4 Color Rules Potentially Ruining Your Next Paint Job, According to Designers

When it comes to sprucing up your home, paint is one of the most powerful tools you have in your arsenal. Whether you want to color drench all your walls or wow guests with a single accent wall, paint provides an opportunity to make a space really feel like your own. However, no matter how much painting you’ve done in the past, you might find yourself following a strict set of painting rules that are, well, outdated, and potentially not even true.

To broaden your design horizons, I spoke to a few design experts who want you to stop believing a few common paint myths and so-called rules — once and for all. Because that’s the thing about decorating your space: Save for a few safety and practicality guidelines, you write the rules for your home.

Myth #1: Only Light Colors Make a Small Space Look Bigger

Light neutrals and small spaces go together like a dining room table and chairs — and for good reason. Since whites, creams, and beiges have an inherently airy quality to them, and they can reflect natural light better than deeper colors, they seem imperative to use in smaller spaces. However, designer Phillip Thomas says that’s always the case. “Darker colors in small spaces can make a space feel bigger than lighter ones because you can’t [always] distinguish where areas start and end,” he explains.

Designer Haley Beckham-Shetty agrees, noting that while dark colors can “bring on the drama,” your paint shade shouldn’t be the only tool you use to create the illusion of a larger space. “A smart layout with appropriately scaled pieces can make even the darkest room feel perfectly proportioned and stylish.”

Myth #2: A Paint’s Finish Doesn’t Really Impact Its Appearance

You might have decision fatigue after swatching so many shades to arrive at your final color decision. But there is one more big choice you have to make: whether to go with a glossy or matte finish. This question might seem like a throwaway for some — after all, how much can a finish really affect a color? — but Thomas disagrees.

“Color is not as straightforward as you would expect: Finishes really play a big role in how we perceive a space,” Thomas says. “Finishes reflect light in different ways and move it around. If you want to capture light and move it around a space, you have to choose the right finish.”

Personal preference might play a big role in your decision, but the material you’re painting and the condition of your walls will also have some sway. Once you’ve arrived at your desired color, it might be worth swatching it out in a few different finishes, just to be sure you like the direction you’re headed in. Need some guidance? In general, the rougher the condition of your walls (old house and apartment dwellers, I’m looking at you!), the more matte with your paint finish you should go, since sheen will draw attention to unevenness and any imperfections.

Some pros say glossy finishes can really enhance a pigment, so they’re worth considering. But lacquered finishes can show every streak, which is why the highest glosses are best left to the pros. If you want to dive deeper, check out this handy dandy guide to matte and gloss. The upshot here? Sheen shouldn’t be an afterthought.

Myth #3: You Only Need to Paint Your Walls

Leaving your trim, doors, and ceilings white is so yesterday. According to designers, the latest thing to do is to paint everything — preferably in one shade. “This technique brings the drama and uses light and shadow to add depth to a space,” Beckham-Shetty says. “A thoughtfully designed room that incorporates a variety of textures can achieve greater impact than simply relying on contrasting paint colors!”

Bonus points: Drenching your room in one gorgeous hue can have expansive effects. “Painting the trim, doors, and millwork the same shade as the walls effectively downplays the horizontal lines in the space, so one’s eye isn’t preoccupied with those linear details,” Latimer adds.

Myth #4: Your Paint Color Should Complement the Rest of Your Decor

Yes, there should always be cohesion in terms of color in a given room. Your wall paint, upholstered furniture, and accessories don’t have to perfectly match, but all of your room’s factors should feel like they belong in the same space. But while it’s easy to choose a paint color that goes perfectly with that vintage rug you scored on Facebook Marketplace or that upholstered sofa you’ve been pining over for months, designer Allison Babcock argues a fresh coat of paint should set the foundation for a room’s vibe — not the other way around.

“When thinking about paint colors, it is more important to consider what mood you are trying to create,” she explains. In her opinion, the paint color should come first, and once that’s done, you should consider textiles, furniture, and lighting.

Want to create a moody moment? These black rooms show off all the beauty the dark side has to offer. Meanwhile, color-loving creatives might love the boldness a purple or pink room can bring. Or, if you want to turn your space into a serene sanctuary, you can’t go wrong with white or blue. Once you set the vibe with your walls, the rest of your decor should fall in line.

Further Reading

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Everything You’ve Ever Wanted To Know About Article’s DTC Furniture

See How a Stager Used Paint to Transform a 1950s Living Room