Picking paint colours is one of those jobs that looks easy until you're standing in front of 3,500 chips. A colour consultant takes the guesswork out, but prices are all over the map, and it's hard to tell what you're actually paying for.
This guide breaks down what colour consultants charge in 2026, what changes the price, and when an in-home visit is worth it versus a virtual service. It's for homeowners planning a room, a renovation or a whole-house refresh.
The short answer
- Online or virtual help: about $50 to $229
- In-home interior consultation: about $179 to $449, more for big homes
- In-home exterior consultation: about $229 to $799
- In-store help at a paint counter: often free, but short and general
Ranges are from Forbes' February 2026 look at colour consultants, in US dollars. Prices vary by city and company.
What colour consultants charge
| Type of help | Typical price | What you usually get |
|---|---|---|
| Paint store counter | Free | A quick chat and a few suggestions. Great for one colour, not for a whole-home plan. |
| Online or virtual package | About $50 to $229 | Colour picks based on your photos and answers, delivered by email or video call. |
| In-home interior visit | About $179 to $449 | A consultant walks your rooms, checks your light and finishes, and builds a scheme on the spot. |
| In-home exterior visit | About $229 to $799 | Body, trim, door and accent colours planned around your roof, brick or stone. |
Forbes featured our Palette Pyramid in that same article as a streamlined, email-based option. Here's how our services fit into those ranges.
Our design services and prices
Everything we offer is done online by James, our colour designer and the face of our YouTube channel. He has more than 20 years of colour experience.
| Service | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Pocket Pyramid | $99 | One room or zone. 4 colours: a main colour, a support colour for trim or ceiling, a deeper neutral and an accent. |
| Classic Palette Pyramid | $179 | One colour story for the whole house. 7 colours: one main, three support and three finishing. |
| Consultation: Focused Project | $299 | 1–2 rooms, kitchen cabinets and trim, or a complete exterior plan. 1 video call, up to 2 revisions. |
| Consultation: Compact Home | $449 | Homes up to 2,000 sq ft. 1 video call, up to 2 revisions. |
| Consultation: Whole House | $749 | Homes up to 4,000 sq ft. 2 video calls, up to 4 revisions. |
| Consultation: Whole House Plus | $1,099 | 4,000–7,000 sq ft. 2 video calls, up to 4 revisions and priority email. |
In a hurry? Add Express Delivery (+$49) to a Palette Pyramid for your palette in 1–2 business days, or Express Priority Booking (+$99) to a consultation for a session within 48–72 hours.
Our prices are in Canadian dollars. If you shop from the US, our product pages show prices in US dollars.
Want it done for you?
Send James your photos and inspiration once, and get your palette with colour codes and a personal video.
What changes the price
- How much of the house. One room is a quick job. A whole house needs colours that flow from room to room, which takes more planning.
- Inside or outside. Exteriors cost more because the colours have to work with things you can't change, like the roof, brick, stone and your neighbours' homes.
- Time with the designer. A live call or visit costs more than a palette built from your photos.
- Revisions. Packages with revisions included cost more than one-and-done palettes.
- Travel. In-home consultants build their drive time into the price. Virtual services don't have that cost.
- Speed. Rush delivery or priority booking usually costs extra.
In-home vs virtual: what you give up and what you gain
| In-home | Virtual | |
|---|---|---|
| Sees your real light | Yes | Through your photos only |
| Price | Higher | Lower |
| Where you can book | Only where the consultant travels | Anywhere |
| Scheduling | Around the consultant's route | Around your time zone, or no meeting at all |
| What you keep | Notes or a written scheme | Colour codes by email, often with a video or PDF you can go back to |
The honest trade-off: a virtual designer can't stand in your room at 4 pm and watch the light change. That's why the last step of any virtual palette is yours. Test the colours on your own walls, in morning, afternoon and evening light, before you buy the paint. Our guide to testing paint colours shows you how.
Is a colour consultant worth it?
Usually, yes, if any of these sound like you:
- You're painting several rooms and want them to feel connected.
- You have fixed elements to work around, like floors, counters, tile or a brick fireplace.
- You've already painted a room once and didn't love it.
- You're about to sell and want colours that appeal to buyers.
- You're stuck between a handful of whites or greiges and can't decide.
Getting it wrong costs you paint, supplies and a weekend, twice. A $99 Pocket Pyramid is often less than the paint for one room.
If you're only choosing one colour for one wall and already have a shortlist, you may not need a consultant. Grab a few colour samples and test them. Our Top 10 Benjamin Moore Whites is a good place to start.
How to get the most out of any consultation
- Take good photos. Shoot each room in daylight with the lights off, and once in the evening with the lights on. Turn off your phone's filters.
- Show what's staying. Floors, counters, tile, cabinets and big furniture all shape the right colours.
- Tell them which way the room faces. North light is cool and flat. South light is warm and bright. East and west change a lot through the day.
- Share inspiration. A few photos you love, and a few colours you're sick of, say more than a long description.
- Name your paint brand. You'll get exact colour names and codes you can take straight to the counter.
- Test before you buy. Samples are cheap. Gallons aren't.
Rather talk it through?
Meet James by video for your rooms, cabinets or exterior, with revisions included.
FAQ
1How much does a colour consultant cost?
Forbes reported in February 2026 that online consultations run about $50 to $229, in-home interior consultations about $179 to $449, and in-home exterior consultations about $229 to $799, in US dollars. Some paint stores offer short in-store help for free.
2Is a virtual colour consultation as good as an in-home one?
It can be, as long as you send good photos and test the colours in your own light before you paint. In-home consultants see your light in person, but virtual services cost less and you can book them from anywhere.
3What's the most affordable way to get professional colour help?
Our Pocket Pyramid is $99 for a 4-colour palette for one room or zone. James builds it from your photos and inspiration and sends colour codes with a personal video in 3–5 business days.
4Do I have to use a certain paint brand?
No. Palette Pyramids work with the paint brand you choose, such as Benjamin Moore or Sherwin-Williams. You get the exact colour names and codes for that brand.
5Can you help with exterior colours?
Yes. A Focused Project consultation ($299) includes a complete exterior plan. Palette Pyramids are for interiors only.
6How long does it take to get my colours?
A Palette Pyramid arrives in 3–5 business days, or 1–2 business days with Express Delivery (+$49). For consultations, you pick a session time from your welcome email, or add Express Priority Booking (+$99) for a session within 48–72 hours.
Industry price ranges are from Forbes (February 2026) and are in US dollars. Our prices are in Canadian dollars and were current when this guide was published.