by Melanie Aves

Created on: December 02, 2008   Last Updated: September 01, 2010

Choosing a living room paint color is one of the most enjoyable tasks in creating a personal space. Paint is one of the least expensive and most effective ways to express your personality in your home. Here are 12 points to help you select the your perfect color.

1. How big is the space? Lighter tones make smaller rooms seem bigger. Darker tones make larger rooms seem cozier.

2. What is the natural light source? Color in a room will vary throughout the day because of the changing quality of the natural light.

3. What will be the color of the floor? It is important to consider the tone of the floor of the room to be painted, because this large area will affect the overall color in the room.

4. Next consider the furnishings to be placed in the room. Are the fabric colors neutral or will they have to harmonize with the wall colors? As a rule, if the fabric colors are neutral, then the wall colors may be more intense. If the fabrics have stronger colors, then the walls will need to be more neutral.

5. Do some visual research. Look through interior design magazines and books to see what colors appeal to you. You will notice color trends featuring this year's "pop" colors, but don't feel pressured into choosing a "stylish" color, because this is always a moving target.

6. Next take a look at the clothes in your clothes closet, linen closet, and china cabinet. Here you'll find clues to your personal color preferences. What colors pop out in your collection of belongings? These are the colors you are comfortable with, that give you pleasure. Each of us has personal associations with colors, just as we have associations with names. We deserve to surround ourselves with colors that give us pleasure, and the living room is a space where we will share our favorites with friends and family.

7. At this point you will settle on a color family. Possibilities include the primaries: reds, blues and yellows; the secondaries: greens, oranges and violets; or neutrals: earth tones, greys, blacks and white. The intensity of any of the primaries and secondaries may be altered by adding its complement (the color directly across from it on the color wheel.) The tone of any color may be altered by tinting through the addition of white, or shading through the addition of black. Virtually any color may be created in paint, and so the possibilities are unlimited. Once you've decided on a color family, return to your space to refine your selection.

8. Colors are classified as warm or cool,

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