Start with the light in the room
The same paint looks different in every room because of the light. Sherwin-Williams' guidance by room direction (Sherwin-Williams):
| Room faces | The light | What tends to work |
|---|---|---|
| North | The least light all day, and it's cool | Warm neutrals or colors with warm undertones; avoid cool undertones that make the room feel colder; look for a higher LRV |
| South | Consistent warm light | Don't go too warm, or the color can get bold at times of day |
| East | Warm in the morning, cool in the evening | Pick for when you use the room most |
| West | Cool in the morning, warm in the evening | Pick for when you use the room most |
The Minnesota factor: around the winter solstice, the Twin Cities get under 9 hours of daylight (MPR News). For a big chunk of the year, you'll see your walls under lamps, not sun. Test colors at night under your own bulbs, not just on a bright afternoon.
Know your LRV
Light Reflectance Value (LRV) is how much light a color reflects, on a scale of 0 to 100 (Sherwin-Williams). Higher numbers are lighter and bounce more light around. It's printed on the back of most color chips. For darker, north-facing Minnesota rooms, a higher LRV helps.
Find the undertone
Most “greige,” white and beige paints have an undertone: a hint of yellow, pink, green or blue. Sherwin-Williams' trick: hold the chip next to pure white and the undertone shows, and look at the darker colors on the same strip, where the undertone is easier to see (Sherwin-Williams). Benjamin Moore suggests putting chips on white paper so your current wall color doesn't throw you off (Benjamin Moore).
Your bulbs change your paint
Lower Kelvin bulbs give warmer, yellower light; higher Kelvin gives cooler light, and cool light can mute warm colors like reds and yellows (Sherwin-Williams). Pick your bulbs first (see our lighting guide), then pick paint under them.
Sample the right way
- Go big. A Benjamin Moore sample covers about a 2-by-2-foot area with two coats (Benjamin Moore). Small chips lie.
- Use a board. Paint a white foam board and move it around the room through the day (Benjamin Moore).
- Two coats. One coat over an old color isn't the real color.
- Morning to night. Look under daylight and your lamps (Benjamin Moore).
A simple formula for the whole room
Behr's 60-30-10 rule: about 60% of the room in a dominant color (usually walls), 30% in a supporting color, and 10% as an accent (Behr).
What's trending
The 2026 Colors of the Year are Sherwin-Williams' Universal Khaki (SW 6150) (Sherwin-Williams) and Benjamin Moore's Silhouette (AF-655), a deep burnt umber with charcoal (Benjamin Moore). Trends come and go; pick what you'll like in February.
If you're selling
See our guide to paint colors before you sell.