Unlocking the Power of Paint: My Process for Choosing Colours
Choosing paint colour seems like a small decision, but it can completely change how a space feels.
I’ve worked with a lot of clients over the years, and everyone comes in with a different relationship to colour. Some people are ready to go bold. Others are more comfortable starting with something neutral.
Neither is wrong. It depends on how you want to live in your space.
What matters most is how a colour makes you feel. Not what’s trending, not what you saw online. Just what you respond to. I spend a lot of time helping clients figure that out, because once we get it right, everything else becomes easier.
I tend to rely on Benjamin Moore paints. The colours are consistent, and I know how they work in different spaces and lighting, which makes a big difference when you’re choosing paint for your home.
And yes, I do like colour.
Life’s too short for all-white walls.
That doesn’t mean every room needs to be bold, but it also doesn’t mean playing it safe all the time. A bit of colour, even in small ways, can completely shift how a space feels.
I have Hudson Bay Blue in my own dining room. It’s deep, a bit moody, and it works. I’ve also used softer tones like Bird’s Egg Blue, which feels lighter and more relaxed, or something with more energy like Orange Burst when a room needs it.
Even deeper tones like Dark Walnut can add warmth and a bit of drama, especially in the right light.
Not everything needs to be bold, but not everything needs to be white either.
There’s a place for simplicity, of course. But a room with no contrast or depth can feel a bit flat. Even a neutral space needs something going on underneath it. Warmth, texture, variation.
Paint is one of the easiest ways to change how a room feels. It can make a space calmer, warmer, brighter, or just more interesting than it was before.
So if you’re staring at a wall of paint swatches and feeling stuck, start with what you like. Not what you think you should choose.
When it works, you’ll feel it.
