Kelly Hoppen tells us how to avoid paint color mistakes – and why we get it wrong

Celebrity interior designer Kelly Hoppen has revealed why we so often get paint colors wrong with tips that might just stop you from making those decorating mistakes in future. 

The celebrated British designer and TV personality shared her secrets on This Morning – a UK-based chat show – where she appeared from her West London home. In the interview, Kelly revealed her expert tips on getting paint color choices right – and why we so often make mistakes when picking our chosen shades.

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Holding up a vast array of different grey paint samples, the designer said it was a mistake to experiment with different colors by painting samples directly on to a wall, as we may have practised in the past. 

Instead, Kelly suggested painting your chosen colors on to separate pieces of A4 paper, saying her technique will give a clearer sense of how the shade will look in a different light because you can move it around the room.

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‘The problem is, people tend to paint it on a wall, but because the color changes so much in your room depending on whether it's night or day, you actually need to paint it on a piece of paper, so that you can see the different tones you’re going to have when it’s night time and when it’s day time,’ Kelly began. 

She also suggested using this technique with different shades of the same color to help you compare and contrast.

The designer then focused further on the importance of natural light and its power to transform shades on certain surfaces. 

‘If you’ve got a lot of natural light, then it’s brilliant to have something a little bit darker or more colorful. If you want that cozy feeling, it doesn’t really matter,’ she shared. 

‘But,' she continued. 'There are so many tricks that you can use with paint that are really important.' 

For example, traditionally, we tend to paint architraves, doorways and skirting boards in a different color to the wall, when actually, it should all be the same color as the walls. 'The biggest expanse in your room is actually the walls, so that should all be one color,’ she shared. 

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'Otherwise, it's like wearing a pair of short trousers with the wrong socks,' she said. 'Your eyes are going to go to that – so it should all be the same color, and often the same with the ceiling, too.' 

These tricks, she suggests, can help make your rooms feel more coordinated and calmer. ‘You’re putting in your sofa, chairs, lighting – if the walls are plainer, it’s a better base to start with,’ Kelly concluded.