Real Simple Home Designers Share Their Secrets for Picking the Perfect Wall Color

One of the biggest makeovers you can give your room is a new coat of paint. It’s also one of the least expensive ways to transform a room. Yay! Despite it being relatively inexpensive to do (at least, it costs way less than demo or all new furniture), it’s still a major commitment. The decision requires a lot of thought and consideration. What color is right for this room? How will it change during the day versus at night? What finish is best? To help you make a decision you won’t regret, we asked our Real Simple Home 2025 designers to give us their best tips and tricks.

Do a Trial Run

Give potential colors an audition, says Los Angeles–based interior designer Mandy Cheng. “Get a sample pot and paint a square in a place that gets a good amount of natural light and in a place that doesn’t,” she says. “Paint them at the bottom of a wall so you can see how the shade works with the floor.”

Mix Up the Sheens

Brooklyn-based DIYer Mallory Fletchall of Reserve Home chooses paint sheens based on the space. “In living rooms and bedrooms, I usually stick with an eggshell or satin finish for the walls and semi-gloss for trim and doors,” she says. High gloss, which withstands moisture, goes in bathrooms.

Hit the Fifth Wall

“I’m a fan of painted ceilings. They can do a lot to change the mood of a room,” Mallory says. She loves the look of a color-drenched room (all five walls painted the same shade), which creates a cozy atmosphere. “Alternatively, painting the ceiling a darker hue can have a showstopping effect.”

Mandy agrees. “I love painting ceilings, whether they’re painted a statement color separate from the walls, or painting them the same color as the walls so it’s a full-bleed,” she says.

Read the Room

Naturally, different rooms demand different shades. “For instance, if it’s a bedroom, I’ll reach for a calming color: a muted green, soft blue, or earthy beige,” says Mallory. “I’ve been known to enjoy nude pink walls in a bedroom, so personal preference plays a role as well.”

Consider Lighting

Depending on how much light your space gets, colors can look totally different on the wall than they do in the jar. Even trickier, they can look different at different times of day. “I always try to consider sun exposure and how much natural light a space gets throughout the day,” Mallory says. “Swatching and testing colors to see how they react to sunlight and how they change based on time of day is key!”