How do you select the perfect neutral paint color?

When I get a call for a color consultation, a little voice inside my head cries when I hear “perfect beige.” The idea of a perfect beige evokes visions of a color that is not too gray, not too green, not too yellow, not too pink, not too ... well you get the idea. A homeowner’s dream of that mysterious color comes crashing down in rooms all across America when they realize that none of the 200 beige paint chips they brought home from the paint store is neutral enough or fits the idea of what they had in mind. It's a little sad but so true. No worries! There's hope! There are ways to find that neutral wall color that will make you happy. Here are some ways to help you do just that.

1) Sometimes "perfect beige" isn't beige at all. Consider using other neutrals such as grays, greens or browns for example. Those colors can also give that simplicity or elegance you seek. By expanding your idea of the perfect neutral equating to the perfect beige, you may discover colors that transcend beige and deliver a different and better kind of elegance.

2) Adjacent colors inside and outside of the space are important factors to consider. A client with an emerald green carpet was frustrated by not finding a decent looking neutral wall color. Every single color she tried cast a ghastly green. Until the carpet was replaced no color was going to appear as expected. Bottom line is if there's flooring with a strong color, including wood floors have dark or reddish tones then it's critical to factor that in to the final color selection. When all the so-called neutrals keep looking “too something” then look around the room to identify factor(s) that have been overlooked which are affecting the paint color. Those items don't have to be removed but they do have to be factored into the wall color selections.

3) Beige is a tone of brown but is actually a mix of a primary colors. When you mix red, blue, and yellow together something is going to dominate. The key is to find a beige that has a hint of a color that works in the space. If you lean towards warm-colors then try beiges with a hint of yellow conversely if cool colors are your preference then try beiges that lean toward grays or pinks.

4) It's fairly easy to determine the origin of various beiges or neutral colors. First there's the name of the paint strip to consider. Words like “warm, gold and burnished” denote warm colors. Alternatively words relating to plants, harbors or skies are going to be cooler. Second is the darkest color on the paint sample strip which will reveal a lot. The deepest color will more definitely show the influence of warm or cool colors mixed to make up the lighter more neutral shades at the top of the strip.

5) Test different colors. Seriously it’s not enough to hold those little paint chips up against the wall. To know what a color will do in your space a test spot is invaluable. I tell my clients to live with the test colors for a couple days to watch what the color does in different lights during the day. I suggest painting samples on a board instead of the wall so sample colors can be viewed around the room without having to paint a zillion test squares that will have to be painted over later.

6) Chill. After intense focus on finding the perfect beige those subtle nuances will start to take on massive importance. People looking at the space won't notice the cast of the beige color and neither will you once furniture and accessories are placed and nuances contribute to the overall look.

Apply these tips as you pour through the nearly unlimited choices of paint colors and your vision of the "perfect beige" will escape imagination and materialize in the real world as the perfect wall color to highlight your space.