How to Choose the Right Bathroom Remodeling Contractor
The right installer makes all the difference. What to ask, what to look for, and how to compare quotes with confidence.
How to Pick a Paint Color You Won't Regret
By LifeWell Compass Editorial Team · Published · Updated · 3 min read
Why colors look different on the wall than on the chip, and a simple process that gets it right.
Paint is one of the cheapest ways to transform a room, and one of the easiest to get wrong. That tiny chip can look completely different on four walls.
Start with what stays
Look at the things you're not changing: flooring, countertops, a big sofa or rug. Pull your color from them, or choose something that works with their undertones.
Know your undertones
Most whites, grays and beiges lean warm (yellow, pink, red) or cool (blue, green, violet). Hold chips against a sheet of plain white paper to see it.
Consider the light
- North-facing rooms get cool, bluish light. Warmer colors balance them.
- South-facing rooms get warm light, so most colors look brighter.
- Check samples in the morning, afternoon and under lamps at night.
Always test big
Paint large swatches (at least two feet square) on a couple of walls, or use peel-and-stick samples. Live with them for a few days.
Pick the right finish
Flat or matte for ceilings and low-traffic rooms, eggshell or satin for living spaces, and semi-gloss for trim, kitchens and bathrooms.
Colors that help you see better
As we age, our eyes need more light and contrast. Lighter wall colors reflect more light and make rooms feel brighter. Contrasting colors, like a darker floor and lighter walls, or a contrasting stripe on stair edges, make it easier to judge depth and prevent trips.
Hire help for high work
Painting ceilings and high walls means ladders. Consider hiring a painter for those areas, or paint only what you can reach safely from the floor.
Choose low-odor paint
Low-VOC or zero-VOC paints have less smell and are easier on your lungs.
