How to Choose a Paint Colour for your Furniture

​My students and customers often ask me, "What colour do you think I should paint my bookshelf/coffee table/dining suite?" 

Without seeing their decor it's really difficult to give advice, and colour is personal, so I prefer not to. However the first question I ask is, "What colours do you have in the room already?", and the next question I ask is: "What colours do you like?"

These two questions form the basis of our conversation and here are a few more tips.

Here are a few tips for choosing a colour to paint your furniture.

1. Take your time. Try not to rush into choosing the colour.
2. Look at house and garden magazines to find rooms or pieces of furniture you love.
3. Head on over to Pinterest and search for rooms and colour schemes.
4. Go for colours you like. Remember you are living in your home and you want to love walking into each room.
5. If you've got a dominant colour in the room, you will want to use a contrast colour for accents. Say your room has white ceilings, skirting boards and doors, with light grey walls. In this room you could remain very neutral with white furniture, you could introduce Jet (black) or you could go with something like Duck Egg, Ruby, Mustard or another contrasting colour you like. With beige tones you might use White, Latte or Chocolate or again, Ruby makes a gorgeous contrast.
6. Choose the colour not only for your piece of furniture, but for the entire room, thinking about what other accent pieces you might like to add later - lamps, cushions, throws, curtains or blinds, rugs...
7. As you gather your ideas for paint colours and fabrics, you can create your own colour scheme. This photograph is our current lounge dining room colour scheme. 

​Here is a Pinterest board I created when choosing our new colour scheme:
https://www.pinterest.nz/upcycledandco/colour-yellows/

And, here's another selection of colour schemes I have put together for you on Pinterest:
https://www.pinterest.nz/upcycledandco/colour-schemes/

​There's a lot to think about, so as I said earlier, take your time. I know I often change my mind on colours, so if you're the same, choose something that can easily be altered at a later date.

Most of all, enjoy the process of making your home beautiful and have fun with your furniture painting.

Until next time,
Kathryn