Undertaking an interior painting project is a big deal. If it goes well, you’ll have updated a room and made it a space you love to be in without spending a fortune on new furniture or art. But if it goes poorly, it will result in hours of wasted time, wasted money, and the misery of getting stuck with a room you hate (or having to repaint it all over again).

Here are 6 things to consider before painting a room in your home:

How long do you plan to remain in your house?

This is an important question because the next residents might not be as crazy about bright purple or deep navy blue as you are. Answering this question will help you determine whether you want to go the DIY or professional painter route and what paint color to choose for that room. If you’re planning on selling within the next year or two, choose something timeless and hire a pro – otherwise either you or the new owner will just have to redo it when you sell. But if you’re planning on staying in the same house for the next several years, you have more freedom and flexibility to choose something a little different and go with the budget and approach that works best for you right now.

Is the color timeless or trendy?

Along with the question above, this is an important question to answer if you don’t want to be redo-ing the room in the near future. In general, neutrals are timeless, and certain other shades enjoy a fairly short time in the trend spotlight before they start to look dated. Just compare the Sherwin-Williams color forecasts for 2015, 2016, and 2017 to get an idea of how quickly interior paint color trends can change.

Do you have the skill/patience for DIY work?

It can be tempting to get excited about a new interior paint color for a room that needs an update and jump right into repainting it this weekend. But a lot of work goes into painting a room well. Protecting furniture and floors, prepping the walls, planning, the actual painting walls, ceilings, trim; and of course, clean-up. Add on to that the fact that a DIY job is often clearly distinguishable from a pro job by anyone looking closely (like potential home buyers). On the other hand, not everyone has the budget for a professional painter either. Not sure how much it would cost? Contact us to get a bid here.

Is this same color somewhere else in your house? And do you like it?

This is especially important if you’re choosing a non-neutral paint color. Sure, bright orange is your favorite color, and seeing it never fails to put some pep in your step. But do you have a bright orange rug, dresser, or throw pillow elsewhere in your home? That might be a good place to start. After all, it’s a lot easier to exchange a throw pillow you aren’t loving than to repaint an entire room if it turns out the color isn’t working.

What are the key pieces already in that room, and do they complement the color?

Furniture, pillows, rugs, and artwork all have a big impact on the look and feel of a room. You can always move furniture that doesn’t work to a different room, or shop around your house to find things that are more complementary. But make your job as easy as you can. After all, wall color isn’t in a vacuum. It’s only one part of the room as a whole, so consider how the other items in the room fit in.

Is the room small, dark, or cramped?

If this is the case, it’s a good idea to choose a lighter, more neutral color rather than a fun and different color, for the simple reason that darker shades – even if you love the color – will make the room look even more cave-like, and the lack of natural light will affect the way the color actually looks on the walls.