4. Don’t Fear the Undertones

Before you buy paint, understand the undertones. A yellow with a green undertone will look very different from a yellow with a red (or “warm”) undertone.

  • Red/Orange Undertones: These feel like mustard, gold, or ochre. They are inherently cozy and work well in rooms that don’t get much natural light.
  • Green Undertones: These feel like citrus or lemon. They are more energetic and work well in rooms that are very sunny and bright. If you aren’t sure, grab several paint chips and tape them to your wall. Watch them at different times of the day. A color that looks beautiful at 10:00 AM might look very different when the sun goes down at 6:00 PM.