Re: How do you choose paint colors for your home?

Katcat1 · ‎07-21-2011

When I owned a home, I used Benjamin Moore's China White for my living and dining room. It's a white paint with the hint of gray. It is very easy on the eyes and very pretty. My bedroom was a different color. I think you want to select colors that compliment each other when using different colors in different rooms. When lettering children pick their color paint for their room, I would select about 3 colors that I like and let the child pick from the 3 shades.

kindness is strength

Oostende · ‎03-14-2010

I seem to take a different approach than most. I have hardwood floors, white walls, and many very large windows throughout my home. The trim and doors are a brighter white than the walls. That is a clean palette that I can change up frequently. I change my artwork, my lamps, my pillows and throws, and my rugs as the mood strikes me. And the mood strikes me frequently.

I get restless living in the same room month after month or year after year. I love reds in the autumn and through Christmas. I like heavier accents, too, and more luxurious fabrics at that time of year.

I switch to a cooler palette in the spring and summer. Again, I am just talking artwork and lamps and pillows and throws and rugs. I go to lighter accents, too, and sweep away the heaviness of the holidays.

Those changes give me a boost in my mood and I enjoy the challenge of remaking my rooms to be as beautiful as I can possibly make them. I would not like to be chained to a particular look or color palette. Best of luck to you!

LilLadyNJ · ‎06-27-2017

One color throughout my house. When I moved into my current home about 15 months ago, one of the rooms had forest green plaid wallpaper. I couldn't bring myself to be in that room. it felt overwhelming. Within weeks I had the wallpaper removed and the walls painted.

I prefer one neutral color throughout the house and then add color with soft furnishings.

Financialgrl · ‎03-13-2010

@Oznell wrote:
@barb40, I've had real good luck with the Historic colors by Benjamin Moore. They've stood the test of time, and when I pick one I don't have horrific second thoughts-- they're not too garish or startlingly different on the wall.

Living room-- "Woodlawn Blue"-- Very soft robin's egg color, a blue with a hint of green. Close to their famous "Palladian Blue", but a bit more hazy. Trim is a compatible off-white, "Snow on the Mountain" also by BM.

Dining room-- I don't like the insipid shade of pale celery green I picked, my one disappointment! Hubby likes.

Kitchen-- "Van Alen Green" Soft, historic green. Fresh. Trim is "Simply White", a slightly creamy white. Cabinets painted in "Baby Fawn", a pale greige. Trade secret-- this is a BM color that is identical to the popular BM historic shade "Edgecomb Gray".

Exterior-- "Alexandria Beige" (soft cocoa), Door-- "Stratton Blue" (blue green) both from Historic Collection. Trim-- "Navajo White"

Our little house was built in 1910, so these tried and true, compatible colors look at home with the traditional architecture...

@Oznell I bought a new home in 2017 - built it and added in my options (from the builder's plans). I was in Italy and bought two paintings with the backdrop of Amafi coast. I love the colors of Tuscany. My home has 13' ceiling in the kitchen and then there's a bulkhead and on the other side of that it drops to 10' ceilings.

A friend's neighbor is an interior designer and she helped me pick the colors throughout the house. I wanted colors of Tuscany and she used the Benjamin Moore Historical colors palette. She told me that having such high ceilings I needed strong bold colors so I went with her suggestions.

Home is all open concept - so kitchen is Mayflower Red flowing into great room which is Waterbury Cream. Master bed/bath is Quincy Tan, guest bath is Monroe Bisque and my all time favorite is the guest bedroom - - Wythe Blue which is really more aqua. Love that Wythe BLue! Love all the colors except the one I like least is Waterbury Cream cuz it's too goldish/mustard yellow for me. May get that color changed to Monroe Bisque to play off the Mayflower Red in the future.

Oznell · ‎11-08-2014

How beautiful that sounds, @Financialgrl! I'm familiar with some of those colors-- lovely.

Also am right with you on Wythe blue! It is the most hauntingly lovely blue-green. A favorite of designers, and those who love color, with good reason!

Financialgrl · ‎03-13-2010

@Oznell wrote:
How beautiful that sounds, @Financialgrl! I'm familiar with some of those colors-- lovely.

Also am right with you on Wythe blue! It is the most hauntingly lovely blue-green. A favorite of designers, and those who love color, with good reason!

@Oznell I have never gone this bold before. I was always the one with Antique White in main living spaces in the past but those were homes with the normal height ceilings. I used to put color in my bedrooms but the designer told me that with ceilings this high you need color - she said neutral colors would make the room look washed out.

I never thought about it until she told me but all the homes here have very open concept and when I walk into other homes here with very neutral colors in that space I now see/understand what she was saying.