Painting is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to improve the look of your home. A fresh coat of paint can breathe new life into a room, enhance natural light, and completely change how a space feels. Choosing the right paint colour, however, requires more than picking a shade you like. Lighting, room size, flooring, ceiling height, and moisture levels all play a role.
This guide brings together professional paint colour advice used by experienced painters across the GTA. It covers general colour selection, current trends, and room-specific paint recommendations to help homeowners make confident decisions.
If you’re planning a full repaint or need professional guidance, working with experienced interior painting professionals ensures proper preparation, consistent finishes, and long-lasting results.
How to Choose Paint Colours for Your Home
Painting is one of the simplest and most cost-effective ways to glam up your home. A fresh coat of paint can breathe new life into a room and make you fall in love with it all over again. It can also be a quick and easy way to elevate the look of your home when you go to put it on the market. Either way, choosing the right colour scheme requires serious consideration. But don’t be intimidated, it’s much easier than you think! Here are some helpful tips from Prestige Painting and Contracting on how to choose the right paint colour.
Establish a Colour Scheme
Are you wondering how to choose a paint colour? Choosing the right paint colour scheme for your room is a very important first step for any remodeling job. The basic rule to follow is to pick three colours you love and then try to make everything—from the walls to the cushions on your couch—match in some manner. But how do you know which colours go together? Here are a few helpful tips.
If you want to know how to choose paint colours for your home, utilize the colour wheel:
Find Inspiration
Picking paint colours for your home can be a daunting task, but you can make it easier on yourself if you just look for inspiration near you. Nature lover?
Think of blues, greens, and the hues of your favourite flowers in your garden. Or draw inspiration from your existing furniture coverings and pick something that ties together with your couch cushions or favourite area rug.
Pay Attention to Lighting
Does the room have lots of windows? If the room gets plenty of natural light throughout the day, you may be able to go with darker hues. However, if it’s a smaller room or the room is located in a basement, you may want to opt for a brighter colour to make the space seem bigger and more inviting.
You may also consider a bright and striking accent wall against a more neutral colour on the other walls. Pay attention to lighting throughout the room over a day to get a better idea of what your needs are.
Think About Your Mood
Contemplate what you want the room to do and what kind of activities are going to take place in the space. Is it a quiet, relaxing space meant for reflection and relaxation?
Or is the room supposed to be an exciting place, full of action for entertaining? There’s a colour scheme to help you achieve whatever vibe you’re going for.
Test Paint Colour
Just because you love the look of a paint swatch in the store, doesn’t mean you’ll love it on the wall in your home for years to come. Ask your local hardware store if you can have a small tester size of one or several colours.
Paint tiny patches on the room you want to paint and let yourself live with the colour for a few days or even a week. See how the colour looks at different times of day and in different types of lighting to get the most accurate results about whether this is the right colour for a particular room.
Choose a Paint Finish
There are several paint finishes for you to choose from and each one serves a purpose. For a living room or rec room, you almost always go with an eggshell or matte finish. This is a classic look that elevates the look of any room.
For kitchens and bathrooms, or any room where you expect lots of moisture or have to scrub the walls regularly, you want a semi-gloss or full gloss paint that repels moisture and can be wiped again and again without ruining your colourful coats.
Interior Home Painting Trends in 2026
Modern Interior Home Painting Trends & The Best Colour Ideas For Your Bedroom, Kitchen, Washroom & More!
If you are looking for an impactful way to modernise the interior of your home, look no further than interior paint colour ideas with the latest 2026 trends offered by Prestige Painting & Contractors in Vaughan and Toronto. Being prepared with colour options is the initial step you should take when painting the interior of your home. It might help you to go over some colour palettes to determine the best combination of colours for your perfect interior paint job. Here are some popular 2026
colour trends you can use as a guide for your next project.
Bright or Light Paint Colours
The use of bright paint colours in your living space can provide a calming and relaxing mood.
It can make small spaces actually look visually larger by enhancing the height in the space of the room. Bright colours such as yellow and green can bring out a cheerful feeling however, if you are looking to achieve a classy look, white and gray colours are suggested.
Dark Paint Colours
For larger living spaces, the most common paint colour trends are typically darker hues. Darker paint colours highlight objects, paintings, decorations, accents and furniture when compared to bright colours. Dark colours make a statement, they provide a sense of strength and confidence.
Neutral Paint Colours
Neutral colour shades such as beige offer a calming ambiance to any living space. Neutral colours also compliment most traditional colour palettes which allow them to be used successfully with a variety of colour combinations.
Accent Colors
It’s always a good idea to source paints that work well with your interior décor and furniture. For example, light paint colours match perfectly with deep colours such as blue and purple. If you want to be less daring, it’s always recommended to use neutral colours as they typically match well with other colour palettes.
Best Wall Colours for Gray Floors
Gray flooring is one of the top-growing trends in interior design. It’s a clean and classic look that matches almost any color scheme in the home. But if it’s your first time installing this unique shade of flooring, you might be wondering what the best wall color is for gray floors. Continue reading this blog to uncover some of the best wall colors to match your neutral gray floors.
What Makes a Wall Color Work with Gray Flooring?
The key to pairing gray floors with wall paint is understanding:
- Undertones: Is your flooring cool (blue or slate), warm (taupe or beige), or neutral?
- Light levels: North-facing rooms need warmer colors; sunny rooms can handle cooler ones.
- Contrast preferences: Do you want a bright, airy vibe or a cozy, moody aesthetic?
A good wall color doesn’t just match, it enhances the flooring’s tone, makes trim and decor pop, and creates flow between rooms.
Top 7 Wall Colors That Work With Gray Floors
Finding the right wall color to complement gray floors will make a huge difference in the aesthetic of your home. Muted colors like pastel blue or light gray instantly create a calm atmosphere, while more daring shades like black or dark gray can create a chic but moody look.
Here are the top wall colors that are guaranteed to enhance gray floors.
1. Pastel Blue
Soft and Airy
If you’re looking for a neutral wall color for grey floors, a soft shade of pastel blue might be the perfect choice. It pairs well with grey floors and helps to create a calm and relaxing atmosphere in the home.
This light and airy hue also complements any trim and wainscoting designs in a neutral shade.
Our Suggestions:
For a nursery or kids’ room, we recommend shades of pastel blue such as Breath of Fresh Air 806 from Benjamin Moore. It pairs well with yellow and white lighting and medium gray floors for added contrast. For a mid-century kitchen or an accent wall that adds warmth without being too overpowering, try Benjamin Moore’s blue-green Palladian Blue HC-144.
2. Timeless Light Gray
Monochrome Elegance
A cool and classic choice to match gray floors is a timeless shade of light gray. This shade of gray is warm and inviting and instantly brightens up a space.
Because of its neutral tone, light gray blends seamlessly with other accents in the home, regardless of whether they are a lighter or darker shade.
Our Suggestions:
For a neutral guest bedroom without being bland, consider a light gray such as Dulux’s Dusky Dawn DLX1005-1 or Sherwin-Williams’ Drift of Mist SW 9166. Their subtlety makes them the perfect companion to bright accents. Both shades also work well even in rooms that don’t have much natural light.
3. Bold Dark Gray
Modern and Moody
Make a statement with your wall color by painting it a bold dark gray. This is another versatile option as it works well with gray flooring and it enhances light and dark accents in the home, like dark cabinetry, light trim, and monochromatic fixtures.
Gray walls tend to create a moody effect in a room while still remaining elegant and sophisticated.
Our Suggestions:
An accent wall in Sherwin-Williams’ Iron Ore SW 7069 can add the perfect touch of a brooding atmosphere as long as the rest of the room is well-lit. Another great option is Black Widow DLX0997-7 from Dulux, which pairs well with light gray.
4. Bachelor Gray
Mid-Tone Warmth
Looking for a medium gray to suit your monochromatic home? Bachelor Gray is an excellent option. This warm shade of gray looks fantastic against bold black accents in the home in addition to gray flooring.
It serves as an excellent neutral in a room and helps to pull everything in the space together.
Our Suggestions:
To add a dramatic flair to your living or dining room, consider a dark accent wall. Sherwin-Williams’ Grizzle Gray SW 7068. It is a deep charcoal gray with green undertones. The beige undertones of Dulux’s Elephant Gray DLX1005-5 make it suitable for painting an entire room, resulting in a room that is both bold and elegant.
5. Black Accent Wainscoting
Classic Contrast
If you’re on the hunt for the best grey flooring wall color ideas, consider adding a pop of color with black accent wainscoting. Black and grey are an easy match since they are neutral shades and work well together. You can add some depth and visual interest to the space with wainscoting.
If you have several large windows in the home, you’ll notice that black accent wainscoting glistens beautifully from the reflection of natural outdoor lighting.
Our Suggestions:
Add a modern look to your living room by painting your walls in Tricorn Black SW 6258 from Sherwin-Williams, which complements any undertones of your gray floors. If you’d like some more warmth in the black, you can opt for Black Beauty 2128-10 from Benjamin Moore. You can further brighten your space by adding bright decor or bold patterns.
6. Not White but Gray
Subtle Brightness
Illuminate your home with a light gray hue for your walls. Combined with white accents on the trims and doors, this shade of light gray instantly brightens up a space.
And it also works well with lots of natural lighting from large windows in the home.
Our Suggestions:
To give your bathroom or laundry room a light, airy feel that has a touch of warmth, try Benjamin Moore’s Genesis White 2134-70 or Sherwin-Williams’ Nebulous White SW 7063, which both appear white at first glance but have gray undertones.
7. Timeless White
Clean and Minimal
So what’s the ideal wall color for grey floors? Many designers will suggest a timeless shade of white for your home.
White walls help to brighten up a space, especially when paired with an abundance of natural light. If you prefer a clean and minimalist design to go with your grey floors, white is a great choice.
Our Suggestions:
For a minimalist look in your bedroom or kitchen – or in any room – white is the classic go-to. Delicate White DLX1001-1 from Dulux offers lush softness that makes it its most popular white shade. Another excellent option is Benjamin Moore’s sleek, cool Decorator’s White OC-149. In general, try to avoid white shades with yellow undertones. Opt instead for cool or neutral undertones.
Best Paint Colors For Basement
Gone are the days when the basement was a dull, boring space that had very little purpose aside from being used to store items that you had nowhere else to put. Basements were out of sight and out of mind to most homeowners. Today, basements are invaluable and can be transformed into just about anything you would like. With tons of basement ideas to choose from, the possibilities are truly endless. From the layout to décor and flooring options, incorporating creative ideas can turn your basement into your favorite room in your house. One of the key elements that will give you a basement character is the right paint color for your walls. If you are not sure how to choose the right color for your basement walls, we’re here to help you with some cool basement paint ideas.
Where to Start
This is one of the common questions many people have when they begin planning their basement renovation. It may seem overwhelming when you think about all the elements that need to come together to complete the project, but it is doable. When it comes to basement color ideas, there are some key things to consider. The first thing to think about is how you plan to use your basement. This is your foundation for many other decisions you will make and can help you determine what basement paint colors you should consider.
Color sets the tone for the space and plays a big role in the overall feel of the room. Think about the mood you want to set in the basement. Some colors brighten up the room, and since basements are typically dark, you may want to paint your basement walls with a color that naturally illuminates the space. The basement wall color you would choose for a home office may not be the best choice for a home theater. If you are unsure of what basement colors to go with, sample a few colors and see whether you like them. You need to love the color that you are going to paint your basement walls with because it will likely be the first thing you notice every time you walk into your basement.
Best Colors for Basement Walls
While there is a range of colors you can choose from for your basement wall color, neutral colors, and lighter shades often work best. These tend to be your whites, aqua, light greens, light grays, and even light brown. The beauty of these colors is that they make the room look more spacious. These colors are also great because they allow you to have more flexibility with your décor and furniture. If you have a more subtle paint color on your walls, you can go bold with some vibrant decor pieces on the wall or around the room. You can also use multiple colors on different walls in your basement.
Best Color for Dark Basements
If your basement is dark, try to stay away from dark paint colors on your walls because they tend to dim the room. A dark basement may seem gloomy and splashing some bright paint on your walls can make the room more inviting. Don’t be afraid to experiment with some bold colors to jazz up the place. The right paint color will give your basement a unique look. For a dark basement, vibrant colors like red, blue, and dark gray are excellent choices. If you do have some natural light that comes through your basement windows, think about how the light will affect the color of the walls. Dark basements often make great home theaters. Infuse some vibrancy into your basement by choosing a bold color for your walls.
Best Colors to Brighten Up Room
Most homeowners look for different ways to brighten up their basement space. Since basements are notoriously dark, neutral light colors are the best job at brightening up a basement that is otherwise dull. They also have a way of making the basement look more spacious.
Ready to Paint Your Basement
While there are many things to consider when picking the right color for your basement, what matters most is your personal preference. When renovating your basement, you want to make sure you like every aspect of your basement. Selecting paint is a critical part of the process. Even though light, neutral colors are the best for basement walls in general, feel free to express your creativity and go with a color you prefer.
Bathroom Paint and Ceiling Colour Selection
Bathrooms are high-moisture areas, so choosing the right paint is essential for durability and health.
Tips to Choose the Best Paint for Your Bathroom
Moisture-resistant latex paint is the most popular option for bathrooms. Satin and semi-gloss finishes resist moisture and are easier to clean, helping prevent mould and mildew.
Choosing Ceiling Paint for Your Bathroom
Bathroom ceilings require water-resistant paint to prevent peeling and mould growth. Water-based latex paint with a semi-gloss finish provides excellent protection. Using a moisture-resistant primer further improves durability. If drywall repairs are needed, professional drywall installation services ensure proper preparation.
When to Work With Professional Painters
Paint colour selection involves more than aesthetics. Surface preparation, finish selection, and application technique all affect the final result. Working with a trusted residential painting company helps homeowners achieve consistent, professional results across the entire home.