Finding the exact shade of paint that makes a room sing can quickly become both quixotic and pricey. After the grueling effort of priming and repainting, once the heavy furniture and art have been returned to a room, it takes only a millisecond to realize that the subtle tone you and your esteemed decorator had such faith in now falls flat.

The layers of color on our walls likely reveal more about us than the rings in a cross section of timber divulge about a tree. An anthropologist (or shrink) could likely peel back the paint, and by viewing our palette preferences over time, pinpoint various color trends or psychological states.

To trace their color journeys, we asked aesthetes and celebrities how they pick a wall color in the front row at fashion shows, at film premieres, and on red carpets at award events.

Click to read what colors Nicole Kidman, Gabrielle Union, January Jones, and other stars choose for their homes.

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