Choosing the right paint color for decorative purposes can be a very overwhelming task. While there are numerous choices offered to finding the right shade, the variety can sometimes make the choosing even more challenging.

If at one point you are trapped in this situation and are perplexed by this imperative choice, remember that the basic ideas and tips never fail. Consider the most basic things in the process.

Before turning to the technical aspect in considering the right paint color, remember the virtue of patience. Literally, access to all kinds, types and colors of paint is infinite. With that, learn to hold off your final selections until a general and overall scheme in the room has been developed.

It is a great idea to check on paint chips as you plan and collect your most favorite ones. Patiently think over the perfect array of colors as it is the most versatile decorative element in any room. Check your preferences. Consider paints that are inexpensive and easiest to change over time. However, never compromise quality in the process.

Gather all these ideas and set your considerations, but make your final decision after the fabrics, rugs and wallpapers have been finalized.

Now it’s time to hit the shops. Initially, it is advised that you do window shopping. While at it, make important and constant references to your carpet, fabric, wallpaper, trim samples and tiles. You might be able to find a paint color that is complementary to what you have, so be sure that you take these things with you when you shop.

It is imperative that you seriously study the paint colors, vis-a-vis your room’s furniture and fabric colors. Colors have different shades with underlying tones. Make sure that you ask the store personnel for a sample strip of colors that are coordinated. While the darker tones are not considered in most decorative painting cases, still check all the colors in the strip very carefully.

Paint specialists say that there is a true and tried formula for colors that may be helpful in the choosing the shade of your paint. If it is print fabric that you are working on, it might be a wiser move to select the paint color of the coordinating wall while you refer from the print’s background. Selecting the brighter or deeper tones as accents all throughout your room or its adjacent spaces may also prove to be an essential judgment. You may want to check with the store’s salesperson for more tips about color scheming.

In most cases, people select the off-white or white shade for doors, moldings and windows. It might be risky, but if you feel for it, try putting in a pale, if not the palest shade of your chosen color. This allows color coordination with the rooms’ walls. To get a really striking effect, consider walls in lighter shades and trims in bright colors or dark tones.

While paint finishes for the job abound, be cautious in choosing which is best for the project you are doing. Normally, more light is reflected by the glossier finishes. On the other hand, flat or matte finishes have the ability to keep your wall’s imperfections hidden.

The process of selecting might entail some effort and time on your part. That, however, should be well worth it. After all, the shade you choose will set the ambience, tone and “feel” of your room. Moreover, your choice of a paint color is an apt reflection of your personality.

Before you start you will need to find out the ins and outs of different paints. I will tell you about oil (solvent based) paint and latex (water based).

Shiny paint doesn’t mean oil base paint; you can get shiny latex too. Generally, oil base paints go on trim, doors and windows, wood parts of the home and sometimes in the kitchen and bathrooms. If you are repainting, find out first what is on the surface. Latex won’t adhere to shiny oil based surfaces. When I repaint shiny white trim in a home over with white shiny paint, I use oil base to cut my time down. This saves me from priming first which is a step that is unnecessary for this type of result. But don’t forget a lot of new homes these days are painted with shiny latex. Homes that are over 20 to 25 years old, chances are the trim and shiny surfaces are oil based.

Some considerations you should be aware of before starting are clean-up and disposal. Cleaning up after painting needs solvents to wash the tools with. To get rid of left over paint materials and paints, check your local laws on disposal.

Now let’s get down to it. To start, make sure your surface is properly prepared and sanded. Your brush should be a bristle. It should be about 2 1/2 inch and a sash type. Dip the bristle 1/3 into the paint and scrape off lightly the excess paint but be careful not to scrape it all off or you’ll have no paint to work with. Let’s take a door frame. I generally start in an inside corner and fill it in by dabbing in the brush and pulling the brush to the opposite side. When the upper frame is totally covered in paint, I go back over the top of the frame in one even continuous stroke. Now I go down the side again applying the paint onto the frame until it’s completely coated and again pull from the top down in one even stroke. Likewise, all surfaces of the frame should be done in the same fashion, including window frames.

Doors are a little different; I brush all the panels first. As you can see, there are a lot of corners to be brushed. Be careful to watch for drips; don’t put too much on or you will be forever correcting runs. Once you are done brushing all your doors, you need to roll the door using a light pile roller (½ inch or less). Work from one edge to the other, then back again until it looks nice and smooth and even.

Wall painting is best done in panels; one wall at a time. Brush all the edges and try not to leave any heavy marks. Roll down a w-pattern to distribute the paint on the wall, and then roll backwards. Roll carefully forward and try not to leave lines. Go top to bottom filling it in correctly.