How to Choose Paint Colours That Last

Read the undertone, not the name

Every neutral has an undertone: yellow, pink, green, or blue. The undertone is what decides whether a room feels warm or cold, and it interacts with your existing floors and furniture.

North-facing rooms get cool light, so cool greys turn blue and cold. Warm them with a yellow or pink undertone. South-facing rooms take almost anything, including the cool greys that fail everywhere else.

Test with a real sample, in your room

Paint two coats on a 60 cm card and move it around the wall for three days. Check it in morning light, at midday, and under the lamps you actually use in the evening.

Never judge a colour from a chip under shop lighting. This is the same principle as lighting a room: the light decides the colour.

Match the finish to the room

• Matt: ceilings and low-traffic walls; hides imperfections.
• Eggshell: most walls; washable enough for real life.
• Satin or semi-gloss: kitchens, bathrooms, trim, and doors.

Higher sheen is more durable and shows more surface flaws. Choose the lowest sheen that survives the traffic.

Limit the palette to three colours

One wall colour, one trim colour, and one accent is enough for a whole home. Carry the same trim colour throughout, and you can change wall colour room by room without repainting everything.

Keep a note of the exact product and code for every room. Future touch-ups are impossible otherwise, and matching by eye after five years of fading does not work.

Paint is also the cheapest way to tie unrelated furniture together, which is why it appears in mixing wood tones as a neutral bridge.