a big room a more intimate feel, paint the walls in colours that advance toward you, such as red, gold, orange and brown. To help a small room seem larger, paint the walls in colours that make them appear to recede, such as blue, green or violet.