This post is sponsored by Samplize. All opinions are my own.
Recently, Robert and I went to Newport, Rhode Island to celebrate our anniversary and toured The Breakers.
Since that visit I’ve been completely captivated by The Gilded Age, especially one room in the Russell family’s mansion.
It’s a gorgeous gray-green room with gilded millwork that’s been living rent-free in my head.
Our guest bedroom is overdue for an update, so I’ve been on a mission to find the right version of that color for our house.
Simple enough, right? Not exactly.
What looks like the perfect gray-green in someone else’s home can suddenly read too gray, too green, too blue, or simply different once painted on your wall. Right now my walls are covered in Samplize swatches as I test options.
That’s the tricky thing about paint colors: the hard part isn’t always finding a shade you love, it’s getting it to read the way you expect in your own home. Even if I asked Bertha Russell for the exact paint name, it still might look different in my guest room’s lighting.
After years of painting rooms and learning from mistakes, I’ve realized most paint regrets come from choosing colors the wrong way, not necessarily the wrong color itself.
If you’ve ever finished a paint job and wondered why the color doesn’t look like you imagined, you’ve probably made one of these common mistakes too.
1. Stop Trusting That Tiny Paint Chip
One of the biggest mistakes is picking a color from a tiny store paint chip. Colors almost always shift when scaled up to cover a whole wall; undertones reveal themselves more on larger surfaces.
I used to paint small test squares directly on my walls, which worked but left me with messy patches to repaint. Now I prefer Samplize peel-and-stick samples because they’re real paint, large enough to see how a color interacts with flooring, trim, furniture, and lighting, and simple to remove and reuse.
Some samples come in an extra-large 15″ x 18″ size, which makes comparing options much easier without committing to full gallons.
2. If You Ignore Undertones, You’ll Regret It
Undertones are the reason many colors read differently than expected. Every color has undertones—even neutrals. Some grays lean blue, green, or purple. Whites can feel creamy, yellow, pink, gray, or slightly blue depending on light and surrounding finishes.
The easiest way to spot undertones is to compare colors side-by-side. Right now I’m testing gray-green options for our guest room and attaching samples to white poster board so the undertones are easier to see. A neutral background reduces the influence of nearby walls, furniture, and decor, helping subtle differences become obvious.
That small extra step prevents me from changing my mind every day when natural light shifts what my eyes perceive.
3. Paint Colors Look Different Throughout the Day
Don’t decide on a color after a single look. Paint appears different depending on time of day, weather, and the direction a room faces. That’s why I move Samplize samples around the house and test them on different walls at different times. Mounting samples on poster board makes this easy and reusable.
Morning and afternoon light, sunny versus cloudy days—each will change how a color reads. Photos online can help, but nothing replaces seeing the color in your actual space over time.
4. Flooring Gets a Vote
Flooring—and other permanent finishes—has a loud vote in how paint looks. Take stock of what’s staying: flooring, countertops, tile, brick, cabinetry, and large furniture all affect color perception.
Carry white cardstock around the room and place it beside the finishes you’re keeping; it reveals warm or cool undertones you might miss. If a color feels off despite being beautiful, competing undertones between floor and wall are often the culprit.
5. Stop Choosing Paint Before Everything Else
Many assume paint should come first because it covers the most surface area, but paint is one of the easiest things to change. Bigger investments—sofas, rugs, drapes, bedding, countertops, and major furniture—should guide your paint choice when possible.
There are thousands of paint colors; finding one that coordinates with your furnishings is easier than finding furniture to match an arbitrary wall color.
6. Trendy Doesn’t Always Mean Right
Trends are fun, but they shouldn’t be the main factor when choosing paint. The right color is the one that complements your home’s lighting, architecture, furnishings, and fixed finishes—not necessarily what’s popular right now. Ask what works best in your space instead of what’s trending.
My Favorite Way to Test Paint Colors Before Painting
After years of painting sample squares, I now use Samplize peel-and-stick samples. They remove much of the guesswork: I can compare colors side-by-side, move them around the house, and see how they look with my flooring, trim, furniture, and lighting before deciding.
I also appreciate being able to compare multiple brands—Benjamin Moore, Sherwin-Williams, Farrow & Ball—side-by-side in one order, without driving all over town to collect chips. Samples typically arrive next-day, which keeps projects moving and prevents costly mistakes.
Final Thoughts
Most paint mistakes aren’t about choosing the wrong color but choosing the wrong way. Trusting a tiny chip, ignoring undertones, judging a sample once, or forgetting finishes and flooring all lead to regret—yet each mistake is avoidable.
Take your time, test thoroughly, and pay attention to undertones and lighting. A little patience up front will save you from repainting later.
If you’re hunting for the perfect paint color, you’re not alone. I’ll be over here moving gray-green samples around our guest bedroom and trying to channel a bit of Gilded Age charm.
Need More Paint Color Help?
- Our Calming Whole House Paint Color Palette
- How to Choose Paint Colors for Your Home Like a Pro
- Top Recommended Contrast Trim Paint Color Ideas
