Can't Decide On A Paint Color To Use In Your Home? Here's Why

Whether they plan on painting their bedroom, living room, kitchen, or bathroom, many people have trouble choosing a paint color for their home. While choosing a fresh new hue for your walls should be fun and exciting, the process typically causes stress and brings out people's indecisiveness. It's crucial to put careful thought into it and take the choice seriously, but overthinking can cause issues, too, getting in the way of your decision. After all, one of the primary reasons why people have trouble settling on a paint color is nervousness.

"Change is scary and painting an entire wall a different color is a lot of change. Because paint covers so much square footage and can be time-consuming to repaint, people are terrified to get it wrong," celebrity interior designer Lori Dennis explained on her website. So, worrying about making such a significant change to your home may be the first obstacle preventing you from choosing your paint color for any room in your house.

While nervousness is likely a significant factor preventing you from making your decision, stress and fear aren't the only obstacles that get in the way of choosing the best paint colors for your home. Sometimes, people get overwhelmed by all the options. "What we're asking is: Is this the best I could do? And when the choice set is large, the answer is always no... Not only do you have a harder time choosing, you then beat yourself up when there's no reason to," Barry Schwartz, author of "The Paradox of Choice: Why More Is Less," and visiting professor at the University of California, Berkeley explained to The New York Times. So, try not to get overwhelmed by all the colors you see, and trust your gut instinct regarding your vision for the room.

Design consultant and color expert @thehomenarrative posted a video on TikTok addressing two other reasons why it's so difficult to select and commit to one paint color. According to the expert, one issue is not understanding whether you want a warm or cool undertone. Moreover, the TikToker noted that many people also have trouble deciding because they only rely on tiny swatches, and those little samples don't provide enough demonstration of how the color would appear on the wall.

If you feel stuck and cannot make up your mind once and for all, there are some ways to speed up the decision — or at least narrow your options. For instance, carefully consider which hues will work with the most prominent points in the space, as a color that clashes against your furniture and decorations is not a good idea. "I recommend using big décor pieces in your space as a reference point when finding your new paint colors — items that can't be easily changed like a large rug or kitchen countertops — and go from there," Sue Wadden, Sherwin-Williams' director of color marketing, told Martha Stewart.

Anyone who still can't make their final decision should explore apps and websites that show users what different paint colors will look like on their walls, such as the Paint Tester Paint Color Match & Visualizer, which has 4.2 stars with over 1,000 ratings. Or, try the Paint Color Visualizer feature from the PPG Paints website. But if you're still unsure after trying everything, you may want to hire an interior designer or consultant.