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    Home » Blog

    The ultimate guide to paint undertones

    Published: Jan 22, 2022 · Modified: Jan 22, 2022 by Morgan · This post may contain affiliate links ·

    Struggling picking a paint color? Let's get down to the basics and talk about undertones - the color tones inside each paint color that decide exactly how the color will read in any space!

    Picking paint colors can be HARD! There are literally unlimited paint color options and getting started can be super overwhelming.

    That's why I suggest starting with an undertone.

    You don't have to be a color expert to see that warm colors tend to go well together and cool colors then to go well together. It is possible to mix the two, but sticking to one or another is more fool-proof.

    So, you need to determine the undertone that you want to decorate with before even starting to pick a paint color.

    My biggest suggestion? Determine the undertone of the elements in your room that won't be changing. This could be flooring, tile, cabinets, or furniture. It could even be a painting you want to design the living room around!

    Choosing the right color for your walls means that you need to work with the things that won't change. Paint colors are infinite! The things you have in place are not.

    the ultimate guide to paint undertones

    The ultimate guide to paint undertones

    Overwhelmed by paint colors? Let's get paint undertones explained so it's not so overwhelming!

    What are undertones?

    Colors are complex. Paint colors are actually made up from several base colors blended together.

    Undertones are the colors hidden within a color that completely change the way that it looks.

    Masstones (or mass colors) are the more obvious main color that a color is.

    agreeable gray vs repose gray

    Let's look at the top two colors for an example. They are Agreeable Gray and Repose Gray. Both of their masstones are - you guessed it - gray!

    But, if they are both gray, why do they look so different?

    They have different undertones! The secondary colors mixed into the gray mass color totally change the color to make it completely unique.

    Why do undertones matter?

    Undertones matter because they have a big impact on the way that a color looks. If you pick a color with the wrong undertones, it will often clash with your home's existing finishes instead of meshing with it.

    the best light gray paint colors
    See the different undertones when you place these light gray colors beside each other

    How can you tell a paint color's undertones?

    Here is the process that I use to determine a paint color's undertones.

    STEP 1: Get paint strips

    Get a paint strip for the color that you want to use

    STEP 2: Look at the darkest shade

    Look at the very bottom color on the strip - the darkest shade.

    Usually the darkest color is the one that will make it easiest to see the true color since it has the most pigment.

    This works really well with light, neutral colors. Tans suddenly look very green, brown, or even purple!

    STEP 3: Grab other color strips

    Still confused? Grab some other color strips that looks similar.

    For example, if you are looking at grays, grab 5 or more other gray sample cards.

    Lay them all out next to each other - on a white sheet of paper.

    Now, laying horizontally they won't look exactly like they would look on a vertical wall, but you should really quickly see how different the colors are - even if they all have the same masstone!

    Blue undertones, yellow undertones, green undertones will all start popping out when compared to pure white + other similar paint colors.

    STEP 4: Compare to permanent fixtures

    This is a super important step that should NOT be skipped.

    Once you identify the color that you think you like best, place the swatch next to permanent items such as the couch, flooring, or tiles. Things that won't be changing.

    Don't tape the color to your painted walls (assuming you will be painting over that color, it will only skew how it looks) but put on white paper or directly on the fixture.

    Make sure that the undertones of the two colors mesh and that your color doesn't suddenly feel different from the look that you were going for!

    If you want to practice identifying paint undertones, grab as many swatches for white paint as you can. Lay them out on a sheet of pure white paper and prepare to be amazed by all of the different white paint colors!

    daytime-vs-night-time-paint-swatches-683x1024
    These are the same swatches on the same wall, just look different in daytime vs night time!

    How can you tell if a paint is warm or cool?

    A color's warmth or coolness is determined by it's undertones. Think about the color wheel and the division of warm and cool colors.

    Warm undertones include red, orange, yellow, or gold.

    Cool undertones include blue, green, and purple.

    You don't have to be an interior designer to pick the perfect paint color! Taking some time to understand the undertones will help you pick the right color scheme the first time!

    Still unsure which paint color is right for your space?

    Choosing paint doesn’t have to be stressful! My free Paint Color Planning Quick Start Guide walks you through the exact steps to confidently choose the perfect color — without the overwhelm, second-guessing, or endless swatch testing.

    👉 Click here to download the free guide!

    paint color formula square mockup

    My Paint Color Formula course walks you through the painless process of expertly testing paint swatches to ensure you have the perfect color for your home.

    Learn more about the Paint Color Formula here!

    The best way to sample paint? Samplize!

    Get peel-and-stick removable and reusable paint samples here!

    Thanks for reading!

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    Morgan

    Morgan is passionate about home decor and paint colors. She has been sharing DIY home decor tips since 2012 at CharlestonCrafted.com. From there, she learned to love paint colors, and the Paint Color Project was born in 2022!

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    Hey - I'm Morgan!

    Here’s what I believe: choosing paint should be fun, not overwhelming. 

    That’s why I consider myself more than just a color consultant; think of me as your paint-savvy friend who’s here to guide you through every step of the process.

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