Various shades of white make a large room look warm and inviting. Photos courtesy of Benjamin Moore Paints.

Selecting wall color is not the same as selecting a shirt color. Wall color is meant to be an integral part of the overall room design. A color too strong or bright will bounce off the walls, making it difficult to notice the artwork, the furniture, or even the people in a room.

Wall color also greatly influences how you will feel while you're in the room, so you'll have to give some thought to your purpose as well. If you want a serene and peaceful environment, as you might in your bedroom, then pale cool colors are a good choice. Do you want a kitchen or breakfast nook that really wakes you up when you enter for your morning coffee? A sunny yellow would bring sunshine to the start of your day. Think of words, such as peaceful, stimulating, sophisticated, or playful that best express the mood and feeling you want to evoke. Then think of colors you would associate with those terms.

Look for colors (light colors or those with "muscle") that are either "grayed" down or even "browned" down somewhat to avoid the potential of a color coming on too strong. Favor neutrals or at least muted colors for walls and large pieces of upholstered furniture and rugs. Save bright/strong colors for pillows, artwork, towels, pottery, etc. If you have patterned drapery or upholstery, or even a patterned rug, you can also pull a color from the design and use a tone of that.

Sometimes, white is the perfect choice, but don't let "Landlord White" be a default position because you can't decide what to do. If you're going to use white, make sure it looks very intentional, not just non-committal. Ralph Lauren has a color palette of 60 different whites. Try using different shades of white for walls, trims, and ceilings.

Contrasting trim color makes architectural elements pop.

Think about where to put your colors too. A white ceiling doesn't make a room look taller as much as it draws attention to itself. Sometimes, however, a white ceiling has its place, as when you are coloring a room with modern architecture, clean lines or angles, and minimal moldings. If you want to use a strong wall color in this instance, a white ceiling with white door and window trims will be crisp and fresh, as well as play up the graphic lines of the architecture.

A great thing to do in a room without ceiling moldings is to paint the walls and ceiling the same color. Choose a pale to medium tone of a neutral or otherwise muted color for this use. The architecture disappears without a "closed-in feeling" caused by the color overhead. Without the distraction of a color shift, it's a seamless room without borders. If the room does have ceiling molding, it's a great opportunity to use a paler shade of the wall color, or even better, to reference a pastel color used as part of the overall color scheme in the room.

Think about trim color too. If you have great moldings and doors, a creamy white is a wonderful choice. It's also a great idea to carry the same trim and door color throughout your home to help create a sense of coordination and continuity. However, remember that white will draw attention in a graphic way. Don't hesitate to paint the doors and wall trims the same color as the walls. If you don't want the extra detail, use a satin finish for the trim and washable matte for the walls.

Painted ceilings and white trim soften bold colors and enhance small spaces.

Another good idea is to paint the trims and doors a few shades lighter or darker than your wall color. The effect is sophisticated, without being jarring. If you are painting the entire residence, choose a palette that works well with the trim so the same color can be used throughout.

This last piece of advice is actually not optional. Always test your color in the room where it will live. Light and time of day can change your opinion of a color completely. Benjamin Moore and Pratt & Lambert make a selection of colors in small sample sizes, if you want to simply choose from their color charts to be the most cost effective.

Otherwise, get a quart of the color you are interested in. This is not the time to quibble about the expense. A whole room painted the wrong color is an avoidable misfortune. Another good idea is to go to the art supply store and get sheets of white foam core (approximately 16"x20"). Paint two coats all the way to the edges of the boards. You can then move the samples around the room to see how light affects your selection at various times and in various locations as well as how it might work with your furnishings.

The right paint color is the cheapest and most effective design tool you have at your disposal and goes a very long way in creating your home just the way you want it.