Q: First of all I love your site. It inspires me to fix up my own home (you make it look so easy!). But if there was a class called Paint Picking 101 I would be getting a big fat F. So far every room I’ve painted in my new house is either too bright, too dark, too dirty looking and just plain ugly. I’m having the worst time finding a perfect tan tone and I’m even messing up colors like light blue and cream, which I never thought was even possible! Do you have any foolproof colors you can recommend? A favorite blue? Cream? Tan? White? Yellow? Gray? I know natural light and other factors can change the way paint looks substantially so it’s probably not 100% foolproof, but I’d love to know your favorite paint colors so at least I have a shot of living in a house that doesn’t make me feel like a total paint failure! Thanks so much for your help! – Meagan
A: Picking the right paint color can often be a doozie, so don’t get down on yourself! Take comfort in the fact that repainting, while annoying, is super inexpensive and it can instantly transform your room from wrong to oh-so-right in an afternoon. And thanks to the transformative power of paint, we’re the proud owners of an entire storage ottoman full of paint decks and swatches. Name any color or any brand- it’s all in our little paint chip library of sorts. But although we have quite a slew of selections we still find ourselves reaching for some tried and true favorites again and again when it comes to doling out room recommendations.
As you mentioned, paint colors can look very different under different lighting circumstances, but for the most part there are a bunch of practically error-proof tones that we find ourselves recommending again and again. Some of them are bright and fun (better suited for only one wall or even a punchy piece of furniture) while others are classic and serene- perfect for an entire room or even an entire home. Here’s the swatch suggestion scoop:
White- Benjamin Moore Decorators White, Glidden Dove White, Behr Cascade White, Sherwin-Williams Alabaster.
Cream- Glidden Antique White, Sherwin-Williams Creamy, Benjamin Moore Muskoka Trail, Benjamin Moore French White, Benjamin Moore Natural White.
Red- Benjamin Moore Million Dollar Red, Glidden Red Delicious, Behr Firelight, Valspar Fabulous Red (great for a front door- might be too bright for inside).
Pink/Coral: Sherwin-Williams Comical Coral (shown below), Benjamin Moore Wild Aster, Sherwin-Williams Animated Coral, Behr Be Mine, Behr Silk Sheets, Behr Coquette.
Brown- Benjamin Moore Branchport Brown, Benjamin Moore Woodacres, Benjamin Moore Stampede, Sherwin-Williams Cobble Brown, Sherwin-Williams Van Dyke Brown (shown below), Behr Traditional.
Yellow- Benjamin Moore Hawthorne Yellow (it is the be-all end-all of yellow paint, which is notoriously hard to get right).
Green- Glidden Fennel (no longer available for swatches, but still in the computer so they can whip it up for you), Glidden Celery Sticks, Benjamin Moore Mosaic Glass, Benjamin Moore Hibiscus (great for a cheerful kid’s room with white trim and brown furnishings), Benjamin Moore Soft Fern, Benjamin Moore Silken Pine, Benjamin Moore Sweet Pear, Benjamin Moore Dune Grass, Sherwin-Williams Lime Granita.
Purple- Glidden Silver Plum (no longer available for swatches, but still in the computer so they can whip it up for you), Glidden Delicious Plum (amazing eggplant color for a front door), Glidden Black Tulip (the deepest moodiest purple-black that’s dripping with drama) Benjamin Moore Nosegay, Benjamin Moore Violet Pearl, Benjamin Moore Iced Lavender.
Blue- Glidden Gentle Tide (no longer available for swatches, but still in the computer so they can whip it up for you), Benjamin Moore Quiet Moments, Benjamin Moore Saratoga Springs, Restoration Hardware Silver Sage (it has green undertones but looks blue-gray in most rooms), Behr Pensive Sky, Behr Flint Smoke, Behr Grand Rapids.
Navy- Benjamin Moore Spellbound, Benjamin Moore French Barret, Benjamin Moore Hudson Bay, Sherwin Williams Grays Harbor, Sherwin-Williams Naval.
Black- Glidden Onyx Black, Benjamin Moore Graphite.
Tan- Glidden Sand White (no longer available for swatches, but still in the computer so they can whip it up for you), Glidden Water Chestnut, Glidden Cafe Latte, Benjamin Moore Baja Dunes, Benjamin Moore Davenport Tan, Behr Harvest Brown.
Orange- Benjamin Moore Beverly Hills, Benjamin Moore Lion Heart, Benjamin Moore Corn Husk, Sherwin-Williams Marquis Orange, Sherwin-Williams Mandarin (shown below).
Gray- Benjamin Moore North Hampton Putty, Benjamin Moore Light Pewter, Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray, Benjamin Moore Nantucket Fog, Glidden Silver Dust.
Beige- Benjamin Moore Clay Beige, Benjamin Moore Green Brier, Sherwin-Williams Ancient Marble.
Greige- Benjamin Moore Tapestry Beige, Behr Ocean Pearl.
Oh and a word of warning: you don’t want one of each of these colors in your house! Here’s how we learned that a tighter color scheme can make your home feel bigger, more open, and a lot more cohesive and welcoming. Of course it doesn’t have to feel expected or monochromatic since you can bring in different accent colors with art and accessories in each space to make them feel unique and interesting!
And a second word of warning: Paint colors look different in every room (due to lighting and other ever-changing factors) so we just suggest grabbing a bunch of the swatches above and bringing them home to see which ones look best on your wall. We can’t recommend a specific color for your specific situation with any great accuracy since we have no idea how it’ll “read” in your home (your eyes will be much better than ours since we’re not right there in your space). Just tape up a variety of swatches and pick the one that looks best to you (and get a few test pots of paint if you’re still not sure)! That really is the best way to get it right every time.
What about you guys? Any words of warning or paint color advice? Do you have some favorite hues that have worked out wonderfully for your casa? Any that were terrible that you’d love to warn others about? Let’s all help Meagan out by dishing the paint picking dirt.
middleschoolteacher says
Hi guys,
Congrats on your new house, it’s coming along lovely. :)
I need some suggestions on a BM or Behr paint color for the living room. I love contemporary warm colors and currently have a terracotta (warm reddish-orange) accent wall in the kitchen.
Living room has dark expresso furniture, brown couches, ivory tile floors, and white ceilings. I want a rich warm wall color for our open living room and dining room so it can feel warm and inviting. We have 16 ft ceilings. Should I go medium dark or light tan? Any color suggestions. Thanks for your help!
YoungHouseLove says
We would honestly just recommend bringing home a ton of medium, dark, and light tan swatches and seeing what looks best with you furnishings and your accent wall! Trust your eye more than our random internet suggestions since every space’s lighting situation is different. Good luck!
xo,
s
Loretta says
I know this is a really old post, so hopefully you check this, BUT…I just bought a new home and I’m struggling with a paint color for the living room. Everything is beige (kahki, to be exact). My walls and my furniture. The trim is white, the floor is a blond wood and any wooden furniture is dark (sheesh…what a palate!). Anyway, my question for you…any suggestions on a wall color? The room is huge, but not overly light, so I’m scared to go to dark and I simply can’t seem to get away from beige…please help! Thanks :)
YoungHouseLove says
Something in the light sage or celery family would be nice! Just bring home swatches to see what you like!
xo,
s
Mary Ann says
I had already decided to paint my kitchen yellow and had painted the first coat with Olympic Sawdust when I saw your recommendation for Benjamin Moore’s Hawthorne Yellow. Since I was out of paint I decided to try your color and treat my first coat as a primer. Unbelievably, the two colors were an exact match! It made me feel good about my color choice. The big difference was in the quality of the paint. The Olympic was runny while the BM was very thick. I will probably stick with BM for the trim.
YoungHouseLove says
That’s amazing! It was meant to be.
xo,
s
Debbie says
Hello – thanks so much for sharing this with us, it’s priceless because it really reduces color overload.
Question – is there anywhere I can find color fans (just in these colors) to have at home? I ask because I moved from the city where everything was easily accessible to a rural area where the nearest paint store is 60 miles away! Not all paint manufacturers are available out here.
Thanks again, I appreciate you for sharing your experience and insight openly with the rest of us who aren’t professional painters but want our homes to look like we are.
Best to you. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Maybe you can go to their sites and call them and they’ll mail them to you for a small fee? Good luck!
xo,
s
Debbie says
Super idea, thanks! I’ll give that a try. :)
Christina says
Hi Youngsters,
We have a bright yellow ceiling in the dining room (think marigold rain slicker) and the walls are red (way to McDonalds for me). I was thinking about painting the walls a lighter shade of yellow. Is there a soft yellow color that you recommend?
Thanks so much! You guys are awesome and have totally changed my life :)
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, maybe try Hawthorne Yellow by Benjamin Moore. It’s light and pretty! And if it’s not light enough you can ask them to add 50% more white paint to “half tint” it. Good luck!
xo,
s
Jennifer says
Hi! Love your website…it’s one of my frequent blog reads. We are building a house right now and I’m having to pick out the paint colors for the whole house. Every time I google anything, this blog post always comes up. :) I love the warm colors (BM Concord Ivory is one of my ultimate favorites). Two questions I would love your advice on.
1. I picked out BM Nantucket Gray for my main color throughout the house…kitchen, center hall (colonial), great room. It’s all open and it looks great with my kitchen cabinets (medium stained maple). I was going to also continue it up the stairs and have it in the upstairs hallway as well. I’m trying to pick out a medium tan/beige color for our master bedroom and/or our bathrooms-all upstairs. I’ve used Lenox Tan before in our old house but I’m afraid it might clash with the Nantucket Gray in the hallway. Everything is big with lots of light. Any recommendations on a BM tan/beige color that complements and works well with Nantucket Gray? I have the BM fan deck and I’ve looked at almost every tan/beige color (especially historical) and can’t decide.
2. Our half bath downstairs is small with a pocket door. Should I choose a lighter color for this room or is dark okay too? I was going to have BM Spanish Red in the dining room and also for the half bath…just not sure if that is too dark for such a small room.
Anywhoo…thanks for any advice you can give me. I’m doing Hawthorne Yellow in my two daughter’s rooms based on your recommendation. It’s a beautiful color!
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh try Ashen Tan with Nantucket Gray- it’s slightly cooler so it might work (depending on your lighting). As for the bathroom, I love a small room with a shot of dramatic and bold color so I say go for it. It’s only paint! Good luck.
xoxo,
s
Kara says
Do you have any red paint recommendations from Sherwin Williams? We usually do all our house updating ourselves, but with two little ones underfoot and a two-story house we decided it would be money well spent to hire out to have our house painted. But the crew we hired only uses Sherwin Williams. We would like a red front door and took the sample in today to the SW store and it scanned in between two of the SW red shades. I’m sure they would be fine…but I’d love to pick a “fool-proof” color too if you have any recommendations :)
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry, I don’t have an SW deck. Maybe bring home a bunch of their swatches and hold them up to see which one looks best? Good luck!
xo,
s
NotAVictorianLady says
I have a paint color issue I can’t quite wrap my head around. Our 1600 square foot, one story house has emerald green 12×12 tiles ALL THROUGHOUT. Since we can’t afford to replace the flooring of the whole house and since they are in such great condition, we are keeping them for now. I painted the walls in my kitchen and living room (connected) the same beigey/tan color which seems to minimize the green tiles there. Only at night with bright, artificial light do the walls get a green effect. Our master is painted gray and filled with white and yellow accents, which I love – the green tiles still look fug, but we are dealing fine there. The problem room is my guestroom. I’ve moved into this island-ish theme. The furniture is dark and modern. The walls are Ralph Lauren Tangine (looks like makeup foundation at night). My accent colors are reds, bright green, orange, etc. I love the pop of my colors, but not so much with the green tiles. I think it looks to harsh and want to soften the walls. Any suggestions for a neutral wall color to minimize green tiles and not complete with an assortment of bright accets…all in a relaxing island/Hawaiin like setting?
YoungHouseLove says
How about Wishes by Glidden (or Water Chestnuts). Both are awesome neutrals that feel beachy and casual. Good luck!
xo,
s
Kim says
I understand in your old house you painted all the trim with an off the shelf white. Did you use the same white, but in a different finish, for the ceilings? I have used an off the shelf ultra pure white behr paint for some of the trim in my house and it looks good, but I’m wondering if it will be too bright for the ceiling. Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Yup, we used flat off the shelf white for the ceilings (since flat paint minimizes flaws and isn’t too glossy). Hope it helps!
xo,
s
ellen says
i noticed in your new home that you haven’t used the colors that are highlighted as your favorites in this post .( that post was from june 2009 ) could or would you give us an updated list of current colors that are among your new favs. it was great the way you broke it down fav blue, fav green, fav tan etc….love yhl it makes me wanna be a better home owner.
YoungHouseLove says
We’ll have to add that to our Posts To Write list for sure! Here’s hoping we can tackle that someday!
xo,
s
Jessica says
What color of paint is the blue-greyish kitchen in your first house? I absolutely love it!
YoungHouseLove says
That’s Glidden’s Gentle Tide. It’s discontinued but they can still look up the formula on the computer and make it for ya. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Amy says
First I have to start off by saying that I love your blog! I just sat here for two hours reading as much of it as I can.
I’m in the process of trying to repaint my whole house. We just received beige/tan leather couches and I’m having the hardest time finding a wall color to go with them. I wanted to do gold/yellow but it just doesn’t look right with the couches. I’m looking to do a green in the kitchen (haven’t chosen color yet) so it needs to flow with that. I’m thinking of BM Monroe Bisque or Olympic Vanilla Brandy. Any thoughts on which would work better with the couches and any suggestions for a green in the kitchen? I don’t want a green with grey or yellow in it but I need it to still work with the living room.
Thanks so much! You have the best blog!
YoungHouseLove says
I would just bring both of those swatches home and look at them against your sofa (and get small paint test pots if you have and are still stumped and paint squares on the wall behind the sofa). Hopefully one will jump out as the right one! Good luck!
xo,
s
Holly says
Hi guys
I see your suggestions for green colors….but I was wondering if you could help me narrow them down. I am looking paint my daughter’s room a soft light green (like a pretty, light celery). I’m pairing it with soft pinks. Any favorite greens like this?
Thanks so much!! :)
YoungHouseLove says
Dune Grass by Benjamin Moore is always a favorite of mine. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Holly says
thanks! i’ll check it out.
Tania says
Hi! I absolutely love your blog and read it just about every day. You guys write really well and sure make it fun! I have Glidden Sand White painted in my foyer and throughout the body of my house and I really love it! I chose BM Night Mist (a blue-gray) for my kitchen. I need a color in my living room/dining room that goes with these 2 colors since the LR/DR can be seen from both the kitchen and foyer. Should I just stick with the Sand White in the LR/DR also? I kind of wanted another color. Also, I have vaulted ceilings in the LR/DR. Do I just paint the whole thing the same color? Any advice would really be appreciated!
PS- Clara is so adorable!!
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, you definitely could do Sand White and it would look nice and seamless. Or you could go with Glidden’s Wishes or Water Chestnut since those neutrals seem to layer right in nicely too (although colors can read differently in different homes/lighting situations, so you definitely want to bring swatches home to be sure they look good before diving in). Good luck!
xo,
s
Borjana Simic says
We would like to change from a worn-out white color of of our Cape Cod house (white since 1928) w/many eaves to some cheerful combination – the roof is sort of grey, the main and side doors are cedar red (both newer) – wrought iron small balcony (in front of a center window) as well as the gate and other wrought iron parts around the house are painted black/gloss.
Any ideas to cheer us up?
Thanks so much.
B&B
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, not sure. Maybe post a house pic on our facebook page for ideas? It’s such a neutral roof and door tone that you can probably do almost anything! Maybe a sage green?
xo,
s
Mary says
My sister passed this tip on to me from her contractor friends. If you are torn between a few colors, buy the sample size of the paints. Then, paint a poster board (or part of one) with each color. You can now look at the color in any room, every part of the room (right by the window vs. in the dark corner), and all different times of the day. Once I make my decision, I cut of a square (about 4×4 sq. inches) to carry around for any matching or comparisons for other purchases.
YoungHouseLove says
So smart!
xo,
s
Christina K. says
Do you know of a robin egg blue that’s foolproof? Most of our home is a sage green color and I was thinking of painting the kitchen a robin egg blue. What do you think? Or should I go with yellow for more contrast? or another color? Our kitchen cabinets are two-toned wood (darker brown with lighter brown).
Sorry for the vague description and thanks so much!
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, I actually haven’t found the perfect robin egg blue. Anyone have any recommendations? I love the idea of a kitchen in that color! It looks great with wood tones!
xo,
s
Sue says
Any suggestions for a replacement for Behr Silver Ladel? It was a perfect taupe- not too beige and not too gray.
YoungHouseLove says
So sorry, maybe ask them to look up the formula on the computer (the usually store those even after a color is discontinued so they can mix it up for you).
xo,
s
Dorothy says
Hello, I have a lot of yellow wood, oak, oregan pine furniture pieces. I am really tired of all this wood. I am thinking of painting them antique white, some with black tops. My question is, do I paint them all antique white? do I leave some? do I stain one or two all black? Yikes. I don’t know what to do? After I read your matchy matchy article, I thought that if I paint all the same, I am going down the matchy matchy pathway. I understand matchy matchy very well, and I am able to stay away from that but trying to bring in a change with all this wood is causing a bit of confusion for me. What would you suggest? Kind regards,
Dorothy
YoungHouseLove says
I would stain a few of them a dark mocha color (goes with everything) and then just pant a few antique white (some with black tops, and some without). All three of those finishes are essentially “neutrals” so they can all layer together for a nice cohesive but not matchy look!
xo,
s
Kelly says
My boyfriend bought his first house October 26th. Thankfully, it was an undestroyed foreclosure.. 1400 sq.ft, 3 bedrooms & 2 bathrooms, but the bank painted every wall what I call Stock Beige, with wall-to-wall matching carpet. I kept telling myself that compared to the other houses we looked at, this one was the cleanest slate and to be appreciative of that particular detail. Going into this as a ‘WE’, I made sure that he was aware of what I can bring to the table financially because I’m a Hairstylist, and business has been less than stellar. What I was sure of is my eye for detail, visualizing the big picture and how to make a dollar stretch. I was going to turn this house, into our home. Once those details were squared away, it was time to get down to the nitty gritty, because he wanted to be all moved in within two weeks. Must’ve thought the miracle worker skills from my day job transferred into anything I touched. After walking from room to room with my camera & notebook in hand, I came to the conclusion that his vision differed greatly from mine. Despite the To-Do List of logical “Start Here!!” projects, he bounced from one are-you-kidding-me project to another.. paint the garage floor, stain the deck (but skipped powerwashing). I had been diligently paying on furniture at a secondhand place, bought bits & pieces at yard sales – my notebook of measurements, ideas & paint swatches was always on hand. So with my plan of attack set, an extra day off cashed in and my Dad & sister coming to help, the Kitchen was up first. Since the appliances were black, the cabinets a medium wood (honey oak, maybe?) and a surprisingly nice hardwood floor, I decided to go with a RED. Valspar’s Allen + Roth – Front Door Red in satin, to be exact. First coat intimidated anyone that stopped by. After applying the second coat the next day, I was in love. The trim was left white (love the crisp lines). Then it was onto the living room, which by this point, I had the furniture paid off and at the house, so I could see the color & swatch in different light. ColorPlace (Walmart) Camper’s Firewood was the clear winner.. and I had them mix it using Glidden’s satin base. From the first stroke, I knew I was 2 for 2. The dining room made it 3 for 3 when I went with Valspar Flagstone.. a soft gray. And with the Americana-themed decor I had been collecting, I could still echo touches of Red in the living & dining rooms since the kitchen was in the middle (wide archways from room to room). I’ve gotten so many compliments on what I’ve decorated, and Frank, who said painting wasn’t necessary, couldn’t be more proud. Unfortunately, I can’t find the inspiration to work on the Master bedroom & bathroom, or the hallway bathroom. The only furniture in our room is the bed, which is an antiqued-bronze sleigh bed.. I bought bedding Black Friday and have stashed it away until Christmas.. couldn’t pass it up for $35 at Walmart (have to make my $$ stretch!). Which brings me to your blog, that I stumbled on late lastnight when I couldn’t sleep.. so I was searching Pinterest and other outlets for inspiration. I’m not afraid of color, but with no money to put a nice window in the room, the only natural light comes from the door that takes us out onto the deck. Scary, especially when my boyfriend is on duty at night.. but there are 4 other police officers in our neighborhood. And I DIYed a Roman shade for the little window. So now that I have filled you in on my decorating adventure (sorry it was so detailed), what color could I use in our Master bedroom & echo into the bathroom without feeling cave-like? I was thinking something similar to the Moonshine color you used or maybe Club Aqua, and mix in darker wood tones for the nightstands, dresser, etc. Thanks in advance for any tips! Your home is gorgeous, and I bookmarked your blog. :)
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh yes, Moonshine would look so pretty! Or Club Aqua. Probably can’t go wrong with either! Good luck!
xo,
s
Kelly says
Thanks a bunch! I stopped into Lowes today and a friend & client of mine was working.. imagine my excitement when she pulled me behind the counter so we could search for the colors I’ve been longing to try. Decided to try Club Aqua first. Which brings me to my question.. did the color in the can worry you at all, and did it dry closer to the shade in your pictures? I allowed a bit to dry so I could see it in different light, but it seems more green than blue. :(
YoungHouseLove says
It really depends on your monitor how the color reads (not sure if the color dried like it looks on your computer, but it dried to look just like the pics on ours- haha). Maybe get a small test can first?
xo,
s
Tiffany says
What are your thoughts on combining warm colors with cool colors? For example, a warm neutral in the hallway but a cool bright color in a bed or bath? We’re building a new house and I’m trying to pick out fun colors for our children’s bedrooms but keep the rest of the house neutral. I’m worried about clashing colors. The painter gave me a Sherwin Williams sample book of 1000 colors and I’m beyond overwhelmed.
YoungHouseLove says
It can be really balanced and lovely to mix warm colors with cool ones for a whole house palette. That way it’s not all too cool or too warm, and there’s a nice flow from one to another. Just hold the swatches you like together and see if they look good together. It’s that simple!
xo,
s
Christina says
Can you give me the best Benjamin Moore equivalent of your Carolina Inn Club Aqua paint color?
Many thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, maybe Quiet Moments? Hope it helps!
xo,
paula says
some of my ceiling are swiss coffee (semi gloss… yes not the norm but the sheen seems to brighten up the house) & some sections of ceiling (different rooms) are not yet painted… looks like just a flat white. I like the look of pure white trim but do you think that will make the swiss coffee ceilings look yellow? Should your trim and ceiling generally be the same white? Wondering if I should tackle painting the ceilings the same color I pick for all my trim. What do you suggest?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh no ceilings can be a soft accent color while the trim is bright white! I would definitely give it a try and see how you like it!
xo,
s
Sarah says
Thank you so much for your blog posts! You guys have wonderful insights. I would like some advice. I’m about to move into my first place after college, and I’m painting the bedroom. I really want it to be expressive of my personality, and I particularly love the combination of purple and green. When I looked up one of your purple color recommendations (Glidden’s Black Tulip), I saw that the Glidden website pairs it with a color called Hazy Sage, and they look fantastic together. My concern is how to pair them. I love the moodiness of the Black Tulip, I’d like it to be a central color, but I’m afraid it might darken the room too much. I was thinking about making the wall of my headboard purple, and the other walls green, or using a stencil to pattern one color over another. Do you have any ideas or suggestions? Are there any other alternatives I’m missing?
YoungHouseLove says
Ooh that sounds so pretty! I like both of those options or you could go with the walls Hazy Sage with bedding and curtains and art/accessories in the Black Tulip tone to bring that in (or vice versa). Good luck!
xo,
s
Lenore Currie says
Hi there. Love love your site! We are painting an office and chose BM Stone Hearth for Walls, Fairview Taupe for door and need help with trim colour. Also looking at hardwood floor and wondered what colour of stain we should look at. There is a large med tone oak table in middle of room. Thanks for your help!
YoungHouseLove says
You can do trim the same color throughout a house (so try holding up a swatch of the other trim color that you have to see if it goes with your colors – or just bring home some basic creams and soft whites to see what works best). As for floor stain, I would do the same thing. Look at other hardwoods in your house to see if they would work (that would keep it cohesive) or if you don’t have any other hardwoods, just bring home samples of a few different stain colors to see what you like best!
xo,
s
Jackie says
I just made a very bad decision on a paint color … I will be traveling back to the paint store this am. As stated, Paint is inexpensive, so you won’t cry as much … Thanks for the various tips, though … I’m going to check on a couple of the colors and event he Glidden Bryant Park Gold. I want a Yellow Kitchen, again. ;)
YoungHouseLove says
Aw, good luck!
xo,
s
Barb says
I am painting an office which has med brownish birch hardwood floors, large oak table, black chairs and poor lighting. Benjamin Stone Hearth (walls) and Fairview Taupe (door). What colour should I paint the paneled wainscot? The trim? Will white look too stark? Or cream? If so, what colour can you recommend? Thanks!
YoungHouseLove says
I would just bring swatches home and see what looks best in your space! Either one could probably work so it’s just a personal preference thing!
xo,
s
Doug B. says
Great article! I am still stuck in where to start in choosing a color scheme for my small TV room. We just purchased a vibrant red sectional for the back wall. Any suggestions where to start?
YoungHouseLove says
Hmm, mocha tones (light tan, medium brown, even dark chocolate) look great with red. Since you mention the room is small, maybe a lighter tone like Ashen Tan by Benjamin Moore would work best?
xo,
s
kati says
my favorite neutral is Castle Path by Behr. we painted our bedroom with it and loved it so much we continued it to our living/dining room. we added an “accent” wall with Twig Basket by Behr. haha…ended up being a not-so-accented wall (the colors are a little close), but it’s okay, it still looks good and i love both the colors.
i’ve been trying desperately to find a perfect green for my master bath for months and can’t seem to get it.
YoungHouseLove says
Have you tried Dune Grass by Benjamin Moore? It’s really soft and pretty!
xo,
s
Dani says
Hi Sherry & John!!! I’ve been a faithful YHL reader for years now and I love you guys!!! I was wondering if you could help me choose a paint color for my dining/living space (all one open area). My furniture and carpets are all pretty neutral (chocolate brown couch, soft greens/beige in accent chairs, and I have a dark wood dining set). Also, the rooms get a ton of light. Do you have any suggestions for a great paint color that you think would work? I was thinking BM Grant Beige or BM Edgecomb Gray, etc., but I just can’t come to a decision! I don’t want anything too beige (boring) or too gray (too cool for my furniture I think). I’m driving myself mad!!! Thanks in advance for any help or input you can give!!!:)
Dani says
Also wanted to add I have dark wood floors with neutral area rugs:)
YoungHouseLove says
Those are both winners, I love both those colors! I would bring home swatches or even little test pots of each and see which one you like better! Really, you can’t lose either way, though!
xo,
s
Ryan Hindes says
Great run down of different color options! We are building our new office right now and currently deciding which colors to pick. This was definitely helpful!
We usually blog about ways to live a high quality life without spending top dollar at http://livebettercheaper.com/ and recently wrote a post about painting walls in our design blog EmptySink! http://emptysink.com/alternate-wall-colors/
Whitney says
I’m trying to redo a basement apartment, and the bathroom is giving me grief! I’m not sure how to paint it. Do you have any suggestions for a bathroom.. in a basement… with TONS, I mean TONS, of exposed pipes. The bathroom has black and white checkored floors. Do you paint pipes different colors, or keep them the same as the walls.
Thanks for your help! I have used so many of your tutorials to redo this apartment. :)
YoungHouseLove says
I’d keep them the same color as the walls to help them blend in. Hope it helps!
xo,
s
Carrie Hriblan says
I have made the mistake of making my house into a circus!! I have painted my walls 2 to 3 times. The problem I am having is you can see a few of the walls when in another room.
I like the colors separately but putting them side by side to make a cohesive look is incredibly hard! I have definitely learned my lesson by sticking with neutral walls and accenting with pillows, etc. I really like earth tones.
Currently, my living room is like a grey/silver/light turquoise which extends into my entry-way, my family room has a pretty light brown and a dark, dark green accent wall, my dining room is a gold color and my kitchen is purple!!!?!! AHH. Those all sound crazy even typing them out. I know people who visit probably think I am absolutely crazy. lol. Does anyone have any help they could offer?
Thank you! Crazy house circus girl.
YoungHouseLove says
I would just take a few of the more clashy/crazy colors and either repaint them something softer and more similar (or exactly the same, to tone things down) or hang things like large pieces of art and curtains (in neutral tones) to cover some of the brighter wall colors so there’s less of a bright overall effect. Hope it helps!
xo,
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esther says
can you give me some ideas of a nice green that would go with benjamin moore colour: lion heart ? ( you have it listed as orange but on my walls it turns into a gorgeous butter yellow colour.
thanks,
esther
YoungHouseLove says
How about Dune Grass? Or Hibiscus? I would just bring home swatches and hold them up to Lion Heart to see what looks best!
xo,
s
Jill says
This post is fantastic! We’re looking to paint a wall in our living room and I knew I could count on you for great recommendations for colors. Keep up the good work! love your blog. :)
Erin says
I love Benjamin Moore paints and am thinking of buying a paint deck. There are so many to choose from.
Any one you think is best to start with?
YoungHouseLove says
Oh man I don’t even remember! I would just see if you can look at a few of them in the store and just buy the one that you like best in person (some have more bright colors and some are full of more neutrals).
xo,
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Ann says
So sorry if I’ve missed this advice above! Any suggestions for paint to “compliment” or “not look to sickly” next to our honey oak stair railings and orangy oak kitchen cabinets. They must stay another year or two! My sample of Olympic Dusty Trail looks OK…Olympic Stormy Weather not so sure about. Thank you so much…keep up the good work :)
YoungHouseLove says
Soft sage greens always look good with oak. Maybe try bringing home a ton of swatches and holding them up?
xo,
s
Amy says
We are in the process of doing some updates in our kitchen. The cabinets are a natural oak,hardwood floors, stainless steel appliances. This will be the last room in our house left to paint and I am having the worst time deciding. One thing that really throws me is our very open floor plan. We did the rest of the house including living room that can be clearly seen from kitchen/dining room is done in a blue gray. I have fell in love with all types of grays but scared a gray based color will clash with my natural oak cabinets. Any advice would be great!!!
YoungHouseLove says
Natural oak always looks amazing with soft green notes like celery so I would look for some swatches in that family and bring them home to see how they look with the blue gray and the cabinets. Sounds pretty to me!
xo,
s
CaseyH says
My family owns a Benjamin Moore Signature Store and a big tip we give (and I apologize in advance if a commentator wrote it already- my attention span can’t compete with your length of comments- congrats, and that I’m commenting 3 years late) is to grab some poster board and paint your sample on that. It’s close enough to how drywall will take a color and you can move it around!! What will my gray look like next to the window? next to the door? in the next room?
Great way to also keep colors you don’t go with – without having to buy another sample later- as options for other rooms. You liked them once right? maybe you just need to find the right spot.
Happened across your blog today, and fell in love! Great job!
YoungHouseLove says
Love that tip!
xo,
s
Kristy Swain says
I just did a similar post to this where I list colors and give tips, but I listed many many different colors than on your list. Hope you don’t mind. It can be found here: http://www.hypheninteriors.com/2012/09/paint-color-suggestions-listed-by-color.html
Kristy Swain says
Oh, I linked to yours, of course!
YoungHouseLove says
Thanks Kristy! Sounds awesome.
xo
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Hugh says
Great article. ‘Off white’ is sometimes considered either cream or grey.
Sylvie says
We painted our living room BM Sterling to bring out the dark wood beams and floor. We have a pottery barn rug (Malika), which is blue, but now I’m stuck decorating with only blues and grays because I feel like that matches. How do you decide what “goes” with other colors? Everything else is our room is neutral (i.e. brown/beige), but I’d love something to make the room feel happy and bright.
Jenni says
I love your site (and have your book) and needed some advice on paint colors! I love the fresh look of white trim and cabinets but we recently moved into a house with medium colored oak on the trim, doors, built ins by the fireplace, and kitchen. It’s high quality wood and since I have two little boys I don’t want to commit to painting it quite yet (maybe one room at a time). Every resource I go to (blogs, books, websites) only show rooms with white trim. Do you have any advice on good go-to colors that look good with oak trim? Are there any colors to avoid? Right now are walls are off-white and I would like some color in the kitchen and living areas to liven up the space.
Krista says
Hi! I just found your blog and am hooked! Especially since I am moving this weekend into a rental house. They painted EVERYTHING a flat white (even woodwork) and it looks so boring. Except the kitchen…which is wood paneling (eek)! They are allowing me to paint any/all of the walls, even the wood paneling if I wish. I have a couple of questions…first the living room. You open the front door to a little entry way which is open to the living room. It has tan carpet, most of the woodwork is white except the big window, which is still original brown. My furniture is brown as well and I am wondering if painting a tan on the walls is to much brown/tan…suggestions??? I have no idea what colors to paint the bedrooms, they are small. One is for my son, the other is a “dressing room” and the other is master bedroom. Help!
YoungHouseLove says
I wouldn’t do tan on the walls since it might be overload, so maybe try celery green or a soft gray-blue color?
xo,
s
Jana Alexis says
Hello! Quick paint question. We have pale yellow walls in our kitchen that I’m finally getting rid of! (Yellow is just not for me.) We’re paiting over it with a medium blue-green (Pine Whisper, Pittsburgh Paints). I’m sure it’s going to need two coats of green, but should I also prime the walls? We don’t want to take any chances of the yellow base peeping through, or do you think two coats of green will do the trick?
YoungHouseLove says
I think two coats of green should do the trick!
xo
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jennifer says
BM’s Hawthorne Yellow – the be all, end all of yellow paint…. and yet your BM color pick palette leaves Hawthorne nowhere to be found. Be all, end all, lmao.
YoungHouseLove says
It was in our first collection (this is the second year we’ve done it and we don’t like duplicates from year to year :).
xo
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