Source: Asian Paints

Pick the Right Shade

1. The first step to picking the perfect paint colour is to realise that every colour doesn't suit every room. For example, even if red is your favourite colour, you might not want to use it in your bedroom. Red is vibrant and you need something more soothing and relaxing in your bedroom.

2. Looking through tons of colour swatches can be quite dizzying. But don't fret. Narrow down on two or three basic colours and then go through shades of those colours. The idea is not to get bewildered by the sea of colours before you.

Once you have those two or three set colours, further narrow down your choices to five or six shades. Then you can ask your family for their inputs.

3. The best way to pick the right paint colour is to make sure it goes with the rest of the room. The new paint ads on TV may say the latest colour is pink but if your furnishings are blue or green you will have a colour clash in your home.

4. If you are doing up your entire room (furnishings, furniture and the works), create a mood board. A mood board consists of various swatches of colours, prints and textures you intend to use around the room. You could use a paper swatch for the paint colour. Then see how each of the swatches look when put together.

5. Very often a colour seems very appealing in a catalogue but when it is on your walls surrounding your entire room it may not look so pretty anymore. Try picturing your room fully painted in the colour. You could also try the Dulux Colour Schemer that allows you to visualise a room in that colour. However, it is not a very effective tool because it allows you the option of only two rooms which may not be like your own.