When considering a paint project, choosing the right color may be the most difficult part of the job. A few simple steps can make the process a little easier.

Step 1: Think about color preferences. What is your favorite color? What is your least favorite color? Make a list of colors you like and colors you do not like.

Step 2: Think about the emotion of color. How does each color make you feel? Red is the most intense of colors and provokes strong emotions. Blue reminds us of the sky and ocean. Green reminds us of the forest and the fields. Blues and greens are calming and cooling. Yellows and oranges warm us. Purple reminds us of royalty and opulence… or K-State.

Picking the right paint color can be the most difficult part of a project.

Step 3: Think about the purpose of the room. How do you want to feel when you are in the room? How do you want other people to feel? Cool colors relax us. Bright and vibrant colors excite us. Browns and earth tones can make us feel at home.

Step 4: Look around the room. What colors do you see? Is there a piece of furniture, a rug or an accessory that you are drawn to? What color is it?

Step 5: What color is the floor? Walls should typically be several shades lighter than the floor and the ceiling should be lighter yet. On the other hand, painting walls with a bold color can create intrigue in an otherwise architecturally stagnant room, and painting a ceiling anything other than white can change the entire mood of the space.

Step 6: Take a trip to your local hardware store or paint store and pick a variety of color samples. Look for shades that reflect your favorite colors. Avoid hues that lean toward your least favorite colors. Most stores offer color pallet books that you can take home if you are still completely undecided.

Step 7: Light does interesting things to color. Tape color samples to the wall and look at them throughout the day and night.

Step 8: Consider the colors in adjacent rooms and hallways. Choose colors that transition well from one room to the next.

Step 9: Have samples mixed of one or two colors. Paint a 4-foot swatch on the wall and wait a day or two before making your final color decision.

— Have a home improvement question for the Fix-It Chick? Email it to Linda Cottin at features@ljworld.com.