Choosing the right paint color is a dilemma we have or will face at some time in our lives.  Due to the different elements in everyone's home, there is no exact science that will apply to all.  The amount of natural light, artificial light, flooring colors, furniture colors and personal taste will all effect the outcome of the painted surfaces.  Use your key/inspiration item as a starting point for paint colors.  Go the paint chips that most closely match or blend with your key item.  Buy the smallest quantity you can, and test it in the room/rooms to be painted.

Here is the best way to test paint colors.  Start with white walls because any other contrast will give you a false impression of the color you are testing.  If the walls are not white, apply a coat of primer, which is naturally white and can be used later.  Roll one large swatch about four feet square onto the darkest wall, typically the window wall, and another on the sunniest, typically the one opposite the windows.  Live with it a few days.  If you are not pleased and drawn to the color, try something different.

Deciding on the trim color for your home interior can also be confusing but is really easy.  Keep it simple and the same throughout your home.  Let's assume you have different colors on the walls throughout your home, whether they are subtle in difference or dramatic.  A very unifying way to treat your trim and ceiling is to paint them all the same color. For example: Your master bedroom may be painted a pale blue, your daughter's room lavender, the study has a textured neutral wallpaper, the main living areas are painted warm beige, and the kitchen has a patterned wallpaper in blues, lavenders, and whites.  You would now paint all of the trim in your home, white or a custom blend of very soft beige.  Though the effect is subtle, it keeps all of the rooms related to each other.  Let's assume you are painting your walls a neutral or light color, such as taupe, beige, cream, ivory, or pale yellow.  For your moldings and doors, etc. have the paint store mix a blend of your color choice cut with white.  A common formula for this is one part color to three parts white.  Remember to always test a sample before total application.  This same blend of color and white will be perfect for your ceiling, too.

Don't worry about white ceilings, as decorators we realize that most new home construction gives you a basic white ceiling throughout your home.  If it is cost prohibitive to do anything else, then the pure white ceilings are fine.  It is much more important to address other decorative necessities.  Please do not loose any sleep over having pure white ceilings.  If your ceilings are pure white, then consider painting all your trim pure white as well. 

Sometimes this is more desirable.  Personal preference plays the larger role in this decision, rather than a decorating right or wrong.  Although, if budget and personal preference leads you to using a color on the ceiling, use the above formula as a general rule.  Using dark or contrast colors can be a wonderful look, but must be carefully considered and tested.

One idea that can be a compromise and stunning is painting the ceiling a very soft blue or lavender, evoking the sky.  In many of the new homes across the country, tray ceilings are very popular.  This style ceiling provides wonderful opportunities to paint part of the ceiling in an accent color that coordinates with your scheme without overwhelming the whole room.  This does not mean you would use this color on your door and floor moldings.  The ceiling treatment is for accent only.  I cannot stress enough  how strongly I recommend testing paint colors.  It can be the difference in disappointment and happiness with your design project.  I sincerely hope this info helps some of you with your painting choices.

Other Great Tips

Create a skylight on a budget!!

To create the illusion of a skylight window in your ceiling, paint the ceiling a pale color.  In the middle of the ceiling, paint an area in the shape of a skylight pure white or soft sky blue.  Frame it with simple, inexpensive molding.  The illusion evokes the look of a skylight in your ceiling.

Create a Romantic Bed
Buy mosquito netting and attach it to a wooden ring about the size of a dinner plate. Suspend the ring from the ceiling over your bed. The netting will fall around the bed like a veil. It creates a very romantic, ethereal look at a reasonable price.

Garden Theme Headboard
Take advantage of the popularity of gardening and nature. An adorable way to create a garden theme for a girl’s room or guest room is to buy a length of wood picket fencing, roughly two feet high and two post and caps for the ends. Paint it pure white and attach to the wall at the appropriate height. This looks like a darling against a sky blue wall. Add birdhouses, flower boxes, watering cans and other related accessories to the room.