The #1 Renovation Mistake: Choosing Paint Too Early
The best order for choosing finishes and furniture
Choosing a paint colour first can make decorating harder than it needs to be.
There are thousands of paint colours to choose from, while your options for a particular sofa, floor, countertop or tile are much more limited.
A simpler approach is to choose the elements with the fewest options first, then use paint to connect everything together.
A Practical Decorating Order
A useful sequence is:
- Fixed finishes — flooring, tiles, countertops and cabinetry
- Large furniture and textiles — sofa, bed, rugs and curtains
- Lighting and accent furniture
- Paint and wall colours
- Accessories and artwork
This isn't a strict rule. If you already have furniture or a favourite wall colour, you can work around it.
The principle is simply: don't make your most flexible decision before your least flexible ones.
Always Test Paint in Your Own Room
Paint can look completely different depending on:
- Natural daylight
- Direction of the windows
- Artificial lighting
- Flooring
- Nearby furniture
- Time of day
Don't rely on a small colour card alone.
Paint large sample boards and move them around the room. Look at them in both daylight and artificial light before committing.
Pro tip
Check your paint samples at different times of day. A colour that looks perfect in bright morning light may look considerably warmer or cooler in the evening.
What If You've Already Painted?
Don't panic.
Use rugs, curtains, upholstery and accessories to introduce colours that connect the wall colour with the rest of the room.
Test Your Finishes Before You Paint
Bring your furniture, flooring, textiles and paint choices together in the Nooked Moodboard before committing to a colour. Once you've chosen your finishes, use the Nooked Web Tool to check the physical layout.
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