One of the easier home improvement projects to tackle is painting. You can transform the mood of any room by simply painting a white wall red, without breaking the bank.

If your home is used to the colors white and off-white rather than pomegranate or ocean blue, there are a few helpful tips to make the transition to color in your home. As you identify the room you want to paint, take into account the entire room, including the adjacent walls in view from that room, instead of simply looking through a pile of paint swatches. Look at the rug, weaves in the couch fabric, tone of the wood in the hardwood floor and lighting to determine the best color palette. This will be much more beneficial than holding paint chips against the wall.

In addition, think about yourself when picking a paint color. What mood do you want your room to convey? If painting your bedroom, do you want to create a soothing atmosphere or an intimate atmosphere? This will help determine if you should be looking for a soft neutral beige color or a strong red to add a dramatic flair.

Next, determine how much paint you’ll need to buy. The last thing you want to do is paint every bathroom in your house seafoam green, just because you purchased 3 gallons too many during your last DIY project. The general rule of thumb is that one gallon of paint will cover 350 square feet.

As you begin to paint your room, start by testing your color choice. Paint an area of the wall first to see if the color is the same as you envisioned it. If not, you can always start over – that’s the beauty of paint!

With any home improvement project, always remember that you don’t need to start big. If it’s your first time incorporating color in your home, don’t feel like you need to tackle the kitchen first – it’s OK to start small. Try experimenting in a smaller space, maybe with an accent wall or a bathroom to ensure that color works for you.