How to Pick a Paint Color with Your Partner

Have you ever been frustrated picking a paint color with your partner? I’ve got a few strategies that make how to pick a paint color so much easier.

Picking a paint color can be frustrating.

Color is important to me. It just is.

Color can be important to my husband, if it’s the ‘wrong’ color.

But what’s the ‘wrong’ color?

Husband’s answer: ‘I know it when I see it.’ And when you’ve thought you’ve picked the perfect paint color, and it’s on the walls in your home, it’s just too late to have this manly visceral reaction. I don’t want to repaint because he didn’t know he didn’t like the color when he saw it on the sample, in the can, on the brush….

So I have a few sneaky ways of finding out which colors my husband won’t hate. And there are more colors than just blue that he won’t hate. It’s all about knowing how to narrow down the world of options into a universe of colors that he already likes. Here’s how to more easily pick a paint color your partner will like.

Let’s investigate your partner’s color preferences.

Take a step back from the paint chips and look around at your partner’s favorite things to help pick a paint color or two that will be received with a smile of delight.

1. Look in the closet.

There’s the everyday clothes my husband wears. His go-to clothes become more like a uniform than a personal style statement. But dig a little deeper. There are colors and patterns that he hasn’t given away. Maybe it’s his college sweatshirt or his old rugby shirt. They are probably a bit different than his now everyday attire. And dipping into those happy bachelor days when he wore those colors might bring back some of the pre-mortgage joy he once enjoyed.

2. Look in the car.

Many people identify with a car in a way that I will never understand. But it makes an easy way to find color options. What color is the interior? Does he have a travel mug that he fills with coffee on the way to work? What does he keep in his car? Are there any cars that he drools over?

3. Look at his sneakers.

Usually sneakers are the most colorful accessory of the married man. And they often show off a lot of personality for women, too. When it comes to almost every other item of clothing in my husband’s closet, blue, black and brown seem to win. However, it seems that most men gravitate to the more superhero-look for their athletic-wear.

4. Look at their heroes.

Is your partner a fan of action heroes? Did he collect Spider-man action figures when he was a kid? Does he still wear a batman shirt on occasion? What’s his favorite movie? Does he ever wonder aloud what it would be like to be a cowboy or alien or lumberjack? All of those favorites have color associated with them.

5. Look at favorite sports teams.

Scientists say that parts of our brain are activated in a way that we feel like we are actually playing a sport when we’re watching it, which is probably why sports fans can be a little fanatical. But, I say run after that passion to help with your decorating plans. What sports does he follow? What are the team colors? What is the color of the ball, the field, goal post, or other equipment? All could help point to that perfect paint color.

Now, take all of those color inspirations and create a Pinterest board or a real paper collage. But you have to use that exact shade of red or orange from his sports team. Burgundy doesn’t work for crayon red. You can’t use a variation, because it won’t have the same positive visceral reaction.

After you pick a paint color or two…

After you’ve collected the colors from your partner’s life, weed it down using your own preferences. Then you’ll have a pretty good collection of options that can speak to your partner’s sense of what’s a ‘good’ color and what you know is the perfect paint color for your life and your family.

About the Author

Theresa

A handy designer and writer, she shares DIY projects, tool how-to, and home makeovers as a book author, home show speaker, DIY workshop coach, and radio host. Plus, she has a degree in journalism with a minor in architecture, and is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPs) and certified color consultant. She's created fast-paced makeovers for TV shows, and shares home trends and DIY tips as a freelance writer and guest on news shows and satellite media tours for TV and radio.

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