Available at Ballard Designs (www.ballarddesigns.com) and Home Decorators Collection (homedecorators.com).

From This…

…To This!

Sherwin Williams carries both the West Elm and Pottery Barn paint collections and their website has a variety of color selection tools to help you choose one that is just right for you (http://www.sherwin-williams.com/homeowners/color/color-selection-tools/).

West Elm Paint Palette

Pick up some Frog Tape before you begin painting–the only  painter’s tape treated with a special micro-barrier that seals the edges of the tape to prevent bleeding.  Their website contains tutorials on applying and removing the tape as well as techniques for painting walls and other special projects using various Frog Tape products.  Three special “Shape- Tapes” (wave, chevron, and scallop) can be used to create designs on anything from a wall to a waste can!

              www.FrogTape.com

Visit the Benjamin Moore website for some insight into “Your Shades of Life” (http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/shades-of-life). The website also includes a handy paint calculator to help determine how much paint will be needed for a project (http://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-us/for-your-home/paint-calculator).

Keep in mind that as the day progresses and natural light shifts in a room, the paint color can alter dramatically.  Check your room throughout the day and in the evening under artificial light.   Morning sunlight gives off a yellowish cast in a room and midday sunlight develops a cool, bluish cast.  Also be sure that the lighting in the room is finalized–don’t choose a paint color before changing light fixtures.

Sample Size Paints

It is definitely worth the investment to paint several colors on the wall before you make a final decision. Small sample sizes can be purchased that will allow you to test various colors.  Try to live with the test colors on the walls for a few days to give yourself time to reflect on the various factors that change the shade and tone of the colors.  Ask a friend or two over to give their input–it never hurts to have a second or third opinion!

Once the painting project is finished, consider investing in some paint pens to keep your design fresh by touching up dings, dents, and scratches.  Try these 5″ paint pens from Slob Proof (http://www.slobproof.com/).  They come in sets of two.