How to choose paint colours for every room in your home

Choosing paint colours can feel overwhelming, particularly when there are so many shades to consider. But finding the right colour isn’t about following trends. It’s about understanding your home, the light it receives and the furnishings and materials you want to complement.

From welcoming hallways to restful bedrooms, here’s our guide to choosing paint colours for every room, with some of our favourite shades from the Edward Bulmer Natural Paint collection.

Before you begin: consider what is already in the room

Before choosing a paint colour, look at the elements you won’t be changing, such as flooring, furniture, fabrics and architectural details.

These can provide a useful starting point for your colour scheme, helping you select shades that complement the room rather than compete with it.

Natural light is equally important. A colour may appear quite different in a north-facing room compared with one that receives plenty of afternoon sunshine.

For more guidance, explore our article on how natural light affects paint colour.

Hallway paint colours: create a welcoming entrance

Hallways are often narrow or receive limited natural light, making colour an important consideration.

Rather than automatically reaching for white, consider a shade that works with the available light and creates a welcoming introduction to your home.

Trumpington is an earthy tobacco yellow that works particularly well in darker hallways, bringing a rich, inviting quality to the space.

For something lighter, Clove or Portland offer softer alternatives to a brilliant white.

When choosing a hallway colour, consider how it will sit alongside the adjoining rooms. A shared undertone or complementary palette can help create a natural transition between spaces.

Living room paint colours: balance light and atmosphere

Living rooms are used throughout the day and evening, so it’s worth considering how your chosen colour will look in both natural and artificial light.

For north-facing sitting rooms, earthy reds and terracotta shades can be particularly effective. Sang de Boeuf offers a rich, brownish red, while Hespan brings an earthy orange character.

Both work beautifully alongside timber, linen, wool and antique furniture.

For rooms with more generous daylight, consider Ethereal Blue, a nuanced blue-green-grey, or the vibrant grass green of Invisible Green.

The right choice will depend on whether you want your sitting room to feel light and open or more intimate and enveloping.

Kitchen paint colours: complement natural materials

Kitchens often bring together several different materials, from painted cabinetry and timber to stone worktops and metal fittings.

When choosing a wall colour, consider these existing finishes first.

Soft neutrals such as Milk White and Flaxen Grey provide a versatile backdrop for both traditional and contemporary kitchens.

If you’d like to introduce stronger colour, green is a particularly appealing choice for cabinetry. Flock, from our Chatsworth Collection, offers a rich, dark green, while Invisible Green creates a brighter, more distinctive look.

You could also use a single colour across walls and woodwork for a more unified scheme, or introduce contrast between painted cabinetry and surrounding walls.

Bathroom paint colours: introduce colour and character

Bathrooms offer an opportunity to experiment with colour, whether through painted walls, tongue-and-groove panelling or a combination of paint and wallpaper.

Soft pinks can be particularly flattering. Cuisse de Nymphe Émue is a delicate, rosy shade that works beautifully with traditional bathroom fittings and natural materials.

For a stronger scheme, consider Vert de Mer or Pompadour on painted panelling.

Before decorating, it’s important to choose a paint finish suitable for the room’s ventilation and exposure to moisture.

For more detailed guidance, read our article on how to paint a bathroom.

Bedroom paint colours: create a restful retreat

Bedrooms are particularly well suited to colours that feel comfortable and easy to live with.

Soft greens are a lovely starting point. Eau de Nile is a pale, greyish green that offers a gentle backdrop for patterned fabrics and natural textures.

For a slightly stronger green, Light Olive Green brings an earthy character that works well with timber furniture and traditional furnishings.

If you prefer a softer pink-based neutral, Jonquil offers a delicate plaster-pink colour with subtle yellow undertones.

Consider how your bedroom colours will work with curtains, bedding and upholstery, as these often occupy a significant part of the room’s overall palette.

How to test paint colours before making your final choice

Once you’ve narrowed down your favourites, testing them at home is the most reliable way to see how they’ll work in your space.

Our A5 colour cards and sample pots allow you to compare shades alongside furniture, flooring and fabrics, and observe how they change throughout the day.

Move samples around the room and look at them in morning, afternoon and evening light before making your decision.

For more advice, read our guide to choosing and using paint sample pots.

Need help choosing the right colours?

Every home is different, and sometimes a little expert guidance can make all the difference.

Our Colour Consultants can help you choose individual colours or develop a scheme that works throughout your home, with appointments available online or in person.

Explore our full collection of natural paint colours and discover the shades that feel right for your space.