You guys are definitely not shy about adorning your walls with lots of color [0], but choosing the right shade can be nerve-wracking to say the least. So I've put together a Primer [0] to help you ponder all those paint chips.

• First, make sure your room is ready. A paint color can really set the mood for a room, but to get it just right, you should have the rest of your decorating scheme set, including upholstery patterns, window treatment [1]s, rugs and bold accents.
• Pick a palette. Before heading to the store, determine a family of colors you want to work with, based on the look of the room and your personal tastes. Particularly with bolder looks, a paint shade doesn't have to match your decor perfectly. Lowe's suggests looking in your closet [2] for a reminder of the colors you gravitate toward.

For lots of other handy pointers,

• Stock up on paint chips. Before you even think about buying paint, take home a selection of paint chips that fit into your pre-determined palette. Be sure to take a few samples of any decor — such as fabric scraps — that you want to match Also, Real Simple recommends Glidden Paint's peel-and-stick color chips [3], which work like Post-its.
• Try on your favorite shades. Once you've narrowed it down to a color or two, buy a quart of your chosen paint and slather it on a large piece of scrap material, such as a piece of cardboard or foam board, a couple feet wide and a couple of feet tall. Prop it up or hang it in the room, and leave it for a few days to see how it looks as the light (and your mood) changes.
• Visualize your room virtually. A number of paint brands and retail stores now let you upload photos of your room so you can see how different shades will look on the walls. Behr ColorSmart [4], for instance, lets you upload a photo and "paint" with unlimited colors for just $4.95 .

Got any other paint-picking tips to share? Tell me in the comments below.

Source [5]