When I moved into my house, I was determined to choose the absolute perfect paint color for my living room and dining area. I had made mistakes in the past–a too orange kitchen (we’re talkin’ Texas Longhorns orange; what was I thinking?); a baby-boy-blue bedroom; a light-gray shade in a living room that came across as a sullen silver. But this time, I didn’t want to regret my choice. I had to get it right.

Picking that perfect paint color is not as simple as it sounds. A quick Google search for “how to pick the right paint color” pulls up countless expert tips, mistakes to avoid (i.e. one that’s too saturated) and foolproof advice galore. It’s completely overwhelming. So what do we do?

“Color is emotional, you must listen to your emotions!” Leatrice Eiseman, executive director of the Pantone Color Institute and head of the Eiseman Center for Color Information and Training, told Porch.com’s Anne Reagan in a recent interview. She’s right: I’m constantly torn between an obsession with loud, bold colors (hence the Longhorns orange) and cool, calming shades that can sometimes be too precious–too zen. I wear my moods on my walls.

“If we’re continually drawn to a particular color, like blue, it’s important to start experimenting with this color (along with its various shades and hues) to see how we respond to it inside the home,” Reagan writes. “So before buying several gallons of paint and throwing it up on your walls, start experimenting with that color elsewhere, like with your textiles, décor or accessories.“

What a grand idea: perhaps hot pink and teal might be better suited as accessories! Thus, I opted to cover my walls in a very clean, neutral shade of gray, which of course still took me about three months to find and several more months of my living room looking like this (it’s important to view colors in different light!):

The top color that’s kind of in the shape of Wisconsin won

Turns out, other people have also had this brilliant idea of incorporating bursts of color via pillows, accessories, art. And these rooms, while neutral overall, are anything but boring. I’ve handpicked a few of my favorite examples below. Happy ogling.

White French Country Kitchen
Gretchen Evans Design

Photo courtesy of Porch.com

Sunny splashes of yellow add a fun zing to this cream-colored kitchen. From the cookware to the bowls and the window treatments, it’s the ideal amount of bright citrusy color.

Queen Anne Craftsman
Pulp Design Studios

Photo by Alexander Crook

I wrote about this lively Queen Anne residence back in our July 2014 issue and I’m still in love with its ample color and pattern. Designer and Pulp co-owner Beth Dotolo said of the homeowners: “They were fearless—a designer’s dream. “They weren’t afraid of color or pattern, and we got to do things that we don’t normally get to do.”

Beautiful San Francisco Bedroom
Mint Home Decor

Yes, this elegant bedroom–with its pristine white walls and headboard–is in San Francisco, but the talents of Mint Home Decor are available in our fair city, too. I adore the soft green glass pendants and the colorful whimsy in the rug.

Midcentury Modern Residence
Marilyn Deering Design

Phinney Kitchen
Todd Brickman Designs

Photo courtesy of Porch.com
This streamlined, modern kitchen has been punched up with playful red stools and a peek of hot pink flooring in the adjoining living room.