How to Choose Paint Colors

Eugene, Oregon Homeowner Guide

By Sir Paints A Lot — House Painter Eugene, Oregon

Choosing paint colors shouldn’t feel overwhelming.
The wrong color can make a room feel cold, greenish, yellow, or muddy — especially in Oregon’s cloudy, diffused natural light.

After painting hundreds of homes in Eugene and the Willamette Valley, we’ve noticed a pattern:

Most color regrets are not about the color.

They're about undertones + lighting + sheen.

This guide will walk you through a simple method to choose the right color — without second-guessing yourself.

✅ Step 1: Understand How Eugene’s Light Changes Color

Here in Eugene, Oregon, we have:

• Frequent cloud coverage

• Cool northern light

• Soft, diffused lighting most months

This pulls cool undertones forward.

⚠️ Colors read cooler and darker in Eugene than they do under Arizona or California sunshine.

Warm colors help balance cloudy Northwest light:

• Warm beiges

• Soft whites with creamy undertones

• Greiges (gray + beige mix)

Avoid whites with blue or green undertones unless that’s intentional.

✅ Step 2: Identify Undertones (this is where 90% of mistakes happen)

Every color has an undertone:

• Blue undertones → look cold

• Green undertones → show up on cloudy days

• Pink undertones → make walls look dirty next to wood trim

How to reveal undertones (pro trick):

1. Take the color strip.

2. Look at the darkest chip on the strip.

3. That reveals the true undertone of every lighter shade above it.

If the bottom chip is greenish, even the “white” at the top will show green in cloudy Oregon light.

✅ Step 3: The Right Sheen (based on Sherwin-Williams sheen

system)

Different sheens reflect light differently.
More shine = more imperfections show.

Here’s the Sherwin-Williams Sheen Guide. Click the link below to view the full PDF — it shows each sheen level and where it performs best.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW THE ENTIRE GUIDE

In the Pacific Northwest, satin walls + semi-gloss trim is the sweet spot.

✅ Step 4: Sample the Color (but do it the right way)

Wrong way:

• Small swatches

• Painted randomly

• Next to existing color

Right way:

• 2'x2’ painted sample

• On at least two walls

• Viewed morning, afternoon, and evening

Color changes all day long — especially here.

PRO TIP: Your eyes will try to blend the colors around the samples so use a piece of paper or cardboard to hide the original house color

✅ Quick Start Formula (Eugene homeowners swear by this)

1. Pick your undertone

• Cream vs yellow

• Beige vs gray

• Warm vs cool

2. Choose sheen (based on surface)

• Walls = satin

• Trim = semi-gloss

3. Test in real light (not showrooms or paint aisles)

✅ Bonus: Top 5 fails we see in Eugene, Oregon

1. Choosing color at the paint store (store lighting lies)

2. Picking a “pure white” that turns blue on cloudy days

3. When choosing dark color, not testing sheen (sheen changes how the color looks)

4. Painting cabinets with wall paint (wrong product entirely)

5. Letting Pinterest tell you what will work in your house

Your house, your lighting, your wood tones — not Pinterest’s.

🙋 Want help choosing the right color?

With the tools we have today we can help render custom images before or during your estimate.

Just send:

• Photos of the space

• A few inspiration pics

• Any fixed finishes (counters, flooring, tile)

Click here to book your estimate:
→ Book A Virtual Estimate

Or text us: (541) 600-2025

One conversation can save you weeks of regret.