Choosing paint colors for your walls, with help from NJ homeowners

Paint has the power to drastically impact the look and feel of a room. And while it sounds as easy as picking a shade and rolling it onto your walls, there's other factors — like undertones, finishes and preparation — for you to consider.

In our series, Ramsey Renovation, we follow Gregg and Alicia Carbone as they completely renovate their 1910 home. The couple has officially moved into focusing on the more cosmetic details, which includes selecting paint colors for each space.

"Every decision at this point in the project is so visible to everybody. But that's what makes everything feel curated," Alicia said. "It's definitely been challenging, but my husband and I are very dedicated to this part of the process, I think more so than any other part, which has been really great."

While they both wanted to get this step right on the first try, they said they went into painting with the philosophy that it can always be changed. Still, they didn't realize how much time and pressure would come with painting such a big project.

"It's so much more than just picking out the right color for the room," Gregg said. "I didn't necessarily think it was going to be a breeze, but I thought it was going to be a lot more straightforward. I didn't think about all of the prep and work and supplies that would be required, and then all of the different types of finishes and paint quality."

From sprucing up a room with a fresh coat of paint to completely changing up your home's vibe with a whole new color palette, painting can be a daunting task. Here are tips for choosing colors, and what to know about the process, with help from the Carbones.

Choosing your colors

Colors are likely the first thing people think of when it comes to paint. But choosing a shade isn't always simple, especially with so many undertones that impact how it appears in your home.

The Carbones added a pop of color to the mudroom on the home's lowest level.

Sherwin Williams recommends that you first consider what colors will complement your furniture, artwork and existing features. You should also think about the mood you want to give each space, and test how a color may look in different lighting with paint swatches.

You can also use HGTV Home's color visualizer tool to virtually test different paint color options in your home before heading to the store.

The Carbones started off with a blank slate, so they didn't have anything to base their colors on. But they did go into it with an idea of what they wanted for each room.

This included a creamy white to match a pink and yellow wallpaper in their daughter's room; a greenish blue to complement a muted plaid wallpaper in their son's room; a neutral lower level with a pop of color in the mudroom; and a serene green shade for the primary bedroom. They also knew they wanted to color drench the attic in a deep moody blue.

"The thing I'm finding with color that is really important is that I can bring in all this stuff to fill in the space, but there needs to be some variation in color to add some visual interest and dimension so everything doesn't just look flat," Alicia said.

The Carbones wanted to evoke a sense of calm in their primary bedroom, so they chose a serene green color.

To narrow down their options, they tested colors in their spaces and consulted experts at Sherwin Williams in Ramsey, where they purchased all of their paint.

"No matter what you do, even though the samples are great, the colors on the wall are always going to be different. And the colors also change when you hold them up to other colors," Gregg said. "So it's like a real-time experiment to see how these colors change when you put them in place."

Which finish is best? Flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss?

After deciding on your paint color, you have to decide your paint finish. This determines how much gloss or shine your paint has, which impacts its appearance, durability and cleanability.

There are five main types of paint finishes: matte or flat paint, eggshell paint, satin paint, semi-gloss paint and high-gloss paint.

The Carbones color drenched the attic in a deep, moody blue shade.

Matte or flat paint offers no shine, and tends to be the best at hiding imperfections on the surface. It's also easier to touch up and requires fewer coats than other paint finishes, but tends to be the least durable and can be harder to clean.

On the other end, high-gloss paint offers a high-shine, glass-like finish that tends to be more durable and stain resistant. It's also the easiest finish to clean, but requires more coats of paint.

Eggshell paint, satin paint and semi-gloss paint fall in the middle of these two, with varying levels of shine and durability.

"We definitely never wanted a matte finish. It looks good. It looks clean. But it's impossible to clean and keep clean," Alicia said. "We have two small kids. We want a house we can live in 100%. So we went with a satin finish, and it has come out absolutely beautiful."

What to do before you start painting

Preparation is one of the most important steps in the painting process, as it impacts the paint's durability and appearance.

Start by creating a smooth surface by cleaning any dirt and debris off of your walls, and repairing or sanding down any imperfections. This will give you an even finish, and prevent your paint from peeling, according to This Old House painting expert Marlo Henrique.

Then apply painter's tape to protect surfaces that won't be painted and to create clean lines. The type of painter's tape you use depends on the surface, the duration of the project, its environment and the type of paint you're using.

After that, use items like heavy-duty canvas drop clothes or thin plastic sheets to protect your surroundings from the paint. And, if needed, apply a layer of primer to prepare your surface.

The Carbones hired professionals to paint their home, as they wanted its first layer on the drywall to be as clean and smooth as possible. With this, they didn't realize just how much preparation would be required to paint the whole house at once.

"There's an incredible amount of preparation that goes into painting. I really don't know that I thought about it other than getting some blue tape and covering the floors," Alicia said. "With such a large-scale renovation, these painters spent two days just prepping the house, filling in any holes and things like that. I really never thought about how long it could actually take for this much space."

Should you hire someone to paint, or do it yourself?

Once it comes time to paint, you may be weighing whether you should do it yourself or hire a professional to do it for you.

While this is based on personal preference, you should consider things like the size of the project, your budget and the condition of the walls you're painting, among other things.

The Carbones picked a creamy white color for the millwork in their daughter's room to complement a pink and yellow wallpaper.

The Carbones ultimately chose to hire a professional because they felt it would be more efficient given the size of their project. This would also ensure it was done properly since it would be the first painting on the home's drywall.

Plus, they incorporated a lot of millwork throughout their home, so Alicia said they hired a professional that used both a sprayer and roller to get a smooth finish on these details.

Going forward, though, Alicia said they would likely repaint spaces in their home themselves if they decide to change it up, rather than hiring a professional.

"The really good thing about paint is that you just go with your best guess when you're doing it, and then if you don't like it, it's as easy as getting a gallon of paint and a paintbrush and fixing it," Alicia said. "It also helps me a bit bolder and more decisive with my choices. I could think it's going to look great, but I can also literally change it anytime. There's nothing really else in your house that you're going to be able to say the same for."

Maddie McGay is the real estate reporter for NorthJersey.com and The Record, covering all things worth celebrating about living in North Jersey. Find her on Instagram @maddiemcgay, on X @maddiemcgayy, and sign up for her North Jersey Living newsletter. Do you have a tip, trend or terrific house she should know about? Email her at [email protected].