What to consider when selecting your interior paint colours

1. Start with the mood you want to create

Before diving into colour swatches, ask yourself: “What mood do I want this room to evoke?”

Whether you're aiming for a calming retreat, a vibrant social space, or a cosy nook, your emotional goal will guide your colour choices.

Warm tones like terracotta, burnt orange, and mustard can make a space feel inviting and energetic.
Cool tones such as soft blues, greens, and greys promote calm and relaxation.
Neutral colours like beige, white, and charcoal offer versatility and timeless appeal.

2. Take inspiration from your existing decor

Look around your home for colour inspiration. Your furniture, artwork, cushions, and accessories can all provide clues to your personal style and preferred palette.

Ask yourself:

What colours am I naturally drawn to?
How do these colours make me feel?
Do I want to highlight or complement existing pieces?

3. Match colours to room function

Each room serves a different purpose, and your paint colour should reflect that. Here are some ideas:

Dining room: For a warm, sociable atmosphere, try a rich orange with brown undertones like Wattyl Agaric.
Living room: Create a tranquil space with a green-grey like Wattyl Slim Dusty, paired with wood and terracotta accents.
Bedroom or nursery: Soft pinks such as Wattyl Mauve Pink offer nurturing, comforting vibes. Add a pop of aqua for a playful twist.
Feature walls or statement spaces: Go bold with a dark neutral like Wattyl Charcoal to make your décor stand out.

4. Test before you commit

Always sample your chosen colours on the wall before painting the entire room. Look at your sample at different times of day and with lights on and off, as natural and artificial light, room size and surrounding elements can all affect how a colour appears.

5. Think long-term

Trends come and go, but your walls are a long-term commitment. Choose colours that you’ll love living with every day – not just what’s popular right now.

If you would like any colour advice let one of Wattyl’s passionate, colour professionals help you select the perfect colour scheme via a Wattyl Online Colour Consultation.

RACQ members save 10% on paints, stains and accessories at Wattyl Paint Centres in Queensland*

*Terms and conditions apply to all offers. View the individual offer for full details. Offer is subject to availability and may be withdrawn at any time without notice.

Things to note

The information in this article has been prepared for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal advice or specific advice to any particular person. Any advice contained in the document is general advice, not intended as legal advice or professional advice and does not take into account any person’s particular circumstances. Before acting on anything based on this advice you should consider its appropriateness to you, having regard to your objectives and needs.

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RACQ Operations Pty Ltd (ABN 80 009 663 414 AR 000234978) and Members Travel Group Pty Ltd (ABN 45 144 538 803 AR 000432492) are acting as an Authorised Representative of the issuer of the insurance, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., Ltd. (ABN 80 000 438 291 AFSL 246 548). Any advice set out above is general in nature only, and does not take into account your objectives, financial situation or needs. Before purchasing any travel products, please consider the RACQ Travel Insurance Product Disclosure Statement (PDS) and the Target Market Determinations (TMDs) that apply to these products. Whilst the PDS outlines the Terms and Conditions of these products, the TMDs outline the intended class of customers that comprise the target market for these travel products. This will allow you to consider which products best suit your objectives, financial situation and needs and consider the products appropriateness to your personal circumstances. TMDs also outline matters involving the distribution and the review of these products. The PDS, Supplementary PDS and TMDs for each travel product can be found here.