Few decorating moves can transform the ambiance of a room as easily and inexpensively as a fresh coat of paint. The shade we pick to adorn our interior walls provides a background on which the rest of our aesthetic choices are based on. Picking the right color, however, is no walk in the park. It's a boggling world of various shades, tints, and hues, each one just a little different from the last. Many just choose their favorite color or go all-out with the color of the day, only for it to look like a dud once it's up on the walls. To put this age-old problem to rest, our real estate agents have compiled a list of the best tips on how to find the perfect interior paint color the first time.

• Do Your Homework Before Shopping
  Finding the perfect paint color starts at home. Before you make a trip to the paint store, gather inspiration from fabric swatches, magazines, and catalogs. Pinterest is also a great place to start, so login, make an inspiration board for your room, and pin designs that catch your eye. The inspirational ideas can help you visualize the perfect space and narrow down your paint color choices.
  
  
• Don't Pick Your Paint Color First
  Take into consideration your furniture and décor items before choosing a paint color. For instance, you want to make sure your blue sofa will pair well with the shade of grey you're planning to use on the walls. Finding a color to match your décor is far more convenient and cheaper than finding furniture, fabrics, and furnishing to match your wall colors. That said, highlight your décor color scheme and then bring in a hue that works with the other colors in the space.
  
  
• Decide the Mood of the Room
  Your color choice should be based at least in part on the use of the room and the mood you want to establish. If you want a relaxing environment in your bedroom, for example, it makes sense to go for cooler hues like sky-blue, sage-green, violet, or light greys. Avoid red, yellow, or orange in the bedroom because they tend to stimulate the brain. To establish the right mood, do your research and avoid choosing a color just because it's your current favorite.
  
  
• Pay Attention to Lighting
  Lighting is a key player in the overall look of your room.  The amount and type of light in a room will significantly impact your color scheme. So it's important to consider how natural light or light from recessed fixtures or lamps affects color on your walls, furniture, fabrics, and other surfaces.
  
  
• Test, Test, Test
  Many homeowners make the mistake of choosing their color from the paint chips at the store. That color that looked good in the store may not be as impressive when applied to your walls. So, when you have several shades in mind, get some samples, paint small sections of the wall, and see how they look to you. Spend some time in the space at different times of the day to get a real sense of the color.
  
  
• Avoid Testing Swatches Next to Each Other
  As you apply the sample paints on the wall, do not place them right next to each other. They will be distracting and make it harder for you to make a clear choice. If you're not ready to paint the area directly, get a large sheet of lining paper or poster board and make it a movable piece you can evaluate in different parts of the room and throughout the day. This will allow you to see how the color looks in relation to light and décor.
  
  
• Consider the Undertones
  The undertone is a subtle color lurking beneath another color. Some white paints, for instance, appear slightly yellow, while others appear to contain a hint of blue. Compare similar hues that have different undertones, such as cool vs warm, to determine the right color for your space. Also, consider how the undertone of a paint color works with similar tones found in your room's decor. If you're not sure about the undertone, try placing your color swatch on a piece of white paper.

Contact us today for more home improvement tips to give your home a refresh, whether you plan to own it for a while or have it listed among Atlanta homes for sale.