Somehow, the process of selecting paint colors for your home’s remodel starts off exciting and then always seems to turn stressful. You’re looking forward to defining your space and adding just the right color to express your taste. But you get bogged down worrying about if the color will match items, how it will look in different lighting, and how it will transition to other areas of your home. Before you get stressed out, read these helpful tips that can make choosing a paint color for your remodel much simpler.

1. Define Style and Select Furniture

It is much harder to base a design on a paint color than it is to base it off a style and major furniture pieces. When it comes to paint, you can select essentially any hue. Limit these endless choices by starting with a strong theme and the most essential furniture of the space. It’s easier to get paint that works with your couch than to choose a couch that works with your paint.

2. Consider Neutrals First

You may think of neutrals as boring, but they can be bold when done right. Choosing a usual shade of beige, off-white or grey can be just as bold as choosing a purple or blue. And neutrals have the benefit of making the rest of the design process simpler. They are easier to match with, can be made more complicated with the addition of other neutrals, and give you room to experiment in other areas of design like paint finish.

3. Go Bolder in Smaller Spaces

If you want to experiment with intense, bright or bold color, a small space is a good place to start. Bathrooms are especially good options for intense color because the fixtures are typically white, balancing out the intense color. If you’re interested in trying a deep yellow or bright purple, consider it for the bathroom.

4. Let Objects Inspire You

Take a look around your local home décor store for items that have a color that really inspires you. You may choose a wall color from a shade in a rug, a lampshade, a pillow or any other décor item. Now, you’ll have an item that matches your wall color exactly, which can help you pull off a more adventurous wall color, even if you don’t have much experience designing.

5. Undertones and Materials

What makes one blue paint chip different than other that seems like the same hue and saturation? It’s the undertone or a subtle addition of another color. That’s why some beiges might look more green, while others look pinker. You should have paint chips of various undertones and see how they look against the materials in your space, as you can run into some problems where your specific shade looks bad with your wood cabinets or your metallic finishes.

When in doubt about paint colors, let the professionals help you make a final decision. With their experience, they can help you pull off a bolder, brighter color.