How to Choose Paint Colors for Your Home

Start With What You Cannot Change

The most common mistake homeowners make is choosing paint colors in isolation. Your walls do not exist in a vacuum — they share space with flooring, countertops, cabinetry, furniture, and architectural details that are expensive or impossible to change. Begin by identifying these fixed elements and their undertones. A hardwood floor with warm golden tones calls for different wall colors than cool gray tile.

Understand Undertones

Every paint color has an undertone — a subtle secondary hue that becomes visible in certain lighting. A white that looks crisp in the store may read pink, blue, green, or yellow on your walls depending on its undertone and your home's lighting. The three most common undertone categories are:

• Warm: Yellow, orange, and red undertones. These create cozy, inviting spaces and pair well with warm wood tones and earth-toned furnishings.
• Cool: Blue, green, and purple undertones. These feel calm and sophisticated, and work well with gray tones, white cabinetry, and modern finishes.
• Neutral: True neutral colors have balanced undertones. These are the most versatile but also the hardest to find — most "neutral" paints lean slightly warm or cool.

The Role of Lighting

Lighting dramatically changes how paint colors appear. A color that looks perfect under showroom fluorescents may look completely different in your home. Consider:

• North-facing rooms receive cool, indirect light that can make warm colors look dull and amplify blue undertones.
• South-facing rooms receive warm, abundant light that flatters most colors and intensifies warm tones.
• Artificial lighting matters too — LED bulbs range from warm (2700K) to cool daylight (5000K), and each shifts color perception.

Test Before You Commit

Always test paint samples on your actual walls. Paint a 2-by-2-foot swatch and observe it at different times of day — morning, afternoon, and under artificial light at night. Most paint manufacturers sell sample sizes for a few dollars, and this small investment prevents costly repainting. Test at least three colors, including one lighter and one darker than your initial favorite.

Create a Cohesive Whole-Home Palette

The most professionally designed homes use a limited palette of 3-5 colors that flow naturally from room to room. Choose a dominant neutral for main living areas, a secondary color for bedrooms or accent rooms, and a trim color that ties everything together. Bold or saturated colors work best in small doses — powder rooms, accent walls, or interior doors.

Popular Palettes in the Chicago Area

Chicago-area homes range from charming 1920s bungalows to mid-century ranches and newer construction. Currently popular palettes in the area include warm whites paired with sage greens, soft grays with navy accents, and creamy neutrals with rich wood tones. The R-Deco team is happy to provide color consultations to help you find the perfect palette for your home's architecture and your personal style.