Giving your home’s interior a fresh coat of paint is one of the easiest and most affordable ways to transform any space. With a bit of color and creativity, paint has the power to completely change the look and feel of a room. From bright and bold colors to neutral, muted tones, a new paint job can take your home from drab to fab. If you’re looking for inspiration on ways to dramatically change up your home’s interior with paint, here are 15 stunning paint makeover ideas to consider for your next project.
Transform a Dark, Dreary Space with Light, Bright Paint
Nothing brightens up a dark, dreary room faster than slapping on a fresh coat of light, bright paint. Choose a soft white or very light neutral color to open up shadows and make the room feel more spacious and airy.
Painting over existing dark colors with a light paint color works wonders at reflecting light rather than absorbing it. For optimum light reflection, choose a paint with a high LRV (Light Reflectance Value). The higher the LRV, the more light the color will bounce rather than absorb. An interior white paint color with an LRV above 80 is ideal for maximizing brightness.
When painting a previously dark room in light colors, be sure to use a primer first. Tinted primer helps provide better coverage over the existing dark paint. Top off your light paint colors with white or near-white trim for a crisp, clean look. The light paint and white trim combo makes the entire space feel freshly updated.
Invigorate a Room with Bold, Vibrant Paint Colors
If you’re feeling adventurous, painting your walls in a bold, vibrant shade is a surefire way to enliven any lackluster space. While neutral paint colors have their place, sometimes you need to amp up the color for maximum impact.
Full-coverage, deeply-saturated hues have the power to make a dramatic statement on your walls. If you’re looking to add visual interest while creating a lively vibe, painting one or more walls in a rich color like emerald green, sapphire blue or amethyst purple is sure to do the trick.
When using bold paint colors, choose accent walls wisely to avoid overwhelming a room. The most popular accent wall locations are on the wall behind a bed, sofa, or dining table, or as a backsplash substitute in a kitchen or bathroom. Limiting bold colors to one wall prevents them from dominating the space.
Pair vivid paint colors with neutral furnishings and decor accents. This allows the bold wall color to really shine as the focal point. Choose paint with a matte, eggshell, or satin finish to minimize imperfections on bolder paint colors.
Create an Inviting Entryway with Soothing Hues
Your home’s entryway offers the perfect opportunity to make a stellar first impression. During a home tour or open house, this space sets the tone for what’s to come. An entryway bathed in soothing, welcoming shades conveys a spirit of tranquility homeowners and guests can appreciate.
Soft green, blue, and purple paint colors are ideal for creating a peaceful entry space. These muted wall colors have a calming effect coupled with subtle visual interest. Greige paint colors (a blend of gray and beige) are another splendid choice for entryways aiming for a cozy, welcoming vibe.
Paint your front door in a coordinating color that ties into your entryway’s wall and trim colors. For variation, consider painting the door interior a different hue than the exterior side. Use the same wall paint color for window frames and any molding/trim in the space for a harmonious, pulled-together look.
Modernize a Room with On-Trend Gray Paint Colors
When done right, grays are far from drab, dreary shades. The right gray paint can conjure up images of stormy skies, weathered wood, granite countertops, and chic modern spaces. Today’s gray paint palette offers gorgeous options ranging from the lightest silvery grays to charcoal and black.
Cool-toned grays with hints of blue or green work wonderfully for modern, transitional spaces aiming to feel up-to-date and serene. Try using Benjamin Moore’s popular Silver Lake or Revere Pewter in living rooms, bedrooms, and entryways. For a bold gray statement, Farrow & Ball’s Down Pipe is a sophisticated, inky hue perfect for modern kitchens, baths, and offices.
Gray tones work beautifully with crisp white trim, warm wood tones, and pops of colors like chartreuse and orange. Varying shades of gray in the same room adds intriguing dimension. Gray paint gives any space a polished, current look when done right.
Take a Room from Drab to Dapper with Posh Paint
Want to add a touch of sophistication to a boring beige room? An elegant wall color is just the thing for transforming basic walls into a posh backdrop. Deep, dramatic paint colors like inky blues, emerald greens, and smoky grays convey affluence and refinement.
Historical paint colors favored by aristocracy also lend rooms a cultured vibe. Regal hues like the purple-gray Popular Gray by Farrow & Ball, navy Railroad Tie by Behr, and rich red Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore offer an air of luxury. Deeper paint colors showcase amazing depth and dimension, appearing differently in various lighting.
Crown molding, raised paneling, and other architectural details really stand out and take on a gorgeous patina against darker, upscale paint colors. Use posh paint choices in formal living and dining spaces, home offices, and master suites to give the rooms an instantly polished feel.
Unleash Your Child’s Creativity with Vibrant Wall Paint
Kids’ rooms should be fun, playful spaces. What better way to foster creativity and self-expression than by painting kids’ room walls in vibrant, cheery colors? Today’s leading paint brands offer playful paint palettes specially formulated for children’s spaces.
Look for kids’ paint colors labelled as “whimsical” like Playful Teal or Boldly Blue. Opt for bright primary colors, or soft pastels like barely pink, lavender, and buttery yellow. Painting focal walls or specific “play zones” in different colors lets kids enjoy a rainbow room tailored to their preferences.
Washable matte interior paint finishes stand up to scrubbing when inevitable spills and stains occur. Painting chalkboard paint onto one wall, using removable wall stickers, or dedicating one wall to display kids’ artwork are all great ways to incorporate color while allowing your child’s creativity to shine.
Establish a Restful Retreat with Soothing Paint Colors
After a stressful day, your bedroom should offer the perfect Zen-like retreat. Using tranquil wall paint colors is key to establishing a relaxing, spa-like environment perfect for recharging your batteries. Cool, muted blue-greens and green-grays work wonders at cultivating calm.
Look for paint colors with “rest,” “relax,” or “retreat” in the name for ideal bedroom hues. Try sea glass greens, muted sky blues, or barely-there violets and lavenders to craft a Zen sanctuary ideal for rest and relaxation. Limit intense colors to art, decor accents, or decorative pillows rather than overpowering walls.
Eggshell, matte, or low-sheen paint finishes minimize imperfections and unwanted glare on bedroom walls. Incorporate layering of paint colors by using a deeper hue on the headboard or accent wall balanced with lighter versions of that color throughout the space. The right soothing paint colors transform your bedroom into a serene retreat.
Give Your Kitchen Energy with Vibrant Paint Colors
Many homeowners stick with safe white or beige kitchen paint colors. But vibrant paint can spice up your culinary space. Painting kitchen walls in energetic shades of yellow, green, red, and orange makes the cooking zone more stimulating.
Primary colors and exotic accent shades give kitchens an instant energy boost. Try a Caribbean palm green, bold crimson red, or sunshine orange. Not feeling that adventurous? Opt for a pale peach, buttery yellow, or grassy sage shade. Limiting vivid paint to one wall as a focal point prevents overwhelming the space.
Pair vivid paint with classic white cabinetry and neutral countertops. For variation, color block your kitchen by choosing two complementary colors and using each one on opposite walls. Vibrant kitchen paint colors make food prep and cooking feel more lively and fun.
Add Signature Style with Unexpected Paint Colors
Tired of typical expected wall colors? Show your unique personality and style by selecting unexpected, uncommon paint colors for your home. Instead of following trends, forge your own path with unanticipated paint shades that showcase your signature style.
Some examples of out-of-the-ordinary wall colors include deep eggplant purple, light sage green, burnt coral orange, pale peach, slate blue, and minty seafoam green. Paint companies are introducing more exciting, unexpected colors into their lines, so you have plenty of options.
Use these unconventional colors strategically, like as an accent wall or on kitchen cabinetry and island bases. Orange, yellow, and chartreuse work wonderfully in home offices, evoking creativity and energy. Soft blush pinks and corals make luxe master bath retreats. Follow your heart, not the herd, with distinctive paint colors.
Highlight Architectural Interest with Contrasting Paint Colors
Your home likely has gorgeous architectural details just waiting to take center stage. Using contrasting paint colors is an easy, budget-friendly way to highlight crown molding, ceiling medallions, columns, built-ins, and more. The trick is choosing two well-paired hues.
Select a deep, dramatic wall color like navy blue, emerald green, or eggplant purple if you want molding details to really stand out. Then paint the crown molding, trim, and ceiling in a lighter contrasting color like icy blue, crisp white, or barely blush pink. The darker wall color helps the lighter trim pop visually.
In a kitchen or bath, paint upper cabinets in one color while lower cabinets or an island base sport another complementary hue. Contrasting cabinet colors add appealing visual weight and detail. Take architectural elements from blah to bold with strategic contrasting paint colors.
Refresh Cabinets without Replacing using Paint
Tired wood or laminate kitchen cabinets bringing down your whole kitchen’s aesthetic? Thanks to specially formulated cabinet paint, you can transform your existing cabinetry quickly and affordably using nothing but paint. Available in an array of sheens and colors, cabinet paint renews worn cabinets for a fraction of replacement cost.
When painting over wood cabinets, opt for oil-based primers and paints, which offer superior adhesion and durability. For laminate cabinets with a smooth, shiny surface, use bonding primers so the paint adheres properly. Apply paint in thin, even coats following manufacturer guidelines for best results.
White cabinetry never goes out of style, but colorful cabinetry is also on trend. Try creamy white or antique white paint colors for timeless appeal, or go bold with navy blue, grass green, brick red or glossy black. Update existing hardware and add new handles/pulls for a complete facelift.
Feature Your Treasured Collections with Colorful Paint
For homeowners with collections of treasured items like beautiful china, framed art prints, or eclectic pottery, painted accent walls are the perfect way to showcase your goods. Paint a wall or shelving in a vibrant complementary color to frame and highlight your favorite collections.
Choose a strong color that contrasts beautifully with your collections. For coastal cottage style arrangements, paint walls a soft robin’s egg blue. Vivid teal or emerald green are gorgeous backdrops for brown transferware. Try bright tomato red or deep orange if your collections include lots of warm metals and earthy antiques.
Customize accent walls with paint techniques like rag rolling, sponging, or color washing. This adds subtle visual texture and variation that enhances collections’ visual appeal. Painted walls not only beautifully frame collections, but also protect fragile treasures from harmful UV light damage.
Disguise Dated Tile with Fresh Paint
Is outdated tile cramping your bathroom or kitchen style? Relax, you don’t need to demo to update your tile situation. Simply painting over tile with epoxy or specially formulated tile paint completely transforms the look of your existing tile. It also covers up unsightly soap scum stains and grout discoloration.
Use an etching primer or gel adhesion coat before painting to help the new paint grab onto slippery tile. Apply two to three coats of paint for optimum coverage. Choose high-gloss or semi-gloss sheens for easy wipe-down and washability. White paint makes rooms feel more open, but you can also get creative with tile-mimicking patterns.
Painting tile takes some elbow grease for proper prep and application, but grout haze and grungy tile are no match for tile paint. Upgrade worn, dated tile on a small budget thanks to the transformative power of paint.
Add Personality to Plain Floors with Paint
Boring, basic hardwood or concrete floors bringing you down? Inject color, interest, and personality into dull floors by painting them with floor paint. Unlike carpeting or installing new floors, paint lets you customize your floors affordably while still being practical and durable.
For concrete basement and garage floors, use an etch primer followed by durable epoxy floor paint in fun colors like crimson red, ocean blue, grassy green or sunny yellow. To paint existing hardwood, thoroughly sand and prime first before applying paint formulated specifically for wood floors.
You can paint floors a solid color or get creative with checkerboard, stenciled, geometric, stenciled, or ombre patterns. Make a statement painting a bold landing strip or pathways through open floor plans. Painted floors require re-coating every few years, but deliver personality that ordinary flooring can’t.
Expand the Palette in a Small Space through Paint
Big, bold paint colors not recommended for tiny rooms, right? Not necessarily! With smart color placement and blending, you absolutely can use vibrant paint colors to create an expanded, visually spacious effect even in a smaller room. The trick is sticking to a tight color palette.
Choose two or three compatible paint colors from the same color family. For example, select two different blues ranging from soft sky blue to dramatic navy. Use the darker color on the wall behind a bed, sofa, or desk to create a focal point. Paint the remaining walls in the lighter blue to make the space feel open.
Add in a third color by painting an accent wall, cabinetry, front door or piece of furniture. The small space will feel cohesive yet interesting. Limit patterns and stick with solids. Vary sheens and textures rather than going all flat paint. Explore color with confidence regardless of room size.
Give a Room Double the Dimension with Two-Tone Walls
Want to add intricate architectural detail on a budget? Skip pricey wainscoting or molding installation and use two-tone paint colors to simulate dimensional detailing on ordinary drywall. This faux treatment fools the eye, taking flat walls to the next level.
“Chair rail height” is the typical dividing line between two-tone paint colors, though you can place it higher or lower. Use painters tape at the border line between your upper and lower wall colors for a crisp, straight edge. Apply the darker color below chair rail height and lighter above.
To take the look even further, “box out” surrounding trim work like your door frame or window molding using the darker wall color. This grounds the scheme and makes those details pop. Consider a wide horizontal stripe at chair rail height rather than a straight line for a modern abstract twist. Two-tone walls work wonders in entryways, dining rooms, bedrooms and living spaces.
Transform a Small Bathroom with Brilliant White Paint
Got a tiny bathroom bringing you down? Open it up and make it appear more spacious with an all-over coat of bright white paint. White paint maximizes light reflection, making any small space feel roomier and airier. To prevent a stark, sterile vibe, maintain visual warmth and softness through textures and decor accents.
Choose a white with just a hint of warmth like Benjamin Moore’s White Dove or Sherwin-Williams’ Alabaster. For tile and surfaces requiring regular disinfecting, use an oil-based paint formulated to stand up to cleaning solutions and moisture. Consider replacing dingy metal fixtures and outdated hardware with new matte black or satin nickel pieces for contrast against pristine white walls.
Counteract potential coldness by laying down fluffy bathmats, hanging textured towels, and keeping a folded quilt on hand for cozy comfort. Place resin canisters, woven baskets, framed prints, and live plants for personality. Go white and brighten any tiny bathroom right up.
Conceal Damage or Imperfections with Strategic Paint
Got wall imperfections, water damage, or unsightly DIY holes you want to hide? No need to obsess over perfectly repairing issues before painting. Often, simply applying the right type of paint does an excellent job minimizing existing flaws or concealing imperfections altogether.
Heavy-bodied paints with high viscosity and hiding power excel at masking issues. Oil-based paints and high quality latex paints offer superior coverage and viscosity for downplaying damage and flaws. Apply two coats for best coverage.
Test different sheens on damaged drywall to see which finish best minimizes the flaw’s appearance. Eggshell or pearl paint finishes often mask cracked corners or water stains well. No need to get the wall surface perfectly flawless before painting if the right paint can conceal the damage!
Achieve an Industrial Modern Look with Matte Black Paint
Matte black paint adds just the right amount of moodiness and edge for achieving a sleek, industrial modern aesthetic. Use flat black paint on accent walls, cabinets, window frames, trim accents and front doors to strike a sophisticated, ultra-contemporary vibe.
Black paint complements a neutral color palette beautifully. Try pairing jet black with crisp whites, wood tones, concrete gray, and galvanized metal finishes popular in modern spaces. Incorporate pops of bright accent colors like chartreuse or fire engine red for lively contrast against black’s solemn sophistication.
Use black paint in any space you want to feel bold yet refined, like living rooms, home offices, master suites, and trendy bathrooms. Matte black paint provides the ideal versatile neutral that still makes an impactful design statement.
Summary
With the right colors and painting techniques, painted walls can transform the feel of any space. A fresh coat of paint represents an easy, budget-friendly way to rev
