Choosing paint colors without losing your mind-The perfect white.

You can do this….

Choosing paint colors can be a little daunting at times. Sometimes, so scary, that you put it off until forever and you walk into a paint store and make a rash decision that you might regret.

Then, once you have your paint color all set, you have to pick out the trim color. I know, it is a lot to think about.

Well, sit back and relax, because you have just hit the advice jackpot of “picking out paint colors.” The only reason I know this is because I have of a LOT of experience.

1. First of all, don’t be in a hurry, I mean, this is the color that you will spend hundreds of dollars on and look at for a long time.
2. Go alone, I love my husbands input, but wait until you have it at least narrowed down to your top 3, otherwise he may make it harder for you.
3. Don’t be afraid to break the rules, it is YOUR house, YOUR sanctuary, it should reflect your personality and make you feel happy.
4. Don’t choose paint colors based on “selling your house some day and trying to please the unknown buyer, who supposedly only likes neutrals.”
5. Ok, enough rules… Here’s what you do, trust me, this is magic, it’s like tricking yourself into choosing the right color with confirmation. Before you enter the store, commit to a room, are we doing the kitchen, living room, etc, one at a time.
6. Pick 3 stores, say Lowes, Benjamin Moore, Home Depot. Walk into the paint section and go with your gut, you will naturally gravitate to a color section. Grab your 5 favorites at each store, and do not, I repeat, DO NOT bring your other samples in to the next store-No Cheating!
7. Remember where each of the 5 samples are from and lay them out on a flat surface when you get home.
8. You will see similarities instantly. Set aside the outliers and narrow it down to the 3 that look the most similar. If this is hard for you, buy a small bit of the color (usually under $10; money well spent) and paint a piece of posterboard each a different color. Once the board is dry, hang it up in various parts of the room at different times of the day (lighting is everything).
9. Which one do you like the best? Can’t decide? Ok, ask your husband/partner/whatever, then pick the other one (because that’s what we do best right!)
10. Still can’t decide? Put the samples away, wait one week, and repeat the process, perhaps try another store, (Restoration, Sherwin Williams, Kelly Moore). Save your original samples and add the new ones. Pour yourself a glass of wine (who cares if it’s the middle of the day, and imagine how wonderful it will be when the room is DONE!)
11. Pick one color, paint the room, and move on with your life. If you hate it, I guarantee you will pick a better one next time!
12. Secret #2, the trim can be the same color as the main walls, in fact, I prefer this. Believe it or not, just changing the sheen on the paint finish can give the illusion of a different shade/color. If you must have a different color for the trim, because you want “contrast,” go 1-2 shades lighter-for a subtle pop. Let’s not get crazy with the trim. (I really like eggshell for  walls and Gloss or semi-gloss for the trim-remember-“the glossier it is, the easier it is to clean,” and trim is notorious for getting scuffed up (thank you magic eraser!) Here is a little guide for a subtle trim contrast.

Below is a handy little chart for choosing the “right” sheen, depending on the room.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And now, the moment you have all been waiting for…

My new favorite White, by Benjamin Moore, followed by “Swiss Coffee” by Kelly Moore.

Benjamin Moore’s White Dove (OC-17) is a versatile neutral.“White Dove has been an extremely popular white, as it is especially neutral and it complements a wide range of colors,” The shade is a go-to for walls, trim, cabinetry, and other millwork, and it consistently ranks as a top-selling paint for the company. The shade has a touch of gray that keep it from feeling stark. “White Dove also maintains enough warmth so that it is not too cool, yet it does not go too creamy or yellow,”