Paint is the cheapest, easiest and quickest way to make a huge impact in the look and feel of your home. I happen to enjoy painting which is probably a good thing because we change colors often.
The living room was all one color (the color on all the walls and ceilings when we bought our house) until we added that horizontal trim to help break up the expanse of wall. The lower portion was first a pretty blue, then dark slate gray and now a creamy white/gray.
My office received the painted wallpaper treatment a few years ago and I still love it. See the full tutorial here. The chalkboard wall is really more for looks since it is rarely used for writing on, but it makes a nice, simple backdrop behind my desk.
We painted our cabinets almost six years ago with oil based paint and they have held up really well. White paint is difficult to choose – there are so many options! – ours is a custom mix that matches the trim throughout our house. The top portion is a beautiful deep gray/brown that breaks up all the white.
I’m ready for a master bedroom update. This poor room has gone through several half-makeovers that never really came together. I’d like something soothing and clean and probably much lighter. The moody blue is a great color, though.
I was nervous painting the walls white in the boys’ room, but couldn’t be happier with it. The clean walls offset the perpetually messy floor (put three boys in one room and of course the floor will constantly be littered with socks, legos, books and baseball cards. I should just learn to accept it).
For a look at all of the colors we have used throughout our home, check out the updated paint colors page here.
Do you have a favorite go-to paint color? Please share!
What is the base color of your wall in your office??
The base color is the Relaxed Khaki by Rhoda Paint. It is a medium-toned taupe.
Can you tell me the paint color in that little alcove by your staircase. You had you piano I believe their at one time. It is a darker gray color, but still not too bold.
Thanks!
Thank you for this post. I have two new rooms I need to choose colors for, and this is a great place to start. You have a great design sense – I love how you are able to use pattern and texture to create a clean and modern, yet interesting, interior.
I have a few go-to paint colors (I <3 grey):
– Ben Moore Paperwhite is a beautiful, subtle blue grey that looks great with Dove White trim (also Ben Moore). My kitchen/LR/entry/stairwells/study, which are all connected, are all painted with this combination. It's so clean and airy without being boring, and goes well with medium to dark wood finishes, and all metals.
– Farrow and Ball's Blackened is another favorite. A slightly darker blue grey than Paperwhite, the wall color transforms in different light. Gorgeous and a surprisingly versatile neutral color. This is my sons room wall color with dove white trim. Goes great with bright pops of super hero colors!
– I found this very interesting pink-purple grey called Kitten Whiskers by Ben Moore. Atrium white is a good trim color with this wall color. It looks amazing with creamy whites and all shades of pink, brown, and green. This is my daughters room color, and my mothers guest bedroom wall color.
– In bathrooms I love a water color inspired wall. It's the one room I don't like too see in grey! Palladian Blue by Ben Moore is like the color of a swimming pool. Looks good with whites, taupe, greys and browns.
Another note: I always go with satin trim and matte wall for finishes. Boring, old, ceiling white for ceilings.
Love, love, love panting a room white and being able to change it up so easy.No matter what colors I accent with, it always looks clean and fresh. Thanks for sharing your pictures!!
I love the gray palette that is so trendy now. It is a great neutral and you can change the feel of your room with pillows and accessories depending on the season. I pick up so many fun items at HomeGoods.
The colors in my house are all Benjamin Moore. I have used Light Pewter, Nimbus and Stonington gray in our main living areas. I may be choosing Revere Pewter for our family room this Spring.
I have 4 boys and their room colors are Hale Navy, Antique Parchment (2 boys share this room) and Bone white. The trim throughout my house is White Dove, it is a great white without being too stark.
my favorite shade of white {is that even a real thing?} is White Truffle by Behr….looks like an ivory on the sample but it’s a gorgeous crisp white on walls…and furniture. Your home is lovely!
Just goes to show that paint chip colors and photograph colors and “real” colors are not always the same! wow
My go-to color is “Dove White” by Benjamin Moore. I use it for all my trim baseboard, ceilings, windows and doors. It’s perfect because its white and bright but not blinding!
White Water or White Rain both are beautiful BM Colours. The colour changes throughout the day and looks good with so many colours. Its painted in my dinning room that gets so much sun and so many compliments.
Thank you, Emily! We close on our new house at the end of the week and are planning to use a lot of grays when we paint, so it’s helpful to see how different colors look in a real home. It will give me a starting point for our Lowe’s date night this week. :)
I love Sherman Williams under seas. My whole house is painted off that one color swatch. Our kitchen/great room& school room is the lightest color on the swatch, our hallways are the second lightest color and our dinning room is underseas. Everyone who walks in says they feel calm. Our backsplash is your painted wallpaper-but soon to be covered due to a kitchen remodel. I had someone professional paint because I was pregnant which was the bomb diggitty!
My go-to white is Behr’s Magnolia Blossom–it’s warm but not cream. I’ve used it on cabinets, tables, and bookcases.
If I could paint some of those over again, I’d do them in an oil-based pain. It’s such a pain but I think it holds up better than latex. I’m impressed that your cabs have held up that long!
And I always love seeing that pic of your fireplace–I love the textures! :)