Guide to Choosing the Right Room Colors

Henry Weber • October 21, 2021

Whether you want to add a fresh coat of paint to the rooms in your home or you’re remodeling your new space, you need to have a plan for choosing the right room colors. At MasterBrush Painting, we’ve put together a guide to help you plan out your color scheme for a beautifully refreshed home.

Paint color schemeGet Inspired Online

To help you get started, you can browse home magazines and catalogs to get paint inspiration. You can also do a Google search which will give you access to thousands of pages of inspiration for painting your home. Another place for inspiration is retailer sites and paint company sites that can demonstrate creative ways to use color in your home.

By gathering inspiration, you can brainstorm and learn new ways to use color throughout the rooms in your home.

Choose a Paint Finish

As you look for inspiration online, focus on how the different paint finishes look. You can choose a variety of finishes from satin to flat. Each type of finish creates its own appealing visual effect. Finishes like the flat finish have become more stain-resistant, and satin finishes are known for being easy to clean. While semi-gloss and high gloss were once reserved for the trim, they are now used in conjunction with the other finishes to create stunning visual effects.

For example, you may consider painting one wall a flat or satin color while painting the adjacent wall in a semi-gloss finish. Each wall will be painted the same color, but when the light hits the room, it creates a beautiful velvety effect. You can use a variety of flat and gloss combinations to create a visually interesting room.

Take Notes from the Color Wheel

You don’t need to become an expert in color theory to use its principles for your interior design. A color wheel is an inexpensive way to generate the color scheme of your room or the entire home. When you turn the wheel, you can see how the various colors relate to each other, and you will also learn the basics of color theory. While you may not use the exact colors of the color wheel to paint your home, you can choose shades of that color through MasterBrush Painting to bring your vision to life.

Choose a Color Scheme

Once you’ve got an idea of color theory and the finish or finishes you would like to use, it’s time to create a color scheme for the room. Some color schemes you can choose from include, but are not limited to:

Complimentary – In this color scheme, you would choose two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. You can create a high contrast, vibrant color scheme if you use both colors in the same saturation. Since the colors are on the opposite sides of the color wheel, you will have a warm color and a cool color. For example, you may have a shade of blue with a shade of orange to create your complementary color scheme.

Monochromatic – In this colors scheme, you will only utilize one color. However, you can create a beautiful color scheme by using different shades and saturation of the color you choose.

Triad – In this color scheme, you will be using three colors, all evenly spaced out on the color wheel. For example, this color scheme could include green, orange, and violet. To avoid going too bold, you need to look at the saturation of each color you choose. Typically, with this color scheme, one color is chosen to be more saturated, while the others are used to accent the room.

These color schemes and others you can create with a color wheel will help you create a room that is perfectly painted.

Work with a Professional Painter in Pittsburgh

To ensure your perfect color scheme is brought to life beautifully, it is crucial to work with a professional painter for your Pittsburgh home. Our experienced team will work with you to choose the perfect colors and will paint your home with expert craftsmanship and care.
Contact us today to learn more!

Author: MasterBrush


The painting crew is made up of clean-cut, honest and hard-working professionals who all have 20 to 30+ years of painting experience. They have also been together as a crew for many years, which adds to the smooth completion of each job. All of their customers comment on the efficiency, quietness, consideration to their homes (like not smoking) and their overall professional behavior.

August 28, 2026
When students leave for summer break, school administrators and facility managers have an opportunity to address building projects that can be more complicated to complete during the academic year. Painting is one of those projects. Classrooms, hallways, offices, cafeterias, gymnasiums, and other areas can be evaluated for worn or damaged painted surfaces. With fewer students and activities taking place in the building, schools may also have more flexibility when coordinating access to the areas that need attention. For schools in the Pittsburgh area considering professional painting services, summer provides an opportunity to evaluate priorities and complete projects before students return. Why Schools Often Plan Painting Projects During Summer Painting an occupied school requires careful coordination. Classes, student activities, staff schedules, meetings, and other events can affect when contractors have access to different areas of a building. Summer can reduce some of these scheduling challenges. Depending on the school's summer activities and the scope of the project, contractors may have greater access to classrooms, hallways, administrative spaces, and other areas. This can make it easier for administrators and contractors to establish a project schedule that works for the facility. Every school operates differently, so the project schedule should still account for summer programs, staff working in the building, maintenance projects, and other scheduled activities. Start by Identifying the Areas That Need Attention A school painting project does not always need to involve the entire building. Administrators and facility managers can begin by inspecting different areas and prioritizing spaces based on their condition. Look for issues such as: Scuffed or marked walls Peeling or cracking paint Faded painted surfaces Damaged walls or trim Areas that have been patched or repaired Inconsistent finishes from previous repairs Exterior painted surfaces showing visible deterioration Creating a list of priority areas before requesting an estimate can help define the scope of the project. Classroom Painting During Summer Break Classrooms are one of the most obvious areas to evaluate when school is out. Desks, equipment, decorations, and other classroom materials can make painting more complicated while a room is actively being used. Summer scheduling may provide an opportunity to coordinate painting with other classroom preparation taking place before the new academic year. Schools considering classroom painting should determine which surfaces need attention, including walls, ceilings, doors, frames, and trim where applicable. A contractor can then evaluate the existing surfaces and determine what preparation may be required before painting begins. Address High-Traffic Hallways and Common Areas Hallways, stairwells, entrances, and other common areas are highly visible parts of a school. These areas can accumulate scuffs, marks, and other signs of regular use. Because they also connect different parts of the building, completing work in these spaces during the school year can require additional coordination. Summer provides an opportunity to inspect these areas and determine whether repainting should be included in the school's facility plans. Entrances are another area worth reviewing. They are among the first spaces students, parents, staff, and visitors encounter when entering the building, making their appearance an important part of the overall facility. Consider Cafeterias, Gymnasiums, and Other Large Spaces Schools contain many spaces beyond traditional classrooms. Cafeterias, gymnasiums, auditoriums, libraries, multipurpose rooms, and other shared areas may have different painting requirements based on their size, configuration, and use. Large spaces can also present practical considerations such as ceiling height, access to upper wall areas, equipment placement, and protecting surfaces that are not being painted. These factors should be discussed with the painting contractor when establishing the project scope. Do Not Overlook Administrative Areas Summer painting plans can also include spaces used primarily by faculty and staff. Administrative offices, conference rooms, faculty areas, reception areas, counseling offices, and similar spaces can be evaluated alongside student areas. If only certain portions of the building require attention, separating the project into clearly defined areas can help schools prioritize work according to their facility needs and available schedule. Evaluate Exterior Painted Surfaces Summer planning does not have to stop at the school doors. Administrators and facility managers can inspect exterior painted surfaces for visible signs of wear or deterioration. Peeling, cracking, fading, and exposed surfaces may indicate that professional evaluation is appropriate. Exterior painting requirements depend on the surface, its existing condition, previous coatings, and environmental conditions at the time work is performed. A professional commercial painting contractor can inspect the applicable surfaces and recommend an appropriate preparation and painting approach based on the conditions present. Surface Preparation Is an Important Part of School Painting A professional painting project involves more than applying a new coat of paint. Existing surfaces should be evaluated before work begins. Depending on their condition, preparation may include cleaning, scraping, sanding, patching, caulking, or priming. The preparation required will vary depending on the surface and its condition. When comparing proposals from school painting contractors, administrators should review what preparation is included in each scope of work. Two estimates may appear to cover the same rooms or surfaces while including different levels of preparation. Coordinate Painting With Other Summer Facility Projects Painting may be only one project occurring while students are away. Schools may have maintenance, repairs, cleaning, technology work, furniture movement, or other facility projects scheduled during the same period. These activities should be considered when developing the painting schedule. Providing contractors with information about other planned work can help identify potential scheduling conflicts before the project begins. Communication between the school, painting contractor, and other companies working in the building can also help keep different projects organized. What to Ask a School Painting Contractor Before selecting a contractor, school administrators and facility managers should understand exactly what is included in the proposed work. Questions to consider include: Which rooms and surfaces are included? What surface preparation will be performed? What paint products are being proposed? How will floors, furniture, fixtures, and other surfaces be protected? How will the work be coordinated with other contractors or school personnel? Who will be the school's primary point of contact? What cleanup is included? How will changes to the project scope be handled? Is the contractor properly insured for the work being performed? What is the proposed project schedule? A detailed scope provides school decision-makers with better information when comparing commercial painting proposals. Plan Your Pittsburgh School Painting Project With MasterBrush Painting Summer can provide schools with greater flexibility to address painting projects while normal classroom activity is reduced. The key is determining what needs attention, establishing the scope, accounting for other facility activities, and coordinating the work around the school's schedule. Whether the project includes classrooms, hallways, administrative areas, cafeterias, gymnasiums, common spaces, or exterior surfaces, planning ahead can help school administrators organize the work before students return. MasterBrush Painting provides school painting services in the Pittsburgh area. If your school is considering an interior or exterior painting project, contact MasterBrush Painting to discuss your facility, project scope, and scheduling needs.
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