The One Design Decision Most Homeowners Make Too Soon (Hint: It's Paint.)

If you’ve ever stood in front of a wall of paint swatches thinking

“Why are there so many whites… and why do they all look the same… until they don’t?”

then you are absolutely in the right place!

Most people don’t realize just how much goes into choosing a paint color. So what usually happens? We crowdsource it. We hop on Pinterest, pin the “top 10 perfect neutrals,” ask a friend what she used in her living room, or pick the color everyone seems to be using this year and hope for the best. And listen, there’s nothing wrong with that.

But here’s the part most people miss: Your home is not that room on Pinterest. It has its own light, its own direction, its own fixed finishes. Your home has its own personality. And most importantly, it needs to reflect your story.

My goal is that by the end of this, you feel confident enough to either choose your own color palette with clarity or confidently say, “You know what, I want a designer to help me get this right the first time.” Either way? You win. So grab your iced coffee, your paint deck, and let’s make this fun.

WHY PAINT FEELS SO HARD

Paint is usually the very first thing people want to tackle in a room, and simultaneously the very last thing they realize can make or break everything else. It sets the tone before you even bring in a single piece of furniture. It can make a room feel warm and welcoming or cool and crisp, cozy and collected or unfortunately, a little “off” in a way you can’t quite put your finger on.

Here’s the truth most people don’t hear enough:

The wrong paint color can make even beautiful furniture feel wrong in a space.

And the right one? It can make even simple pieces feel intentional and elevated.

Paint isn’t just about picking a “pretty color.” It’s about understanding: how your home faces the sun, how natural light shifts throughout the day, what undertones are hiding inside that “perfect gray” and how your existing finishes are already influencing every single choice you make.

Most of the time, paint mistakes don’t come from bad taste but from skipping all of that context and choosing a color in isolation, as if it lives in a vacuum. That’s why so many people end up repainting rooms they just painted six months ago. Designers pick paint later on in the design process, here’s why. 

Paint as a latter decision

When I begin working with a client, paint is rarely the first decision we make. In fact, it's usually one of the last.

That may seem backwards, especially since paint is one of the first things many homeowners want to tackle. It's relatively inexpensive, makes an immediate impact, and feels like a great place to start. But here's the thing: paint is the easiest design element to change, while many of the other finishes in your home are not.

As designers, we start by considering the elements that are more permanent or have a greater investment attached to them. Flooring, cabinetry, countertops, tile, furniture, rugs, fabrics, and artwork all influence the direction of a space. These pieces establish the overall color palette, mood, and personality of the room. Once those selections are made, choosing paint becomes much more straightforward.

Instead of trying to force your furnishings to work with a paint color you picked months ago, you're selecting a paint color that beautifully supports everything you've already chosen. Suddenly, you're deciding between a few thoughtfully considered options rather than thousands of possibilities. Think of paint as the backdrop, not the main event.

Ready to approach your next paint project with more confidence?

Get our Signature Paint Guide

I've created an 11-page resource designed to help homeowners understand paint selection from a designer's perspective. Inside, you'll learn how lighting, undertones, finishes, and the surrounding elements of your home all influence the colors that will work best in your space.

Simply send us an email and we'll send this complimentary guide straight to your inbox, along with monthly design inspiration, practical tips, and behind-the-scenes looks at creating homes with character, beauty, and meaning.