How to Find the Right Paint Color Palette

Let’s be honest, finding the right paint color palette for your home can be quite the challenge. You might see paint colors online on blogs or social media that you love but aren’t sure if those colors will look good in your home with your personal home decor style and layout. Maybe you’re just getting into your first home and you’ve never been able to paint or decorate a home to your personal taste. Before you start feeling overwhelmed, put some trust in our favorite tip for homeowners looking for the right paint color: a paint color palette.

A paint color palette features hundreds of different paint colors that could look beautiful in your home. These options allow you to look at different undertones and pigmentations until you find precisely the right color for your space. Additionally, when you’re trying to find the right paint color palette for your home, it can be helpful to examine color families. Here are a few tips that can help you find the right color family for your space.

What are Color Families?

A color family is a grouping of colors that all have the same particular shade or undertone. Usually, color families are gathered together on the color wheel that is commonly used in art and art education. Vista Paint organizes their paint color palette into the following seven color families to make it easy for you to find the right paint color for your project. Here are the color families that they include. Each color family page features some visual examples and descriptions to help you find the right paint color for your home.

Reds This color family includes anything from traditional reds to deep maroons to light pinks to rusty brick reds. Read more »

Blues This color family includes anything from baby blue to bright royal to dramatic turquoise to deep, moody navy. Read more »

Yellows This color family includes anything from bright yellows to warm creams to cozy mustard colors. Read more »

Violets This color family includes anything from hazy lavenders to romantic purples to trendy mauves. Read more »

Oranges This color family includes anything from bold oranges to happy peaches to trend-setting rusts. Read more »

Greens  This color family includes daring bright greens, traditional forest greens, popular sage greens, and more. Read more »

Neutrals This color family includes many timeless neutral shades such as grays, whites, taupes, and more. Read more »

How to Use a Paint Color Palette

If you’ve never had to choose your own paint color before, chances are you’ve also never used a paint color palette before. This process can be more intuitive than you might think. Here are a few of our best tips on how to successfully use a paint color palette in a way that will help you choose the ideal paint color for your home.

• Look at Undertones: Every color has a warm or cool undertone, meaning that there is a hint of another color in the depths of your main paint color. For example, you might choose a beige paint that has brown undertones or a gray paint that has blue undertones. Identifying these undertones can help you to match with the undertones of your furniture and decor. Warring undertones won’t look good in a space. For example, a cream with yellow undertones won’t pair well in a house with cool gray or black features.
• Don’t Forget Neighboring Colors: When you’re looking at your paint color palette and you’re not sure if you’ve found the right color for your home, don’t forget to go “next door” and look at the neighboring colors. These colors right next to your color of choice are often lighter or darker than the color you were examining, and they might just be the perfect color for your home.
• Enjoy Complementary Colors: Monochrome definitely has its place, but when you’re trying to find the right paint color palette for your home, look at the complementary colors on a color wheel. These colors will have similar undertones and will make your paint color of choice look even more vibrant. Ideally, your existing furniture or decor will fit in with these colors or even feature some of these complementary colors.

I’ve Chosen My Paint Color. What Now?

Now that you’ve found the perfect paint color for your chosen paint project, you’re almost ready to get started. But before you buy your paint, you should consider the different paint finishes that are available to you. Paint finishes refer to the level of sheen or shininess that a certain paint has once it is completely dried on a wall or surface. Different levels of sheen can definitely affect the aesthetic of a room. For example, in a nursery, you might want a pretty matte finish with only the slightest sheen to make it feel cozy and clean. You would also generally want a matte finish in a kitchen area, as a shiny finish can make your walls or cabinets look greasy and unclean.

Why Shop From Vista Paint?

Sometimes you might think it is easier to shop at a “big box” store such as Home Depot. While these types of stores might have more convenient locations for you, their paint products simply won’t have the quality that your projects require. If you want to avoid painting and repainting your home, you should choose a paint brand that will provide you with high-quality, damage-resistant products that will last beautifully for many years.

Vista Paint prides themselves in creating paint products of the highest quality. Their bold and beautiful paint colors will last for years to come without any scratches or marks. Some of their paints even come “pre-primed” which will save you one step in the painting process. They also make their paints with low or zero VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) so your house or family won’t be exposed to any potentially harmful chemicals. If you want to preview their colors and see how their products will work for you, you can order paint color chips and samples and have them shipped straight to your doorstep! To see their beautiful paint colors, simply fill out this paint color chip order form to have your color samples shipped to you.

Beach houses are known for their classic exteriors, siding and white trim. Their colors can be inspired by the natural colors found around them. From sea glass to warm sand and cool water, there is no end to the inspiration found in the natural world of the San Diego beach.

If it’s time to repaint your beach house exterior, Vista Paint has lots of options for you for paints that are durable, colorful and vibrant.

First, exterior surfaces, especially those on the San Diego beach, need to hold up to saltwater, cool air, damp mist and bright sun. That’s why your first step is finding an exterior primer that can help seal the wood siding to make it ready for painting.

First, wash the exterior of the home to remove any mold, mildew or salt build-up. You can’t paint a dirty surface, so washing it and letting it dry fully is a necessary first step. Next, patch or caulk any holes or gaps as needed. Read the instructions to determine how long the caulk needs to cure.

Repainting is also the time to check on the condition of your boards and to see if any need to be replaced. Old boards can be painted, but they won’t necessarily hold up as well as new ones. Replace anything that is split, warped or missing pieces.

Now it’s time to prime your home.

For wood priming, Vista Paint recommends the 4200 Terminator II, which is a water-based primer suitable for exterior use. It prevents stains and offers superior flexibility, which means it won’t crack as wood shrinks and expands due to exposure to moisture. That makes it a stellar choice for a beach house.

018 100% Acrylic Block Filler and 040 Block Kote are ideal primers for stone, stucco or brick that needs painting. These fill in gaps, giving a solid surface on which to apply your color.

Once you’ve primed your home and it has dried for the recommended time, you’re ready to paint. Exterior paint is required for the exterior of a home because it has a special formulation that lets it resist weathering and UV light. Choosing the wrong paint means you could wind up having to repaint more quickly than you would like.

1900 Weather Master is an acrylic exterior paint that resists mildew and is appropriate for all surfaces except metal. It comes in custom colors and is specially formulated to hold up against all kinds of weather without chipping, peeling or fading.

3000 Acribond provides a durable, flat finish that is mildew resistant. This exterior paint is perfect for wood surfaces or properly primed concrete and masonry.

Once you have picked your paint, it’s time to choose a color. Classic colors for San Diego beach houses are inspired by the coastline and all the colors it presents. From warm sand to cool mist, there is no end to the variety of natural colors you can choose from. Exterior paint tends to be a flat finish so the color doesn’t reflect as much light. This is especially important if you pick a lighter color that is naturally light-reflective.

Sand/neutral

If you want your beach house to blend into the landscape rather than standing out, these neutrals are the perfect choice to help your home look like it sprang up out of the sand.

• Pastel Day – This paint is a warm neutral that looks like sun-warmed sand begging you to bury your feet in it.
• Beryl Pearl – This gray-green neutral looks like cool mist on a San Diego winter’s day.
• Sandstone Palette – If you like the look of stone over sand, this brown-gray medium neutral will inspire you.
• Langdon Dove – This darker brown-gray will add character to any seaside home. It is reminiscent of the hills surrounding San Diego.

Water and sky

The San Diego coastline is one of the most beautiful in the world when the mist has burned off and all you can see is sky and water.

• Bulfinch Blue – This color could be said to be inspired by the hazy San Diego mornings where the mist hasn’t burned off completely. A beautiful blue-gray, Bulfinch Blue is a great choice for lovers of misty mornings.
• Cyan Sky – This vivid blue is almost turquoise and looks like sun-dappled water.
• Dancing Sea – This deep royal blue is a great choice for those wanting a brighter blue with no hint of gray.
• Watery Sea – A paint color that truly matches a beautiful cloudless sky.

Seashells/sea glass

Many happy memories are made searching for the perfect seashell or piece of sea glass. Bring those colors home with these shades.

• Outerspace – This light blue-green looks like polished sea glass.
• Aromatic Breeze – This peachy pink looks like the outside of a freshly washed seashell. It would pair perfectly with white shutters.
• Tudor Ice – This chilly blue-gray looks like a smooth piece of frosted sea glass.
• Tuscan Wall – This warm light orange looks just like a scallop.
• Shell Tint – This cool white has green undertones and looks like a sun-bleached shell.

Sunset

• Taste of Summer – This is a tangerine orange that runs on the lighter side, so it’s a good choice for someone who wants a bold color with a bit less brightness.
• Nosegay – Much like the flower it’s named after, this paint looks warm, pink and welcoming.
• Starfish – Ready to have the boldest house on the beach? Starfish is a bright orange that will leave a memorable impression.
• Endless Possibilities – This orange-red is vivid and strong and looks like the edge of the sun right before it slips below the horizon.

These paint colors give you so many options for painting your beach house. Whether you are looking for a neutral or you want your beach house to be visible up and down the coastline, Vista Paints has plenty of colors to choose from. Their high-quality exterior paints go on smooth and adhere so no amount of sand, surf or rain will remove their luster.

If you are planning to update your kitchen, repainting the walls is a great place to start. A fresh coat of paint makes any room look clean and sleek, and a new wall color will help your kitchen feel like a brand new space! When you are deciding what color to paint your kitchen, you also need to consider the type of paint finish you’ll use.

Paint finish, also called paint sheen, refers to the amount of light that reflects off the paint once it is dry. There is a scale of paint sheens ranging from flat to high-gloss. As the name implies, flat paint doesn’t reflect any light, which leads to a completely matte look when the paint is dry. On the other hand, high-gloss paint is the most reflective type of paint. It dries with a shiny, lacquered look. Paint sheen doesn’t just affect the amount of light reflected–it also changes how durable the paint is, and how easy it is to clean. In general, the higher the sheen, the more sturdy the paint and easier it is to wipe down. Although flat paint is common in bedrooms and living rooms, it is not the best for kitchens.

Flat paint, while providing a soft, matte look, is not the most stain-resistant paint finish. In a high-traffic area such as the kitchen, having a paint finish that can stand up against oil and food stains is a must. Additionally, flat paint doesn’t repel moisture like the higher gloss paint types. Kitchen walls are highly susceptible to moisture collection from steam. Matte paint absorbs this excess moisture from the air, which could lead to mold and mildew in your walls. In the kitchen, you will want a paint that is durable, and can stand up against frequent scrubbing. Unfortunately, flat paint can rub off easily when cleaned. Finally, flat paint shows scuff marks more than high-sheen paint finishes. Since kitchens are used daily, it’s better to use a paint that will hide scraps, scratches, and scuffs better than flat paint. While flat paint is a great option for low traffic rooms, it is not advisable to use this type of paint finish in your kitchen.

What type of paint is best for use in the kitchen?

Most experts will agree that semi-gloss paint is the perfect paint finish for your kitchen. There are a multitude of reasons why semi-gloss is used by most professional painters and homeowners painting the kitchen.

First, semi-gloss paint is moisture resistant. This is possibly the most important aspect of paint finish in your kitchen. When cooking a meal, the kitchen collects steam, oil, and heat in the air. If you use the wrong type of paint finish, this moisture can settle into and beneath the paint. Semi-gloss paint repels this additional moisture in the air, making it much less likely than other paint sheens to grow mold and mildew beneath the surface of the paint.

Second, semi-gloss paint is remarkably durable. Kitchen walls are apt to splashes and other mishaps. Thankfully, with semi-gloss paint, cleaning the walls is a snap! The higher-sheen surface of this paint means that stains can be easily removed. Semi-gloss paint can withstand frequent scrubbing without degrading the paint or rubbing it off.

Third, this type of paint doesn’t show minor damage. Accidents happen, and because kitchens are used so often, the walls are especially susceptible to scrapes. Semi-gloss paint has the remarkable ability to hide these inevitable imperfections. The reflective nature of this paint acts as a camouflage for scuffs and scratches!

Finally, semi-gloss paint does a great job lightening a room. Because it reflects natural and artificial light back into the room, semi-gloss paint lends a cheery, bright quality to any space, no matter how dark the paint. Especially if your kitchen has dark cabinets or a lack of windows, the reflective quality of semi-gloss paint is a huge plus.

To paint your kitchen with semi-gloss paint, you will first want to clean the walls and let them dry completely. Next, fill any holes, gouges, or scratches in the wall with spackle. Using a putty knife, apply a small amount of lightweight spackle to the imperfection and, once the spackle dries, sand it down with fine-grit sandpaper to match the surface of the wall. Put painter’s tape around the outlet covers and light switches, baseboards, and edges of cabinets to keep them paint-free. Place a drop cloth on the floor, and you’re ready to get started painting!

Semi-gloss paint can be applied using both a paintbrush and a paint roller. Simply pour the paint into a plastic paint tray and evenly cover the paint roller in paint. Roll off any excess paint before rolling the paint onto the kitchen wall. It’s best to use a paint brush to paint the areas surrounding trim, cabinetry, or light switches, as these areas require a more delicate touch.

It’s recommended to apply two to three coats of paint on the walls in your kitchen. This will ensure an even finish across all surfaces of the wall. An extra coat of paint also means the paint is more durable against wear and tear, degradation from sunlight, and heavy scrubbing. The wall will also absorb some of the first coat of paint, so it needs a second coat to get full paint coverage across the entire wall.

When applying semi-gloss paint, you need to take extra care not to leave visible brushstrokes behind. Thanks to the shiny characteristic of this type of paint, imperfections are easier to spot. Make sure to catch any drips, or paint over areas where the brush strokes show through the paint. Once you get the hang of it, painting with semi-gloss paint is a pinch!

Painting concrete can add a lot of life and color to the otherwise boring surface. Paint protects the surface, hides discoloration and stains, reduces future mold growth and can even add color and personality. Any exterior concrete can be painted. This can include a planter, a driveway, exterior stairs, retaining walls and more.

That said, you do need to select the right paint for the job. Not every paint is labeled for outdoor use. Using the wrong paint could result in paint peeling and your project looking worse with time.

Why paint concrete

Painting concrete may not seem necessary at first given how durable concrete is on its own. However, if the concrete is going to be in a dirty area, such as a garage or under a tree that drops a lot of sap, painting the concrete makes it much easier to clean. It also adds color and can be used to either enhance or disguise a large area of concrete, such as a retaining wall.

If you have stained or ugly exterior concrete, paint can also disguise this and act as a decorative surface. Finally, painting concrete can prevent mildew and mold from developing on areas that are perpetually damp. Concrete is porous and absorbs water, meaning that as water exposure increases and decreases, your concrete could crack. Painting makes the surface of the concrete impermeable and waterproof.

Preparation

Preparation is key before beginning to paint concrete. As tempting as it may be, you can’t just slap a coat of paint on concrete and call it a day. First, you need to clean the concrete. This can involve power washing it or sweeping and rinsing it. If there is dirt, the paint won’t adhere as nicely.

Concrete that has oil stains like that in a driveway or garage should be treated with an oil remover since it can interfere with the paint’s adhesion. When pressure washing concrete, keep your setting below 1,700 PSI to avoid damaging the surface.

Next, add an etching solution to remove all salt deposits and prepare the clean surface for paint. Acids are also used sometimes for this purpose, but an etching solution is less corrosive on the concrete.

Are there any cracks or splits? These should be filled promptly with the appropriate sealant. If a crack is too large or not level, you may need to patch it with new concrete. Sealant appropriate for concrete can be used for smaller cracks. If you’re painting a garage floor, take care to also seal the joint where the floor meets the wall.

Chipped areas need to be sanded smooth or filled with a concrete putty or silicone graded for outdoor use. Any chips are invitations for moisture to seep in and crack your concrete with the first freeze.

Read the sealant instructions carefully to see how long these materials take to dry and cure. Painting over wet concrete is sure to make a mess.

This step is essential – if you plan to paint, make sure not to use a concrete sealant. Paint will not adhere over sealant. Instead, moisture test the concrete after all the repair work and cleaning has been performed. If you paint over it while it’s damp, you’re locking in mold and water.

Finally, you’re ready to paint! Cut in any edges if you’re painting in a smaller space. Paint your concrete in firm stokes in one direction with a paint roller, working so you don’t have to step on the wet paint as you continue. This first coat may look a little streaky as it absorbs into the concrete.

The second coat can be applied once the concrete is dry. This can take about four hours, but do a little scrape test to be sure by rubbing your fingernail in a corner. If it seems dry, you can apply your second coat in the opposite direction of your first application. This ensures even coverage and reduces streaks in your finished product.

This will need to dry for a few days before it’s ready for use. Ideally, you want to pick a week to paint where the weather is sunny, warm and there’s little wind.

Which paint to choose

Not just any paint will do when you’re choosing to protect and decorate concrete. Indoor paint will chip in a short time and exterior all-purpose doesn’t have the durability for concrete.

Vista recommends our 2800AF Coverall Concrete Coating. This paint is specially formulated for concrete and is more flexible than your typical exterior paint. This helps the paint hold up to foot traffic, cars, weather and more.

The Coverall Concrete Coating is also formulated to avoid chalking and fading under intense UV light, meaning your painted driveway will look as good as the day you first painted it. This paint is available in white and custom colors so it can be perfectly tailored to fit your home’s exterior.

Remember, your outcomes are only as good as the preparation and tools you use. Taking time time to prep and clean your surface and choosing the right paint means you’re looking at a one-time project rather than something you’ll have to repaint annually.

Maintenance

One of the advantages of painting concrete is how easy the maintenance is. Sweep off surface debris and rinse away any sap, bird dropping or other stains. If you plan to power wash, which shouldn’t be necessary with a painted surface, make sure to use a setting only for paint. Otherwise you risk removing the paint from your concrete.

Should you decide to repaint a different color, simply remove the only paint via power washing or a paint stripper, prepare the surface as you did previously and apply your new paint color. Which color will you choose?

Results

Painting your concrete, whether you’re touching up stairs, painting a garage floor or adding personality to a bird bath, can bring color to even the most mundane surface. Choosing Vista Paint for your paint needs means you’re getting a quality paint formulated especially for your needs.