A neighbor once repainted their living room a trendy gray. In the morning, it looked soft and modern. By evening, it turned a strange blue-purple. They hated it… but the paint was already up.
The mistake wasn’t the color. It was choosing it under one type of light. Paint shifts dramatically depending on sunlight, shade, and bulbs. What seems calm at noon may feel cold at night.
Now, I always test colors on big sample patches. I check them morning, afternoon, and evening. Sometimes I even place furniture nearby to see how it affects the tone. You’d be surprised what changes.
The same idea applies to fixtures, flooring, and counters. Samples need to live in the room for a few days. Let them “talk” to the space before committing.
Conclusion: Don’t rush decisions because a store display looked good. Real homes have shadows, lamps, cloudy days, and lived-in light. Test first repainting isn’t fun.
