Many thanks to Behr for partnering with Blulabel Bungalow on this post. As I carved out a space to call my own, Behr has been a great resource. I was compensated for this post, however all opinions are my own.

Choosing paint colors is one of the most important aspects of decorating. Color brings a fresh perspective to everything whether it’s a flirty, spring sundress or a newly painted room with blush-inducing qualities.

As a self-professed color lover, I opted for both, the pastel sundress and the pretty room makeover. As a color expert, I’ve teamed up with Behr Paint in their ColorClinic to take you through the process of choosing paint colors for your home. For starters, Behr has several color tools to assist in your selection process, my favorite being the ColorSmart Mobile App, but there are a few steps to consider first. In my professional experience, choosing paint color is in fact the LAST step in the planning process.

What??

Yes indeed it is!

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Allow me to explain by sharing my top advice for choosing paint colors in three easy steps:

STEP 1: Consider how you want your room to feel.

I wanted my new “lady lounge” to have a distinct air of femininity, freshness, and calm. Having a room painted in the palest of pinks was my true heart’s desire. Using the same paint color, BEHR PREMIUM PLUS ULTRA in Pale Cashmere, on the walls, bookcases, and trim work made my small space feel even larger. This product also has a built-in primer, which was especially important when painting over that old chalkboard wall.

Because my ceilings soared, I opted for a slightly darker paint color, Behr’s Seaside Villa. If my ceiling were lower, then I would have instead chosen a color lighter than the walls. The BEHR PREMIUM PLUS ULTRA line also has the highest rated zero VOC paint which means you can breathe easy knowing you’ve got one of the “greenest,” most environmentally-safe paints on the consumer market.

STEP 2: Consider the color of the adjacent rooms.

The flow of a particular color from one room to another helps to give your entire home a cohesive appearance. Today’s homes tend to have open floor plans where you can stand in one space and see the other. In this case, my best advice is to keep the color the same in an effort to make the two rooms feel more expansive. However, my lady’s lounge is closed off from the rest of the house which left my color options wide open. Instead of color, I considered texture and materials.

We love global-inspired accessories and natural materials! Both elements are woven throughout our home. Though my lady’s lounge is the only blush pink room in the house, it has the same decorative elements as our other rooms.

STEP 3: Choose art, fabric, or a rug you want to use in your room as your starting point for your inspiration.

I chose to use fabric because it’s easy for me to carry as I shop for the room’s furniture, accessories, and most importantly, selecting paint.

If you like my custom palette, then you can achieve this look by purchasing it on Behr’s website using this link – http://www.behr.com/consumer/colors/paint?buy=PPU2-04,S190-1,S190-3,S160-3,N200-6,N200-7#

Did you know that Behr has over 3,000 paint colors in their color library? Options are great but can prove to be a daunting task when you only need one or two colors. Having your inspiration item(s) really helps to narrow down your selections.

You can see this one fabric gives me a manageable number of color options to start with.

After you walk through these three steps, you’re certainly off to choosing the best color for your project. However, you still may have more questions!

For example:

What if I’m starting from a blank canvas?

I made a wrong color choice, but how can I make it work?

My spouse and I can’t agree on a paint color, now what?

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On April 20 and 21, you have the chance to get your questions answered by a panel of experts, including me. Use the #BEHRColorClinicSweepstakes on a Behr Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter social post to receive personalized advice or to share your finished project. Be sure to use the #BEHRColorClinicSweepstakes hashtag for a chance to win some amazing prizes.

I’ll be on-call answering your color and DIY questions for the BEHR Color Clinic on Twitter Thursday, April 20 from 10:00a.m.-12:00p.m. EST!

Grand prize: One $10,000 room makeover and a video chat with HGTV’s Sabrina Soto.

First Prize (a total of four): One $200 gift card to The Home Depot and a 15-minute video chat with a Behr ColorClinic Expert.

There’s no better time than now for a fresh start and I hope you’ll invite a friend along in the process. You two can also help each other make decisions on choosing paint colors based on what you’ve learned and lend each other a hand on paint day! Keep in touch! I’d love to see and hear about your transformations!

Happy Decorating!

Erika