Do you hate buying sample pots of paint? Me too. I have a leaning tower of Piza made of sample pots in my garage; most are 3/4 full and never to be touched again.

Long story short, I will never buy a sample pot again, not when there’s Samplize.

As you guys know, I don’t promote many brands other than my fave paint companies. I’m also not constantly recommending new products or junk from Amazon to make affiliate money – that’s not how I roll. So if I’m recommending a product OTHER than paint, you know I truly love it.

In a previous blog post, you learned how to USE Samplize to pick the best paint color for your room. This blog post is about the FUN stuff, both the FAQs, and the fiction!

Samplize is a peel-and-stick paint sample company. It will change how you sample paint colors, saving you money, time, and stress.

But with something ‘new,’ there are always questions, so let’s jump in and see what we’ve got.

IS SAMPLIZE LEGIT?

Samplize is 100% legit and friggin’ awesome. I won’t risk my reputation on a company that isn’t the real-deal.

In fact, Samplize has changed the way I do my work, giving me a more full-bodied, effective Online Color Consulting service.

HOW DOES SAMPLIZE WORK?

Long story short (a novelty for me; you know I love to hear myself talk), Samplize gives you the BEST representation of each brand’s paint color via a peel-and-stick paint sample.

STEP 1: Hop online to SAMPLIZE and order the colors you want (I usually order 6-8 within a range, so I have some comparables).

STEP 2: Assuming you don’t live in bum hump nowhere, your samples will be delivered to your front door in 1 DAY. If you do happen to live in the ever-lovely bum hump, it will just take a few more days (nobody said I was classy, and if they did, they’d be lyin’),

STEP 3: Peel the paper backing off your sample.

STEP 4: Starting at the top, place your sample on the wall and slowly press it down using the side of your hand to remove any bubbles.

STEP 5: Stand back and take a look at your sample. Once you’re ready to see it on another wall, peel it from the top down and repeat STEP 4.

ARE SAMPLIZE PAINT SAMPLES ACCURATE?

Short of buying a quart or gallon of paint in the exact line/sheen of paint you’ll use for your project ($30+), Samplize ($5.95) is HANDS-DOWN, the most accurate representation of each brand’s colors.

Why?

Because Samplize applies two coats of the ACTUAL PAINT from each brand, using only their mid and high-end lines.

Here are the lines of paint that Samplize uses…

SHERWIN WILLIAMS/SAMPLIZE PAINT LINES & SHEENS (FINISH)

• Super Paint (satin)
• Duration (satin)
• Emerald (satin)

BENJAMIN MOORE/SAMPLIZE PAINT LINES & SHEENS (FINISH)

• Regal Select (Eggshell)
• Aura (Eggshell)

FARROW & BALL/SAMPLIZE PAINT LINES & SHEENS (FINISH)

• Estate Emulsion

PPG/SAMPLIZE PAINT LINES & SHEEN (FINISH)

• Prominence (Eggshell) 

You’ll find more detailed info with my answer to the next question…

The less I do of this, the better (and yes, I do have a cute tooshie). 

WHY DOES MY SAMPLIZE SAMPLE LOOK DIFFERENT FROM THE ACTUAL PAINT?

There are two instances where your Samplize sample might not match what’s in front of you.

COMPARING SAMPLIZE TO PAPER CHIP SAMPLES OR THE FAN DECK

Paper chip samples, including those in the fan deck, are the LEAST accurate representation of a color.

Why?

Because they’re printed, and the printing process can vary. Samplize uses the ACTUAL PAINT from each company, which means you get the ACTUAL COLOR – not the printed version. This means that Samplize is the more accurate of the two options.

COMPARING SAMPLIZE TO THE ACTUAL PAINT YOU’VE APPLIED ON YOUR WALLS

If you’ve done two coats of paint (one coat doesn’t count), and notice that it looks different from your Samplize sample, there’s a VERY good reason for this.

As you’ve learned, Samplize uses the ACTUAL paint from each company. However, the paint companies have trouble offering the SAME COLOR as you shift between a) their different lines of paint, and b) the different sheens.

Paint is finicky. Even paint companies struggle to get a consistent color between the different lines/finishes they carry.

Let’s say you get your Samplize sample and love the color. You decide to save a little money and get it in contractor-grade paint…and it doesn’t match your Samplize sample. This can happen. To get the closest match to your Samplize sample, you’ll want to stick with the lines of paint they use.

And remember, how a paint color looks can shift based on the SHEEN of the paint, so leave a little room for this in your noggin’.

Check out SAMPLIZE HERE and have some color fun! 

CAN YOU REUSE SAMPLIZE SAMPLES?

Samplize samples EASILY peel off the wall and can be moved to other walls as often as you like! If for some reason you want to keep your samples, leave them on their paper backing and stick them to the wall with a piece of tape (they don’t return to their paper backing easily). I do this as I constantly reuse my samples in my Youtube color videos (which will soon be redone in my NEW STUDIO SPACE!).

This next photo shows how I compare my samples…

Get YOUR Peel & Stick sample of Edgecomb Gray – one of my TOP recommended warm neutrals! 

White paper is a must-have (or poster board). Taping it behind/beside your samples is a GREAT way to see how the colors look. If you take the backing off your peel-and-stick samples, tape some white paper around them.

While the blue tape is a bit distracting, this next photo is another great example of having white paper around the samples…

This next image shows why the white paper surround is SO important…

YOUR OLD COLOR WILL AFFECT YOUR PERCEPTION OF YOUR NEW COLOR

Sure, sticking your sample right on the wall is great to see how it’s DIFFERENT from your old color, but your old color will also affect your PERCEPTION of the new color. Notice how much better Gossamer Veil looks with a white surround (it also shows you the general contrast with white trim). Sure, the above example is from a sample pot, not Samplize, but it’s the IDEA that I want to share with you.

How to Sample the RIGHT WAY with Samplize

In this next photo, it would be much easier to see the difference between these two shades if a) they were butted up to each other, and b) if they were surrounded on three sides by white paper, with the fourth side butting up to the tile.

WHAT’S THE ALTERNATIVE TO SAMPLIZE?

Paper chips or fan deck samples are not an alternative – hard no.

This is ridiculous – size does matter, if you know what I’m sayin’

The BEST alternative to Samplize is to buy a quart of paint in the exact line of paint and finish you’ll be using for your project. Keep in mind that most quarts run from $25-$40. You’ll also want to account for a roller/tray or brush.

Samplize is $5.95, and you’re done.

At the end of the day…

1. Never judge or choose a paint color based on how it looks on the small paper chip samples or in the fan deck.

2. Leave a little wiggle room for variation, as this will happen between the brand’s different paint lines.

3. Avoid sample pots, as they’re made with the lowest quality paint.

4. Use Samplize to narrow your options. If you’re concerned, before slapping paint on the wall, buy a QUART of paint in the exact line/sheen you’ll be using and make sure you’re still 100% happy. Really though, Samplize should do the trick.

READ MORE

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing White Paint Colors

How to Create a Timeless Home: 4-Part Series

Samplize Peel & Stick: A Real-Life Review

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING PACKAGES! 

Chat soon,

The post SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK PAINT COLOR SAMPLES: FAQ’S, Tips, & Ideas appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Paint numbers, you say? Yes, paint numbers. And let me tell you, these magical little numbers will save your life, or at least the small thread of sanity you have left after trying to find the ever-elusive perfect paint colour.

Every paint color has an LRV number. This isn’t just a number based on science; it’s a number that tells YOU how light or dark a paint color is. These numbers run on a scale from 0-100.

0 is BLACK

100 is WHITE

In the USEABLE residential paint world, no colors have LRVs of 0 or 100 (our scale runs from 2 to 95). However, the 0-100 range gives us a place to work from when finding a paint color.

As you may (or may not) know, depending on how much of my Koolaid you drink, LRV is a great way to choose a paint colour. But where do you find a color’s LRV? You can click on the previous link for some amazing info, or get the short and curly right here…

Sherwin Williams (below) shows the LRV on the back of each color in the fan deck, in the index, AND on each color’s website page.

Benjamin Moore (below) shows each color’s LRV in the index of the fan deck OR on the color’s info page on their website.

So why 60-65? 

Having done many thousands (for real) of Online & In-Home Color Consultations, I see the same things repeatedly. So, I took all of the info crammed in my wee lil’ noggin’ and thought about the how and the why and came up with the LRV range of 60-70 based on some common averages…

• The average room size
• The average amount of natural light that comes into a room
• The personal tastes of the average homeowner as it relates to how light or dark they want a room to look

And, of course, some rooms fall outside these averages; I work with them EVERY day. The super dark rooms, the super bright rooms. The ones with tricky exposures and interior finishings in wild and wacky colors – I deal with these, too. But I’ve found some SERIOUS consistencies regarding the FINAL COLORS that my clients choose, and many of these colors fall in the LRV range of 60-70.

WHAT’S THE PERFECT LRV NUMBER?

It depends on who you talk to. I’m one of the top color experts (insert horn toot here), and 65, give or take a few points, often hits the spot, hence the 60-70 range. HOWEVER, the most popular LRV right now is closer to 70-75 (the off-whites).

Learn MORE about LRV here

If you can find a color that you and your room agree on, between the LRV numbers 60 and 70, the chances of it being a good depth for your room (based on averages) are pretty darn good.

• Is your room a bit darker? Then bump that number up by 5 (or more).
• Is your room brighter, and you want more coziness? Then close the drapes, strap on some jam-jams, and snuggle up to your honey. Or go lower than 60 by a little or a LOT.

Now, let’s look at a few of these bad boys.

BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY OWL OC-52

With an LRV of 65, Gray Owl is smack dab in the middle of our LRV range. And while gray isn’t trendy anymore, many of you don’t care and love it anyway – to which I say, GOOD ON YA!

FULL Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

SHERWIN WILLIAMS AGREEABLE GRAY 7029

Agreeable Gray has an LRV of 60. While it’s one of the few colors on the lower end of our magical range, it’s a great choice for the average home/room because of its flexibility in temperature and undertones.

Agreeable Gray is a warm neutral that can pass as a gray or greige, depending on your room, exposure, and PERCEPTION. This makes it a great choice when you’re unsure which color suits your room and just need to start somewhere!

 FULL Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray

BENJAMIN MOORE COLLINGWOOD OC-28

Collingwood is a popular warm gray with an LRV Of 62, which can be the sweet spot for some rooms. But ALL grays have undertones, so expect to see some purple popping up in this beautiful shade of gray! 

Read more: Paint Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Collingwood

With trends leaning warmer, grays aren’t as in demand. However, warm grays, like Collingwood, are likelier to last longer than the cool end.

BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB GRAY HC-173

I love Edgecomb Gray, and so do my clients. With an LRV of ALMOST 64, it is a great choice for MANY rooms and exposures.

One reason for Edgecomb Gray’s popularity (other than its badass LRV), is that it has no real commitment to green or pink undertones, leaving you with a pretty darn easy-to-please warm neutral.

Paint Colour Review: Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

SHERWIN WILLIAMS NATURAL TAN 7567

Natural Tan is a popular color for those who are tired of gray and ready to lean into the warmer, beige-tan world. With its LRV of 65, it’s in the middle of our ideal LRV range and offers a well-balanced warmth and depth.

As for undertones, beige and tan differ from each other. So, being a tan paint color, Natural Tan has a very (very) vague green undertone, although some people see a wink of pink (which I’m yet to see).

FULL Paint Color Review of Natural Tan

SAMPLIZE offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots.

• Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1 BUSINESS DAY!
• they’re more affordable than the sample pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

The above suggestions are colors that come up repeatedly with my Online Paint Color Consulting clients. Does this mean they’ll be right for you? Not necessarily. There are many things to consider when it comes to choosing the COLOUR for your room, such as…

YOUR ROOM’S EXPOSURE & HOW IT AFFECTS COLORS

Whether you have north, south, east, west, or a MIX of those exposures – each room has its particular colour needs (which can be unrelated to the LRV number). And yes, I’ve written blog posts on EACH of those compass directions if you click the above links.

Kylie M & V1 Real Estate Photography

THE SIZE OF YOUR ROOM (size matters…amen)

The size of your room can be GREATLY affected by the LRV of the paint colour. I mean not literally, but visually. For example, if you have a room painted a light color, and you paint the end wall a darker shade, that end wall will look CLOSER and make the room look smaller.

The 13 Best Dark Navy Blue Paint Colors

On the other hand, small rooms often benefit from paint colors with higher LRVs as they reflect more light. However, I’ve made some small rooms look PRETTY DARN AMAZING with wicked dark hues.

3 Ideas to Add Personality to a Small Bathroom

INTERIOR FINISHES (HARD & SOFT)

Do you have wood cabinets or flooring? Or maybe you have a challenging carpet, couch, or countertop colour. Whatever it is, your paint colour must work WITH it, not against it. Often, we get caught up in the colors WE love and forget to honor our home’s finishes. While you want to keep your personal tastes in mind, listen to your home FIRST and work out from there.

PERSONAL TASTES

Which always amaze and excite me.

So, as you can see, picking the right COLOUR can be challenging; however, looking at colors that are between 60-70 is a GREAT place to start your color search. And if that doesn’t work? You know how to call…and it ain’t the Ghostbusters.

Find out your 3 BEST PAINT COLORS

Kylie M E-Designs and Online Colour Consulting 

Chat soon,

READ MORE

The Best Off-White Neutral Paint Colors

The Best WHOLE HOME Warm Neutral Paint Colors

The 12 Best Whole Home Paint Colours

The Best Gray and Greige Paint Colours – Sherwin Williams

Written in 2017, updated in 2023

The post The Best Paint NUMBERS for Your Home: 60-70 (LRV) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When it comes to updating a kitchen or bathroom with cream cabinets, it’s not just about looking for the best paint color (you’ll find a link to them in this blog post); it’s about understanding WHY it’s the best.

This is why I’ve compiled a collection of the most COMMON questions I get asked in my comment section, on Instagram, and on my YOUTUBE channel.

So without further ado, let’s get this cream-inspired color party started!

CAN I PAINT MY WALLS WHITE OR OFF-WHITE WITH CREAM CABINETS OR TRIM?

Hard no. You can stop looking; you can stop agonizing – that magical color doesn’t exist (insert wine here). It doesn’t matter whether you’re looking at a warm white or a true white; NO white will work, no exceptions (sorry).

Why?

• If you partner your cream cabinets (or trim) with a white, your cabinets will look MORE YELLOW in comparison. If this is okay with you, fill yer boots, but isn’t usually the desired look.
• If you partner your cream cabinets with an off-white paint color that’s the SAME COLOR as your cabinets, you risk some seriously clashing undertones – the two colors will be fighting for the same color slot.

Take a look at this next photo. You’ll see a range of warm off-white neutrals partnered with very creamy cabinets. Notice how much richer and more yellow the cabinets look compared to these warm off-whites…

Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White, Divine White, White Duck

Don’t worry; the above samples weren’t intended to be ‘coordinating wall colors’ – they were for a different project; I’m grateful as they came in handy for this blog post as a great example of what DOESN’T work!

Now let’s try to partner cream cabinets with a warm white or two…

This first example shows Sherwin Williams Antique White cabinets with a sample of Benjamin Moore Cloud White, a WARM white paint color…

While it never hurts to TRY, notice how much more yellow the cabinets look IN COMPARISON to a warm white – examples like these are important to see! It’s one thing to have cream walls and white trim; it’s a WHOLE ‘nother thing to turn that around. With this client, we were TRYING to humor a warm white, but it was a hard no.

And here’s Sherwin Williams Creamy, a warm off-white on Antique White again…

LOOK AT HOW GOLDEN YELLOW THOSE CABINETS LOOK IN COMPARISON! I mean, sometimes you don’t know until you TRY, but once you’ve tried and it doesn’t work, it’s time to move on (I tell this to Tim every Friday night).

Remember, just because you don’t want to hear it doesn’t mean it’s not true (said with love, wink wink).

THE EXCEPTIONS

1. If you’re among the lucky few who have cream cabinets that are on the HIGH of the off-white range (LRV of 80/81), you can get DARN CLOSE to soft white on your walls, as you’ll want to repeat your cabinet color on the walls. For example, Sherwin Williams Creamy is on the border of white/off-white. When a color like Creamy has this high LRV, it’s slightly more likely to act like a soft, warm white than an off-white, making it a GREAT choice for walls & cabinets (& trim).

2. If you have darker/heavier/more yellow cream cabinets or trim and are dead-set on having off-white walls…

I suggest painting your walls and cabinets the same color; there simply isn’t another choice in the off-white range.

That’s right, keep things simple and seamless; let the shift in sheens do the work for you. Even if this color is more yellow than you want, you can’t always get what you want when you have cream cabinets. If there were a BETTER CHOICE – I’d tell you, I promise. You can TRY lightening your cabinet color by 25% to get a slightly lighter look. It won’t make your cabinets look less yellow, and if it were me, I’d stick with the same color.

HOW DO I MAKE MY CREAM CABINETS OR TRIM LOOK LESS YELLOW?

When it comes to cream cabinets, it’s not about making them look less yellow – they ARE a yellow hue paint colour. And if this is your concern, it’s more about not making them look MORE yellow.

It’s hard to turn cream into something it’s not – and it’s not white. Of course, you have a WAY better chance of a muted look if your cream color has a high LRV (which we’ll learn about shortly). However, short of that, you HAVE cream-yellow trim.

1. DON’T USE AN OFF-WHITE THAT ISN’T AN EXACT MATCH TO YOUR CABINETS

An off-white or light-depth paint color that’s the same depth or lighter than your cream cabinets will make your cabinets or trim LOOK MORE YELLOW…

2. AVOID COOL COLOURS

Walls painted in a cool paint color (i.e., gray or blue-green) will make your cream cabinets or trim LOOK MORE YELLOW in comparison…

Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray – BEAUTIFUL combo, but that yellow sure lights up! 

The same applies to greige and taupe. While these are warm paint colors, they’re ‘cooler than’ cream.

3. PAINT YOUR WALLS THE SAME CREAM COLOR AS YOUR CABINETS OR TRIM

This is a tricky one, as the flow to adjoining rooms with WHITE trim can be tricky, but sometimes you can’t hit EVERY need with one color. When it comes to paint colors and design in general, you have to do what suits the room itself first and then work out from there.

Sometimes soft and simple is best – Benjamin Moore Navajo White

In this next example, my clients have Sherwin Williams Antique White cabinets…with a glaze on them. The glaze makes it SUPER TRICKY to work with as it tweaks the original color and intensity.

Their original goal was to find a warm white, but it just wouldn’t work with these cabinets. By eliminating other potential options (i.e., beige), we landed on Antique White, 25% lighter, which is as CLOSE to white as we’ll get!  Even though the match isn’t 100% and varies from one side of the wall to the other, they got the brighter look they were going for!

Sometimes when the ideal world doesn’t exist (the ‘ideal world’ usually being white cabinets), it’s about finding the NEXT best thing.

This next kitchen has VERY creamy-yellow cabinets, and the best solution is cream walls. This being said, while cream cabinets are often the best choice for particular granite countertops, if starting from scratch, we’d choose a cream with less yellow in it…

4. STICK WITH WARM, MUTED NEUTRALS

Neutrals in a light-medium to medium depth are your BEST shot at reducing the look of your cream cabinets. But remember, cream cabinets ARE cream cabinets, and short of painting them a more flexible white, they are what they are!

This last point isn’t one my E-Design clients usually want to hear, but it works.

CAN I PAINT MY WALLS GRAY OR GREIGE IF I HAVE CREAM CABINETS OR TRIM?

YES! But let’s be honest; it’s never that straightforward…

Warm colors rarely love being partnered with COOLER colors that are the SAME DEPTH OR LIGHTER than them. 

I want you to inscribe that on the annals of your soul (I’ve been made aware there are two ‘n’s in annal, duly noted). And while things change as warm colors get DARKER, if you’re anywhere in the white to medium range, tread carefully.

The #1 Secret to Coordinating Warm & Cool Paint Colors

Warm colors will only tolerate colors that are COOLER than them if they’re DARKER than them.

And I’m talking about a good 20+ LRV points or more (it can vary depending on HOW YELLOW your cream is). By the way, I don’t mean just COOL colors; I’m talking about colors that are simply ‘not as warm as‘ the color they’re being partnered with. If you look at WARMER options for your walls, you can sometimes bump down to 15 LRV points difference.

Once you memorize that magical tip, your paint-pickin’ life will be SO…MUCH…EASIER (you’ll learn about LRV shortly).

This dining room has Sherwin Williams Creamy on the trim. Because Creamy is ALMOST a white paint color, it looks wicked gorgeous with Chelsea Gray walls. It also helps that Chelsea Gray is significantly darker than Creamy, so they don’t come close to competing in depth…

As shown in this next space, the walls are too cool and too light for the creamy off-white warmth of the trim and cabinets…

Even if the LRV were lower, this cool-toned paint color doesn’t SUIT the surrounding finishes. The above is a great example of someone who wanted a certain color on their walls, regardless of whether it made sense.

Pick paint colors for the home you HAVE, not the home you WISH you had.

Let’s look at cream cabinets (similar to Sherwin Williams Antique White) with Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray and Popular Gray. These two colors are 15 and 11 LRV points (respectively) lower than Antique White.

These weren’t options I loved, but my client wanted to try them, and sometimes you just don’t know until you try! 

Notice how Worldly Gray (left) sits a BIT better than Popular Gray (right). HOWEVER, neither are any screamin’ glory. While Worldly Gray is ‘better,’ it’s still very questionable and makes the cabinets look darn warm in comparison. I’m always happy to humor clients when they want to TRY something like this, as sometimes they need to see for themselves why it doesn’t work.

In this next photo, my client had cream trim (colour unknown). LUCKILY, it wasn’t a super dark OR super yellow cream, meaning we had a bit more flexibility. Even then, we had to darken Edgecomb Gray by 25% just to increase the LRV between the two colors and get some kind of play between them…

What’s LRV & why do I need it? 

If you’ve been drinkin’ my wine-spiked Koolaid for a while, you’ll know how IMPORTANT LRV is in the paint-picking process. Here’s the gist…

Every paint colour has an LRV number on a scale from 0-100.

0 is pure black, and 100 is pure white. 

The closer a paint color’s LRV is to 0, the closer to black it is. 

The closer a paint color’s LRV is to 100, the closer to white it is.

As it relates to the different depths, here are the approx. Ranges for our purposes here today…

• WHITE PAINT COLORS: 82 – 94
• OFF-WHITE PAINT COLORS: 74 – 81 (average cream cabinet depth is 72-78 LRV)
• LIGHT DEPTH PAINT COLORS: 55 – 73
• LIGHT-MEDIUM DEPTH PAINT COLORS: 40-54

If you’re unfamiliar with LRV, PLEASE take a few minutes to check out this article; it will be SO worth it and show you WHERE TO FIND the LRV of paint colors.

In this next kitchen, in between the cream/yellow hues of the cabinets, pink undertone in the countertop, and white window trim, it’s a TRICKY one. However, it has some beautiful bones!

cre

HOW DOES KNOWING MY PAINT COLOR’S LRV HELP ME CHOOSE?

To find paint colors that look good with your cream cabinets or trim, you’ll want to start with colors approximately 20 LRV points LOWER than your cream colour (I said 15 earlier, but that’s a stretch). This is why it’s SO IMPORTANT to nail down which cream you’re dealing with (or as close as possible).

The closer the two paint colors are in depth, the more they’ll compete. You need APPROX. 20+ LRV points between your cream cabinets/trim and your wall color.

WHAT COLOR WALLS GO WITH CREAM OR OFF-WHITE CABINETS (OR TRIM)?

I swear, when I read online info, it’s like some advisors pull colors out of their…well, out of thin air. One site says, ‘blue, taupe, white, gray.’ Seriously, thanks – I’ll pass on pretty much all of those.

In reality, this is a HUGE topic. SO BIG that I’ve dedicated an entire blog post to it, which you can check out below…

READ MORE

The Best Wall Paint Colors for Cream Cabinets & Trim

The 6 Best Off-White Paint Colors

The 13 Most Popular Cream Paint Colors

The Best Warm Paint Colors that AREN’T BEIGE! 

The Best Off-White & Light Depth Kitchen Cabinet Colors

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY EXPERT ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING PACKAGES! 

Chat soon,

The post HOW TO UPDATE CREAM OR OFF-WHITE CABINETS & TRIM: Common Questions appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Blue is a popular paint pick for MANY reasons. It’s calming, classic, coastal, country – subtle, striking, and sensual. But there’s one thing it isn’t, and that’s easy to pick.

And while I’ve written a blog post about the best blue and blue-green paint colors, we need to have a lil’ chat before you whip out your paintbrush. Why? Because while they may seem simple, all blues are NOT created equal…

TRUE BLUE PAINT COLORS

Short of going ‘primary blue,’ it can be hard to peg down a true blue, particularly once you start mixing in gray.

Benjamin Moore Newburyport Blue

A colour like Newburyport Blue is more likely to give a ‘true-blue vibe’ without entering the primary range.

BLUE PAINT COLORS WITH PURPLE UNDERTONES

These blues lean slightly more toward purple/violet without committing all the way. A blue-violet often feels a bit cooler than neutral or softer blues. Technically, these are blues with a touch of red (and you know how technical I am – wink wink).

Benjamin Moore Steel Wool

In our last home (above), it was a toss-up as to whether our guests thought the paint colour was blue, blue-purple, or gray!

BLUE PAINT COLORS WITH GREEN UNDERTONES

I’m not going to say that blue-greens are WARM, but they’re definitely a bit softer and more inviting looking than shades of blue-violet. Blue-greens ‘technically’ have a touch of yellow in them.

Benjamin Moore Beach Glass

Sherwin Williams Tidewater

Above two photos: Benjamin Moore Silver Marlin

In the above two photos of Silver Marlin, things look pretty darn green in spots! However, this combines lighting and exposure, as Silver Marlin is a beautiful blend of blue, green, and gray!

Why does all of this matter?

Because you want to make sure you pick the type of blue you like and avoid the ones you don’t. For example, if you don’t like purple, there is a whole WHACK of blues that you’ll want to avoid; the same thing for green.

Sherwin Williams Cyberspace. See the whole room here

Paint Color Review: Sherwin Williams Cyberspace

HOW DO YOU FIGURE OUT WHICH SHADE OF BLUE IS BEST?

1. Ask the paint store which side of the blue scale your fave sits on.
2. Compare. Pick your FAVE four to six shades of blue and compare them (even if one or two are faves, grab some more). This will help you notice how undertones shift from one to another.

The above photo shows three of Sherwin William’s more popular blue paint colors.

LEFT: BLUE-PURPLE. This includes Windy Blue, Bracing Blue, and Indigo Batik.

CENTER: BLUE (touch of green). A popular color strip, including Languid Blue, Tempe Star, and Whirlpool. As this strip gets darker, the green comes up more.

RIGHT: MORE OBVIOUS BLUE-GREEN. The TOP blue strip these days, including hits like Tradewind, Rain, and Moody Blue.

For each one of these color strips, there are MORE comparables if you want to shift more green or violet – it just depends on which direction you’re heading in!

Sherwin Williams Jubilee

BLUE PAINT COLORS IN NORTH-FACING ROOMS

To paint your north-facing room a beautiful blue, you need to tread carefully. Northern exposure is a cool gray/blue light. Adding blue to the walls will only compound the ‘cool look’ of the room, and northern light also enhances cool colors.

Benjamin Moore Woodlawn Blue

If you’ve fallen in love with a cool-toned blue, get ready for some serious interior work with lighting, accents, and texture to add balance and visual warmth to the space.

Benjamin Moore Lucerne

However, if you’re worried about blue looking too cool for your room, consider a blue leans into green so that it’s a bit softer.

Read more: The Best Paint Colours for North-Facing Rooms

BLUE & SOUTH-FACING ROOMS

Unlike a north-facing room, a southern room just loooooves blue. Why? South-facing light is warm/yellow, and painting a southern room a warm colour only packs on the heat! By painting the walls a cool blue tone, you’ll help balance the warm sun rays and add serious colour balance to the space.

Benjamin Moore Mount Saint Anne and Benjamin Moore Beach Glass 

However, it’s important that you LOVE blue, as in the evening, you won’t have that warm sunshine to balance things and will have to rely on your interior lighting to add balance.

Read more: The Best Paint Colors for South-Facing Rooms

BLUE & THE BEST LIGHT BULBS/KELVINS

How your blue looks can be subject to the type of light you shine on it…

WARM-TEMPERATURE LIGHT BULBS

When there isn’t any daylight, you might find that warm bulbs (particularly old-school bulbs) can cast a yellow/gold glow on the walls. When this mixes with blue, it can create a kind of blue/green blend (especially the 2700K range, give or take).

DAYLIGHT LIGHT BULBS

While personally, I find daylight bulbs a bit too crisp for everyday living; they can be nice in a bathroom.

Shown above: BM Stonybrook. See the entire home palette here

Daylight bulbs will show your blue at its most true, but remember that this higher Kelvin isn’t a warm, friendly-looking light. I’ve found that men often prefer daylight bulbs, whereas women often like the softness of a warmer light (3500K is often a happy medium).

COLD-TEMPERATURE LIGHT BULBS

There’s not a single room that I would recommend these for – nada.

WHAT ARE THE BEST WHITE TRIM COLORS FOR BLUE?

There are three ways to paint your trim when you’re using blue.

1. COOL WHITE

Cool whites can keep up the crisp, clean, cool vibe of your blues. Remember, it’s best if your white trim is consistent throughout your home, and a cool white trim won’t accommodate a wide range of colors.

2. TRUE WHITE

Choosing a simple white like Benjamin Moore’s Chantilly Lace is often the safest bet when painting with blue. However, it ALL depends on your décor style and other features, such as any white cabinets/existing whites – it’s best not to mix and match your whites!

3. WARM WHITE

A warm white will slightly contrast with the blue, creating a pretty combo as long as you don’t go TOO warm on the white; subtle and simple is best (i.e., Benjamin Moore White Dove.)

 The 8 Best Benjamin Moore White Paint Colors

So, now that we’ve covered the basics of blue, it’s time to pick your FAVE, so head over to this blog post to see some of my faves!

PEOPLE ALSO ASK…

WHAT’S THE MOST POPULAR SHADE OF BLUE?

It depends on which depth you’re looking for. Benjamin Moore Hale Navy is one of the best darker navy blues, as is Sherwin Williams Cyberspace. In the light range, Sherwin Williams Tradewind is popular, as well as Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue and Ocean Air.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Hale Navy

WHAT’S THE MOST CALMING SHADE OF BLUE?

The answer is open to personal tastes. Many find darker shades of blue more calming and relaxing, whereas others prefer lighter shades of blue mixed with gray and green.

READ MORE:

The 8 Best Blue and Green Paint Colours BM and SW

Sherwin Williams Upward: Color Review (Color of the Year 2024)

Colour Review: Sherwin Williams Network Gray

Benjamin Moore Smoke Paint Color Review

Not sure which blue is right for you?

Check out my FUN E-Design packages! 

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2018, AWESOME UPDATED FOR YOU IN 2023

The post What’s the Best Blue Paint Color for Your Walls? appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Do you have gray walls and want to warm things up a little? Or maybe you have a BEIGE-ON-BEIGE home (hellloooo, Tuscan trend) and want to add some cool balance with gray, greige, or taupe. Either way, pairing warm and cool colors together is tricky business.

WHY?

There’s ONE BIG REASON. And once you understand the ‘WHY’ of it all…

• you’ll save yourself a LOT of pain, suffering, and marriage counseling bills
• it will be SO much easier to coordinate beige and gray in your room/home
• you’ll be able to find shades of gray and beige that actually go together

The above doesn’t mean you’ll LOVE what I have to say, but just because it hurts doesn’t mean it isn’t true (just like when Tim says wine isn’t a breakfast beverage). So here it is…

HOW TO MIX BEIGE WITH GRAY, TAUPE, OR GREIGE

First, when I say BEIGE, you can also assume I’m talking about cream paint colors. It’s easier to say this than to say ‘beige and cream’ every single time – although I DO love to hear myself talk.

Second, when I say ‘cool colors,’ I’m not just talking about gray; I’m talking about any color that’s COOLER THAN beige (or cream) – and that’s a lot of colors when it comes to the wild world of neutrals. And trust me when I tell you this next part…

When partnering cool colors with warm colors (or finishes), the cool colour should be DARKER than the warm one (or at LEAST the same depth).

Why?

Let’s flip things around (which is also Tim’s favorite Friday night saying)…

When partnering warm colors with cooler colors (or finishes), the warm color should be LIGHTER than the cool one (or at LEAST the same depth).

I want you to reread the above and sit with it for a bit – think about how it relates to what you’ve been trying to do. Does this explain a WHOLE LOT? While some same-depth, cool-warm partnerships can work, you need to tread carefully, which many of us aren’t inclined to do when we have a vision of what we WANT.

Check out the combo in this next photo. Why does this palette BARELY make the cut?

PRO: the gray shiplap wall is darker than the creamy-beige wall (as it should be) = the cooler colour is darker than the lighter, warmer color.

BORDERLINE: the gray shiplap wall is the same depth as the beige sofa. However, if the gray shiplap were any lighter, the palette would look off-balance as the WARM colour would be the STRONGER of the two.

The above demonstrates the SECRET TIP we’re learning that…

Warm neutrals are fussy with neutrals that are cooler AND lighter than them.

Cool neutrals are fussy with neutrals that are warmer AND darker than them.

Why does the palette in this next home work so well?

The cool color (Benjamin Moore Stratton Blue) is DARKER THAN the warm color (Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray) and the beige tile.

Remember, even though Edgecomb Gray isn’t a beige or cream, it’s WARMER THAN the blue-green it’s being partnered with, so the blue-green needs to be darker than it.

In this next photo, the cooler color (walls) is a wink darker than the warm color (the carpet)…

Now, here’s where it gets a BIT tricky. While I nodded toward the following general guideline earlier, I want to hammer it home a bit more. And seriously, once you understand this general guideline, it will make your paint-pickin’ life a WHOLE LOT EASIER!

Here we go…

The above info doesn’t necessarily mean literal WARM and COOL colors (i.e., beige or gray) – it also applies to colors that are ‘COOLER OR WARMER THAN‘ the colour you’re trying to coordinate with.

What does this mean?

Let’s look at a few examples where the above guideline applies…

• taupe is a warm paint color, but it’s COOLER THAN beige
• cool gray is COOLER THAN warm gray
• a dark beige is WARMER THAN a light taupe or greige (although all are WARM colors)

That’s right; the above doesn’t apply to traditionally ‘warm or cool paint colors’; it also applies to ANY neutral, including gray, beige, greige, taupe, cream, tan, or white. The idea is that…

ANY colour or finish (no matter which neutral it is) can be sensitive to a colour that’s cooler & lighter OR warmer & darker than it*.

*Remember, there are ALWAYS exceptions, so don’t get your knickers in a knot if your home is one of them.

This next photo shows an exception with Sherwin Williams Crushed Ice and a warm-toned stone fireplace…

Crushed Ice BARELY makes the cut in the above room. In fact, it’s lucky that it’s the same depth as the beige stone; if it were any lighter, the combo would be off. Sure, this room would PREFER a warmer off-white beige, but sometimes, there’s a happy medium between what suits a home and what a homeowner wants!

NEED HELP? Check out my ONLINE PAINT COLOR PACKAGES – let me make it easy for you! 

Check out this next space – do you think the palette between the dining room and the foyer is well-balanced?

Notice how the darker beige in the foyer looks dingy and heavy compared to the lighter, cool tone in the dining room – they aren’t happy together. Truth be told, even the dining chairs are a bit uneasy with the wall color.

There are occasions where a ‘same depth warm-cool combo’ works. There are FAR FEWER situations where a color that’s ‘lighter AND cooler than its warmer partner‘ works. If I had photos of them, I’d show them to you (as I only use photos from my Online Color Consulting clients).

As for actual ‘COLOURS,’ you have much more flexibility when partnering neutrals with COLORS. Even then, the reason this next room sings is that the blue-green paint colour is DARKER THAN the beige chairs – the cooler colour is darker than the warmer neutral.

I know it’s a lot to process. But the dots should come together once you sit and consider how this advice relates to your space.

Think about the colors you’ve been trying to put together. Are they not working? Does something seem ‘off’? There could be a few reasons for this…

1. You might not have chosen the right undertone for your room’s finishes (a blog post unto itself).

2. You don’t have the decor and furnishings to support the color direction you’re going in (another blog post).

3. While YOU might be ready for a color change, the finishes in your home might disagree. Some homes can’t HANDLE a warmer/cooler shift, or at least not one that YOU’RE also happy with.

OR, if your room can handle a change AND you have the right undertones and furnishings for visual support…

…maybe you need to adjust the DEPTH of color you’re looking at – it could be that easy.

That’s right. The gray, greige, or taupe you’re TRYING to partner with your beige or cream might work if it’s a bit darker! This applies whether you’re creating a paint palette or partnering paint colors with fabrics or other finishes.

In this next family room, if the sofa were one tone darker, it would be MUCH happier with the Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream walls. As it is, they’re fighting each other as they’re too similar in depth. Alternatively, the walls could be a lighter tone, more like Benjamin Moore’s Navajo White or White Dove.

Are you still with me?

5 Ideas: How To De-Beige Your Home

HOW TO CHOOSE GRAY, GREIGE, OR TAUPE COLORS TO GO WITH BEIGE FINISHES

I get it if the above info didn’t quite seal the deal – it’s a tricky topic. Let’s do things step-by-step.

While you can’t put a number (as it relates to depth) on beige carpet, countertop, tile, or furniture (whereas you can with paint), it’s about LOOKING at the finish you’re coordinating with and figuring out its general depth. Is it light depth, medium, dark, or somewhere in the middle?

The cool gray-blue-green walls are DARKER THAN the off-white warm sofas – PERFECT! 

Let’s say you have a beige carpet, tile, or countertop (or all three)…

1. LOOK AT SHADES OF GRAY, GREIGE, OR TAUPE THAT ARE LIGHTER THAN YOUR BEIGE/CREAM FINISH

• Do your paint samples seem a bit disconnected from the surfaces around them?
• Do the colors seem a bit uncomfortable with each other?

This could be because of the above information regarding warm colors preferring cooler colors that AREN’T lighter than them.

2. LOOK AT SHADES OF GRAY, GREIGE, OR TAUPE THAT ARE THE SAME DEPTH AS YOUR BEIGE/CREAM FINISH

• Does it seem like your room breathes a sigh of relief compared to the lighter versions?
• But have you REALLY hit your home’s happy place? You won’t know until you do STEP 3.

You might have started your journey by looking at LIGHTER colors. But having seen that they don’t always work, shifting a bit darker could be your best move – even if darker isn’t what you have in mind.

The gray in the dining room is darker than the beige in the foyer.

It’s not always about what YOU want; it’s more often about your home and what it NEEDS.

In this next photo, the palette works because the light walls (Benjamin Moore Light Pewter) are lighter AND warmer than the gray in the dining area (Sherwin Williams Ellie Gray)…

Also note, the gray in the dining room is cooler AND darker than the area rug – PERFECT. If this were reversed, the rug wouldn’t look good.

3. LOOK AT A FEW COLORS THAT ARE A GOOD SHADE DARKER THAN YOUR WARM FINISH.

• Do the finishes in your room seem to respond better to this increase in depth?
• This doesn’t mean the ‘same depth’ colors don’t work – they might, but going that step darker could get you closer to your perfect palette.

If things STILL aren’t working…

a) You might be looking at the wrong undertones for your finishes. For example, SOME beiges don’t look great with some blue hues, whereas others do. Some beiges don’t suit green undertones, whereas some do! There are MANY factors at play.

b) Your room might not look good with ANY paint colour that’s cooler than its current finishes; the original design of it wasn’t meant to accommodate cooler hues.

Did you know that Samplize offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots?

• Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on the location.
• They’re more affordable than the sample pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling.

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

Sometimes going WITH your finish rather than against it, is the best choice.

Cream cabinets and trim are the PERFECT examples of finishes that don’t love colors that are cooler AND lighter than them. I’ve had dozens of Online Colour Consulting clients wanting to update their cream-inspired homes with cooler hues, and we bump up against the same challenge every time – they want something lighter and cooler than their home can handle.

And sometimes, they must undergo the process of SEEING what doesn’t work to believe it, as shown in this next photo…

Not only is this particular shade of blue LIGHTER THAN the cream cabinets, but it’s also too CLEAN looking.

Shifting a bit darker certainly helps…

The above combo is better than the previous one. However, if you ask me, the cool color contrasts too much with the warmth of the cabinets, making them look EVEN WARMER/creamier (which isn’t usually the goal). However, I’m often happy to humor clients if they want to explore a certain color, even if I don’t advise it – sometimes, they have to see it to believe it!

The 16 Best Paint Colours to Update Cream Cabinets & Trim

Remember, this is all general guidance – there are exceptions and anomalies. HOWEVER, if the colors you’re looking at aren’t working – the above reasons could be why.

QUICK QUESTIONS & ANSWERS

CAN GRAY & BEIGE GO TOGETHER?

Yes, you can mix warm and cool colors in a home, as long as the gray (cooler color) is darker than the beige (warmer color) it’s being partnered with.

WHAT COLOR BEIGE MIXES WELL WITH GRAY?

The beige paint color should be LIGHTER than the gray it’s partnered with. I’ll be covering this in an upcoming blog post.

CAN GRAY & BEIGE BE IN THE SAME ROOM IN DECOR OR PAINT?

Yes, they can, but be sure both are repeated MORE than once (three times is ideal).

DOES CLASSIC GRAY GO WITH BEIGE?

Unless the beige paint color of finishes (i.e., tile, carpet, or furniture) you have is VERY LIGHT – (lighter than Classic Gray), generally speaking, no. these two don’t go together. Bump down to Benjamin Moore Collingwood and see if it fits better, but you may need to go even darker.

CAN YOU MIX GRAY & CREAM PAINT?

Yes, as long as the gray is darker than the cream and the undertones of the gray suit the space and the type of cream you have (yellow-orange, yellow-pink, or yellow-green).

Of course, I could keep on typing. I have a LOT more to say about some more CLOSELY RELATED topics. But for brevity and sanity (both in short supply around here), they get their OWN BLOG POSTS!

READ MORE

5 Ideas: How To De-Beige Your Home

The 12 Best Gray & Greige Paint Colors

Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige Paint Color Review

The Best Warm Neutrals that AREN’T BEIGE! 

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING

Chat soon,

The post HOW TO DECORATE WITH BEIGE & GRAY (OR WARM & COOL) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

You’ll see a lot on Pinterest about ‘No Fail Neutrals’ or, ‘The Top 10 No-Fail Paint Colours…’ I’m here to burst your bubble and tell you, ‘There is no such thing as a no-fail neutral.’

Why? 

Oh, Lordy, where do I start?

Are there colors with a better chance of working in your home than others? ABSOLUTELY, and I’m going to share these with you. However, no ONE color will work in every home in any room.

I’ll be sharing a shortlist of my favorite, most VERSATILE neutral paint colors at the end of this blog post, but FIRST, let’s do a little learnin’!

PERSONAL PERCEPTION & PAINT COLORS

What a color is and what it LOOKS like to you can be two different things. I could tell you that Benjamin Moore Rodeo is a warm gray – you might think it’s too cool or too warm/greige. You could tell me that Sherwin Williams Peppercorn is the perfect neutral gray paint color, whereas I see it as WAY too colorful and not neutral at all!

It all comes down to perception. So if an influencer or Designer tells you that a color is the BEST no-fail neutral…I guarantee it isn’t ‘no fail’ at all. They might say it’s the ‘best no-fail greige‘ when you don’t see it as greige, but something else entirely.

Sure, a lot of my blog posts say, ‘the best this – the best that,’ and this is based on my experience (which is extensive). However, I won’t say that, come heck or high water, a particular color works every single time.

Because in the end, it all comes down to YOU. Picking paint colors can be stressful; looking for that PERFECT neutral can seem impossible. This is why you’ll learn a few ins and outs about why you may or may not be finding the color you love.

Benjamin Moore Rodeo

Let’s take a look at YOU. There are two types of ‘you.’

THE ‘EASY TO PLEASE’ YOU

You want a great paint colour, but not at all costs. (Men often fall into this category).

• You quickly narrow it down to 2-3 colors, pick one, and run with it – no paint samples, no muss, no fuss.
• You may notice that it looks slightly different from wall to wall, but you aren’t too worried about it – it’s just paint.

Benjamin Moore Ballet White

THE ‘BANG YOUR HEAD AGAINST THE WALL’ YOU

You absolutely AGONIZE over picking the right paint colour, and it can take weeks, if not months, to decide, and even THEN you second guess yourself. I definitely belong to this group. While I advise my Online Paint Color Consulting clients all day, I get massive anxiety when it comes to my home.

Why?

With your home, I don’t get emotional – I can look at your space and personal tastes logically. When it comes to my home, logic goes OUT THE WINDOW, and I think things to death. It comes down to the fact that I love too many colors and hate committing. Does this sound like you…?

• You pick up dozens of paint samples and have them taped to or painted on your walls
• You agonize over how each color changes on each wall – more green there, more purple there, and maybe a bit pink over there!
• There are empty wine bottles on your floor and dents in your wall from all of the headbanging

Yes, my lovely, this article is for you, because if you’re in the OTHER group, you’re probably not reading this blog post in the first place!

So, take a deep breath and realize that sometimes you are up against Mother Nature and a wild assortment of other things that can make it challenging to pick the PERFECT colour for EVERY corner of EVERY wall. That is reality.

THE ILLUSION OF THE ‘NO FAIL NEUTRAL’

The idea behind a ‘No-Fail Neutral’ is that they will work in any room, in any conditions – hence the ‘no fail.’ This means that these colors won’t fail no matter what your exposure, your carpet, your countertop, or your personal tastes. But many will…

Why?

METAMERISM & PAINT COLORS

Metamerism is the cold, hard fact that paint colors will change depending on their environment. Exposure, reflection, artificial lighting – these things WILL greatly affect how a colour may look in your home. And yes, there is MUCH MORE SCIENCE involved in all of this than ANY OF US really care to know about, so this is about keeping things a bit more ‘KD and box o’ wine,’ rather than ‘quiche and caviar.’

The more ‘colors’ a paint color has mixed into its recipe, the more susceptible it can be to metamerism. Paint colors that are made up of only 2-3 colors mixed together will be a bit more predictable than colors that blend 5+ colors (i.e., Benjamin Moore’s Affinity Collection).

Let’s look at some of the different parts of metamerism (OH THE JOY!!!)

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Paint Colors with LRV

PAINT COLORS & NATURAL LIGHT/EXPOSURES

That beautiful off-white that looked subtle and warm in your south-facing room may look cold and grayish in your north-facing room.

Why?

Because your room’s exposure (or exposures) can greatly affect paint colors.

• North-facing light: Gray with a blueish cast
• South-facing light: Yellow
• East and West: Well, they are a hot mess as they change drastically from morning to afternoon, so we may as well not even go there

You can’t expect a paint colour to act the same on every wall in every room – it’s impossible. 

North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best?

PAINT COLORS & REFLECTION

‘Every colour that I’ve looked at looks green in my room’ – I hear this ALL the time with my Online Consulting clients, and most often, these colors simply have NO green in them! One look at the photos they send shows me WHY every colour is taking on a green hue – reflection. Outside the windows, there are usually expanses of bright green grass, landscaping that is close to the window, or a large bank of trees.’

In this next photo, notice the green undertone on the space closest to the floor. Then, notice the strip of green putting/golf turf…

I had another client who didn’t understand why her samples looked pinkish in her room – there is no such thing as pink natural light (unless you get an epic sunset). One look at her photos showed me a deck stained in a lovely, rich red – the same lovely red reflecting onto her walls!

So, while the best intentions might pick the perfect beige that ‘seems’ to be as neutral as neutral can get, this same neutral can change more than a chameleon as you go from one end of a wall to the other.

BTW: There’s not much you can do about this, short of shutting your drapes…or your eyes.

Why can’t you do anything? 

Let’s say you have a lot of green coming into your room via the exterior landscaping. A natural way to combat this would be to balance things out with red. What does red become when it’s lightened? Pink. And while pink has its place, it’s usually better on ham than on walls. Sure, the walls that pick up the green reflection might seem a bit more neutral, but on the other walls, and in the evening, you actually have to LIVE with this pinkish colour you’ve chosen (never mind it being the right color for your interior finishes, that’s a WHOLE different topic).

LET ME CHOOSE YOUR COLORS FOR YOU! 

PAINT COLORS & ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING/LIGHT BULBS

The type of light bulbs you use can greatly affect how your paint color looks. And sure, this is something you have CONTROL over; however, sometimes the type of light bulb that lets a paint colour look its most authentic is the one you don’t feel comfortable living in.

• INCANDESCENT LIGHT BULTS & PAINT COLORS: Tends to be a warmer light, enhancing colors like red, yellow, and orange. Dulls cooler colors.
• FLUORESCENT LIGHTS & PAINT COLORS: A cool light that enhances blues and greens. Dulls warmer colors.
• CFLs & PAINT COLORS: You must watch these as it depends on the light bulb’s Kelvins. A lower rating = a warmer bulb. A higher rating = a cooler light, more like natural ‘daylight.’
• HALOGEN BULBS & PAINT COLORS: Can enhance colors slightly, resembling daylight to a degree.
• LEDs & PAINT COLORS: The light that will make most paint colors look their most authentic. From there, you play with the Kelvins and CRI.

And then there’s your lamp shades…

A big part of lighting is the color of the lamp or light shade (glass or fabric). White shades give off a cleaner light. White opaque glass shades tend to reflect the Kelvins of their bulbs the best, whereas white FABRIC lampshades almost always cast a warmer light. Amber shades or colored shades will reflect a tinted light onto the walls as the light filters through it – regardless of the bulb type (even though the bulb will still influence things).

5 PAINT COLORS THAT ARE AS CLOSE AS POSSIBLE TO ‘NO-FAIL NEUTRALS’

These colors are shades that come up repeatedly in my E-design, colors that work in the average home, on the average wall, cabinets, trim, or exterior. Let’s see if they might work for you!

SHERWIN WILLIAMS EDGECOMB GRAY

Edgecomb Gray is definitely a popular warm neutral. Snuggled in tight between gray and beige, Edgecomb Gray is a transitional color, bridging the warm and cool worlds, with a depth RIGHT in my happy place.

Learn ALL ABOUT Edgecomb Gray in its FULL COLOR REVIEW

SHERWIN WILLIAMS EGRET WHITE

Egret White is on the edge of the off-white and light ranges, offering nice contrast with trim without too much visual weight. Some call it a warm gray; others see it as a taupe due to its subtle undertones. It’s great on walls, exteriors, and even kitchen cabinets!

Learn ALL ABOUT Egret White in its FULL COLOR REVIEW

BENJAMIN MOORE WHITE DOVE

Regarding flexible shades of white, White Dove is near the top of the list (along with Sherwin Williams Pure White). While White Dove is white, it’s a soft, warm shade of white that suits a WIDE range of interior finishes, including tiles, countertops, brick, stone, and more. White Dove is a GREAT place to start your color adventures, whether for your walls, cabinets, trims, or exterior.

Learn ALL ABOUT White Dove in its FULL COLOR REVIEW

SHERWIN WILLIAMS NATURAL LINEN

If you’re looking for a popular, versatile shade of beige, Natural Linen is rising in the ranks. Not as heavy as the beiges from the early 2000s, but not in the off-white world, Natural Linen suits a ton of beige tiles, countertops, and other interior finishes common from the early 2000s, as well as more modern beige surfaces.

Learn ALL ABOUT Natural Linen in its FULL COLOR REVIEW

BENJAMIN MOORE COLLINGWOOD

When it comes to gray paint colors, those with a subtle purple undertone tend to suit more interior finishes than those with blue or green undertones. For this reason, Collingwood can be a great fit for the average home.

Learn ALL ABOUT Collingwood in its FULL COLOR REVIEW

So, you can stop wondering why you can’t seem to find the perfect paint color, take a deep breath and find the paint colour that fits the bill most of the time. Sure, it might look a bit grayish here or a bit yellowish there, but as long as it has the bones you are looking for, then go for it!

And if all else fails, you know who to call (wink wink).

READ MORE

The 5 Best, Almost Fool-Proof Paint Colors For Your Home

The 3 Best, Most Timeless Neutral Paint Colors

The 8 Best WHOLE HOME Warm Neutral Paint Colors

6 Tips for Choosing a Paint Color When You’re an Overthinker

Check out my Online Paint Colour Consulting! 

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2017, UPDATED IN 2023

The post YOUR BEST ‘NO-FAIL’ NEUTRAL PAINT COLORS (OR NOT…) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

I’ve heard it DOZENS of times, ‘my sister/friend had this gorgeous colour in her living room, so I painted it in my house, but it looks TERRIBLE!‘

It’s easy to be inspired by a decoratively-inclined friend. However, just because something looks good in your friend’s house, doesn’t mean it will look good in yours. It’s like going to the hairdresser and saying, ‘I want my hair colour and style to look JUST like Kate Middleton’s, ‘ without understanding that you and Kate have different face shapes and coloring and simply don’t SUIT the same look. She comes out looking like a princess; you come out looking like a Muppet.

There’s a lot to consider when choosing the perfect paint color, and the very LAST thing to consider is how it looks in your friend’s home! I’m a rude lil’ Ginger, I know. But really, how much YOU like it in your friend’s home can be pretty irrelevant if your home doesn’t like it – and your home has some serious needs, starting with exposure.

PAINT COLORS VS. EXPOSURES

Did you know that most paint colors will look DRASTICALLY different in north-facing rooms compared to south-facing rooms? It’s a lovely little thing called metamerism, which basically refers to when a color changes the way it looks in different environments (exposure being the quality and temperature of the sunshine – or lack thereof, coming in your windows). Not only are there north, east, south, and west, but there are also north-east, south-west – and so on and so forth.

And, of course, there are OTHER forms of metamerism, but for the sake of our sanity, we’re sticking with this one for now.

And do you know what REALLY helps? Wine Examples – I know you’re just here for the pretty pictures and my wit anyway…

Let’s start with Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray, one of my fave greige paint colors. Let’s say that Susan painted her south-facing living room Agreeable Gray and LOVED it, and so did her best friend, Nancy!

So, Nancy decided to use it in HER living room too, except her living room was NORTH facing, and it turned out WAY different from Susan’s. Now Nancy is left wondering what the heck went wrong! Was it a mistint? Did she get the wrong paint? Should she have primed? Maaaaybe, but regardless, Nancy didn’t consider her space’s specific needs.

Now, let’s pretend that Angela loves the warm creamy look of Sherwin Williams Creamy in Dave’s living room (oh, that Dave, he’s so stylish)…

The 13 Best Medium-Depth Blue Paint Colors

But she’s bummed out when she paints it in her north-east facing stairwell – it isn’t as creamy warm!

Why didn’t things work out for Angela and Nancy? Well, these silly gals didn’t realize that because their rooms had different exposures from their friends and different surroundings, the paint colors would look different!

Want to learn more about exposures? I have articles specific to EVERY direction – north/south/east/west, so you can learn which colors are best for the exposure of YOUR room.

This next exterior shows Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter on an exterior with NO sun on it…

And here it is with a full dose of southern sunshine…

It’s not just the siding that looks warmer, but the shutters and trim do as well.

MORAL OF THE STORY

Don’t be like Angela and Nancy – sample sample sample. Sure, you can check out the same color, but order peel & stick samples before you start slappin’ it on your walls.

 North, East, South, West – Which Paint Colour is the Best?

PAINT COLORS vs. LIGHT BULBS vs. NATURAL LIGHT

This is a creature unto itself. In fact, I wrote an entire blog post about paint colors and light bulbs, but here’s the short and curly…

In the olden days (you know, like 1995), if you wanted to change a bulb, you just changed the damn bulb. Nowadays, you actually get to choose the TYPE of bulb and the TEMPERATURE of the bulb – lucky you!

So, let’s say you go to your friend’s house one evening, and she has a beautiful gray paint color on her living room walls. And you love this gray’s warm, inviting look JUST how it is. You might not be considering her light bulb temperature or furnishings; you just like how it looks.

You go home and paint YOUR living room that color. After painting ALLL day (with intermittent wine infusions), you stand back when it’s done, and say, ‘damn, I love that color – personal high-five.’ You go to bed pretty pleased with yourself and wake up the next day to cool gray walls and a mild hangover. You give yourself a few slaps (not so different from the personal high-fives, but to the face) and say, ‘Am I dreaming? That is NOT the colour I painted!’ I’m sad to say it is the color you painted; you just see it in a new light.

The above two photos are the PERFECT examples of that situation. In fact, you would think that the above living room was painted two different colors; however, you’re looking at Benjamin Moore Classic Gray, a warm gray with a very subtle purple undertone (remember, ALL grays have undertones). In the northwest daylight, you can see how it falls back a bit grayer and cooler, whereas, in the evening, it’s a sure-fire taupe!

This is what happened to my client – the owner of the above living room, and the photos below. She wrote to me because she LOVED her Classic Gray living room in the evening; however, she found it too cold and gray-looking in the daytime.

Here’s the same room, just a different wall…

Cool beans, eh?! I love this stuff. However, I understand that not everyone is as thrilled as I am at the true glory of metamerism #nerdalert.

So yes, I gave her some new paint colors to try, which would hold themselves a bit better against that cooler northern light. These colors might not give her as much warmth as her light bulbs do in the evening hours, but they’ll get her closer. From there, she can consider leaving one light on in the day with a lower Kelvin to take the edge off the natural light.

It’s important to know that NO paint color will look the same day to night unless your room has no windows. 

The Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colors

MORAL OF THE STORY…

Look at your paint samples day and night and on EVERY wall. Remember that the Kelvins of your light bulbs WILL affect how your paint color looks. If you’re seeing somethin’ funky, try changing your bulbs! Or cut back on the wine…

PAINT COLORS VS. FURNISHINGS

Next, look at Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray, a PERSONAL fave of mine.

Let’s say you go to your friend’s home and see Collonade Gray painted in her living and dining room, and you LOVE its soft greige/warmth.

So, you paint it in YOUR living room and dining room…

Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray

Only to wonder WHERE in the heck the WARMTH went?! And where did that GREEN UNDERTONE come from?

• The first photo has a different exposure from the bottom two photos (the bottom two are extreme north).
• Notice how the countertop in the middle photo is a bit cooler-toned, with a slightly cooler white cabinet and trim color (compared to the first photo).
• The first example has warmer-toned furnishings and warmer woods, which can ABSOLUTELY change your perception of a color.

MORAL OF THE STORY…

Compare your paint samples to your furnishings. Hang them so that they act as a backdrop to your main furniture pieces; step back and see how they relate.

So, long story short (as usual), THOSE are just a few reasons you shouldn’t paint your room the same color as your friend’s. Could it work? ABSOLUTELY! But don’t count on it…

READ MORE

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing White Paint Colors

The Best Paint NUMBERS for Your Home: 60-70

The 10 Best Light Paint Colors for Stress & Anxiety

LET ME PICK YOUR COLORS FOR YOU! 

Check out my E-Design – I’d love to help! 

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2019, UPDATED TOTALLY IN 2023

The post Don’t Paint Your Home the Same Color as Your Friend’s – And Here’s Why appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

LRV, undertones, exposures, personal tastes – there’s a lot to consider when choosing paint colours. And while this blog post touches briefly on these topics, and more, you’ll find tons of helpful links to full-bodied articles (you know the Ginger LOVES to talk).

So whether you’re just beginning your paint color journey or are neck-deep in samples, let’s get this color party STARTED!

BLOG POST #1   WHAT MATTERS THE MOST WHEN CHOOSING PAINT COLORS?

Aside from sampling properly and choosing the right finishes for your walls, there are a few important things to consider when choosing a paint color – your interior finishes. That’s right, if your paint colors don’t suit the room they’re in, your home won’t look its best.

Remember, if your interior finishes aren’t well-coordinated, there might not be ONE color that makes them all 100% happy – it’s often about finding the next best thing!

What Matters the Most When Choosing Paint Colors?

BLOG POST #2  THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHOOSING PAINT COLORS WITH LRV

LRV refers to how light or dark a paint color is on a scale of 0-100. EVERY paint color has this magical number (you just need to find it). Once you learn the basics of LRV, your paint-pickin’ life will be SO MUCH EASIER!

It’s about a 10 min read and worth EVERY hot lil’ minute…

THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO CHOOSING PAINT COLORS WITH LRV

BLOG POST #3  HOW DOES NATURAL LIGHT (EXPOSURE) AFFECT PAINT COLORS?

Natural light can have LESS of an impact on interior walls compared to the exterior, but there are still some BIG considerations when it comes to which direction your room gets its natural light from.

The level of impact natural light has on your room can depend on…

• the size of your windows (a small window lets in less light OR you might have a BIG window that faces south and a SMALL window that faces north – the south-facing light has more impact)
• landscaping, i.e. a wall of trees filtering the natural light or tall shrubs outside the window
• a tall fence, overhang or otherwise blocking some of the natural light from coming through the window
• your region, i.e. some areas receive a lot of rain/clouds

To learn more about how exposures can affect paint colors, check out…

NORTH, EAST, SOUTH, WEST: WHICH PAINT COLOR IS THE BEST?

BLOG POST #4  THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO PAINT COLORS & UNDERTONES

A paint color’s undertones are one of its most IMPORTANT details! What undertones does gray have? How about cream and beige? And did you know that even BLUE and GREEN have undertones?

If your paint samples aren’t quite connecting with your interior finishes, learning about undertones could be a great tool in your search for your room’s best paint color.

Kylie M’s Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Their Undertones

BLOG POST #5  HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT LIGHT BULBS FOR YOUR PAINT COLOR

Did you know that the KELVINS of your light bulb will affect how your paint color looks? If you aren’t loving how your samples look or are WONDERING why they don’t like like they should, it could be your lighting…

How to Choose the Right KELVINS For Your Paint Color

BLOG POST #6  SHOULD YOU USE PAINT SAMPLE POTS OR SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK?

While there is a small space reserved for sample pots (which I’ll touch on shortly), SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK are hands-down, the best way to sample paint colors.

• SAMPLIZE uses paint from the actual brands to make their samples.
• SAMPLIZE is less expensive and QUICKER than paint pots. No more running to the store to grab pots, sample boards, and brushes – Samplize delivers to your FRONT DOOR (usually by the next day).
• Peel & stick paint samples make it easy to see what a color will look like on your walls; flexing with rounded corners and adjusting to your wall’s texture – and you can move them around!

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

WHEN ARE SAMPLE POTS A GOOD IDEA?

Sometimes a paint color needs to be made a bit lighter or darker. In this case, I would get a QUART of paint made in the exact line of paint/finish that you plan on using and ask the employee to lighten/darken it as needed.

Want to learn more about lightening and darkening paint colors? Read this…

How to Perfect Your Paint Color in 3 Easy Steps (LIGHTEN & DARKEN)

SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK: REVIEW

AND REMEMBER, I have an awesome SEARCH area on the right-hand side of my blog that can take you to ANY of the main keywords you punch in, i.e. gray/greige/cream/beige, as well as most of today’s most POPULAR paint colors (i.e. Revere Pewter, Repose Gray, etc…).

READ MORE

HOW TO SAMPLE PAINT COLORS THE RIGHT WAY

5 Reasons You Keep Choosing the WRONG Paint Color

HOW TO CHOOSE A PAINT COLOR WHEN YOU’RE ANXIOUS OR AN OVERTHINKER

THE BEST PAINT FINISHES FOR WALLS, CABINETS, TRIMS & MORE

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING!

Chat soon,

The post THE 5 BLOG POSTS YOU NEED TO READ BEFORE PICKING A PAINT COLOR appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Partner Blog Post: LRV, Paint Colors & YOU

Have you ever painted your walls only to find they looked lighter or darker than you thought they would?

THAT, my friend, is LRV (Light Reflectance Value).

Before we get into the guts n’ the glory, let me say it took nine hours, three bottles, and 20+ years of experience to research and write this article. And I’m not even remotely scientifically inclined (more artsy-fartsy inclined). So, let’s grab a bottle glass of wine and settle down for a bit of a read – just because I’m keeping it simple doesn’t mean I’m keeping it SHORT!

WHAT DOES LRV MEAN FOR PAINT COLORS?

Every paint color has an LRV number. This number is on a scale between 0 (which is black) and 100 (which is white). A paint color’s LRV number tells you how light or darker it is compared to pure black (LRV – 0) and pure white (LRV – 100).

In other words, a paint color’s LRV states its DEPTH (i.e., off-white/light/medium/dark).

You no longer have to ‘vaguely reference a paint colors depth’ – you can state its EXACT depth. Not only this, but by knowing a paint color’s exact depth, it’s easier to coordinate other colors with it, or find the PERFECT depth for your project.

Benjamin Moore White Dove (below) is a white paint color with an LRV of 83.16. This LRV means it reflects a LOT of light, as shown on the left side of this photo…

However, look at how muted it looks on the right side of the photo, where the walls receive indirect light only.

Colors need LIGHT to come to LIFE! 

THE ACTUAL ‘USEABLE’ LRV SCALE (for us real people)

While the scale technically goes to 100, related to the useable paint world, white goes up to an LRV of 94 – that’s the whitest white available. And while the scale DOES go down to 0, in our useable paint world, mid-two’s are the lowest LRV/blackest colors available.

Benjamin Moore American White is an off-white gray that reflects a LOT of light.

Remember, you don’t need to memorize this. Just take the info that applies to the color/color RANGE you’re exploring, and use it to find your best shade! 

These numbers will give you a good idea of the DEPTH of a color (how light or dark it is). The ranges below are approximate to a degree (approx three points or so). Regardless, the lines are blurry, as perception can play a HUGE part in how light or dark a paint color looks (or because I’ve had two glasses of wine).

2-10 = DARK PAINT COLOR

10-20 = MEDIUM-DARK PAINT COLOR

20-40 = MEDIUM-DEPTH PAINT COLOR

40-55 = LIGHT-MEDIUM COLOR

55-72 = LIGHT COLOR

73-81 = OFF-WHITE COLOR

82-94 = WHITE PAINT COLOR

Remember, you don’t need to MEMORIZE this information. Just use it as a guide for the specific colors you’re looking at.

WHERE DO YOU FIND A PAINT COLOR’S LRV NUMBER?

For how important LRV is to the average paint buyer, I’m surprised some paint companies haven’t made it EASIER to find it.

Here are the LRV locations of a few popular paint brands (or ask a store employee)…

• SHERWIN WILLIAMS LRVs: on the back of the fan deck or the back of color chips – the BEST place for it!
• BENJAMIN MOORE’S LRVs: on the Benjamin Moore website, on the specific color page
• FARROW & BALL’S LRVs: they don’t make it easy; you’ll just want to write customer service – and good luck with that
• VALSPAR’S LRVs: fan deck index
• KELLY MOORE’S LRVs: fan deck index
• BEHR’S LRVs: fan deck index

Here’s what it looks like on the back of the Sherwin William’s color strip (the long row of colors in the fan deck OR on the small samples found in-store)…

And in the index of the Benjamin Moore fan deck…

Wine break. Glug glug glug, I mean sip sip sip.

Now, let’s get into the actual LRV ranges. Again, not scientific, just a general reference.

WHITE PAINT COLORS & LRV

APPROX. 82+

White paint colors have the highest LRV and reflect the most light.  The range goes from 82-94 (knowing we don’t have access to whites above 94).

• White paint colors don’t just reflect LIGHT, they reflect the COLOR of the light being thrown at them. For example, if you have a large expanse of green grass outside your window that reflects on your wall, your wall can pick up some of this green hue.
• Just because a color is in the WHITE range doesn’t mean it won’t have undertones – every color has undertones.

Benjamin Moore Cloud White LRV 85.05 / Sherwin Williams Cascade Green LRV 43

For example, let’s say you’re trying to find the perfect white. You’re comparing several, but you can’t tell which one is lighter. All you need to do is look at their LRVs, and you’ll know EXACTLY which is the brightest white.

Eyeballing the whites in this next photo, the only one that’s OBVIOUSLY darker is the sample on the bottom…

However, let’s look at all of their LRVs to see where they stand…

• TOP: Sherwin Williams High Reflective White LRV 93
• 2ND DOWN: Benjamin Moore Super White LRV 87.36
• 3RD DOWN: Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace LRV 90.04
• BOTTOM: Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White LRV 82.68

The shift in these numbers might not seem HUGE, but on a large scale is where you see these LRVs come into play – when there’s more WALL space for the color to come to life.

WHERE ARE WHITE PAINT COLORS POPULAR?

• TRIMS & DOORS
• CEILINGS
• CABINETS
• WHOLE HOMES (every room)
• WALLS (although this is a trend)
• EXTERIORS (again, another trend)

Benjamin Moore White Dove LRV 83.16 / Antique Pewter LRV 25.4

Is White Still Trendy on Walls, Cabinets & Exteriors?

OFF-WHITE PAINT COLORS & LRV

APPROX. 73-81

Off-white paint colors have LRVs between 73 and 81. The closer a paint color’s LRV gets to 82, the closer to white it gets.

For example, Sherwin William’s Creamy has an LRV of 81 – this LRV puts it on the EDGE of the white range, and what it really is can be open to perception! Creamy looks like a warm WHITE in this staircase, thanks to the gratuitous natural light (east-facing)…

However, notice how different Creamy looks down near the carpet/landing in the same staircase.

In the above photo, Creamy looks less like a warm white and more like an OFF-white (which it is), especially when you compare it to the trim.

Why?

Because it’s not given as much natural light to reflect.

WHERE ARE OFF-WHITE PAINT COLORS POPULAR?

• CABINETS (currently a trend, but be careful!
• WALLS (single room, every wall)
• WHOLE HOMES (every room)

Sherwin William’s Moderate White LRV 74 – a popular off-white, beige paint color

The 6 Best Off-White Paint Colors

The Best Off-White & Light Depth Paint Colors for Cabinets

LIGHT DEPTH PAINT COLORS & LRV

APPROX. 55-72

Light-depth paint colors have LRVs between 55 and 72. Many of today’s popular colors sit between 60-70, and again, whether they read as ‘light depth colors of off-whites’ can be open to perception AS WELL as how light or dark a room is.

• Even though light-depth paint colors have lower LRVs (compared to whites and off-whites), they can still COMPLETELY wash out with direct hits of natural light.
• The light-depth range is the most POPULAR for the average home – specifically, THIS more condensed range.
• In a poorly lit room, light colors can fall flat and drab and won’t come to life. You can supplement a bit with less neutral/more color, but you have to work at it.
• In a well-lit room, a color with a high LRV can wash out where it gets direct hits of light. Just remember, this changes a lot as the day progresses, and you have to accommodate the rest of the walls, too, which might be more shaded.

This next photo shows Benjamin Moore Collingwood 859, which has an LRV of 62.14. This LRV means it will reflect some light into your room, making an average room with average light look reasonably bright but still soft. For example, look from the far left of the photo to the middle right and see how Collingwood changes its tune…and tone!

Paint Color Review: Benjamin Moore Collingwood

If you have a bright room and you partner it with a lighter color (usually 55+ is where you’ll start seeing the reflective value really kick into gear), you’re going to have a LOT of light bouncing around.

Why?

Well, not only are you giving your walls a lot of light to play with, you’ve chosen a paint color that likes to REFLECT light as it has a higher LRV.

The higher the LRV of a paint color is, the more light it’s going to bounce back at you.

This next photo shows the same color as above, Benjamin Moore Collingwood, but this room has more moderate light…

WHERE ARE LIGHT-DEPTH PAINT COLORS POPULAR?

• WALLS (single room, every wall)
• ENTIRE HOMES (every room)
• CABINETS (currently a trend)

The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colors

The 11 Best Warm Neutral Paint Colors That AREN’T BEIGE!

LIGHT-MEDIUM DEPTH PAINT COLORS & LRV

APPROX. 40-55

Many consultants jump from light to medium, but there’s a HUUUUGE gap in the middle of colors that don’t read as either!

• Light-medium depth paint colors have LRVs between 40-55. They’re darker than light-depth paint colors without the more noticeable heft of medium-depth paint colors.
• Paint colors in the light-medium range hold up a bit better in OVERLY bright rooms. They WILL look lighter where the light hits but won’t wash out as much as whites, off-whites, and light-depth paint colors.
• You’ll see more contrast with white trim using light-medium depth colors. This can be an important point for those who want to show off moldings.

As shown in this next photo, a light-medium depth color like Sherwin Williams Anew Gray offers a nice contrast with the right white trim color…

Light-medium depth paint colors are a GREAT range to start when looking at exterior colors. While you might go lighter or darker, this range is a good starting point, as shown AGAIN, with Sherwin Williams Anew Gray…

WHERE ARE LIGHT-MEDIUM DEPTH PAINT COLORS MOST POPULAR?

• WALLS (single room, every wall)
• SOME ‘WHOLE HOMES’ (every room)
• CABINETS (somewhat popular)
• EXTERIORS

Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray: Paint Color Review

MEDIUM-DEPTH PAINT COLORS & LRV

APPROX. 20-40

Medium-depth paint colors have LRVs between 20-40. The lower the LRV is, the darker the color is.

Sherwin Williams Dovetail is shown on this next kitchen island (LRV 26) with Agreeable Gray on the walls (LRV 60)…

A paint color in the medium range, when given some light to PLAY with (like shown below), will lighten up SOME – remember, EVERY paint color has light reflectance. This also means that in a room without much natural light OR adequate artificial lighting, it may look a bit heavy as the LRV isn’t strong enough to grab the minimal light offered.

Kylie M E-Design and Online Color Consulting

• Medium-depth paint colors are great for overly bright rooms. ANY paint color will look lighter when light hits it, but the darker a color is, the more it will stand up to an overly bright space.
• This range is popular for feature walls and exteriors but can look amazing on ALL of the walls in a room!
• Paint colors with medium-range LRVs reflect a moderate but not obscene amount of light, especially in the middle of the range. So, while on a small scale, medium-depth colors can look a bit darkish, on a larger scale (wall), they can look a bit lighter if given a reasonable amount of light. AND REMEMBER, the quality of light changes throughout the day, so sample carefully and look at it on all walls in various lights.
• In a poorly lit room, medium-range LRVs can look flat and drab, especially neutral ones.
• 50+ is the range where the paint colors really start reflecting light into the room. The closer you get to 100, the more light the color will reflect.
• In a room with poor lighting, paint colors in the 50+ range will take ANY light they can and reflect it into the space but don’t expect any screamin’ glory. Often, it’s better to add a bit more COLOR to help counteract the shade vs. going with a more standard neutral paint color.

Long story short – lighting matters.

Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray island LRV 23.33

WHERE ARE MEDIUM-DEPTH PAINT COLORS MOST POPULAR?

• FEATURE OR ACCENT WALLS
• WALLS (single room, every wall)
• CABINETS (somewhat popular)
• KITCHEN ISLANDS
• EXTERIORS

How to Brighten a Dark Room – AND IT AIN’T WITH PAINT!

MEDIUM-DARK PAINT COLORS & LRV

APPROX 10-20

Just as with light-medium depth paint colors, medium-dark paint colors are the ‘happy mediums’ –  literally. Medium-dark colors are significantly darker than the average medium-depth paint color but don’t have the depth of traditional DARK paint colors.

Benjamin Moore Amherst Gray (shown with White Dove cabinets) is a medium-dark gray paint color. Notice how it looks more muted on the top portion of the wall but lightens up where the light hits.

WHY?

Because even though its LRV is LOWER, it still reflects light. This means that when hit with light, a color like Amherst Gray will reflect some light back!

WHERE ARE MEDIUM-DARK PAINT COLORS MOST POPULAR?

• FEATURE OR ACCENT WALLS
• CABINETS (somewhat popular)
• KITCHEN ISLANDS
• EXTERIORS

Benjamin Moore’s Best DARK Gray & Charcoal Paint Colors

Sherwin William’s Best DARK Greige & Taupe Paint Colors

DARK PAINT COLORS & LRV

APPROX 2-10

Sherwin Williams Cyberspace (shown below) is pretty damn dark with an LRV of 6. In a WELL-lit space, this color can look soft, stunning, and a bit lighter and more colorful as the undertones come up. However, in a POORLY lit room, it can look closer to black and loses some of its color/hue.

• Paint colors with a lower LRV will reflect SOME, but not tons of light. If a color’s LRV is 10, it will absorb a lot of light and reflect a smaller amount into the room. If it’s 20, it will reflect more than 10, but still not much. If you want a dark color to look lighter, give it A LOT OF LIGHT.

• IN A BRIGHT ROOM, a darker paint color will appear lighter, and you may notice the ‘color’ and undertones more. This is because you’re giving the paint color more light to reflect.

• IN A DARK ROOM, dark color won’t come to life as much and won’t reflect light (as it hasn’t been given any, and it has a low LRV to boot, double-whammy). In fact, dark colors can almost look blackish in dark rooms.

Compare the wall space on the far left to the far right. No light = no reflective value…

In this next photo, notice how Benjamin Moore Hale Navy (LRV 8.36) changes as the amount and quality of LIGHT change…

WHERE ARE DARK PAINT COLORS MOST POPULAR?

• FEATURE OR ACCENT WALLS
• CABINETS
• KITCHEN ISLANDS
• EXTERIORS
• FRONT DOORS (INSIDE & OUT)

Where Should You Do a FEATURE Wall & What COLOR Should it Be?

The 6 Best Paint Colors for Kitchen Islands & Bathroom Vanities

A SPACE WITH THREE TYPES OF NATURAL LIGHT

This next photo shows Benjamin Moore Gray Owl (LRV 65.77). Looking left to right, you’ll see three OBVIOUS shifts in depth as each wall space gets a different amount of light reflected onto it.

Read more: Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

LEFT SIDE

The amount of light hitting the left side walls puts Gray Owl’s LRV of 65.77 to work as the light is reflected, making it look more like a bright off-white.

CENTER (BOOKCASE WALL)

This wall is getting a more average amount of natural light, in which Gray Owl looks more like a paint color with an LRV of 65 should.

FAR-RIGHT

This is an extreme – a wall with almost no natural light on it. Gray Owl looks more like a medium-depth paint color in this low light.

A color needs LIGHT to come to LIFE! 

This is why it is so important to look at your paint samples in ALLLL lights on ALLLL walls. By the way, if you’re getting paint samples, I highly recommend THIS vs. traditional sample pots.

A DARK ROOM WITH LOW LIGHT (EITHER NATURAL OR INTERIOR)

If you have a dark room, this means there isn’t a lot of light from outside or inside sources. So, even if you choose a color with a high LRV, the lack of light will affect how bright that color will look.

A light color in a bright room will look lighter than the SAME color in a DARK room – the bright room has more LIGHT for the color to play with. 

WHAT’S THE BEST LRV FOR A DARK OR LOW-LIGHT ROOM?

Choosing a light paint color may be a better choice for a dark room if you want to brighten it, but it will not save the day – you need actual LIGHT for the paint color to play off of and reflect.

One way to add brightness to a dark room, along with LRV, is to choose a color with more chroma/color vs. a more standard neutral paint color.

This next photo shows a room painted in Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (LRV 55.51). Notice there isn’t an abundance of natural or artificial light and how that affects the look of Revere Pewter…

In this NEXT photo, the bedroom is also painted in Revere Pewter…

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter

The above room has a good amount of natural light on the left side, making Revere Pewter look LIGHTER and the room brighter (the bathroom is Wickham Gray). On the right (entrance to the bathroom), there isn’t as much natural light, and you’ll see that Revere Pewter is a bit darker again.

Let’s look at an off-white like Benjamin Moore Classic Gray, a warm gray. With an LRV of 74.78, Classic Gray will reflect a considerable amount of light, therefore, lightening and brightening a space. Notice how it washes out COMPLETELY on the left side of the photo and softens up on the wall space behind the vase…

Paint Color Review: Benjamin Moore Classic Gray

WILL NATURAL LIGHT AFFECT MY PAINT COLOR’S LRV?

Natural light won’t CHANGE your paint color’s LRV; it is what it is, but the more light you give a color, the more light it will REFLECT, especially if it has a higher LRV.

Colors with higher LRVs reflect MORE light; colors with lower LRVs reflect LESS light. 

The less light in your room, the less light there will be to reflect. So, even if you pick a LIGHT color with a HIGH LRV, if you don’t give it light to reflect, it won’t rise to the occasion, which goes back to one of my fave sayings (I have about 80)…

What does this mean?

It means that sometimes people pick a light paint color thinking its high LRV will save their dark room. And sure, the room will look brighter than it would if painted a dark color. But the reality is, you need LIGHT for a color to come to LIFE!

Why?

Because the actual SCIENCE of it is that you’re not reaaaally seeing the paint color that’s on the walls, you’re seeing the COLOR OF THE LIGHT THAT’S REFLECTED OFF THE WALLS (but that’s getting a lil deep for this meat n’ potatoes blog post).

PEOPLE ALSO ASK…

WHEN YOU LIGHTEN OR DARKEN A PAINT COLOR, DOES ITS LRV CHANGE?

HECK YES, it does – any change you make to a paint color will change its roots, and the LRV will go higher or lower, depending on how much you change the depth.

Read more right here… LRV, Paint Colors & YOU.

WHAT IS A GOOD LRV?

It depends on the surface you’re painting, as well as the look/contrast you’re looking for. Very GENERALLY SPEAKING…

• THE AVERAGE SINGLE ROOM: LRV 60-65
• FOR EVERY ROOM IN AN ENTIRE HOME (PAINTED 1 COLOR): 60-65
• KITCHEN CABINETS: LRV 82-93
• FEATURE WALL: ANYWHERE FROM 5-50, BUT 30 IS A GOOD AVERAGE
• EXTERIOR: STARTING AT APPROX. 50
• FRONT DOOR: LRV 10

Again, there can be LOTS of variation in the above numbers; these are just good places to start your color journey!

WHAT’S THE PERFECT LRV NUMBER OR RANGE?

What makes an LRV good or bad is subject to perception. For the AVERAGE room, an LRV of 62 is a great place to start – read more about this HERE.

If you want an LRV range, look at colors between 60-70.

IS A HIGHER OR LOWER LRV BETTER?

It’s all relative to the surface you’re painting and the room it’s in. For the average room, YES, a higher LRV is better, approx 60+. For kitchen cabinets, the white range (82+) is usually ideal.

However, if you’re talking about a feature wall, a higher LRV might not give you the contrast you’re looking for, in which case, you’ll bump down to the 30 range.

WHAT’S CONSIDERED A HIGH LRV?

The higher the LRV number is, the lighter the paint color is. Paint colors with LRVs of 74+ (off-white and white paint colors) are considered HIGH LRVs.

WHAT’S THE BEST LRV FOR A DARK ROOM?

Again, color needs LIGHT to come to life. Generally, colors with high LRVs of 74 are better for dark rooms, but even those won’t look great if you don’t give them some form of light.

The 7 Best Light Paint Colors for a Dark Room

So there you have it – LRV in a very big, fat nutshell.

PARTNER POSTS…

What Matters the Most When Choosing Paint Colors?

How to Get the Perfect Color: LIGHTEN & DARKEN

How to Choose the Right Kelvins For Your Paint Color

Kylie M’s Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Their Undertones

The 5 Blog Posts You Need to Read BEFORE Choosing a Paint Color

Still not sure what color to pick? 

Check out my E-BOOKS and Online Color Consulting Services!

Chat soon,

Originally written in November 2017, updated 2022

The post PAINT COLORS & LRV: The Ultimate Guide You Need to Read appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Are you FRUSTRATED with your cream cabinets or OVERLY warm white trim? Can’t find a modern paint color that looks good with them? You aren’t the only one. In fact, this is a topic I deal with DAILY in my Online Paint Color Consulting, and it’s ALWAYS the same story – cream cabinets, beige walls, and a deep desire for something FRESHER.

However, as the Rolling Stones always say, ‘You can’t always get what you waaaaant, especially if you have off-white or cream cabinets and trim’ (I might’ve added that last part). This is just ONE reason why I don’t recommend that ANYONE hop on the current trend of painting their cabinets some form of light greige, beige, or cream as I guarantee that in ten years, you’ll wish you’d chosen white (and will be whispering sweet nothings in my ear).

Sherwin Williams Dover White with glaze (which lowers the LRV)

But before we get into the best paint colors for your walls, let’s have a little chat…actually, let’s make it a big one.

Why do we need to TALK before we get into the good stuff? Does all of this seem like an awful LOT for one darn paint color?

I’m going to ask you a question…how has your search gone so far? Chances are you’ve been TRYING colors, and they aren’t working. This blog post is telling you WHY and teaching you HOW, so you can move forward with CONFIDENCE and stop struggling to find a color that doesn’t exist.

And if all else fails, there’s wine.

THE REASON WHY CREAM CABINETS ARE AWESOME

THEY WORK WITH EXISTING FINISHES

Based on existing finishes, especially in homes from the early 2000s, some kitchens don’t suit white cabinets and better suit a wood stain or a non-white paint color. In these situations, a warm off-white or cream can come in darn handy, often saving the DAY. I’ve fallen in love with MANY cream kitchens when they’re done well.

And that’s it. Seriously, I would love to give you more reasons why cream cabinets are awesome, but for the majority of people, cream cabinets are a HUGE PITA (I’ll let you figure that one out).

Sherwin Williams Antique White with glaze

When updating the paint color on the WALLS in a home with cream cabinets or trim without updating anything else, it’s easy to forget that the surrounding surfaces are often coordinated with the cream cabinets.

This is an important detail because it’s not just your CREAM CABINETS OR TRIMS that will be fussy about their wall color partners; it’s their COORDINATED surrounding finishes. Some finishes aren’t so easy to transition into a more modern, more updated look, meaning your cabinets might be the LEAST of your concerns.

Sometimes there isn’t ONE MAGICAL paint color that makes your cabinets, finishes, and YOU 100% happy, in which case a ‘happy medium’ often comes in handy.

However, if you know the COLOR NAME of your off-white or cream cabinets, you’re already a step ahead…

STEP 1 – YOUR COLOR & ITS LRV

Again, if you know your paint color, find its LRV and move on to STEP 2.

If you have NO IDEA what color is on your cabinets, the most common creams used for cabinets and trim are as follows. By the way, I recommend you get LARGE samples and place them on your cabinets to find your best match; small ones aren’t big enough to get a good read on for an important job like this.

• Sherwin Williams Antique White LRV 72 (SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Navajo White LRV 72 (SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Creamy LRV 81, mild undertones and darn close to being a soft white (SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Casa Blanca LRV 76 (SAMPLE HERE)
• Benjamin Moore Navajo White LRV 78 (SAMPLE HERE)
• Benjamin Moore Linen White LRV 81 is close to being a soft white but with a reasonably strong yellow hue (SAMPLE HERE)
• Benjamin Moore White Down LRV 77 (SAMPLE HERE)
• Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream LRV 72 (SAMPLE HERE)

If these aren’t close, go back and get more – get as close as you can, as this color will be your guide as you need its LRV.

When starting your color search, look for wall paint colors with an LRV of 55 or lower.  The goal is to get 20+ LRV points between your cabinet color and your wall color.

Of course, this can vary depending on how light or dark your particular shade of cream is:

• if your cream paint color is LIGHTER (approx 78), you might look at paint colors with an LRV of 58 LRV or lower, as this would put approximately 20 LRV points between the two colors
• if your cream paint color is DARKER (approx 72), you might look at paint colors with an LRV of 52 or lower, again putting somewhere around 20+ LRV points between the two colors

In this next kitchen, my Online Colour Consulting client wanted to step AWAY from the warm hues with something in the warm gray, greige, or taupe range…

However, the current color was working REALLY WELL with the existing finishes (although I’d love to see the island in BLACK). In fact, the backsplash, countertop, AND cabinets weren’t so inclined towards a light warm gray, greige, or taupe paint color at all.

Remember, just because you want a certain paint color doesn’t mean your home agrees!

STEP 2 – UNDERSTAND THE COLOR YOU’RE DEALING WITH

Once you know the cream you’re dealing with, it’s important to acknowledge its strength. The more YELLOW it is (cream is a yellow hue colour), the more YELLOW it will look when partnered with colors that are cooler than it.

• The more MUTED your cream is, the more flexible it will be towards other colors, as the YELLOW won’t be as bossy.
• The COOLER the color is that you try to partner with your cream cabinets or trim, the MORE YELLOW you risk them looking (opposites attract and make each other stronger).
• MOST of the cream colors on the previous list have reasonably strong undertones except for Sherwin Williams Creamy and Benjamin Moore White Down, which are more muted.
• Cream cabinets with glaze on them will be LESS FRIENDLY towards colors that are cooler than them and will need colors that are that wee bit darker.

WHAT IF YOUR CREAM CABINETS HAVE A GLAZE ON THEM?

This is always a tough one, and at some point, you can only get so close to finding your exact color match when cabinets have a glaze on them.

Do your best to figure out what the ORIGINAL color might’ve been and add a few LRV points for the extra depth added by the glaze. This is an important step as this number will help guide you towards a STARTING point when looking for compatible paint colors. Yes, glazed cream cabinets or trim add another layer to the beast.

Are you ready, Betty? Do you want to see the BEST PAINT COLORS for your cream cabinets and trim? To do this effectively and to apply to as MANY people as possible, I’m basing this on the AVERAGE cream kitchen (which is lighter than Sherwin Williams Antique White, for those of you with this particular shade of cream or one with similar depth).

Remember, I can only kill SO many birds with one stone – I’M JUST…ONE…WOMAN!

The above combo is off, as the walls are too cool & light for the cabinets.

TWO THINGS THESE COLORS WON’T DO FOR YOU

1. They won’t make your cabinets or trim look anything OTHER than cream/yellow. They are a yellow hue paint color, and short of painting them, they ARE what they are.

2. Lightening and brightening is often the goal in rooms with cream cabinets. HOWEVER, these options won’t make your room look light and bright compared to traditional off-white and light paint colors.  But it’s not these paint colour options that are stopping you; it’s your cream cabinets and trim; they have limitations (and don’t kill the wee Ginger messenger!). Your room might look brighter than it USED to if it happened to be painted a darker color, but that’s as far as you’ll get short of painting your walls the same color as your cabinets or painting your trim/cabinets white. 

OH MY GOD, DOES SHE EVER STOP TALKING? No, no, I don’t…

THE BEST GRAY, GREIGE & BEIGE PAINT COLORS TO GO WITH CREAM CABINETS & TRIM

Remember, the yellow hue of your cabinets/trim may hold you back from your wildest colors dreams (full of paint samples, Ryan Reynolds, wine, and Doritos). But this doesn’t mean you can’t find a good happy medium.

If you CAN’T or WON’T paint your cabinets and trim, sometimes a happy medium is as good as it gets #truthbomb.

Some of the upcoming colors make me a BIT twitchy with some cream paint colors but settle okay with others. However, they might give you the flexibility to accommodate NOT JUST YOUR CABINETS but your other finishes as well to create a palette that looks purposeful and coordinated.

1. SHERWIN WILLIAMS AMAZING GRAY 7044

Amazing Gray is AWESOME, and I love it with some of the more muted cream cabinets. Many people start with Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray, looking for a light shade of greige, but with its LRV of 57, combined with its subtle undertone, it’s just too soft for most cream cabinets and trims.

Amazing Gray has an LRV of 47, and its slightly noticeable green undertone goes with a relatively wide variety of cream cabinets and trim. This LRV puts Amazing Gray more than 20 points lower than the average cream paint color – AMAZING!

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO AMAZING GRAY

• Sherwin Williams Jogging Path (SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Analytical Gray (SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray (SAMPLE HERE)

Please note, if your cabinets are Sherwin Williams Antique White or similar depth, these greiges aren’t good – they need to be darker to humor this type of cream. 

SIMILAR COLORS TO AVOID WITH MOST CREAM CABINETS (in case you’re tempted)

• Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray
• Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS STONE LION 7507

Stone Lion is a light-medium depth beige paint color with MUTED undertones. It sits reasonably well with most cream paint colors because it doesn’t have the same level of TAUPE found in Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige, which is most people’s first choice in this range (and is coming up shortly).

Stone Lion has an LRV of 38, making it a medium-depth warm neutral that’s WELL below the boundaries of cream. You could also explore the lighter look of Sherwin Williams Loggia with its LRV of 48. However, the lighter-again Shittake is too flat looking (not warm enough at this depth) for most cream paint colors.

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO STONE LION 

• Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige (SAMPLE HERE)

Please note, if your cabinets are Sherwin Williams Antique White or similar depth, these types of beiges rarely work – they need to be darker to humor this type of cream. 

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ALOOF GRAY 6197

Aloof Gray is a gorgeous gray-green that sits on the LOWER end of the light range and is, hands-down, one of the best LIGHTER options for your walls. HOWEVER, this doesn’t mean there isn’t a big consideration…

Opposites attract and make each other stronger, meaning that because Aloof Gray is COOL with a noticeable green undertone, it can make your cream cabinets look MORE YELLOW IN COMPARISON.

Aloof Gray has an LRV of 58, putting it in the DARKER end of the light range and questionable with some of the darker cream paint colors out there. For this reason, Aloof Gray is often better suited to lighter, muted cream paint colors.

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO ALOOF GRAY 

• Sherwin Williams Conservative Gray (could be a bit more reactive and will be better with lighter creams – SAMPLE HERE)

Please note, if your cabinets are Sherwin Williams Antique White or similar depth, these types of beiges rarely work – they need to be darker to humor this type of cream. 

Remember, sometimes the color YOU’RE wanting doesn’t suit your home. In this case, it’s about opening up your range a bit and finding the ‘next best option,’ even if it’s not what you had in mind. 

4. SHERWIN WILLIAMS MACADAMIA 6142

While Macadamia is AWESOME with cream cabinets, particularly Antique White, it’s also the type of colour many of my Online Color Consulting clients are trying to get away from! But this doesn’t mean it’s not a good option. The thing is, cream cabinets and trim (Antique White in particular) can be pretty fussy regarding the wall colors they’re partnered with – you won’t have many GREAT options, but this is one of them.

Macadamia is a light-medium depth beige with an LRV of 49 and reasonably strong undertones. If you see how Macadamia WORKS but can’t bring yourself to paint your walls a beige THIS DARK, look at the lighter version, Softer Tan. However, it can be a bit fussy with overly yellow and/or darker creams, but it might fit the bill a bit better for YOUR particular cream color.

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO MACADAMIA 

• Benjamin Moore Grant Beige (SAMPLE HERE)

SIMILAR COLORS TO AVOID WITH MOST CREAM CABINETS

• Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige
• Sherwin Williams Malabar can be a hot mess UNLESS your cream has quite a bit of ORANGE in it.

Kilim Beige, shown in this next kitchen, is well-suited to the cream cabinets (similar to Sherwin William’s Antique White) and surrounding finishes…

5. BENJAMIN MOORE BENNINGTON GRAY HC-82

You might be excited at the word ‘gray,’ but don’t be fooled – this is just another colour named by someone who was CLEARLY in the cups (which I definitely am after writing this epically long blog post). While Bennington Gray is certainly not as warm as Macadamia, it sure as heck ain’t gray.

Bennington Gray has an LRV of 47 – BOOM, mad love. It’s also a great happy medium if your home NEEDS warmth but you don’t love the more traditional Tuscan approach of Macadamia.

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO BENNINGTON GRAY 

• Benjamin Moore Greenbrier Beige (SAMPLE HERE)
• Benjamin Moore Bleeker Beige (SAMPLE HERE)

SIMILAR COLORS TO AVOID WITH MOST CREAM CABINETS

• Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Bennington Gray & Bleeker Beige

6. BENJAMIN MOORE HORIZON GRAY 2141-50

I LOVE Horizon Gray. Not only does it have a beautiful green hue to it, but it also humors a reasonable range of cream paint colors, as long as they’re SUBTLE and more muted. Just remember, the green undertone in Horizon Gray CAN make your cream cabinets or trim look a bit more yellow in comparison.

Horizon Gray often works better than Sherwin Williams Aloof Gray simply because its LRV is lower, coming in at 51 to Aloof Gray’s 58.

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO HORIZON GRAY 

• Benjamin Moore Gray Mirage (warmer – SAMPLE HERE)

Please note, if your cabinets are Sherwin Williams Antique White or similar depth, these types of grays rarely work – they need to be darker to humor this type of cream. 

Remember, this process isn’t just about your cream cabinets; make sure the paint colors you’re exploring make sense with your surrounding finishes, such as countertops, backsplash, and flooring! 

7. BENJAMIN MOORE GRANT BEIGE HC-83

If the above beige and tan paint colors are too strong, but you see how a warm shade MIGHT be your home’s best color, you could check out Grant Beige. Grant Beige is a tan paint color with a bit less undertone than many of the popular beige and tan paint colors without falling into the greige range.

Grant Beige has an LRV of 56, so it’s on the edge of the light and light-medium range, making it a great option, especially for some mid to light cream colors.

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO GRANT BEIGE 

• Sherwin Williams Sandbar (SAMPLE HERE)

Please note, if your cabinets are Sherwin Williams Antique White or similar depth, these types of beiges rarely work – they need to be darker to humor this type of cream. 

Sandbar (left), Clay Beige 25% darker (right)

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Grant Beige

When looking for the best paint colors for cream cabinets and trim, the above colors are USUALLY where I start. But again, A LOT can change depending on the surrounding finishes, including the backsplash, countertop, and flooring.

These upcoming colors will be BETTER with lighter and muted creams vs. dark and rich ones, but depending on your surrounding finishes, you never know what will fall into place!

8. BENJAMIN MOORE REVERE PEWTER HC-172

While I get AWFULLY nervous about Revere Pewter with the darker cream paint colors, it’s often a nice partner to lighter, more muted cream paint colors. It will still make the cream look more yellow ‘in comparison,’ but that happens so easily when you partner a warm color with a color that’s COOLER than it.

In this next photo, there are a few things at play…

1. The trim is WHITER than the cabinets, making the cabinets look more yellow in comparison. Overall, the trim looks considerably BRIGHT warm color with a reasonable yellow in it.

2. This is a LOW-LIGHT area and has Revere Pewter looking MUCH muddier than usual.

Revere Pewter has an LRV of 55, making it a HEAVY light depth warm gray with a slightly earthy green undertone that doesn’t ALWAYS show up to the party. As it relates to coordinating with cream paint colors, it’s best if it DOES!

But once again, in this next photo, Revere Pewter looks WAY warmer and muddier than usual…

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO REVERE PEWTER 

• Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray (SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Jogging Path (SAMPLE HERE)

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter

SIMILAR COLORS TO AVOID WITH MOST CREAM CABINETS

• Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray (too light)
• Benjamin Moore Rodeo (too light)

Please note, if your cabinets are Sherwin Williams Antique White or similar depth, these types of grays rarely work – they need to be darker to humor this type of cream. 

9. SHERWIN WILLIAMS COLONNADE GRAY 7641

Just like Revere Pewter, Colonnade Gray is TOUCHY with cream paint colors that either have more yellow in them OR more depth to them. But, it can be an interesting partner to creams that are lighter and muted.

This next example shows Colonnade Gray with cream trim in a bedroom. Notice how the cream DOESN’T ACT LIKE WHITE, but that’s because it’s not white, but at least it’s partnered with a modern paint colour!

The thing that makes Colonnade Gray a slightly better option to Revere Pewter is that it has a lower LRV, coming in at 53 to Revere Pewter’s 55.

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO COLONNADE GRAY 

• Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray…maybe (SAMPLE HERE)

Please note, if your cabinets are Sherwin Williams Antique White or similar depth, these types of grays rarely work – they need to be darker to humor this type of cream. 

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray

Remember, the COOLER a paint color is or the more COLOR it has (violet, blue or green), the more it will CONTRAST with the yellow in your cabinets – nature of the beast, but this doesn’t mean they aren’t pretty combinations if you’re so inclined.

10. SHERWIN WILLIAMS VERSATILE GRAY 6072

Versatile Gray is a light-medium depth taupe paint color that can sit QUITE pretty with many cream cabinets. Why? Well, when surrounded by the right countertops/tiles or carpet, the taupe (violet, slightly violet-pink) undertone can be a pretty accent – AS LONG AS YOUR CREAM DOESN’T HAVE ANY GREEN IN IT.

In this next photo, notice how Versatile sits with the cream cabinets (similar to Antique White) while tapping into the needs of the countertop. Would I NORMALLY put Versatile Gray with cream cabinets? Nope, but again, when looking for a happy medium, sometimes you have to think outside of the color box!

Versatile Gray has an LRV of 48, making it a great contender for a variety of creams.

However, a lot of homeowners are wanting a LIGHTER warm gray, greige, or taupe with their cream cabinets. Let’s take a look at the LIGHTER version, Popular Gray…

Do you see how the cream-yellow of the cabinets FIGHTS with Popular Gray (right)? And while Worldly Gray (left) is no screamin’ glory either, its slightly lower LRV makes it a BIT better (I still wouldn’t do it).

Why?

Because there isn’t enough LRV or difference in DEPTH between the cabinet color and these samples, so, even though my client might’ve WANTED a lighter warm gray or greige/taupe paint color, it’s easy to see how a light-medium version like Versatile Gray (or Amazing Gray, which is the light-medium version of Worldly Gray) makes a better connection – HOORAY FOR HAPPY MEDIUMS!

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO VERSATILE GRAY 

• Sherwin Williams Requisite Gray, although it’s OFTEN a touch too cool/violet (SAMPLE HERE)

FULL Paint Colour Review of Sherwin Williams Versatile Gray

SIMILAR COLORS TO AVOID WITH MOST CREAM CABINETS

• Sherwin Williams Alpaca and Popular Gray

Please note, if your cabinets are Sherwin Williams Antique White or similar depth, these types of taupes & grays rarely work – they need to be darker to humor this type of cream. 

11. SHERWIN WILLIAMS BALANCED BEIGE 7037

Balanced Beige is definitely touch-and-go and HIGHLY dependent on your cabinets, the amount of YELLOW they have, and the GLAZE they have on them.

In this next kitchen, look at how flat and taupe Accessible Beige (left) looks compared to the glazed cream cabinets. And while Balanced Beige (right) is BETTER, it’s still too toned-down for the degree of warmth in the glaze – close, but no cigar!

In this next kitchen, notice how the glaze on the cabinets isn’t as WARM as in the previous version. Because the glaze is more toned-down and the backsplash is agreeable, Balanced Beige is a MUCH better fit…

Balanced Beige has an LRV of 46, which is definitely in its favor.

And while it’s okay with some of the MORE MUTED and lighter cream paint colors, it’s too taupe for others (including Antique White and creams with a similar depth). The reason it’s in this section is that sometimes it’s just that happy medium between cream cabinets/trim and surrounding finishes. My BEST advice is to try it 25% darker, as you’ll have a better shot by lowering its LRV. Or even better, check out the darker version, Tony Taupe.

This next photo is very small. Remember…

I rely 100% on my Online Color Consulting clients who send their photos in – I take what I can get! And while this photo is small, it’s a great example of how Antique White (trim/door) doesn’t work with Balanced Beige walls…

Notice how the cream trim/door looks even MORE YELLOW than usual compared to the Balanced Beige walls. In turn, Balanced Beige looks a bit pink/taupe-ish.

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO BALANCED BEIGE 

• Sherwin Williams Loggia (SAMPLE HERE)

Oooo, I have a GREAT example of Accessible Beige with cream cabinets to show you, to hammer down how it’s NOT a great option…

My E-Design client hired me to fix her kitchen, but it wasn’t as easy as changing the paint color. Sure, the backsplash and paint color were well-coordinated, but the granite and cream cabinets were doing their own thing and didn’t suit EITHER of the other surfaces. Accessible Beige (and the backsplash) look too taupe/flat compared to the yellow/cream of the cabinets – it’s a bad combination that makes the cabinets look more yellow and dated.

The above is a great example of a kitchen that has beautiful finishes that aren’t well-coordinated with each other. And paint can’t fix everything when a good foundation isn’t in place. Again…

Just because YOU want a certain paint colour doesn’t mean your home agrees! 

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige

Please note, if your cabinets are Sherwin Williams Antique White or similar depth, these types of beiges rarely work – they need to be darker to humor this type of cream. 

12. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ANEW GRAY 7030

Anew Gray is a POPULAR light-medium depth greige/taupe paint colour. However, it has less undertone than some of the previously mentioned colors. This means it can look a bit washy and non-committal compared to a cream paint color – sample carefully!

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO ANEW GRAY 

• Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray (SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Amazing Gray (SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Mega Greige (SAMPLE HERE)

Please note, if your cabinets are Sherwin Williams Antique White or similar depth, these types of beiges rarely work – they need to be darker to humor this type of cream. 

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Anew Gray

SIMILAR COLORS TO AVOID WITH MOST CREAM CABINETS

• Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray the lighter version)

BTW, if you’re getting paint samples, you should check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

• samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on the location
• they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling
• if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

13. BENJAMIN MOORE PASHMINA AF-100

While Pashmina isn’t always friendly towards some of the darker or more intense cream paint colors (ones with more yellow in them), it can be a pretty compliment to a muted cream or off-white.

This next photo is a great example of Pashmina with a cream bed frame. While Pashmina has the potential to look MUCH grayer than this, it can also swing pretty darn warm depending on its surroundings and exposure!

Pashmina has an LRV of 44, making it a great depth for a variety of cream shades. As for its COLOUR, Pashmina is a greige paint color with a very slight nod towards green.

PAINT COLORS TRY THAT ARE SIMILAR TO PASHMINA 

• Sherwin Williams Anew Gray (SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige (SAMPLE HERE)

FULL Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Pashmina

14. SHERWIN WILLIAMS COMFORT GRAY 6205

Comfort Gray is one of the most POPULAR green-blue-gray blend paint colors because while it certainly has COLOR, its gray base calms it right down for a more muted approach.

This next photo is such a WICKED example of a cool paint color in action with cream cabinets…

Comfort Gray has an LRV of 54, making it a bit touchy with some of the darker cream paint colors but an interesting option for slightly lighter, more muted shades of cream.

IN GENERAL, Comfort Gray with these cream cabinets is a beautiful COMBINATION. Would I like them in rooms that are next to each other? Sure. Do I want them right up against each other? It’s not that it’s not pretty, but the cool hue of Comfort Gray is making the cabinets and trim look MUCH MORE YELLOW in comparison, a look that not EVERYONE is going for…but maybe YOU ARE!

While I wouldn’t go any LIGHTER/more colorful than Comfort Gray (i.e., Sea Salt or Rainwashed), if you’re okay with this warm-cool play, it could work for you.

As an example of the type of cool color that straight-up WON’T work with cream cabinets, take a look at Sweet Bluette. Sometimes my clients need to SEE something to understand why it doesn’t work, and I’d say this gave a pretty clear eyeball on things…

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO COMFORT GRAY 

• Sherwin Williams Argos (below, much grayer – SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Sensible Hue (grayer – MAD LOVE – SAMPLE HERE)

Please note, if your cabinets are Sherwin Williams Antique White or similar depth, these types of beiges rarely work – they need to be darker to humor this type of cream. 

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray

The Best Blue-Green Blend Paint Colors

15. SHERWIN WILLIAMS ARGOS 7065

Argos is a WICKED pretty, light-medium gray paint color with a green-blue undertone. HOWEVER, being a cool paint color, it WILL make your cream cabinets or trim look that much warmer in comparison. This is a pretty combo, but it needs to be the look you’re going for.

PAINT COLORS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO ARGOS 

• Sherwin Williams Tinsmith (it’s lighter, so be careful – SAMPLE HERE)
• Sherwin Williams Silverplate (again, lighter – SAMPLE HERE)

Please note, if your cabinets are Sherwin Williams Antique White or similar depth, these types of beiges rarely work – they need to be darker to humor this type of cream. 

FULL Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Argos

PEOPLE ALSO ASK…

ARE CREAM CABINETS OUTDATED?

In today’s average home? Yes, cream cabinets are outdated (don’t shoot the messenger!). These cabinets look more timeless in country-style, vintage, or traditional-style homes (some), particularly those with black countertops.

HOW DO YOU UPDATE CREAM CABINETS?

Aside from choosing one of the paint colors suggested above, a new backsplash can help cream cabinets look more modern. In particular, look for a 3×6 subway tile that’s the exact same cream as your cabinets.

Also, consider hardware in a finish that suits its surroundings (usually oil-rubbed bronze or black) but has a slightly more modern profile (check these out).

PHEW, we did it! Hopefully, you found the BEST paint color for you and your cream-inspired home. If not, you know who to call (or email, I never answer my phone…)

How to Update Cream Cabinets: COMMON QUESTIONS

And in case you’re wondering about some colors that I DIDN’T mention, there might be a GOOD REASON why I didn’t mention them…

POPULAR COLORS THAT DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH MOST CREAM CABINETS (SO YOU CAN STOP WONDERING)

And while I could go into all of the reasons WHY, by reading the above information, you’ll understand. These are colors that come up ALL THE TIME, with my E-design clients hoping to use them with their cream cabinets or trim.

OF COURSE, if your cream is on the LIGHTER side and has MUTED undertones (i.e., Sherwin Williams Creamy), you have a much better chance.

• Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige
• Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray
• Sherwin Williams White Duck
• Sherwin Williams Worldly Gray
• Sherwin Williams Popular Gray
• Sherwin Williams Alpaca
• Benjamin Moore’s Big Chill
• Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray
• Benjamin Moore Ballet White
• Benjamin Moore Cedar Key
• Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist
• Benjamin Moore Collingwood

I could go on, but those are the usual offenders. If you have VERY light cream trim or cabinets, could they work? Maybe…if they do, send photos, but most of the time, they’re just TOO light or have the wrong undertones.

READ MORE

How to Update Cream Cabinets or Trim: COMMON QUESTIONS

The 10 Most Timeless Finishes for Your Home

The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colors

The 8 Best WHOLE HOME Warm Neutral Paint Colors

Get your SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK samples of Kylie M’s 8 recommended colors from this post!

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING!

Chat soon,

The post The 16 Best Wall Colors to Update Cream Cabinets & Trim appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If you’re looking for the best paint color for your walls or cabinets, you MIGHT be looking in the wrong spot. That’s right, if you’re looking at your own PERSONAL TASTES, you could be getting it allll wrong.

The FIRST place to look is your interior finishes. Aside from sampling properly, coordinating your paint color with your interior finishes is the HUGEST topic. This doesn’t mean you can’t love this paint color too, but sometimes we have to tuck our personal tastes in our back pocket for a while, while we tune in to the needs of our space.

I have HUNDREDS of blog posts about the best paint colors for a WIDE RANGE of finishes (type any word into my SEARCH bar and have fun!). THIS blog post is specific to PRIORITIZING particular surfaces in your home – especially when they don’t coordinate.

FINISHES TO CONSIDER WHEN PICKING A PAINT COLOR FOR YOUR WALLS

BTW, this info can vary depending on your room and its particular finishes. If you don’t have one of the following finishes in your space, move to the next in line.

These items are PRIORITIZED from most important to LEAST important.

1. FIREPLACE

This can be stone or brick, as long as it has a dominant presence in the room (a wee small brick surround has less importance).

A fireplace like THIS is going to be the boss…

However, a fireplace with a more simple surround can leave more room to consider other finishes in the room…

2. COUNTERTOP & BACKSPLASH

In the kitchen, the countertop and backsplash call the big shots if you’re picking a wall color. If you happen to have painted cabinets, THEY fall into first place, over the countertop and backsplash.

As for the bathroom, vertical tile installations usually call dibs over the countertop – this includes tile behind the countertop or around the tub/shower.

It’s not only that the countertop (below) is EASY to coordinate with, but the backsplash tile is vertical, so it takes priority…

3. FLOORING

Undertones and colors in carpet, tile and vinyl matter a lot. Wood flooring CAN matter if it’s a super dominant stain color, gray wash or whitewash. However, if it’s a more flexible wood stain, it’s not as big of a player (because it’s more versatile and will humor a wide range of colors).

In this next photo, the gray wash of the floor has a violet undertone and will be a BIG consideration when choosing the wall color…

However, a more moderate wood floor like this falls low on the list as it’s easier to coordinate with…

Of course, there are always exceptions. For example, the countertop in this next bathroom is relatively easy to coordinate with. However, the tile floor is dominant and calls some pretty clear shots. In THIS case, the flooring is a higher priority than the countertop…

Remember, these blog posts are about general GUIDANCE. you can then take these tips and apply them to your own space in a way that makes sense!

4. SOFT FURNISHINGS

Soft furnishings are seen as being more replaceable than the above hard finishes (although you might disagree, depending on your situation). This includes pieces such as sofas, chairs, drapes, area rugs, and linens.

5. PAINT COLOR IN THE ADJOINING ROOM

While you want there to be flow from room to room, it’s MORE important that your paint color suits the ROOM ITSELF first, and then work out from there.

If you don’t have ANY of the above to consider, it sounds like you have a pretty clean slate! In this case, consider your room’s exposure, and your personal tastes, and have some FUN!

SURFACES TO CONSIDER WHEN PICKING A PAINT COLOR FOR YOUR CABINETS

In order of most to least important (as it relates to interior finishes).

1. COUNTERTOP & BACKSPLASH

As it relates to the kitchen, if these two surfaces aren’t well-coordinated, the BACKSPLASH takes priority when choosing a cabinet color.

Why?

The backsplash is on the same vertical sightline as the cabinets, whereas the countertop is horizontal. This means you’ll usually notice the coordination between the backsplash/cabinet BEFORE the countertop/cabinet combination.

If you’re choosing a paint color for your bathroom vanity, the countertop will matter more than any vertical tile application. In this next bathroom, the backsplash tile DEFINITELY calls the biggest shots when it comes to the vanity color…

If your space is well-coordinated, all surfaces could carry equal value

2. FLOORING

Undertones and colors in carpet, tile and vinyl matter a lot when choosing a cabinet paint color. However, as with choosing a wall color, wood flooring tends to be more flexible/versatile unless it’s a SUPER strong stain color or gray wash.

The green is a GORGEOUS CONTRAST to the violet-blue undertones in the tile floor

3. EXISTING WALL COLOUR

If you’re not repainting your walls, the existing color plays a pretty big part. HOWEVER, of the finishes listed here, it’s likely the least expensive to replace. I say this because sometimes you can’t make ALL of the surfaces in your space 100% happy – something has to give, and this something is often the wall paint color (or don’t paint your cabinets).

Of course, there are exceptions. For example, if you have a very small backsplash area and a HUGE expanse of tile flooring – the flooring might take priority. Or maybe you have black countertops that are SUPER easy to coordinate with, meaning the floor is a bigger consideration. Consider your space and which surfaces matter the MOST to your cabinets.

IF YOUR FINISHES DON’T COORDINATE, WHICH ONES DO YOU PRIORITIZE?

It depends on your home. And while there are always exceptions (too many to even BEGIN to cover), this next tip should get you considering your space with the right lens.

Generally speaking, vertical surfaces are prioritized over horizontal ones.

For example, if you’re choosing a cabinet color, MOST times, the backsplash is more important than the countertop. If you’re choosing a paint color for your living room, the stone on your fireplace could be more important than the flooring.

Why?

Because these surfaces are VERTICAL and are more visually attached to the cabinets (or walls) they’re being associated with. However, if your surfaces ARE well-coordinated, they carry equal value and should suit the same colors.

Remember, if your interior finishes aren’t well-coordinated, there might not be ONE color that makes them all 100% happy – it’s often about finding the next best thing!

PARTNER POSTS…

Kylie M’s Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Their Undertones

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Paint Colors Using LRV

How to Get the Perfect Color: LIGHTEN & DARKEN

How to Choose the Right Kelvins For Your Paint Color

The 5 Blog Posts You Need to Read BEFORE Choosing a Paint Color

Chat soon,

NEED HELP

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOR CONSULTING

The post WHAT MATTERS THE MOST WHEN CHOOSING PAINT COLORS? appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Are you having trouble finding the perfect color? Just can’t seem to settle on ‘the one’? Well, maybe you have FOUND the perfect color, you just haven’t found the right depth.

For example…

• that gray that seems too dark might be perfect once it’s lightened
• that beautiful blue-gray that seems just a bit too light might be bang-on once it’s darkened

What is this magic I speak of? I call it ‘tweaking’. This is not to be confused with ‘twerking’, which no matter HOW HARD I try, I can’t seem to do (and yes, I’ve tried…a lot).

Every paint color has what I call a ‘recipe’. And trust me, these are the only kind of recipes I follow. These color recipes tell you what is in a color and how much of it there is.

• More simple colors are made of up approx. Three colors mixed together in varying amounts.
• More complex colors can have seven or eight colors that are mixed together (Benjamin Moore Color Stories, for example). The more complex a color is, the more challenging it can be to color match.
• And you don’t need to worry about ANY of that jazz, the paint supplier has it ALL covered.

When you are lightening or darkening a paint color, you are removing (or adding) the same amount (i.e. 25%) from each color in the recipe. This changes the recipe, which in turn changes how the paint color will turn out. That makes sense, right?

Apparently not! I’ve had painters say to me ‘I won’t lighten my client’s colors by 25% – it doesn’t make a difference’. To which I say, ‘…ooookay then, so if you make a cookie recipe and want to make less cookies, you would reduce each ingredient in the recipe by 25%. You’re telling me this won’t make a difference?’ OF COURSE, IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE, YOU’LL HAVE FEWER COOKIES!

That is my computer-generated angst.

So, let’s get back to the main idea here in simple terms…

‘You can keep the taste of the cookies while tweaking the recipe to suit your needs’

WHEN YOU LIGHTEN OR DARKEN A COLOR, IT’S STILL THE SAME COLOR, RIGHT?

Hard no. When you adjust a color either lighter or darker, you are changing it. You will not HAVE the same color. You are working off of the same BASE, but it’s no longer the same ‘color’ – it is a variation of the original in that it’s lighter or darker – you have changed its LRV (read up on LRV here).

However, when you adjust a color, the way it looks can shift slightly and not just in DEPTH, but in ‘color’. That gray with a green undertone might look a weee wink more green – OR you might lose a touch of the green. FRACTIONAL at best, but it’s worth mentioning. You are not going to get any ENTIRELY NEW COLOR that is no relation to the original – it is going to be a new, tweaked version of the original (particularly at 50%).

AND REMEMBER, IT’S SUBTLE, so don’t get your knickers in a knot. The moral of the story is that if you are going to lighten/darken a color, make sure you see a SAMPLE of it lightened/darkened to make sure you still like what you see.

STEP 1  PICK THE COLOR YOU WANT TO SAMPLE

Decide on the paint color(s) that you’d like to play around with.

• Behr sample pots are 222 ml / approx $3.99
• Benjamin Moore sample pots are 465.5 ml / approx $8.99
• Sherwin Williams sample jugs come in at a whopping 916 ml / approx $9.99 

If you want to be exact (which is my personal preference), get a QUART of paint mixed in the exact line of paint/finish that I’ll be painting my surface in. This is the most accurate way to sample.

However, if you’re sampling multiple colours, this can get pricey, so I understand the desire to use more affordable sample pots. JUST REMEMBER, paint companies don’t use one of their ‘quality paints’ in the sample pots – you’re getting low-end paint and the result can look slightly different from what you might put on your walls/cabinets.

STEP 2  HOW TO ORDER PAINT COLORS LIGHTER OR DARKER

If you would like to lighten your paint color, here’s what you say…

Hi, could you please make me a sample pot (or a quart of paint) in ‘this colour’, but make it 25% lighter (or darker)?

If the employee says you won’t notice the difference, ask them to make it anyway.

There, done.

STEP 3  PAINT SAMPLE BOARDS

Paint up large samples of your colors on their own boards. Here are the steps to follow…

1.  Buy some poster board, and cut it in half.
2.  Give each paint sample its own board (label it on the back as if you do A LOT of samples, it’s easy to get them mixed up)
3.  Use a small roller – always do two coats
4.  Paint up to the edge on one side and leave a two-inch white border on the other three sides.

Why the white border?

This white border will visually separate your existing paint color for your new sample. Your old color WILL influence your perception of your new color.

As for the one painted edge, this is for putting colors directly against each other for comparison AND for butting samples up with finishes in your home, i.e. backsplash, trim, etc…

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

Here are two sample boards with a white border between them…

And here are the same two sample boards without anything between them…

The white border is for separating your OLD color from your sample. The painted edge is for comparing sample colors to each other.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN YOU LIGHTEN OR DARKEN A PAINT COLOR?

Regardless of how much you lighten or darken a color, you’re CHANGING it at its roots – you’re creating a new color. This new color might have a similar foundation, but it will be different.

LIGHTEN OR DARKEN A PAINT COLOR BY 25%

• When you lighten or darken a paint color by 25%, expect to see a SUBTLE shift, although the actual shift can vary depending on the color you’re using (and the amount of black that’s in it). Some people don’t even notice this shift; others see it clearly, although it’s not a HUGE change.
• This shift will be more or less noticeable, depending on the area of your room and the type of light it gets.
• Even though the change is SUBTLE, sometimes that’s all you need to get the perfect color you’re looking for.
• While the undertones can slightly shift, it’s VIRTUALLY unnoticeable. At the heart of it, you’re dealing with the same color, but it has a higher or lower LRV (which technically, makes it a new color, but you know what I mean).

In this next photo, just because YOU might not be able to see that the walls/trim are Benjamin Moore White Dove made 25% lighter, doesn’t mean I can’t tell. Don’t listen to what other people say – take the time to get your perfect shade, even if it’s only you that sees it!

LIGHTEN OR DARKEN A PAINT COLOR BY 50%

• If 25% doesn’t offer enough of a change for you, try 50%. This is a more noticeable shift but is more subtle than it SOUNDS, so don’t expect anything crazy or drastic.
• Picture a strip of colors (like in the fan deck), going from light to dark. Lightening a color by 50% puts your color somewhere between itself and the color above it. Darkening a color puts you somewhere in between the color itself and the one below it. This is approximate, again, because how much a color changes depends on what it’s made with, to begin with.
• Check your ‘new’ color against the original to make sure you’re still seeing the same undertones – lightening or darkening a color can cause undertones to increase/decrease.

LIGHTENING OR DARKENING A PAINT COLOR BY 75%

• I rarely recommend this, but when I do, it’s when I’m coordinating ceiling/wall colors or trying to find the perfect trim/ceiling color for a tricky off-white/beige (as it relates to 75% lighter).
• While you should ALWAYS check colors against their original versions, it’s even more important at 75%, as you could see a more noticeable shift in undertones.

SOME COLORS CAN’T BE LIGHTENED OR DARKENED AS MUCH AS YOU WANT

According to The Rolling Stones, you can’t always get what you want.

• As it relates to lightening, some colors CAN’T be lightened due to the amount of colorant/tint used in them. There might not be enough of a particular tint to have it go any lighter/less.
• As for darkening, some colours CAN’T be darkened as the quart or gallon of paint can only handle so much tint before it overflows. Darkening some colors also puts them into a different ‘base’, making things more challenging.

This next photo is a GREAT example of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray made 25% darker – a wee subtle shift is sometimes all it takes to make this Ginger happy!

BTW, Sherwin Williams can adjust colors in almost any increment, (my faves being 25% and 50%). Benjamin Moore can do 10% / 25% / 50% / 75%

You WILL notice the difference with 50%, whereas, in some lights, 25% is hardly noticeable (and that can be a good thing!).

IMPORTANT DETAIL

In the previous two images, notice how much more gray Revere Pewter looks on the white background compared to the cream background. This is why I recommend leaving some white space around your paint samples – your old color WILL influence your perception of the new one!

With regard to LRV, hopefully, you’ve read my blog post re: LRV and how it can help you choose the best paint color (if not, jump on it!). Now, this is so OBVIOUSLY not scientific, but in my experience (which is pretty damned vast), expect a 25% tweak to change the LRV by approx. THREE points. A 50% tweak might be closer to EIGHT. So if the previous LRV was 48, lightening it by 25% could bring it up to around 51 or so. 50% would take it to approx 56. THIS IS NOT A SCIENCE. But you’re not here for science, you’re here for the ‘user-friendly’ end of things (wink wink).

PEOPLE ALSO ASK…

IF YOU WANT TO LIGHTEN A COLOR CAN YOU JUST ADD WHITE?

HECK NO. The BEST way to lighten a paint color is to have the paint store tech do it for you, this way the right adjustments are made to each color/tint that’s gone into MAKING this color.

CAN YOU LIGHTEN A COLOR BY LESS THAN 25%

If 25% is too much of a change, I want you to sit back and take a better look at your original color. Look at it on all wall spaces and at different times of the day. Depending on its LRV, it may look slightly lighter or slightly darker once it’s on a larger scale. Maybe the color you HAVE is the best one!

IF YOU’RE HAVING TO LIGHTEN OR DARKEN A COLOR, WHY NOT JUST PICK A NEW COLOR?

If that ‘other color’ existed, you would. Sometimes there ISN’T a ‘lighter or darker version’ of the color you want and you have to play with what you’ve got.

Well, that was somewhat of an epic novel, but the info should be pretty darned straightforward. Pick a color, lighten or darken it, paint a board – get ‘er done.

READ MORE

How to Choose Your PERFECT Paint Color: 4 TIPS & IDEAS

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Paint Colors with LRV

The 12 Best Whole Home Gray & Greige Paint Colors

Check out my video on this topic here…

Not sure which colors are best for your room? 

Check out my affordable Online Decorating, Design and Color Consulting Services

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2017, AWESOME UPDATED FOR YOU IN 2023

The post 3 Easy Steps to Your Perfect Paint Color: LIGHTEN & DARKEN appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Are you tired of sampling paint the old-fashioned way? Do you have a patchwork of paint colours on your walls and a pyramid of 3/4 empty sample pots on your dining table? I get it. While I spend most of my days helping YOU choose the best paint colors for YOUR home, I also spend a lot of time sampling colors for my own home, and it can be EXHAUSTING. I mean, nothing a glass or five two of wine can’t help with, but still.

WHAT EXACTLY IS SAMPLIZE PEEL AND STICK?

Samplize offers PEEL & STICK paint samples that you slap RIGHT ON YOUR WALL – no brush, no roller, no mess, no stress. Okay, I can’t guarantee the stress part (insert deep breathing exercises HERE). However, between my blog posts and these samples…

Your paint-pickin’ life just got a whooooole lot easier, and maybe even a little bit FUN!  

WHAT BRANDS DOES SAMPLIZE CARRY?

SAMPLIZE has partnered with today’s top paint brands, including Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, Farrow & Ball & PPG. Oh, yeah, and they save you MONEY while you’re doing it. Is SAMPLIZE legit? Oooooh, yeah. If the above brands and I partnered with them, I’d say they’re pretty badass (I don’t even have a partnership with BM and SW – just SAMPLIZE).

And guess what? YOU DON’T EVEN NEED TO PUT PANTS ON TO GET YOUR SAMPLES! That’s right, FRONT DOOR DELIVERY!

ARE SAMPLIZE PEEL AND STICK ACCURATE?

Yes. 100% accurate and true to color. SAMPLIZE uses real paint from each manufacturer, giving you the EXACT color you’re looking for – two coats of it. In fact, SAMPLIZE samples are more accurate than what you see in the fan deck/paper chip samples in the store.

WHAT FINISH ARE SAMPLIZE PEEL AND STICK?

Samplize colors are painted with an eggshell finish, making them applicable to most projects. As the late great Goldilocks once said, ‘…it’s juuuuuuust right’.

Eggshell is definitely the most popular paint finish. However, if you like to paint your walls in matte, you know that’s just a wee shift down from eggshell. On the other hand, if you like your cabinets or trim to be satin/pearl, you know there will be a touch more sheen!

WHAT ARE THE PROS & CONS OF SAMPLIZE?

Let’s start with the pros…

THE COST

Most of the SAMPLIZE samples cost $5.95. That’s it.

On the other hand, the average sample pot is $9.99 to $13.99. Add in a roller/tray/canvas, and you’re at approx $15 per sample, plus your blood, sweat, and many, many tears.

IT’S MESS-FREE

Sure, you have some paper backing to recycle – big whoop. No more sloppy paint pots, dripping rollers, or walls that look like they’ve been in a paintball war.

IT’S EASY – FRONT-DOOR DELIVERY

You don’t even have to leave your home – SAMPLIZE delivers to your front door, sometimes within ONE BUSINESS day (location dependent*).

*Unless you’re in Canada, like me, in which case it can take a bit more time. But if you aren’t in a hurry, it’s WELL worth it. All the same, I’ve never waited more than five business days. 

IT’S MORE ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY

You don’t need to be a tree-hugger to know that sampling paint the traditional way isn’t exactly ‘earth-friendly’. I did this for years and still have the pyramid of cans in my garage to prove it (most of them are still 3/4 full of unused paint).

As for the CONS, to be honest, there aren’t many, but I do have two…

FINISH CHOICE

Don’t get me wrong; I love that their samples are in an eggshell finish; it applies to most projects. However, when doing my Color Consulting, I would LOOOVE to order samples in cabinet finish (satin/pearl). However, I realize I am the exception, not the rule.

ABILITY TO RE-USE SAMPLES

You CAN’T put your SAMPLIZE sample on its backing again. Or you can, but it’s painstakingly hard. Once you peel that bad boy off, you’re committed. However, let me tell you what to do (I’m a bossy lil thing)…

1. Start with 6-8 paint samples of colors that are ‘similar’ to each other (COMPARISON is KEY when sampling paint!).

2. Keep all peel & stick samples on their paper backing, and use a little piece of tape to stick them up (seems silly, I know, but humour me).

3. Once you’ve narrowed it down to your fave two or three, THEN take the backing off these samples only. This way, you can pass along/save/use for crafts the samples that still have their backing.

Is SAMPLIZE legit?

You bet your booty it is. When it comes to helping you choose the BEST paint color for your home, SAMPLIZE is as legit as it gets (other than me, I’m a pretty legit colour-picking tool too).

HOW DO YOU USE SAMPLIZE PEEL AND STICK?

The tips below will help you choose the BEST paint color for your walls, cabinets, trim or exterior.

1. TAPE UP WHITE PAPER AROUND YOUR SAMPLE

Your old paint colour will 100% influence your perception of the NEW paint color. A bit of white around the edges helps to create a more neutral base to judge your samples.

2. MOVE IT ONTO DIFFERENT WALLS & VIEW IT IN DIFFERENT LIGHTING

One of the most IMPORTANT tips when sampling paint and picking your room’s BEST color, is to MOVE your sample around – different walls, lighting, day/nite. Another great thing about SAMPLIZE is that you can move it dozens of times. I tested a sample to see HOW MANY TIMES I could move it (with the backing OFF), and I literally could’ve gone on and on (kind of like when I’m talking).

3. PEEL IT OFF WITH TWO HANDS

I’m showing you this first photo as my hair looks GREAT, and to ALSO show you how NOT to take SAMPLIZE off the wall.

If you want to move your sample to different walls with no muss no fuss, the two-handed approach (also helpful when drinking wine) makes for an easier, wrinkle-free transition (I wonder if they would make SAMPLIZE for my face)…

4. POUR A GLASS OF WINE

That’s right. Picking paint colours is WAY easier when you have a bottle and a funnel of wine glass of wine by your side (as mentioned earlier, it’s one of my four favourite topics). Because not only does WINE make sampling paint more fun – SAMPLIZE makes sampling paint more fun!

WHERE SHOULD YOU PUT YOUR PEEL AND STICK PAINT SAMPLES?

• directly beside your trim (either painted or wood)
• on the wall behind the main furniture pieces
• next to finishes like fireplace stone and backsplash tile

HOW NOT TO SAMPLE YOUR COLORS

• paint samples floating in the middle of the wall don’t work; your color needs something to be bumped up with or visually connected to (re: my previous bulleted list)

This next photo shows the RIGHT SAMPLES, but the wrong sampling technique.

• there’s no white paper around the samples to separate them – yup, you even need to separate them from drywall!
• they aren’t being RELATED to anything – trim, countertop – surely, they’ve picked out SOME product they could compare them to!

BTW, if you’re wondering how legit this review is, I want you to think – when was the last time you saw me promote a product? #hardlyever. Sure, I talk incessantly about Benjamin Moore, Ryan Reynolds, Sherwin Williams, and wine, but Lord knows they don’t pay me anything to do that – I pay myself in wine, Doritos and personal high-fives (true).

If I’m here to put MY NAME behind a product, it means I really believe in it – for you AND for me.

So while I benefit financially from this partnership with SAMPLIZE, I could partner with MANY…many other brands and have had the opportunity to do so. But I haven’t (with very few exceptions). End of story.

WHY DO I LOVE SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK SO MUCH?

My job as a Paint Color Expert and blogger is to make YOUR life easier when it comes to picking paint and decorating your home – in fact; I’ve written a few hundred (almost 500) articles on these topics.

I’m not messin’ around and will NEVER buy another sample pot again*. SAMPLIZE IS A GAME-CHANGER. It’s lit my lil color-lovin’ world on FIRE. And if I think it’s awesome, I know you will too.

*FULL DISCLOSURE, the only time I’ll buy a sample pot is when I need to see a paint color lightened or darkened by a certain percentage – in other words, not very often. 

And I bet you have MORE questions about this product – in which case, they have a great FAQ page for you to check out.

READ MORE

The 12 Best Whole Home Gray and Greige Paint Colors

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing White Paint Colors

How to Sample Paint Colors the RIGHT WAY

The 8 Best Whole Home Warm Neutral Paint Colors

The 8 Best White Paint Colors from Benjamin Moore

The 5 Best Off-White Paint Colors

North, East, South, West – Which Paint Color is the Best For YOUR Room’s Exposure?

Not sure which paint colours to order?

Check out my E-Books and Online Paint Colour Consulting – I’d love to help!

The post SAMPLIZE PEEL AND STICK PAINT COLOR SAMPLES: A REAL REVIEW appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Can’t determine which paint color best suits your wood cabinets or trim? Maybe you want to highlight the beauty of your wood and make it come to life. On the other hand, maybe you want to CAMOUFLAGE your wood as you find its stain or grain too bossy. Whatever it is you’re looking for – I bet I’ve got it (except for sanity, that’s in short supply around here).

But before we get into the nitty-gritty, you need to decide whether you want to accent your wood or whether you want to blend or camouflage it…

• Warm or cool paint colors that are a few tones lighter or darker than the wood tone will accent it more than colors with the same depth. Why? Because not only will you have contrast in color temperature, but in color DEPTH!

• If you REALLY want to jazz things up, choose colors that don’t have TOO much gray in them, as these will offer more contrast and energy against your wood.

• Even if you THINK you want to blend in your wood cabinets, you might be surprised at how awesome a well-chosen cool color can look.

However, if you want to downplay a strong wood stain, you’ll want to avoid cool tones and lean into these colors below…

• Keeping the paint colour a similar depth to your wood is a great way to keep things seamless, but it can be a bit bland looking if you choose a warm or neutral color. It’s better to go a bit lighter (OR darker) than your wood’s depth or shift into a slightly cooler (but not COLD) shade. This will add a bit of thoughtful layering without overexposing your wood. (There are sooo many jokes I could make…)

• When it comes to cream, beige, and brown, find ones with similar undertones to the ones in your wood. This helps to keep things muted and subtle and prevents clashing undertones.

• Some cream, beige, and brown paint colors can pick up a wink of green, which can look a weeeee bit murky against many warmer woods (especially, red or pink tones commonly found in cherry).

YELLOW-TONED WOOD STAINS

Yellow-stained wood finishes were especially popular in the 90s and fell a bit out of favor in the early 2000s. As for undertones, yellow-toned woods are often committed to yellow but can slide slightly into yellow-orange or, more rarely, yellow-pink or yellow-green.

WHAT COLORS TONE DOWN YELLOW WOOD?

If you want to make your yellow stain look LESS yellow, you might need to lean into it a bit with the following colors…

• Cream paint colors with similar undertone profiles, i.e., if your wood is yellow-orange, you’ll pick a shade of cream that blends yellow-orange (like Benjamin Moore Navajo White.)

• Subtle tan paint colors. Whereas beiges lean more on orange, tan paint colors lean on a yellow undertone (yellow-orange or yellow-green). A color like Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan or Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan can look pretty.

• Some greiges look great with yellow stains. While there could be a minor degree of accenting, depending on the greige you choose, many greiges (with their green-yellow) undertone, are beautiful partners to yellow woods. Of the options listed, they’re the LEAST likely to blend out the wood tone, but also won’t OVERreact (depending on the greige).

The staircase in this next photo has a wood stain with yellow-orange undertones…

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

WHAT PAINT COLORS GO WITH OR ACCENT YELLOW WOODS?

These colors will make your wood POP a bit (pun intended…wink wink – I can’t help myself). This means that if you love your wood stain and want to contrast and accent it, these are the colors you’ll want to explore (you’ll see references to SPECIFIC colors shortly).

• Paint colors that are blue-green blends or blue-green-gray blends.

• Gray with blue-green undertones.

• Warm gray with a violet undertone (not AS great with yellow-green stains).

As shown in this next photo, colors that are cooler than your wood will help highlight it…

Benjamin Moore Light Pewter

ORANGE-TONED WOOD STAINS

Orange wood stains are super common as it relates to oak cabinets. However, you can find orange on almost ANY wood species, as the STAIN can have orange in it!

While yellow-toned woods are usually pretty darned yellow, orange-toned woods easily lean into yellow or red, but the dominant undertone is still orange.

WHAT COLORS TONE DOWN ORANGE WOOD STAINS?

If you’re considering using cool colors on your walls, think again. Sure, they can look GORGEOUS, but they will highlight the warmth and color of your wood finish, whether its cabinets, floors, trims, or furniture. To downplay an orange-inspired wood stain, check out…

• Muted beige blends, preferably in the off-white to light depths (specific colors are coming shortly).

• Warm gray with a violet undertone can be an interesting approach without hitting things too hard, although some accenting can occur.

• Some greige/taupe colors can be quite pretty for a moderate balanced approach. However, beige is your BEST bet.

Benjamin Moore Gray Owl

Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray

WHAT COLORS GO WITH OR ACCENT ORANGE WOODS?

If you’re a bit of an exhibitionist and want to show off your wood, these colors will do the trick! You’ll see references to SPECIFIC colors shortly.

• Paint colors that are blue-green blends or blue-green-gray blends.

• Gray with blue-green undertones.

• Warm gray with a violet undertone can be particularly striking without being OVERLY contrasting.

RED, PINK, OR CHERRY WOOD STAINS

Red or cherry-toned woods are often the strongest of the bunch, adding depth and color to a room. Red-toned woods can also look slightly pinkish (pink being the light version of red) or can give off a subtle purple cast, depending on the combination of wood and stain choice.

While sometimes its hard to tell what undertone a wood stain has, there’s one hiding in there. This next wood finish has a slight pink undertone…

WHAT COLORS TONE DOWN RED OR PINK WOOD STAINS?

While leaning into red (pink) can be scary, it’s often the best way to mute the STRENGTH of your red-stained wood…

• Taupe paint colors share a similar undertone (taupe has a touch of pink in it).

• Warm gray with a violet undertone can be an interesting approach, especially, but not exclusively, one with a bit more depth.

• Some beige paint colors that lean into orange-pink, but it depends on the exact wood stain/strength.

The burnt-red hue of the walls in this next kitchen isn’t favoring the gorgeous orange-red cabinets; this is a case of WAY too much of a good thing…

WHAT COLORS GO WITH OR ACCENT RED OR PINK WOODS?

Red or poink-toned woods can be super fun to play with as they respond SO well to cool colors. So, if you’re a bit of an exhibitionist and want to show off your wood, these colors will do the trick! You’ll see references to SPECIFIC colors shortly.

• Paint colors that are blue-green blends or blue-green-gray blends will really light things up!

• Gray with blue-green undertones.

• Warm gray with a violet undertone can be a more modest approach (it’s one of my fave choices with red stains).

In this next photo, Sherwin Williams Jogging Path provides a nice subtle highlight to the red furniture stain and red oak flooring…

Now that you’ve done your homework, it’s time to look at REAL COLORS! Remember…

MANY wood finishes will pick up on more than one undertone.

This means that not ALL of these paint colors will look good with ALL wood stains, but they should get you pointed in the right direction!

1. BENJAMIN MOORE CLASSIC GRAY OC-23

For a soft, subtle look, Classic Gray is a nice, slightly warm gray. This gentle shade of off-white has vague violet-pink undertones that suit MANY wood finishes. Its passive approach won’t blend with your cabinets but also won’t highlight or accent them.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Classic Gray

If Classic Gray is CLOSE, but not hitting the mark, Sherwin Williams Egret White has a similar approach, as does Benjamin Moore Silver Satin.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH CLASSIC GRAY

Classic Gray doesn’t work well with yellow-green stains, but tends to humor a range of yellow, orange, and red woods.

2. SHERWIN WILLIAMS REPOSE GRAY SW 7015

Repose Gray is a warm gray paint color that’s SUPER unpredictable. While it can pick up a slight touch of green, it can just as easily wink at violet or even a touch of blue! Make sure you sample Repose Gray CAREFULLY and read its FULL COLOR REVIEW.

The 10 Best Sherwin Williams Gray and Greige Paint Colors

Colors that are similar to Repose Gray, but with slightly different intentions include Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray and Sherwin Williams Agreeable Gray.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH REPOSE GRAY

It’s always hard to say with Repose Gray. With its slightly dirty undertones, Repose Gray is especially pretty with more ‘brown’ wood tones – ones without dominant yellow, orange, or red (pink) undertones. In other words, it can handle a ‘bit’ of undertone, as long as it’s not overpowering or overly noticeable.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Repose Gray

3. SHERWIN WILLIAMS KILIM BEIGE SW 6106

Kilim Beige is a soft, subtle, and versatile shade of beige. While Kilim Beige has a main orange undertone, it can entertain various finishes and wood tones.

Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige is a soft complement to the wood floor, stairs, and railings

How to Mix and Match Wood Stains & Finishes

If Kilim Beige is closer, but you need a color with slightly different undertones or depth, check out similar colors like Sherwin Williams Natural Linen and Benjamin Moore Muslin.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH KILIM BEIGE

Kilim Beige doesn’t look as good with red-stained woods that lean red-violet or have a decent degree of yellow. However, it’s especially nice with orange woods or those with a mild red stain (like the stain on the stairs in the above photo).

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Kilim Beige

4. BENJAMIN MOORE ABALONE 2108-60

Abalone is a mix between gray, brown, and purple. The purple is subtle but adds a decent dose of color to get things out of the gray range. Abalone is also light enough to help offset a bit of the visual weight of darker cherry cabinets while still contrasting with white trim. I love how the purple taps into the wood tones without being ‘obvious’ about it (shown below).

The 9 Best Purple Paint Colors

While Abalone is perfect for many rooms, if you need a shade with a similar, but slightly different approach, check out Benjamin Moore Collingwood, Barren Plain, and Balboa Mist.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH ABALONE

Abalone is SO stinkin’ pretty with red hue woods, especially red-violet ones (above). However, it also suits some yellow woods, as long as they aren’t yellow-green and many orange stains.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Abalone

5. BENJAMIN MOORE COLLINGWOOD OC 28

Collingwood is a beautiful warm gray with a subtle purple undertone. The undertone is quite passive, so this is a ‘gray-centric’ color. It can look wicked pretty with red or violet-toned wood finishes. Most grays can lean into ANY of the three cool gray undertones with the right lighting or exposure, but Collingwood usually holds pretty steady with its commitment to violet.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Collingwood

While Collingwood is the perfect warm gray for many spaces, your particular wood might need something a bit different. Check out Benjamin Moore Nimbus, Balboa Mist, and Sherwin Williams Alpaca.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH COLLINGWOOD

Collingwood is flexible toward MOST wood tones, depending on your intentions. It can be a bit fussy with some yellow stains (yellow-green) as it prefers more legit yellow, orange, or pink undertones. My FAVE combo is Collingwood with red-stained woods.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Collingwood

6. BENJAMIN MOORE GENTLE CREAM OC 96

Gentle Cream (also known as Barely Beige) is a great way to create a warm and inviting room without it looking overly golden. With its almost ‘butterscotch’ undertones, this color will sit pretty neutral with oak and other woods without camouflaging them or accenting them.

The 5 Best Cream Paint Colors

If you’d like to sample a color that’s similar to Gentle Cream, check out Benjamin Moore Navajo White and Sherwin Williams Casa Blanca.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH GENTLE CREAM

Gentle Cream can be a gorgeous partner to yellow and orange hue woods but can be fussy with red tones, depending on the exact blend.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Gentle Cream

7. SHERWIN WILLIAMS CANVAS TAN SW 7531

Canvas Tan is a relatively neutral tan paint color that doesn’t fall too flat or greige toned for orange-toned woods NOR too golden warm, making it flexible for various wood stains, as shown below…

And while Canvas Tan is one of the more popular warm neutrals, check out Sherwin Williams Neutral Ground, Natural Tan, and Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan as well.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH CANVAS TAN

Canvas Tan is a bit fussier than some of the others and doesn’t love closer partnership with overly red stains (the dining set above is as close as you want to get). It’s also hit-and-miss with some orange-hued woods. It BEST suits yellow woods, especially ones that might lean a weee tiny wink into green.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan

Samplize peel-and-stick paint samples are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER, and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots.

• Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on the location.

• They’re more affordable than the sample pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling.

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

8. BENJAMIN MOORE STONINGTON GRAY HC 170

Stonington Gray is a stormy gray with a soft blue-green undertone; it’s a beauty if you want a subtle accent to your wood tones.

What’s the Difference Between Stonington Gray and Gray Owl?

If you’re looking for a shade that’s similar to Stonington Gray, check out Sherwin Williams Tinsmith, Silverplate, and Big Chill.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH STONINGTON GRAY

There’s not much Stonington Gray can’t do if you want to highlight your wood (without going over the top). Stonington Gray is friendly to MOST wood stains, including oaks, maples, and cherry’s.

Paint Colour Review of Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

9. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SEA SALT SW 6204

Sea Salt is a lovely complement to most woods for a fun, fresh look. Sea Salt is a light-toned green blend with a gray-blue undertone to calm it down. Yes, it will slightly accent your wood stain, but it can look BEAUTIFUL! Read ALL about Sea Salt in its color review.

Sea Salt is a color unto itself, but for a similar (but tweaked) approach, check out Benjamin Moore Quiet Moments, Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray, and Silver Strand.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH SEA SALT

Because the goal is to highlight wood stains, Sea Salt is pretty flexible and you can expect almost any wood stain or species to pop against this cool-toned beauty.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Sea Salt

10. SHERWIN WILLIAMS NATURAL LINEN 9109

With trends leaning warmer, Natural Linen is bound to be a popular shade. With a light-depth, more modern approach to beige, Natural Linen’s warm, flexible undertones are a soft and subtle partner to many types of wood stains, including most oaks.

Natural Linen is DARN pretty, but if you need a color with a bit more this or that, check out the similar approach of Sherwin Williams Rivers Edge, Kilim Beige, and Benjamin Moore Muslin.

WOOD STAINS THAT LOOK DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH NATURAL LINEN

Natural Linen is a versatile warm neutral that suits a wid range of wood stains, especially those with orange (orange-yellow, yellow-orange) undertones. It can be a bit fussy with overly red wood stains and cherry woods.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Natural Linen

11. BENJAMIN MOORE JOCKEY HOLLOW GRAY HC 108

Jockey Hollow Gray is a gorgeous shade of greige with a decent green undertone. While it WILL accent the warmth of your cabinets, the neutral base keeps things a bit more in check.

WOOD STAINS THAT LOOK DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH JOCKEY HOLLOW GRAY

Jockey Hollow Gray is a heavier approach than the others and is a beautiful complement to yellow and orange stains. I’m not as BIG of a fan of red hues, but that’s a personal opinion, as some will love it.

12. SHERWIN WILLIAMS SILVERPLATE SW 7649

Silverplate is a slightly stormy gray with a vague blue (blue-green) undertone. While it CAN look cool, Silverplate isn’t traditionally cold. On the other hand, it’s not very warm but has a stormy softness.

The subtle undertones of Silverplate will slightly enhance any wood tone, but it’s a great way to create a more modern look with your yellow-toned wood (shown below).

And don’t forget about LRV when choosing a paint color! How to Use LRV to Pick a Paint Color

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH SILVERPLATE

Silverplate isn’t BAD with many wood stains and humors most. As shown above, I love how Silverplate plays with a yellow-orange stain. And while it certainly suits red well enough, it’s not my PERSONAL fave.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Silverplate

13. BENJAMIN MOORE GRAY CASHMERE 2138-60

Gray Cashmere is a soft gray with a strong blue-green undertone, making it almost whimsical with its fresh feeling (it usually favors blue over green). Gray Cashmere is similar to Sherwin Williams Sea Salt, but has more gray in it, leaving a whisper of color without being too powerful. This color will accent wood tones, not soften them.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH GRAY CASHMERE

Gray Cashmere isn’t SUPER fussy about its wood tones, although I’m not a huge fan of it with DARK espresso finishes. Gray Cashmere is especially pretty with most yellow hue woods, offering a soft contrast.

14. SHERWIN WILLIAMS HERON PLUME SW 6070

Heron Plume is an interesting off-white – stuck between gray and taupe. Because of this, it can shift a lot depending on the exposure of your room. While its undertones aren’t overpowering, they can flash through depending on the finishes you partner it with.

WOOD STAINS THAT LOOK DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH HERON PLUME

Heron Plume can be STUNNING with wood stains that are red-inspired, as it’s subtle violet undertones suit many red hues. It’s also pretty with orange-toned woods but can be a bit fussy with some yellow woods.

15. BENJAMIN MOORE EDGECOMB GRAY HC 173

Edgecomb Gray is one of the most popular colors, sitting nicely between gray and beige, with no obvious preference for either. Its undertones are also passive, catering to neither greige (green) nor taupe (violet-pink). Edgecomb Gray won’t really highlight nor blend in with most woods unless you have DARK wood, which would be highlighted via the degree of contrast, not the color. 

V1 Real Estate Photography with Kylie M.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH EDGECOMB GRAY

Edgecomb Gray can handle wood stains with muted OR strong undertones, making it super versatile. However, be careful when partnering it with gray-wash woods, which can have a bit too much violet undertone for Edgecomb Gray.

Remember to pay attention to your room’s exposure too!

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

16. SHERWIN WILLIAMS COLONNADE GRAY SW 7641

Colonnade Gray is a soft, light-medium warm gray, borderline greige. Because of this, it favors a very slight green undertone but can easily flash into the others depending on your exposure/interior finishes.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH COLONNADE GRAY

Colonnade Gray looks gorgeous with many yellow and orange-hue woods and more muted brown stains. It can also work with red ones but can enhance the red, so watch for that.

Paint Color Review of Sherwin Williams Colonnade Gray

17. BENJAMIN MOORE DRY SAGE 2142-40

If you want a dynamic combination between your wood cabinets, trim, and walls, look NO FURTHER than green. In particular, Dry Sage is a beautiful partner if you want your beautiful wood to pop a little!

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH GREEN

Green is pretty easy to please when it comes to its wood partners, enjoying yellow, orange, and even some pink stain colors! Just remember, your wood will POP in comparison!

I rely 100% on photos from my Online Color Consulting clients – thank you to everyone for sending them in! 

18. BENJAMIN MOORE FERNWOOD GREEN 2145-40

Again, it can be hard to go wrong with green. Fernwood Green is a warm green paint color with JUST enough of a neutral base to calm it down while leaving a GORGEOUS green hue on the walls!

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH WARM SHADES OF GREEN

As shown in the photo above, woods with a red or pink undertone can look stunning with green paint colors. However, I also love how yellow-orange-toned woods look equally as much.

19. BENJAMIN MOORE IMPERIAL GRAY 1571

Imperial Gray is a gorgeous blend of blue-green and gray, creating a soothing, calming combination with many wood tones.

WOOD STAINS THAT DO & DON’T GO WITH IMPERIAL GRAY & OTHER BLUE-GREEN BLENDS

In the above photo, you can see how beautiful the blue-green paint color looks with the red stain on the dresser. However, you’ll find that these types of colors can be equally as stunning with yellow and orange-stained woods.

Here’s Imperial Gray in the same room, just at a different angle, shown with more orange-stained wood…

20. BENJAMIN MOORE COVENTRY GRAY HC 169

Coventry Gray is a stormy, subtle shade of gray with a whisper of green-blue undertones. This cool approach contrasts so nicely with warm-toned woods.

FULL Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray

WHAT WOOD STAINS DO & DON’T LOOK GOOD WITH GRAYS LIKE COVENTRY GRAY?

While woods with a strong red undertone look okay with a color like Coventry Gray, it really hits its stride with orange-stained woods or those with a muted yellow.

Get your SAMPLIZE PEEL & STICK samples of Kylie M’s recommended colors from this post!

Want more?

5 Ideas to Update Oak Cabinets – (PART 1 in series)

MORE Ideas to Update Your Wood Cabinets – WITHOUT a Drop of Paint! (PART 2)

The Best Hardware to Update Wood Cabinets (PART 3)

CONFUSED? NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting & E-Design Services!

READ MORE

How to Coordinate Different Wood Stains and Finishes

Should You Paint Your Cabinets – A Questionnaire

The 8 Best Whole Home Warm Neutral Paint Colours

WRITTEN IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2022 JUST FOR YOU!

The post The 20 Best Paint Colors To Go With Oak (or Wood): Trim, Floor, Cabinets & More (PART 4) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Sampling paint colors the traditional way is hard. Even if you’re LOOKING at the perfect paint color for your walls, cabinets, or trims, you might not KNOW it because you aren’t looking at it the right way.

So what IS the right way to sample paint? Let’s find out!

1. START WITH SAMPLIZE

Don’t go to the store for sample pots, poster board, and paint rollers/trays when you can have peel-and-stick samples delivered to your FRONT DOOR in a DAY.

The only time I use sample pots is when I need to adjust a color (lighten or darken it from its original version) and see what it looks like before painting my walls.

If you ordered one of my Online Paint Color Consultations, your curated color list is included in your consult. If you’re reading this blog post from scratch, I encourage you to check out SAMPLIZE – it’s a game-changer.

2. YOU NEED WHITE PAPER OR POSTER BOARD

Once you’ve got your samples in your hot little hands, don’t start slappin’ them on the walls YET.

Why?

You must separate your OLD paint color from your NEW options by placing approx. THREE INCHES of white paper around THREE SIDES of each new sample.

Your old paint color will skew your perception of any new colour.

Take a look at this sample…

How does this colour look to you? Think about its depth and undertones, in particular.

Take another look at it in this next photo…

IT’S THE SAME COLOR! The white paper helps you see the actual DEPTH of this color and its undertones/general approach because it’s not directly compared to the OLD color. Crazy, eh?

While it’s okay to compare old and new to see the DIFFERENCE, don’t judge or choose your new color based on how they compare.

A HELPFUL TIP…

I recommend leaving your SAMPLIZE samples on their paper backing so you can tape them to a poster board.

Once you’ve narrowed down your colors and are ready to commit, get that backing off and have some fun!

BTW, IF YOU’RE SAMPLING WHITE PAINT COLORS…

Poster board/paper (being a cool white) can OVER-EXPOSE the undertones in whites and off-whites when comparing the two, leaving you with the impression that they are more colorful than they actually are – ESPECIALLY with warm whites.

Keep this in mind if the white sample you’re looking at seems OVERLY warm. Look at it WITHOUT the white paper and note how it works with your surrounding finishes.

3. THE ONE OPEN SIDE OF YOUR PAINT SAMPLE…

The open side of your sample will be butted up against your trim, backsplash, fireplace, countertop, or any other surface it needs to be coordinated with. You can also butt this side up to other samples to see the differences.

The top sample is a touch bluer; the bottom sample is a wink more violet

These two colors might look similar, but there’s a subtle change between the two (more so in person than on camera). By comparing them, it’s easier to see which one is warmer/cooler/darker/lighter, etc…

The separation between your samples ISN’T as important as the separation between OLD wall colors and NEW colors.

4. WHERE TO PLACE YOUR WALL PAINT SAMPLES

• directly next to the trim
• next to any vertical surface it needs to coordinate with (i.e., backsplash, fireplace, etc…)
• sitting right on top of the baseboard, so you can see how the samples/flooring connect
• while you can place samples in the middle of a wall; it’s best if they relate or visibly attach to something around them (i.e., the sofa is in the foreground); samples floating on walls with no reference point aren’t as helpful

WHERE TO PLACE YOUR CABINET PAINT SAMPLES

• with the backsplash; directly beside it AND on it
• directly underneath the lip of the countertop – the open edge of the sample should meet up with the countertop (shown below)
• on the lower portion of your upper cabinets (don’t forget the white paper surround!)

Samples should always be 100% vertical – light reflects differently off angled or horizontal surfaces.

LIGHTENING & DARKENING PAINT COLORS – SAMPLE POTS

If you’ve recently done an Online Paint Color Consulting with me, I may have suggested lightening or darkening a paint color. On the other hand, if you like a suggested color but WISH it were a bit lighter or darker, most colors can be adjusted!

What’s MOST important is that you know HOW to do these samples…

1. The paint store does the lightening/darkening for you; usually 25%, 50%, or 75% (25% is most common, 50% and 75% are not).

2. You’ll need a sample pot from the brand that supplies the color you like (either a small sample pot or a quart).

WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO PAINT A SAMPLE?

You MUST get the sample pots made by the brand that carries the color –no having Home Depot match up your Sherwin Williams or Benjamin Moore colors (three slaps with a wet noodle if you do that).

Here’s an example of a Home Depot Behr color match to Benjamin Moore…

Home Depot Behr color match on the left – actual Benjamin Moore color on the right; sure, it’s the right ‘idea,’ but it’s not the right color.

Here’s another beauty…

To paint your sample, I recommend…

• A roller (regular ten or 13mmm nap) is best. Foam rollers don’t give as good coverage.
• It’s best to use poster board or foam board (Elmer’s type) – check out your local dollar store for the best price. They’re smoother than most walls but most effective for sampling purposes (paper just wrinkles).
• I rarely recommend painting your samples directly on the cabinet or the wall.
• TWO coats, always.
• Remember to leave THREE sides of your poster board/foam board with THREE+ INCHES of white showing around the edge.

IF YOU’RE SENDING SAMPLES PHOTO FOR YOUR FOLLOW-UP EMAIL

If you have your completed consultation and SAMPLIZE samples in hand and want to use your one follow-up email to ask a question, there are guidelines to follow…

BTW: LABEL YOUR SAMPLES WELL (I can’t zoom in on the writing on the SAMPLIZE sheets; it just goes blurry).

I LOVE TO SEE TWO TYPES OF PHOTOS

1. Approx 5-6 FEET back from the samples and the surfaces they’re being compared to – extreme close-ups do not work well.

2. 10-15 FEET back, where I can see more of the room, the sample, and the surface it’s being compared to.

Please ensure you follow the guidance regarding having white paper around your samples. In the words of the great Jerry Maguire – help ME, help YOU!

TAKE PHOTOS OF SAMPLES IN DIFFERENT AREAS

• directly next to any important vertical surfaces (i.e., countertop, backsplash tile, etc.)
• next to trim on several different walls
• directly above the baseboard

TAKING PHOTOS WITH NATURAL LIGHT

• photos taken in intense sunshine will be blown-out
• photos taken in dark shadows won’t show up well
• moderate filtered light is always best – not too bright, not dark, and shaded.

Long story short, send a mix of photos in varying lights, so I can see how things shift.

TAKING PHOTOS WITH ARTIFICIAL LIGHTING

• artificial lighting (warm or cool bulbs) will sway how a color looks
• as few interior lights on as possible (if possible)
• open up blinds and drapes to let natural light in
• under cabinet lighting should never be on; it skews colors drastically

Remember, my goal is to help you learn how to pick the BEST paint color for you AND your room!

READ MORE

The Ultimate Guide to White Paint Colours

Is Gray Still Trendy on Cabinets, Walls & Exteriors?

The Best WHOLE HOME Warm Neutral Paint Colours

How to Create a Timeless Home – 4-PART SERIES

Happy Sampling!

Chat soon,

Please note, I’m in a close partnership with SAMPLIZE, and while I do receive payment, I FULLY RECOMMEND this product and don’t make my own color choices without it (I don’t recommend many things other than paint colours, so it has to be good – wink wink). 

The post HOW TO PROPERLY SAMPLE PAINT COLORS (with SAMPLIZE) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Unless your room has no windows or you’re a vampire, you’ve probably had to deal with natural light and exposure when choosing paint colours. And maybe you didn’t even KNOW that it was exposure that was messin’ with yo’ mind as your gray went purple and your beige went green, but let me tell you, exposure is a force to be reckoned with! (I ‘reckon‘ most things with wine, it helps).

Benjamin Moore Mount Saint Anne

And while I’ve written blog posts individually for north, south, east and west-facing rooms, as well as rooms with two exposures, this post is to give you a simple, meat n’ potatoes summary. If you want to dig a lil deeper, I’ve included some great links to the other articles which are more in-depth.

NORTH-FACING ROOMS & PAINT COLORS

North-facing rooms offer a cool gray light (that can look slightly blue). While northern exposure is consistent, it’s a bit chilly.

Benjamin Moore Steel Wool, see the before and afters here

Anyone who says exposure doesn’t matter should spend a bit of time with this photo – same color, different exposures (no interior lights on, either)…

SUMMARY OF ROOMS WITH NORTH-FACING EXPOSURES

• It can be slightly easier to pick paint colours for north-facing rooms as the light is more consistent throughout the day.

• North-facing rooms can still be BRIGHT if there are enough windows, but bright doesn’t mean WARM. These rooms will also have fewer shadows to contend with compared to south/east/west.
• If you paint a north-facing room a cool gray, blue, green or purple, you risk the room feeling DOUBLY as chilly. Painting a north-facing room a warm neutral or warm colour can help to balance out the cool light coming in.
• If you still want a gray, north-facing room, consider a warm gray paint color.
• It might be tempting to paint a north-facing room white, but some whites won’t react as well in a northern space.

 The Best Paint Colours for a North-Facing Room

Can I Paint My North-Facing Room Gray

Remember, this blog post is a summary. For more in-depth color details, click on the links provided!

EAST-FACING ROOMS & PAINT COLORS

East-facing rooms have a soft, bright light in the morning that is sliiiiightly warm, but NOTHING like afternoon western light.

Sherwin Williams Pure White

Benjamin Moore Collingwood 

SUMMARY OF ROOMS WITH EAST-FACING EXPOSURES

• As the day progresses, eastern light gets whiter and brighter until noon and can wash out paint colours at the height of the day.

• In the afternoon, east-facing rooms become more gray and subdued, acting a bit more like north-facing rooms, but maybe not as bright.

• East-facing rooms often do better with slightly warmer colours. Colours like greige may fall a bit flat in the afternoon.

The Best Paint Colours for an East-Facing Room

SOUTH-FACING ROOMS & PAINT COLORS

South-facing rooms have a warm, yellow-toned light coming in. This light gets warmer/hotter closer to the evening.

See the blog post HERE

QUICK SUMMARY OF ROOMS WITH SOUTH-FACING EXPOSURES

• South-facing rooms can make paint colours look washed out in the middle of the day and can create more shadows.

• Painting a south-facing room with a warm colour will increase the visual warmth of the space. If you paint a south-facing room a gray or cool colour, it can help to balance out the warm sunshine coming in the windows.

The Best Paint Colours for a South-Facing Room

WEST-FACING ROOMS & PAINT COLORS

West-facing rooms tend to be a bit flat and gray in the morning hours, but once noon hits, things start to lighten and brighten and you may hear the faint sound of Kylie poppin’ a wine cork (hey, it’s 5 o’clock SOMEwhere).

The Best Blue-Green Blend Paint Colors

SUMMARY OF ROOMS WITH WEST-FACING EXPOSURES

• As the afternoon progresses, the light coming in appears warmer and warmer as the sun gets closer to setting, becoming CONSIDERABLY warmer in mid/late afternoon.

• West-facing rooms can handle both slightly warm and cool colours, keeping in mind that in the afternoon, SUPER warm colours will only increase in intensity.

The Best Paint Colours for a West-Facing Room

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a few reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

• Samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on the location
• At $6.99, they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling
• If you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

ROOMS WITH TWO OR THREE EXPOSURES

Again, I have a full blog post DEDICATED to this topic, but if you want some quick tips, keep reading!

If you have a room with two or three different exposures, it’s not a bad thing! When you have only one exposure, you’re 100% reliant on that particular light throughout the day, whereas multiple exposures can offer some balance to the more extreme ends (i.e. extreme north/south).

In rooms with multiple exposures, things get tricky to explain as it can depend a lot on which windows are larger and if there is any shrubbery/grass/patio overhang or any other exterior influences that could block the light, so generally speaking:

• If you have TWO or more exposure and ONE of those is either north or south (meaning the others are east or west), you’ll likely want to focus on the north/south as they tend to be the more dominant lights.

• If you have an east-west, I would lean toward the warmer end (humour the eastern side) more than the western.

• If you have north/south, this is the best mix as you can look at both north and south-facing colour options to see which ones best suit your tastes and the interior of your home!

The Best Paint Colours for Rooms with TWO OR MORE Exposures

EXTERIOR PAINT COLORS & EXPOSURES

Just when you thought choosing INTERIOR colours was a challenge! The direction your home faces can play a HUGE part in which paint colour looks best. READ UP, BUTTERCUP!

The Best Exterior Paint Colours: Why Your Home’s Exposure Matters

PEOPLE ALSO ASK…

WHAT PAINT COLOUR BEST REFLECTS LIGHT, ESPECIALLY IN A DARK ROOM?

White is definitely the most reflective colour, given its high LRV. Add a bit of SHEEN to that white paint color and you’ll have some great light bouncing around! And while more COLOURFUL colours won’t necessarily bounce more light than white, they can look more cheerful and upbeat than some neutrals (in dark spaces).

WHAT PAINT COLOURS ARE BEST FOR A LOT OF NATURAL LIGHT?

For many rooms, colours with an LRV lower than 50 are a great way to calm down an OVERLY bright home. Colours with high LRVs will wash out more in natural light, whereas darker colours will hold themselves a bit better (while still looking lighter than normal).

READ MORE

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Paint Colours Using LRV

5 Reasons You Keep Choosing the Wrong Paint Colours

Kylie M’s Quick Guide to Paint Colors & Their Undertones

The 8 Best WHOLE HOME Warm Neutral Paint Colors

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Paint Colour Using LRV

Need HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting!

Chat soon,

WRITTEN IN 2018, AWESOMELY UPDATED IN 2022

The post HOW EXPOSURE & NATURAL LIGHT AFFECT PAINT COLORS (A SUMMARY) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If there’s one space in a home with the potential to be dismal, it’s the hallway. In fact, MOST hallways are narrow, and gloomy and leave little room for visual interest and excitement.

And we WILL get to the visual interest and excitement…another day. TODAY we’re talking about paint colors because if your walls aren’t the right color, there’s no visual interest that will save you. But, before I introduce the actual colors, let’s talk about some meat n’ potatoes stuff.

LRV & Dark Hallways 

LRV matters a lot in a dark hallway. Why? Well, with hallways having very little natural light to throw around, paint colors need to work overtime, throwing whatever light they can grab around the room. What is LRV? It’s a number that EVERY paint color has that refers to how much light a paint color reflects or absorbs. Trust me, this little number could save your life and your marriage, so if you don’t know much about it, I suggest you read: Paint Colors and LRV: The Ultimate Guide You Need to Read.

Now, there are lighter and brighter colors than the ones listed below, but I didn’t want to bore you to death with various versions of off-white (I’ll let this post do that). And I’m not going to lie and say that these colors will BLOW YOUR MIND with personality – they won’t. However, they might just be a happy medium between a color with a high LRV (that might ultimately bore the heckadoody out of you) and colors that are just too intense and heavy to toss down a typical stairwell or hallway.

Light Fixtures and Hallways

Unless you have a row of pot lights, there shouldn’t be any fixtures in your hallway that hold only one bulb. ONE STINKIN’ BULB, what do you expect it to do – work miracles? Seriously, if you have only one fixture it should hold three – 60w bulbs. If you have two fixtures, they should each hold at least two – 60w bulbs (but the more the merrier as you can always reduce the wattage if you find it to be too much).

If you don’t have enough lighting, NO paint color will save you – don’t expect your paint to be a miracle worker.

One of the best ways to get adequate lighting is with a flush mount or semi-flush mount light fixture. There are more exciting lights, but for the sake of cost and availability, sometimes a simple flush mount does the trick!

So, before you go spending money on paint, spend SMART money on lighting first.

CONTRAST IN A DARK HALLWAY – TRIM & PAINT COLOR

This is a trickier one. Some of you have white (or off-white trim), whereas others have wood trim – so this changes things slightly.

Why? Damn you for making me think beyond the reach of my wine glass…

If you have white trim in a dark hallway

White trim with a light paint color is low contrast. This keeps things not only brighter but also bigger looking (wider). White trim with a medium or dark paint color is high contrast, which can make a space look busier and smaller (but sometimes more interesting).

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray in a moderately lit hallway

If you have dark or wood trim in a dark hallway

Medium or dark trim (wood or painted) with a light paint color is HIGH contrast. Now your space WILL look brighter via the wall color, however, the contrast between the trim and the walls can actually make it look more cluttered and small. So it’s not that your space will look darker; you just won’t get the full-bodied effect of white trim/light walls.

Could you paint your walls a light-medium tone to blend in a bit more with your dark trim? You could, as this would lower the contrast level, making things look more simple and more seamless. However, it won’t make your hallway feel any ‘brighter’. BUT, if you can supplement with MORE than adequate lighting and decor (mirror) you can make up for a less than bright paint color and perhaps find a happy medium.

If you want to know more about paint colors with wood trim, you may want to check out this blog post The Best Paint Colors for Dark Wood Trim

But for the rest of you, let’s move along!

1. Benjamin Moore Collingwood OC-28

Collingwood is a beautiful light warm gray with a soft purple undertone.

Read more: Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Collingwood

As you can see at the end of the hallway above, things look slightly gloomy. However, with high-output recessed lights, many of the shadows can be lifted.

• Collingwood has an LRV of 62, which ALSO happens to be my MAGIC NUMBER!

Want to add a bit more warmth? Be careful; greiges can get MIGHT dingy looking if you don’t have the right lighting. Remember, no paint color will save your dark hallway unless you beef up the lighting a bit and then meet it halfway with a reasonably light and interesting paint color.

2. Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173

As far as greige goes, Edgecomb Gray is the ONLY one I’d be looking at, and even MORE so than the others on this page – you need adequate lighting.

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

• Edgecomb Gray has an LRV of 63, which is its saving grace as far as a dark hallway goes – any darker and I’d be out.

In my own home, with its dark hallway and entryway, I lightened Edgecomb Gray by 50% so that I got the greige ‘look’ without the LRV of 63…

But if you don’t like taking a risk with paint colors, you could try softening and warming things up a bit with…

3. Benjamin Moore Ballet White OC-9

Ballet White AND Sherwin Williams White Duck are two cream-greige blends that are great for a bit of subtle warmth…

Paint Color Review: Benjamin Moore Ballet White

• Ballet White has an LRV of 73, putting it RIGHT on the edge of the off-white range
• White Duck has an LRV of 74, so it’s a wee wink brighter

Now, if you want something creamier and brighter, I have the COLOR for YOU!

But first, I know you’ll be heading out shortly to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

• samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on the location
• at $5.99, they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling
• if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

4. Sherwin Williams Creamy 7012

It’s no secret that gray and greige are the most popular paint colors these days; however, if you’re in the mood for something warmer, Creamy hits the spot!

This here is a pretty darned realistic shot of daytime living in our last home. You can see how Creamy was significantly lighter and brighter on the well-lit walls but didn’t fall too flat down the hallway (which had no lights on when this photo was taken).

Creamy wasn’t EXCITING by any stretch of the imagination, but it was simple and bright and reflected the light that it was given quite nicely.

And even though the hallway in our basement wasn’t the brightest, I chose Benjamin Moore Gray 2121-10 for a wicked accent wall along the back, which added visual interest to what was otherwise, a kind of ho-hum space (it was also the accent color you saw in the upper hallway).

• Creamy has an LRV of 81, parking it nicely in the off-white range. The yellow warmth of it gives it interest

Want to add a bit more depth?  Check out…

• Benjamin Moore Navajo White for a more creamy/yellow look

5. Benjamin Moore Gray Owl OC-52

Gray Owl is a beautiful light gray paint color with passive blue-green undertones. These undertones can pop up a bit more with northern exposure, but even then, they’re pretty subtle.

With my client Jen, we used Gray Owl throughout her main floor (open layout) as well as the darker hallway area, and it turned out PERFECT. With a beautiful gallery wall to add some visual interest, the hallway looks much better than when it started!

Before: This home was too beautiful to have a hallway so dark and uninviting!

After: With a fresh coat of paint and a gallery wall, it’s now family-friendly and inviting!

• Gray Owl has an LRV of 65

Want to add a bit more depth or color? Be careful, but check out…

• Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray which is a light gray with a stormy blue undertone (below)
• I also love the subtle, slightly more colorful appeal of Benjamin Moore Gray Cashmere, a gray/blue/green blend that leans a touch bluer

6. Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray HC-170

Stonington Gray has a bit more meat on its bones, so you need some nice bright white trim to offset this bad boy!

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

• Stonington Gray has an LRV of 59, putting it in the light range, but on the slightly heavier side of light

Want to know the best paint color for YOUR hallway? 

Check out my affordable E-Decor Services and Online Color Consulting!

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2019, UPDATED IN 2022

The post The 6 Best NOT BORING Paint Colors for a Dark Hallway appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Not sure which paint finish is best for your surface? Once you figure out your needs, it can be easier to figure out which sheen is best (excluding Charlie, he’s a hot mess).

For example…

• you sometimes get small scuffs on your walls = you need wipeability

• you have four kids, three dogs, two gorillas and a donkey in your home, and you need a Hazmat suit to wipe down your walls = you need washability

• you have textured or damaged walls = you should consider sheen

In this photo, there are four different paintable surfaces with different needs

First, I’ll give you a quick n’ dirty summary. HOWEVER, please take the time to read the rest of this blog post as it has IMPORTANT information and considerations!

BEST PAINT FINISH FOR CEILINGS: flat

BEST PAINT FINISH FOR TRIMS, DOORS & MOULDINGS: satin

BEST PAINT FINISH FOR WALLS: matte or eggshell

BEST PAINT FINISH FOR CABINETS: satin

BEST PAINT FINISH FOR PAINTED BRICK: eggshell

Now, let’s learn a little about what you can expect in SHEEN or GLOSS from the above finishes!

BTW – there is variation in percentages between finishes, brands, and lines of paint – these are approximate numbers. 

FLAT FINISH PAINT

0-5% gloss

Flat paint has little to no sheen. Because of this, it’s usually not washable or even very wipeable. Some higher-end brands have some luck with basic washability (Benjamin Moore Aura and Sherwin Williams Emerald), but I’m sceptical over the long-term for high-use areas. I’ve found the only TRULY WASHABLE paint is Benjamin Moore ScuffX.

MATTE FINISH

5-10% gloss

Matte paint can have a 5-10% gloss finish, making it slightly more washable, but still not as durable as a shinier finish.

EGGSHELL FINISH

10-25% VISIBLE SHEEN

An eggshell finish is similar to that of an actual eggshell, not flat, not shiny – kind of in-between.

SATIN OR PEARL FINISH

25-35% VISIBLE GLOSS

Satin or pearl is the next step up from eggshell. Satin/pearl has a reasonable amount of sheen to it without being as glossy as a semi-gloss.

Satin finish (and glossier finishes) can slightly brighten and enhance color compared to flat and eggshell finishes (due to light reflectance).

SEMI-GLOSS FINISH

70-85% VISIBLE SHEEN

This one has some kick to it with a sheen level that will reflect light back into your room.

The white barn door is shinier than it needs to be

HIGH GLOSS

85%+ VISIBLE SHEEN

This is the full meal deal in the sheen world. A high gloss finish adds drama, and impact and has supreme washability. I usually find it to be way more than is necessary and prefer satin or semi-gloss.

The sheen on this door is so strong; it’s distracting

However, the sheen is irrelevant if you buy crappy paint. The better quality your paint is, the more durable your finish should be  – a la moi

Now that we’ve covered the basics, let’s look at what you could use in your own home.

THE BEST PAINT FINISH FOR TRIMS, DOORS & MOLDINGS

SATIN/PEARL

Hands down, satin is the most popular finish for any type of trims, doors and mouldings. Why is it so popular? It’s washable without being overly glossy.

• old homes look fabulous with a semi-gloss trim but can easily handle a satin finish

• newer or modern homes tend to suit a satin finish

• shiny finishes can expose flaws, so make sure your trim is in tip-top shape – the same with your painting skills

• the photo above shows a satin finish

The 3 Colors I Would NEVER Paint My Trim or Cabinets

The 10 Questions You Need to Ask BEFORE You Hire a Painter! 

THE BEST PAINT FINISH FOR THE CEILING

FLAT

In 99% of cases, a flat finish is best for a ceiling. Why? There are a few reasons…

• you don’t want your ceiling reflecting light back at you, and shinier finishes are reflective

• ceilings are often textured, and a textured finish will be enhanced with shiny paint, as will any flaws

What Color Should I Paint My Ceiling?

THE BEST PAINT FINISH FOR WALLS 

MATTE OR EGGSHELL

When it comes to walls, there are many considerations…

The best paint finish for walls that are in great shape – matte or eggshell

• If your walls are smooth, in good condition, and you don’t have kids or dogs, you can definitely consider a quality matte finish.
• If your walls are smooth, in good condition, and you DO have kids, dogs or a spouse with Dorito fingers, you may want an eggshell finish. A great alternative is ScuffX in matte finish as it’s far more washable than the average paint (it’s the only paint I’ll use in my home in the future).

The best paint finish for walls that are damaged or uneven – matte or eggshell

• As mentioned earlier, I highly recommend ScuffX. And no, I don’t get paid anything to say that (I pay myself in Starbucks, white wine and personal high-fives) – I just love its washability and overall finish.
• Any sheen will expose flaws on your walls. While ScuffX matte has a particular sheen at a certain ANGLE, its overall look is very muted.
• However, if you have kids/dogs/spouse/gorilla, you may need to sacrifice that low sheen for some wipeability with eggshell (IF you aren’t using ScuffX).

The best paint finish for heavily textured walls – matte 

• The great thing about textured walls is that the texture will help disguise any fingerprints, smudges, etc…
• If you’re worried about washability, you can use eggshell, but it will slightly enhance the look of your textured areas. Again, check out ScuffX (yes, I am passive-aggressive).

If you’re painting your walls a dark color – matte

• If you’re painting a medium or dark-toned color (feature wall or whole room), it can look garish with too much sheen (there are few exceptions). Ideally, you would use a washable matte finish (this doesn’t apply to cabinets – only walls).

BTW, the only eggshell finish that is REALLY different is Behr’s, which is more like a satin finish (I would use it for furniture or trim, not walls, personally).

THE BEST PAINT FINISH FOR KITCHEN CABINETS, VANITIES & FURNITURE

SATIN

I’ve yet to meet a semi-gloss or high-gloss cabinet that I love UNLESS it’s on a flat panel cabinet in a more modern setting. Satin is almost ALWAYS the best finish for cabinets (some brands refer to it as ‘Pearl’.

In the above photo, look to the left of the island to see the sheen level of Benjamin Moore Advance – satin finish. Check out more of these painted maple cabinets.

• A satin finish is great for washability, without reflecting my purdy lil face back at me. I have done some furniture pieces in semi-gloss, and they looked sharp but were too reflective. Again, the shinier the paint is, the more you will see flaws, so if you’re painting your own cabinets, satin will have a bit more forgiveness than semi-gloss for a less-than-perfect job.

Should you really paint your cabinets white? And if so, which white is best?

Painting Kitchen Cabinets: How to Pick the Best Color

What’s the best way to sample paint colors?

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out soon to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel-and-stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

• samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1 DAY, depending on the location

• they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling

• if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

The Best Paint Finish for Your Front Door

SATIN

When it comes to the front door, satin is usually a safe bet. Why?

• Direct natural light can expose flaws such as dents, scuffs, brush and roller marks. Add a glossy finish to this, and it’ll be a hot mess.

• Dark colors in a glossy finish can be a bit garish if not suited to the home.

• Flat or eggshell finishes can look chalky on the front door and aren’t washable enough for the wear and tear that doors get.

• Satin finish on the front door is my fave. Wipeable, classy – not glassy.

What are the Best Paint Colors for My Front Door?

The Best Paint Finish for a Brick / Stone Fireplace

EGGSHELL

Brick can look abrasive when shiny, yet dull when flat. For this reason, I like eggshell for a brick fireplace (more than satin).

• If you paint your brick a dark color, eggshell finish looks best.

• If you’re painting your brick a light/white color, eggshell or MAYBE satin.

5 Easy Fireplace Update Ideas

A few more tidbits…

• The more coats of paint you put on, the more sheen you will get. What looked eggshell at TWO coats can look shinier at FIVE!

• The quality of your brush and roller matters DESPERATELY! Invest well.

At the end of the day, it’s up to YOU as to which finish makes the most sense. Talk to your local paint store as they can be a wealth of knowledge and may know a few tips particular to your region.

Well, that about covers it! If you’re considering hiring a painter, I highly recommend you read this: The 10 Questions You Need to Ask BEFORE Hiring a Painter!

Get 3 Paint Colors Custom-Picked for You and Your Home

Kylie M Interiors Online Color Consulting

Chat soon!

READ MORE

The Dreaded Popcorn or Textured Ceiling: Info You Need Before You Scrape

Don’t Hire a Painter Before Asking These 10 Questions

The 12 Best WHOLE Home Paint Colors

Originally written May 2017, updated 2022

The post The Best Paint Finish for Walls, Ceilings, Trims, Doors & More… appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Remember when you’d go shopping for light bulbs and all you had to think about was wattage? Not anymore. Now, it’s ALL about KELVINS.

Of course, wattage still matters, as do lumens and CRI. But these days, when it comes to choosing a light bulb that ENHANCES colors, Kelvins are the main consideration.

Interior lighting is used to make up for the light coming from the outside; either the AMOUNT, QUALITY, or TEMPERATURE of it. Part of this is covered by KELVINS. Once you get on more intimate terms with him, you’ll realize he’s not such a bad guy – you might even become besties.

Light Bulb Temperatures (Kelvins) & Paint Colors 

KELVINS (shown as K on the light bulb package) are the measurement of the TEMPERATURE of light.

The above representations are approximate

While there’s an even LARGER range of Kelvins than shown above, today we’re focusing on the ones MOST COMMON ones – not those used in igloos and saunas. YES, I’m talking to the men out there who LOVE their light bulbs as cold as their beer – these cold bulbs have GOT to GO!

But a few notes before we start…

• There are many ways of grouping Kelvins – this is how I’ve chosen to group them for learning purposes.

• I can’t touch on every type of bulb and temperature/wattage/etc… I can only advise on the most COMMON bulbs and Kelvins, otherwise, we’ll BOTH lose our minds.

• I’m not a LIGHTING expert, I’m a paint color expert who happens to put two & two together.

• When you’re done, you’ll find a link at the bottom of this page called ‘How the CRI of Light Bulbs Affects Paint Colors’ – it’s a MUST READ!

Also, thank you to all of my Online Paint Color Consulting clients who send in their photos – I love you! 

2500-3200K LIGHT BULBS

TEMPERATURE: WARM-YELLOW

This is a range we’re pretty familiar with as it’s the range of most incandescent bulbs.

The temperature of the light in this range is warm – yellow. And while some bulbs dip down to 2200K (ie: Edison bulbs), 2700K is pretty average.

The lower the number is, the WARMER the light is. WARMER in this range = YELLOW (the lower you go, the more orange you’ll get, then red). For most people, 2500K is the starting point.

WARM PAINT COLORS & 2500-3200K BULBS

• WARM PAINT COLORS will be enhanced by these warm bulbs as they lean into each other.
• The lower the Kelvin number is, the warmer your paint color will look. If you go TOO low in Kelvins, you’ll start picking up pink-red. I recommend no lower than 2500K.
• Warm paint colors often look their best between 2700K and 3200K.

COOL PAINT COLORS & 2500-3200K BULBS

• COOL PAINT COLORS will be toned down and muted by this warm light.
• Cool colors that look crisp and fresh in white or cool light, will lose this edge in warm light. This isn’t a bad thing, as what was once a cool clean color in the day, can look soft and subtle in the evening. Just note that you can expect tweaked undertones as the color will be distorted.
• Some paint colors with a bit more blue in them can even look a bit greenish under the warmth of lower Kelvin bulbs.

In this home office below, Sherwin Williams Sea Salt looks even MORE beautiful with warm light shining on it!

Did you notice the shift in how the paint color looks from left to right?

In this living room (below), look at the paint color on the RIGHT side of the photo and then look at the color above the fireplace. Based on the visible shift of the paint color (Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray), I bet these are 2700-3200K bulbs!

If you want a room with a cool color to look clean and crisp at all times, you may want to choose a bulb with higher Kelvins. But it’s not all about your paint color, make sure it’s a light you’re comfortable LIVING in.

3300-4200K LIGHT BULBS

TEMPERATURE: BRIGHTER WARMTH TO NEUTRAL WHITE

Light bulbs around 3300K will still have a SUBTLE warmth to them, but their light will be LESS warm/yellow than the lower Kelvins. These Kelvins can come across as a bit brighter and whiter looking. However, this slightly brighter white doesn’t mean you have higher lumens (even though it might look like it).

Benjamin Moore Van Deusen Blue and Simply White

As the Kelvins get higher, the warmth starts disappearing to the point where at 4000K you have a relatively ‘neutral bright white’. This light isn’t necessarily warm or cool, it’s more ‘neutral’ (although compared to warm bulbs, it can look pretty darn cool).

While this is a POPULAR range for many households, personally, I use 2700-3000K in almost ALL of my fixtures – I err on the side of warmth.

BTW, I will NEVER put a bulb higher than 3500 in my own home…just sayin.

WARM PAINT COLORS & 3300-4200K BULBS

• Around 3300K, warm paint colors will look soft and warm, as they should. However, they’ll have a bit more brightness compared to the 2700K range (and LESS warm than they would in the lower range).
• 3300-3500K won’t ENHANCE warm colors the way the lower range can, and can still be quite pretty if the 2700K range is too warm/yellow for you.
• As you get closer to 4000K, you’ll gradually lose warmth. This warmth is replaced by a whiter light. Warm colors start getting a bit nervous in this range as the light isn’t catering to them as much.

See this GORGEOUS laundry room makeover HERE

In the higher end of this range (I’d say 3800-4200K), warm paint colors can sometimes look a BIT off, as this whiter light almost seems a bit cool; like it’s going slightly against the intentions of warm paint colors. It’s one thing to add contrast with paint colors, but a WHOLE different thing to try it with light bulb temperatures. Even though 4000K isn’t COLD or blue, its lack of warmth can make it seem cold.

ANOTHER reason for this is because, for many years, we were used to the warmth of 2700K bulbs – incandescent.

Because of this, even a bulb that’s not cold, but not overly warm either, can make colors SEEM a bit off. This could just be because the temperature of the light isn’t as familiar.

Sherwin Williams Big Chill

COOL PAINT COLORS & 3300K-4200K BULBS

• In the 3300-4200K range, cool paint colors start to perk up a bit, but will still be a bit toned-down or slightly distorted in the lower end of this range. This isn’t necessarily a BAD thing, as toned-down cool colors can look VERY pretty, just different than they would in a COOLER light.
• Cool paint colors enjoy the 3500K+ range, as it plays off the more crisp, clean look of cool colors; especially as the Kelvins get higher. But remember, like north-facing light, this will compound the cool look of an already cool-looking room, as you won’t be adding any warmth for balance.

I appreciate how nice a cool color LOOKS in the 4000K+ range, but I don’t appreciate how the room FEELS (but you do you).

Sherwin Williams Pure White

Funny enough, they (you know, ‘they’) say that the BEST light for paint colors to look their most true is 5000-6000K with a CRI of 100. Okay, I get the 100 CRI bit (it’s slightly excessive, but so is my wine consumption, so who am I to judge)…

…but 5000-6000K? Do you have ANY IDEA HOW FREAKIN’ COLD THAT IS?

If you’re MORE concerned with how your paint color looks (and less with the visual temperature of the room), and enjoy a mix of warm and cool tones, you might choose bulbs approx. 3500-4000K. This range could offer a more balanced light (erring on the slightly warm side at 3500).

Sherwin Williams Repose Gray and Pure White

Now, do you want to know what happens as we carry on down this path into higher Kelvins? I run out of photos and there are a few reasons for that…

1. Interior photos are usually best taken with lights OFF (as long as there’s adequate exterior light).

2. I ONLY use photos from my E-Design clients – REAL HOMES for reality-based advice.

2. Not as many people use cool bulbs compared to warm bulbs. And if they do take a picture, it doesn’t always translate well.

How the CRI of a Light Bulb Affects Paint Colors

4300-5000K LIGHT BULBS

TEMPERATURE: A RELATIVELY NEUTRAL WHITE TO BLUE

Hubbies worldwide REJOICED when they introduced cool white-blue LEDs! For some reason, many men love these cool-tinted bulbs. On the other hand, MOST women find them too harsh and unfriendly or clinical (like, ‘just lie down, cover your lower body with this sheet and place your heels right here’ kind of clinical). Personally, I would only use this temperature range in my garage… Nah, I still wouldn’t (but that’s me – YOU DO YOU!).

BTW, that’s a generalization based on experience, just like most men don’t like to paint wood, whereas many women already have their paint roller wet!

For a room like this bathroom (below), a cool light/slightly higher KELVINS will help the blue paint color look crisp and fresh. However, this same bulb could make the warm white trim look a bit dingy. It’s a balancing act!

Personally, I think 4300-5000K is damn cold (particularly 5000K). If you choose bulbs in this range, you’re looking at a cold blue-white light that is MOST similar to a clear, bright, north-facing day, (wearing blue-tinted glasses). The closer you are to 4000K the more neutral/less blue the light will be, the closer you are to 5000K, the cooler or bluer the light will be.

WARM PAINT COLORS & 4300K-5000K BULBS

• Whereas some cool paint colors can look pretty in warm light, warm paint colors will look flat and distorted in this cool white-blue light.
• You may find that using higher Kelvins in the bathroom*, can cast a GREEN glow onto your skin – which is great if you’re Shrek.

*I DO understand that for those who need to see better, a brighter cooler bulb can be helpful. But if you wonder why your cream-colored walls look a little peaked and your face looks a tinge green, well, now you know why.

COOL PAINT COLORS & 4300K-5000K BULBS

• Cool paint colors will respond well to cool white-blue light, just as warm colors respond well to the 2700K range. If you are a lover of everything crisp, cold and clean, this could be the Kelvin for you. Just don’t tell your partner about this amazing ‘Kelvin’ fellow you’ve been introduced to.

5100K+

TEMPERATURE: BLUE

I can’t tell you from personal experience how paint colors will react to cool-toned bulbs because I would never…ever…do this to my home. I know this is a personal preference, and I don’t mean to sway you…wait, yes I do. You subscribe to my blog to learn about what looks good and this ain’t it. Unless that is, you live in a commercial space, workshop or institution.

So, where is a 5100K+ bulb most popular?

• offices

• commercial applications

• garages

Some people also use them in their bathrooms (great for tweezin’ those nose hairs), but it can cast a greenish light on the skin. Energizing, yet not ideal.

A beautiful bathroom like this would be DESTROYED by the wrong Kelvins! 

I’m sure there are men WORLDWIDE pinning a photo of my face to a dartboard, but I’m just keepin’ it real. For the MAJORITY of homeowners, 5100K+ isn’t a comfortable light to live in.

WARM PAINT COLORS & 5100K+ BULBS

• Warm paint colors will look greatly distorted in 5100K light as it doesn’t have yellow/orange/red in it to PLAY with warm colors (blue light actually will absorb red).

COOL PAINT COLORS & 5100K+ BULBS

• Cool paint colors will be in their glory when using bulbs with this high of a number – AS WILL ELSA! (a la Frozen)

A blue paint color like Sherwin Williams Niebla Azul (below) is going to be in its GLORY in the higher Kelvins, but you better WATCH that warm white trim!

Light Bulbs, Kelvins & White Paint Colors

Because white paint colors reflect the most light (having the highest LRVs), they’re SUPER responsive to the Kelvins you choose.

If you give a paint color with a high LRV a light that is tinted with yellow, blue or another color, your walls will do one of the following:

• reflect some of that color back at you

• the undertone in your white can be muted or distorted

WARM WHITE PAINT COLORS & KELVINS

Warm white paint colors will have undertones of yellow, orange or red. As mentioned above, if you give white paint colors a light that casts a particular hue, this will affect your paint color.

• If you choose lower Kelvins for your warm white, your white will be enhanced and look that bit warmer.
• Choose moderate Kelvins for your warm white and it could look well-balanced based on its intentions/undertones.
• However, start dabbling in the higher Kelvins with warm whites and you could get murky-looking walls with disturbing undertones.

In this next space, I assume these bulbs are approx 3200K…

See this GORGEOUS laundry room makeover HERE

TRUE WHITE PAINT COLORS & KELVINS

Because true white paint colors don’t lean warm or cool, they’re very susceptible to tossing back what you throw at them. Give them a warm light, they’ll give it back. Give them a cool light, they’ll give it back.

In this bedroom below, Sherwin Williams High Reflective White looks gorgeous in natural light. If the bulbs have a lower Kelvin, you can expect the walls to look warm. If the bulbs have a higher Kelvin, you can expect the walls to pick up a blue hue.

COOL WHITE PAINT COLORS & KELVINS

Cool white paint colors will have undertones of blue, violet or green. Again, the Kelvins you use can GREATLY affect how your paint colors looks!

• Give your cool white paint color a bulb with higher Kelvins, and the undertones of your paint color can be ENHANCED.
• Choose a more moderate Kelvin for your bulbs and your cool white could settle in just as expected (not glorified OR distorted).
• However, give cool white paint colors a bulb with a yellow hue (lower Kelvins), the cool undertone of your white could be distorted. But unlike WARM colors and HIGHER Kelvins, this isn’t necessarily a bad thing. This combo can actually add a bit of balance, as cool colors that are dulled can still look very pretty (just a bit different from their original intention).

In this gorgeous powder room, Benjamin Moore Super White (which is a cool white), looks a touch warmer with these bulbs. Again, while warm colors can look considerably off in cooler light, cool colors can look pretty in a warmer light!

When opposites DON’T attract

Now, I’m sure you can figure out which Kelvin you and your paint colors love to live in, but what happens when you and your PARTNER like opposite ends of the scale? Well, you could flip for it, or you can check out these tips…

• If you have a partner who LOOOOVES the cool white-blue light of the 4500K+ range and you’re more of a warm white lover (2700K range), 3500k can be a reasonable place to settle. Reasonable meaning it caters slightly more to the warm end of things than the cool end. 4000K is actually more reasonable. #imslightlypassiveaggressive

• If you have mostly warm colors in your home, they could decide it for you, as warm colors do best in warmer, lower Kelvins. Remember, warm colors can actually look BAD in cooler, higher Kelvins.

• If you have mostly cool colors in your home, they could decide for you. Cool colors look their best in MODERATE Kelvins (let’s say, 3500K) or higher ones. HOWEVER, keep in mind, that unlike warm colors, which can look TERRIBLE in cool light, cool colors can look quite pretty in warmer, lower Kelvins as well – just a bit different.

It all comes down to the type/temperature of light you’re comfortable LIVING in. 

• If you prefer ONLY cool colors and a cooler light, you might prefer bulbs with 4000K+. However, you may want to add balance with texture and warm accents, otherwise, your room could look a bit stark and icy.

How to Make a Cold Gray Room Look Warmer

• In my experience, many of us enjoy a softer, warmer-looking environment – it’s a more inviting look. Sure, we can add a bit of freshness to that, going up to the 3500K range, but BEYOND that is unfamiliar territory. Again, this goes back to the fact that many of us were raised with incandescents.

• In my own home, I don’t have a variation of more than 500K between fixtures IN a room and BETWEEN rooms. This way, I can add a bit more function where needed (3000K in my task lights) while keeping softness in other fixtures 2700K). This helps a room feel balanced and flowing when all of the lights are on, without having a warm light battling a cool light. Sadly, the cool light will ALWAYS win because they tend to look darn bright!

LRV and Paint Colors: The ULTIMATE Guide you Need to Read

There you have it! Do you feel any BRIGHTER? Are you positively GLOWING with new knowledge and feeling like a real chLAMPion? You should, you learned a lot today!

NEED HELP?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting…

As well as the excellent SEARCH FUNCTION you’ll find on the right side of the home page. Type in any word and have access to 450+ articles at your fingertips!

PARTNER POSTS…

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Paint Colors Using LRV

How to Get the Perfect Color: LIGHTEN & DARKEN

What Matters the Most When Choosing Paint Colors

Kylie M’s Ultimate Guide to Paint Colors & Their Undertones

How to Choose Your Perfect Paint Color: 5 IMPORTANT BLOG POSTS

OTHER BLOG POSTS…

The CRI of Light Bulbs and How it Affects Paint Colors

5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home

4 Budget-Friendly Kitchen Update Ideas

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY PUBLISHED IN 2021, UPDATED FOR YOU IN 2022!

The post How Light Bulb Temperatures Affect Paint Colors: KELVINS appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

I can’t even COUNT the times I’ve helped my E-Design clients fix rooms they JUST PAINTED. The beige they picked looks pink, the yellow they chose is day-glo, the gray that looked soooo great in their friend’s home looks flat and dull in theirs. And the funny thing is, I RARELY suggest complete colour changes, it’s almost always about tweaking what’s there (which is MUCH different from twerking, which sadly, I’m yet to perfect).

Why does this happen SO OFTEN? Well, there are two main reasons…

1. THE WRONG UNDERTONE

2. FAILURE TO FIND THE RIGHT INSPIRATION OR PAY ATTENTION TO THE BOSSIEST PIECE IN THE ROOM

In other words, don’t blame the colour – blame the person who applied it. That’s right, when undertones go wrong, it’s usually because the homeowners focus more on what THEY want, rather than figuring out what their ROOM wants and NEEDS.

My client chose a BEAUTIFUL cabinet colour, Farrow & Ball Pigeon, which is a GRAY with a GREEN (green-blue) undertone

WHAT IS THE ‘UNDERTONE’ OF A PAINT COLOUR?

Undertone is that lil bugger of a colour hiding in your so-called ‘neutral’ paint colour that often doesn’t surface until after you’ve spent the ENTIRE WEEKEND painting your room.

EVERY PAINT COLOUR HAS UNDERTONES*

*Other than TRUE white, true black and primary colours.

For example, let’s say you chose a GRAY for your walls and it looks pretty darn gray, in fact, you’re pretty sure it’s the MOST NEUTRAL GRAY EVER SEEN! HOWEVER, you finish painting and for some reason, you see a bit of BLUE popping up – this is your gray’s UNDERTONE. Or maybe you picked the most PERFECT beige, but are surprised to see ORANGE or even a bit of PINK once you start slapping paint on your walls – this is your beige’s undertone(s). And even if the undertone is super subtle, even your room’s EXPOSURE can throw you a curveball when you least expect it.

Paint colours are just not that simple. 

In this next photo, if you were to look at these two grays all on their lonesome, you might just see ‘gray’. HOWEVER, compare them with each other and it’s MUCH easier to see how one leans a bit more blue and one leans more green (LEFT: Sherwin Williams Mineral Deposit / RIGHT: Sherwin Williams Gray Matters).

Another example is the colour BLUE. Let’s say you chose a beautiful blue paint colour and it LOOKS pretty darn blue. But at certain times of day, you see a bit of green or violet – this is your blue’s UNDERTONE. That’s right, it’s not just NEUTRALS that have undertones.

Let’s take a peek at Sherwin Williams Rainwashed (below), what’s your general impression of it?

Now, let’s put Niebla Azul next to Rainwashed. Does your perception of Rainwashed change?

If you’re seeing what I’M seeing, at first glance, Rainwashed looked like a soft kind of grayed-out blue. However, once it’s compared to Niebla Azul which has more BLUE to it, Rainwashed looks a bit more green IN COMPARISON.

But then we add an ACTUAL green like Sherwin Williams Liveable Green to the mix (below) and see that Rainwashed really DOES have a nice blue-green blend to it…

Let’s do another example using WHITE. While there are some whites that are whiter than my lil Ginger butt cheeks (and no, if you click on that link it won’t take you to those photos – that’s a TOOOOOTALLY different website – wink wink), MOST whites have some undertone. In this next room, you’ll see Sherwin Williams Pure White on EVERY painted white surface…

Now, let’s see how Pure White looks when it’s directly compared to a CLEANER brighter white…

Pure White only LOOKS bright white in the first room because it’s not being directly compared to a BRIGHTER cleaner white.

COMPARE COMPARE COMPARE

In this next photo, we’re looking at Sherwin Williams’s Mindful Gray. How’s it looking to you?

Now take a look at this next photo to see how it COMPARES to other similar neutrals…

Which of the above samples looks the most GREEN? That’s right, the third in from the left – Mindful Gray. Is it SUBTLE? HELLLLS YES, but that doesn’t mean it won’t come up and bite you on the toosh when you least expect, which is why it’s SO IMPORTANT to compare (asking the experts helps too).

And remember, I have over 400 articles on this lovely little blog o’ mine. If you’re curious about a colour, find the SEARCH and see if I have it!

Why NO-FAIL NEUTRALS don’t exist

HOW TO FIND THE UNDERTONE IN PAINT COLOURS: TIPS & TRICKS

When it comes to finding the undertones in paint colours, there’s only ONE WORD you need to remember and hermetically seal in your brain…

COMPARE

A paint colour can look one way on its own, but compare it to ANOTHER colour and all of a sudden you’ll see shifts in temperature and undertones – things you might not have noticed at first or even second glance.

1. GO TO THE PAINT STORE OR SAMPLIZE & GRAB THE PAINT COLOUR YOU THINK YOU WANT

Most people have an IDEA of the colour they want before hopping online or going in-store. If not, I highly suggest following my PINTEREST or INSTAGRAM for inspiration!

2. PICK APPROX. SIX – EIGHT OTHER COLOURS THAT ARE SIMILAR TO THE COLOUR YOU ALREADY SELECTED

These colours might even seem like the SAME COLOUR, but actually have wee subtle shifts in them. Pick the ones that seem darn close as well as a few that look a shift different. Similar depths are BEST, but it never hurts to throw in a few that are slightly lighter or darker.

3. ORDER THESE SAMPLES FROM SAMPLIZE OR BRING HOME THE PAINT CHIPS FROM THE STORE 

Never ever pick a paint colour based on how it looks at the store…evvvvvvver. THREE SLAPS WITH A WET MR. NOODLE! My fave samples are from SAMPLIZE.

SAMPLIZE

• does NEXT DAY delivery
• SAMPLIZE has considerably larger samples, making it easier to see the difference between paint colours

IN-STORE

• smaller paint chips are FREE
• smaller paint chips make it a bit more challenging to see the shifts between colours

SAMPLE POTS

• don’t do sample pots UNLESS you’re sampling a colour lighter or darker (ie. Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter made 25% lighter)
• sample pots aren’t environmentally friendly and they’re more expensive than SAMPLIZE

Click HERE to learn more about SAMPLIZE & save MONEY ON SAMPLES!

4. COMPARE YOUR SAMPLES

There is NOTHING that will help you see the undertones in a paint colour better than COMPARING it to other colours.

But when it comes to COMPARING paint colours, the process is a bit different from CHOOSING the actual paint colour you want to use.

• place your samples on a piece of white paper or poster board – you can tape this to your wall or lay it flat on a table (or both)
• make sure samples butt up to each other with no white space in between
• when looking at your samples, figure out what the DIFFERENCE is between each one – there will ALWAYS be a difference
• if you’re trying to choose a WHITE paint colour, find your brand’s WHITEST WHITE and compare it to that – this is vital as a TRUE WHITE will help you see your whites undertones
• if you’re trying to choose a DARK paint colour, find your brand’s BLACKEST black and compare it to that as this will give you a better feel for the ACTUAL depth of your dark colour

And remember, just because YOU want a particular colour, doesn’t mean your home agrees with you. If things aren’t flyin’, you may want to look at a new colour group or read this post here – How to Choose Paint Colours Based On Your Room’s Bossiest Finish

EVERY NEUTRAL OR COLOUR WILL HAVE UNDERTONES – FIND YOURS

Based on the colour group you’re looking at, figure out which undertones you might come across (because you WILL come across at least one).

And remember, it’s not just PAINT colours that have undertones, interior finishes do too – everything from tiles and carpets to fabrics and countertops!

There’s NO avoiding undertones, so you may as well figure out what you’ve got! 

COLOUR GROUPS & THEIR UNDERTONES

• GRAY: blue, green or violet (read more HERE)
• GREIGE: green
• TAUPE: violet or violet-pink
• BEIGE: orange or pink
• TAN: yellow
• CREAM: yellow
• WHITE: usually yellow, but can pick up ANY ‘colour’ or hue (read more HERE)

Now, THIS is where it gets tricky (feel free to tap out here)…

The above colours are all MAIN or DOMINANT undertones. But as we saw earlier with Rainwashed, COLOURS can also have undertones. We’re going deep on this (that’s what she said)…

• BLUE: blue-green or blue-violet (read more HERE)
• GREEN: green-yellow or green-blue (read more HERE)
• VIOLET: violet-blue or violet-pink
• YELLOW: yellow-orange or yellow-green
• ORANGE: orange-yellow or orange-pink (red)
• RED: red-violet or red-orange

This means that your NEUTRAL PAINT COLOUR will have a undertone that’s a specific COLOUR. This could will then have its OWN undertone. As I mentioned earlier…

Paint colours are just not that simple. 

So don’t feel bad if you’re having a tough time – this stuff isn’t straightforward, which is a) why you’re reading this blog post, and b) a lot of people end up hiring me to get things right.

But keep in mind, I have some AWESOME E-COURSES, designed for both professionals and DIY’ERS!

STEP 1

If you’re looking at NEUTRAL paint colours, find the MAIN undertone.

How do you do this?

COMPARE COMPARE COMPARE.

Compare paint samples and look for the DIFFERENCE between them – relate this difference to an actual COLOUR; figure out how they differ in COLOUR. The exception to this is if you’ve only changed the DEPTH, in which case you’ll have the same undertone.

Do you see the wee shifts in undertones in the above samples? Sherwin Williams Silverplate looks a bit bluer in COMPARISON to Smoke Embers, which looks a bit more VIOLET. On the end, Mindful Gray has been lightened by 25% and definitely lost most of its green tendencies!

If you’re knee-deep in colour research, you might find it easier to have fan decks on hand. You can purchase them or some stores even lend them out with a small deposit!

STEP 2

Once you’ve figured out which MAIN UNDERTONE your neutral paint colour has, read the previous list and try to figure out which way this colour LEANS (if any, some come across pretty true).

How do you do this?

COMPARE COMPARE COMPARE

If you’re looking at an actual COLOUR or HUE, use comparison with other VERY similar colours to see which way the undertones ebb and flow. For example, if you’re looking at GREEN, is it a green-YELLOW or a green-BLUE? You’ll find out by comparing it with similar colours.

Compare as much as you need to in order to see how the undertones ebb and flow between colours.

Take a look at Benjamin Moore Moonshine. Before you move along, decide which undertone you THINK it has. Remember, you HAVE to pick one – blue, green or violet…

Now we’ll compare Moonshine (right) with Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray (left)…

THIS is where you really have to flex your colour muscles. At first glance, it might be hard to see what undertone Moonshine has – but you have to choose. Via comparison with Stonington, we can see that Moonshine has a weeee subtle green undertone, and in comparison, Stonington Gray looks more BLUE!

Remember, many people have some degree of colour blindness, so if you JUST CAN’T FIGURE IT OUT – check out my blog or talk to your local paint supplier.

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN COMPARING & CHOOSING PAINT COLOURS?

When you’re comparing paint colours with the goal of CHOOSING a fave…

• Never place paint samples horizontal; they should always be 100% vertical on the wall (no leaning!). Light reflects MUCH DIFFERENTLY (more) off horizontal surfaces vs vertical ones.
• Always place samples next to trim. If you’re changing your trim colour, place them next to your NEW trim colour, not your old one.
• Place white paper alongside your samples so that you’re not COMPARING them as much to the OLD colour. Old paint colours can 100% skew your perception of the new options!
• If you’re trying to choose a WHITE paint colour, find your brand’s WHITEST WHITE and compare it to that – this is vital as a TRUE WHITE will help you see your whites undertones
• If you’re trying to choose a DARK paint colour, find your brand’s BLACKEST black and compare it to that as this will give you a better feel for the ACTUAL depth of your dark colour
• Move samples around the room to see how they shift in different lighting.

And of course, there are a billion other paint tips and ideas that I could share with you, but for the sake of staying focused on not having complete verbal diarrhoea, we’ll stop right here.

READ MORE

The Ultimate Guide to White Paint Colours

LRV: The Ultimate Guide to LRV & Choosing Paint Colours

3 Steps to Choosing The Best White For Your Home

How to Create a Timeless Home – 4 Part Series

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY ONLINE PAINT COLOUR CONSULTING

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2017 – COMPLETELY & TOTALLY REWRITTEN IN 2022

The post PAINT COLOURS: What Are Undertones & How to Find Them appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When it comes to choosing the best paint colour for a room, it’s about finding INSPIRATION. And inspiration isn’t always found in the most INSPIRING places, and in fact, we often find inspiration in our BOSSIEST finishes – finishes that we aren’t ALWAYS that thrilled with, to begin with.

HOWEVER, failure to find (or notice) inspiration is a GREAT way to choose the wrong paint colour. So, how do you find inspiration? READ MY BLOG! Just joking #notreallyjoking.

This backsplash tile is the BOSSIEST finish in the room, and because it’s so bossy, it’s where we have to pull our INSPIRATION from…

Why is it the BOSSIEST finish? Because it has the most limitations as to which paint colours will go well with it. It’s also VERTICAL and the majority of bossy or inspirational surfaces are vertical (with the exception of tile floor or a kitchen with a countertop and NO backsplash).

And even if your finishes aren’t well-coordinated, it’s the BOSS who’s calling the shots.

Here are a few bossy examples…

USING YOUR BACKSLASH AS INSPIRATION

As far as wall paint colours go, it’s USUALLY best to pick up on a colour that’s already existing in your space. While there are definitely exceptions, especially as it relates to contrast, this is an EASIER way to create a palette.

Using this next photo as an example, you would pick a popular shade of white or gray with similar undertones for your walls. You COULD venture into the blue-green range, but you HAVE to know what you’re doing to make it work!

And did you know that you can ALSO choose your wall colour based on the colour of the GROUT around your tile? That’s right! So if you’re having a hard time finding a paint colour that jibes, you could consider doing a little Polyblend Grout Renew to EASILY and affordably change the colour of your grout (and it’s available online in over 40 different colours)!

USING YOUR COUNTERTOP AS INSPIRATION

Whereas the backsplash is the FIRST place you should look for inspiration (being vertical), you can also check out your countertop. When might a countertop be BOSSIER than the backsplash?

• when there’s no backsplash
• when the backsplash is just white (ie. subway tile)
• when you’re choosing a paint colour for your kitchen island
• in a bathroom with a fibreglass shower surround and coordinated flooring

USING YOUR FIREPLACE AS INSPIRATION – BRICK, STONE OR TILE

Brick, stone or tile are AWESOME places to grab inspiration from…

Why look elsewhere when a fireplace like the one above gives you ALL the inspiration you need? If you want to head down a different path, you better be prepared for things to look disconnected. Remember, just because YOU want a colour doesn’t mean your home agrees with you!

As shown in this next living room, sometimes flexing out of ONE style and into another can be next to impossible, ESPECIALLY when you have a home with particular Tuscan vibes…

Even if the above homeowner had wanted something different (ie. gray or white), it’s that big ole stone fireplace calling the shots! The key is to choose the most MODERN version of the type of colour your bossy surface demands.

USING A TILE TILE OR LINOLEUM FLOOR AS INSPIRATION

Whether it’s in a kitchen, bathroom, laundry room or foyer, flooring can be a GREAT place to pick up visual clues AS LONG AS there isn’t a bossier VERTICAL SURFACE!

In this next example, you could paint the walls a soft white, a subtle warm gray/taupe or even a blue-gray or gray-blue-green blend! The more variation your finish has in it, the more OPTIONS you’ll have for your walls!

And if there’s ONE THING I want you to take away from this blog post, it’s this…

If your finish has 3+ colours in it, the key is to NOT introduce a colour that doesn’t ALREADY EXIST.

In this next example, notice how the old green colour introduces something that isn’t already in the tile and it doesn’t tie in very well. The NEW samples are the way to go, in which case, green could then be used as an ACCENT colour (for towels and decor), rather than a full-time commitment on the walls…

And even though the above tile isn’t traditionally INSPIRING, it’s definitely the bossiest surface in the room!

Why?

• because it has the most LIMITATIONS as to which paint colours will look good with it (due to its undertones)
• because it’s on a vertical surface

BTW, if you’re getting paint samples, you should check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

• samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on location
• they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling
• if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

USING A SENTIMENTAL ITEM AS INSPIRATION

If you’re choosing a sentimental item (ie. artwork) as inspiration, you better plan on having it for a LOOOOONG time.

Why?

If it’s a transient piece and you paint and decorate your room around it, your palette might not match the NEXT piece that comes in the front door.

If all else fails and all you have is wood floors with neutral/brownish stain or neutral carpet as your inspirational piece, look to these ‘secondary’ items…

• sofa
• artwork/decor
• bedding
• toss cushions or drapes

The reason why these are ‘secondary’ inspiration pieces is that they’re likely to be replaced over time and you may not want to pick your colour scheme based on them. The other items (tiles/countertops, etc…) tend to be higher cost items and are more ‘permanent’ – unless you’re like me and your home is a revolving door of products and colours – and husbands…

NOW THAT YOU’VE FOUND YOUR INSPIRATION PIECE…

1. BREAK DOWN ITS COLOUR PALETTE

Figure out which colours exist in this piece, along with their UNDERTONES.

If you’re not sure what their undertones are, what should you do? Bring home a wide range of paint colours and see which ones blend/connect. From there, do your research on THOSE paint colours.

I’ve also got a GREAT blog post for you to read… What Are UNDERTONES & How to Find Them

2. DECIDE WHICH OF THESE COLOURS YOU WOULD LIKE ON YOUR WALLS

For a colour to be a contender, you should be able to clearly see it in your inspiration piece from EIGHT FEET AWAY.

If your piece only has ONE OR TWO COLOURS in it, it’s easier to add something NEW to the palette, which comes down to colour FAMILIES as well as CONTRASTING/COMPLEMENTING (which are entire blog posts unto themselves).

HOWEVER, if your inspiration surface has THREE+ COLOURS IN IT, it will be much harder to introduce a NEW colour to the palette.

In this next photo, there’s a WIDE range of colours to choose from in the stones…

The key is to not add anything NEW to the colour palette as there’s plenty to work from there – adding a NEW colour wouldn’t make sense. Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist taps into the warmth of some of the stones and its warm violet undertone hit the mortar as well!

And while I could go on and on…and on (as usual), these tips and ideas should get you WELL on your way to finding the best paint colour for your home.

READ MORE

The 12 Best Whole Home Gray & Greige Paint Colours

How to Create a TIMELESS Home – 4 PART SERIES

The Best Warm Neutrals That AREN’T BEIGE! 

What Are UNDERTONES & How To Find Them

The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Paint Colours With LRV! 

NEED HELP?

CHECK OUT MY E-COLOUR SERVICES! 

Chat soon,

The post How to Choose Wall Paint Colours Based On Your BOSSIEST Interior Finish appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

This is a question I get a LOT, particularly with the 1990s homes and the old gals (referring to homes, not women). The chair rail was ONCE a sign of a fancy-schmancy home but nowadays, can just look dated in a home where the goal is to ‘update and modernize’. 

And you all know that I rely 100% on my E-design client’s photos to use on my blog, so while I don’t have TONS of examples, I know you’ll find the images and info that I do have helpful.

What IS the right way to paint a room with a chair rail? Obviously, that can vary according to personal tastes, but generally speaking, the right way is one that suits the style of the home. If it doesn’t SUIT the home, it won’t look good. It’s like me trying to wear wide-leg pants. I may think I’m at the height of style, but really, I look like a tree stump.

Now, if you just read my blog for my charm and wit (I love you) then, like most things I type, you might be thinking to yourself, ‘is Kylie in the cups again, what the heck is a chair rail?’. A chair rail, also known as a dado rail, is a horizontal piece of trim that usually runs the perimeter of a room approx 36″ from the floor, but can also be awkwardly placed on a single wall (popular in the ’90s).

When you have a chair rail, it can be hard to figure out whether to use the SAME paint color on the upper and lower portion of the walls or to do two DIFFERENT colors.

AN OLD HOME WITH CHAIR RAILS (1960s & earlier) 

If you have an older home, you should be able to pull off a two-color or two-tone palette, whether your wood is stained or painted. Now, this doesn’t mean you HAVE to, but the age of your home will give you more flexibility. Why? Well, older homes that have rooms with chair rails often have other nice, decorative moldings and a GREAT way to set off these moldings is with paint. Older homes ALSO suit a two-color palette more than a more modern home because that’s what was done when the home was originally built (often with wallpaper) – it’s authentic.

Should You Paint Your Cabinets or Leave Them Stained? – A Fun Questionnaire! 

WHAT ABOUT ROOMS WITH WOOD CHAIR RAIL/TRIM CIRCA 1970+?

If you have wood trim in a home that’s 1970s+, it’s ALL about your intentions and style.

The more MODERN you want your home to look, the less likely you’ll want a two-color palette. Unless it’s a NEW home with purposeful modern decor, it’s usually best to keep things simple by using the same color above and below the chair rail.

If you like a cosier vibe and aren’t as worried about an updated, modern look (common in a mid-century, country or farmhouse style home), here are some considerations…

• the darker color will often go on the bottom of the wall, the lighter color will go on the top of the wall

• when you have dark wood trim, using the dark color on the TOP part of the wall can also weigh a room down and make it feel heavier

• consider a two-tone (lighter/darker version of the same color) or a two-color palette (ie. cream and navy blue)

HOW TO UPDATE A 1970’s or NEWER HOME WITH WHITE CHAIR RAIL

Okay, so maybe a 1970s home isn’t THAT new, but it’s definitely the new kid on the block compared to some of the old fellas! Generally speaking, if you want your home to look more updated and modern, you’ll want to use ONLY one paint color. Breaking your wall up with two colors or tones can definitely add a more ‘classic’ touch to your home, but classic doesn’t ALWAYS equal updated.

However, there are some transitional homes that pull off a two-tone or two-color palette QUITE well – it’s allll in the colors.

• using the dark color on the TOP part of the wall can make a room feel more intimate (popular in dining rooms), but can also weigh a room down and make it feel heavier if the ceiling is too low or the furniture doesn’t ground the space

• it’s MORE common to have white, or at the most, a very SOFT off-white as one of the colors, either top or bottom (compared to having two different ‘colors’

5 Ideas to Update a 1990s Home

In this next room, notice the additional molding added to the lower walls which helps give it a ‘wainscoting’ look, without the costs/labour of doing the full-meal deal. The white lower walls look classic and striking with the gray-blue upper walls…

And while it does add a slightly more traditional vibe to the space, it also adds personality and visual interest with its crisp clean contrast.

NEWER STYLE HOME WITH A TRADITIONAL VIBE

If you have a newer home, but your personal style is more traditional, you can consider a two-tone or two-color palette (OR just one color if you’re so inclined. Long story short, you can do what you like! Two colors or tones will be a polite nod towards the traditional end of things as shown in this next dining room…

On the other hand, one color gives a slightly more updated look. If you’re thinking of resale and your target market is young and trendy, then one color is a safer bet with a newer home.

Are there exceptions? HELLS yeah. There are always exceptions, but for the sake of ease and appealing to all of you crazy masses, I like to appeal to the majority.

HOW TO UPDATE A CHAIR RAIL

SHOULD YOU REMOVE IT OR ENHANCE IT?

While sometimes the best thing to do is take it off (the same thing my hubby says to me), the BEST way to update a chair rail is to convert it into wainscoting, beadboard or board and batten.

While the above bathroom shows what’s likely an original installation, you can do the same thing by adding beadboard between your chair rail and baseboard. This often works better than board and batten if your existing trims aren’t super thick (as the battens are often thicker and would stick out farther).

This next photo is THE PERFECT example of updating chair rail, except this time it’s going up the stairs!

Benjamin Moore Cloud White & Grant Beige

There’s a very good chance that top molding was originally a simple chair rail. By adding simple molding underneath and painting them all the trim color, the chair rail went from dated to DYNAMITE!

In this next room, while these moldings were all installed at the same time, the same approach could be taken by adding vertical boards every 18 inches (on the studs) in between your baseboard and chair rail (creating a board and batten look). Again, it’s important that the vertical moldings don’t stick out farther than the original ones!

Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray & High Reflective White

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel & stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

• samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on location

• at $6.99, they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling

• if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

Sherwin Williams Pavestone

The Best Blue-Gray Paint Colors – Cool & Calming

In this next bathroom, the top horizontal board could’ve EASILY been a simple chair rail at some point. By adding an affordable beadboard below it (super affordable at Home Depot), it becomes an architectural detail…

While you don’t need to get THIS carried away (below), adding decorative moldings between your chair rail and baseboard is an awesome update…

Benjamin Moore Hale Navy & Cloud White

RELATED POSTS

5 Ideas to Update Your 1990s Home

The Best White Paint Colors: Sherwin Williams

How to Update Your Home on a Budget

How to Update Your Kitchen on a Budget

How to Update Older Style Granite Countertops

Need help deciding what best suits YOUR home? 

Check out my E-design – I’d love to help! 

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN FOR YOU IN 2019, UPDATED IN 2021

The post How to Update & Paint a Room With a Chair Rail (Dado Rail) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Just when you thought picking a paint color couldn’t get any harder, you have to deal with your room’s exposure.  And if you have a room with windows on different walls, you won’t just have one exposure, you’ll have two or even THREE exposures to battle with. But let me add that personally, I would only expose myself ONCE – and then I would run like mad.

My Mom actually took this photo and surely regrets the day she sent it to me, now that it’s plastered on the internet

And while I’ve written a blog post for each exposure (north, south, east, west), as well as a fantastic summary of all four, I haven’t really gotten into DUAL exposures. So, that’s what we’re doing today!

The first thing you’ll want to do is take a look at your room and consider the following:

• Which exposure has priority? This will be the one with the biggest windows and/or the one that doesn’t have any type of hedge/trees blocking the direct flow of natural light. If some of your windows are blocked by greenery, this will DIRECTLY AFFECT the quality of light coming in (and can add a weeee willy wink o’ green to your walls).

• What are your preferences? If you have competing exposures, you might be dealing with both warm AND cool colors when it comes to your paint options. You might want to think about which end of the color wheel you prefer and which exposure that relates best to.

Now, if you need to brush up on the details re: your exposures, check out the following link here before going ahead…otherwise, let’s get going!

Summary of Exposures: North, East, South, West, which paint color is the best?

Rooms with North & West-Facing Windows (NW)

Cool light with a touch of warmth in the afternoon

A room with both north and west exposures will have a cool gray light throughout the entire day. In the morning, this will be joined by an additional flat light (west morning), and in the afternoon, can be somewhat balanced by the warm western rays coming in (depending on how large the west-facing windows are).

MOST of the time, I recommend catering to the NORTHERN light as the dominant exposure.

Shown above: Sherwin Williams Collonade Gray

• If the northern windows are smaller and the western light plays a bigger part, I would look at both the best north and west-facing paint colors and see which ones settle best and suit your tastes/interior, keeping in mind that even though western light is bright in the afternoon, it’s pretty flat in the morning.

• If your windows are similar in size or the northern is larger, then I would focus more on north-facing paint colors as this is the DOMINANT exposure.

The Best Paint Colors for North Facing Rooms

Rooms with North & East-Facing Windows (NE)

Cool gray, slightly brighter in the morning, back to cool gray in the afternoon

A room with both north and east exposures will have that cool gray light allllll day via the northern light. In the morning, this light will be softened, brightened and warmed up a bit by the eastern light. This same morning light will begin to wash things out at the height of the day (depending on how big the window is). In the afternoon, the east-facing light will be comparable enough to the north-facing light in its lack of warmth and depth.

MOST of the time, I recommend catering to the NORTHERN light as the dominant exposure.

Shown above: Benjamin Moore Lenox Tan

Sherwin Williams Balanced Beige via Kylie M E-design

• I would give priority to the north-facing light as long as the windows are the same size or larger than the east-facing ones. This means you’d want to focus on paint colors for north-facing rooms.

• If the exposures are ‘equal opportunity’ exposures, then I would look at the options for both north AND east and see which ones suit your personal tastes the best! Just keep in mind that the north-facing light might slightly gray out your paint options, which is important in the cooler range.

The Best Paint Colors for North Facing Rooms

 Can I Paint My North Facing Room White?

Rooms with South & West Facing Windows (SW)

Warm on warm…on warm

In rooms with both south and west-facing windows, you’ll have the warm southern light throughout the day and the extra warm light in the west-facing afternoon. This room will be cosy and inviting but COULD become a bit TOO toasty if you overdose on warm paint colors as well.

The flatter, west-facing morning light will flatten things a bit in the morning hours with its lack of sunshine. This will balance off the warmth and brightness of the southern exposure, but as you get close to noon, this type of light can really wash out colors – but only temporarily! In the afternoon, the western light will ADD to the warm glory of the southern light, making this room roasty-Mc’toasty!

Shown above: Benjamin Moore Steel Wool  

Shown above: Benjamin Moore Stonington Gray

MOST of the time, I recommend catering to the SOUTHERN light as the dominant exposure.

• If your windows are similar in size, or even if the south-facing are slightly bigger, then I would look at both south AND west options and see which ones best suit your tastes, keeping in mind that any warmer options will feel that much warmer with the southern light.

• If the southern light plays a smaller part in the lighting scheme, I would focus more on west-facing paint colors, but check out south too and see which best suit your tastes/interior finishings.

The Best Paint Colors for West-Facing Rooms

The Best Paint Colors for South-Facing Rooms

Rooms with South & East-Facing Windows (SW)

Warm light all day tempered by a soft eastern influence to calm it down

A room with windows on the southern and eastern walls will, generally speaking, be a warm looking room. The morning eastern light will be brighter with a soft warmth (I love morning eastern light). As the day progresses that southern light will heat right up and can wash paint colors out at the height of the day  – eastern light will have the same washing-out effect. But have no fear, once that midday sun shifts, things will come back. The flatter afternoon eastern light can help to soften the super warm southern rays throughout the afternoon.

Sherwin Williams Silverplate

Sherwin Williams Cyberspace 

MOST of the time, I recommend catering to the EASTERN light as the dominant exposure.

• I would focus on the east-facing option to offer a bit of balance, particularly in the afternoon. However, there could be some equally as lovely southern options if you just love those cool tones!

Let’s take a quick break to talk about paint samples…

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

• samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on location

• at $6.99, they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling

• if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

Rooms with North & South-Facing Windows (NS)

A beautiful mix of cool gray light and warm yellow light all…day…long

A room that has windows on the southern wall AND the northern wall will have warm, yellow light in the south end and cool gray/blue light in the northern end – mixing in a hot mess in the middle. This is found quite often in rooms with a living room at one end and a dining room at the other.

• In this case, you could pay the most attention to your PERSONAL PREFERENCES!  If you don’t like cool paint colors, then you may want to focus on colors that suit a northern exposure (warm colors). If you aren’t a fan of WARM colors, you may want to focus on the paint colors that best suit a SOUTH facing space (cool colors).

• Or you can find a happy place in the middle with a beautiful greige paint color that nods a bit to both ends of your room!

Do you have a room with THREE exposures?

If you have a room with THREE exposures, I would focus on the dominant exposure, either via window size or quality of light coming in (ie. no landscaping blocking the light).

Shown above: Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter 

And all of that being said, if you are CONFUSED, you know who to call…the Ginga Ninja.

READ MORE

Can I Paint My North Facing Room White?

The 12 Best Whole Home Greige & Gray Paint Colors

North, South, East, West, Which Paint Color is The Best?

Need HELP?

Check out my affordable AND fun E-Design and Online Paint Color Consulting!

Chat soon,

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2018, AWESOMELY UPDATED IN 2021

The post How to Choose Paint Colors for a Room with 2 Exposures appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When it comes to my E-Design, it’s been CRAZY around here and Tim and I have had to limit sales to Mon/Wed/Fri, Even then, we sell out within 5 minutes most days! 5 MINUTES!

So, I’ve been brainstorming, trying to come up with a way to HELP more people without…

a) having to hire someone else – I place a lot of pride in the fact that I do ALL paint colour consultations personally

b) MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY EXHAUSTING MYSELF AND MY WINE SUPPLY!

Oh ya, I value my marriage and sanity too.

AND I DID IT, I FIGURED IT OUT!

Here’s the basic idea…

• It’s AFFORDABLE

• It’s QUICK – you get your consultatipn within 3-5 BUSINESS DAYS

• It’s SIMPLE

So, what’s the story morning glory? Well, the story is that I think a LOT of you are just wanting some BASIC GUIDANCE. Heck, I’ve got ‘basic guidance’ coming out the WAZOO. You’re not looking for hand-holding or spooning (please note, I prefer to be the small spoon), you just need to be pointed in the right DIRECTION.

So, based on your PHOTOS ONLY, I will give you GENERAL DIRECTIONS as to what COLOUR GROUPS could best suit your space – regardless of your tastes and preferences. NO personal questionnaire this time, this package is ALLLL about your room.

WHAT WILL YOU GET IN YOUR QUICK & EASY PACKAGE?

It’s simple…

• Summary of the BEST COLOUR GROUPS & UNDERTONES for your room based on the photos you send in – these aren’t specific colours, this isn’t that package

• Summary of the UNDERTONES AND COLOURS TO AVOID

• Advice on the DEPTH OF PAINT COLOUR that would best suit your room

• SAMPLING AND SHEENS PDF. Learning how to sample paint properly is a MAJOR part of finding the best paint colour

• EASY LINKS to blog posts for reference

• Please note, this package does NOT include a FOLLOW-UP EMAIL – you will get the above items only. This is another way I’ve been able to keep the price low

Remember, no COLOURS, just colour GROUPS – and I have the 400+ blog posts to back this stuff up.

WHO’S THIS PACKAGE GOOD FOR?

• those who aren’t able to purchase one of my Custom Paint Colour packages, but just want to be POINTED IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION re: what to do and what NOT to do

• those who would love some AFFORDABLE AND HELPFUL GENERAL GUIDANCE for their walls

• those who DON’T need hand-holding, they just some simple advice telling them the right colour family/direction to go in and THEY can do the research from there

WHAT ROOMS CAN YOU USE THIS PACKAGE FOR?

GENERAL guidance on…

• 1 Room

• Open Layout (multiple functions in one open space)

• Cabinets

• Exterior (main body only)

• NO separated rooms at this time

Really, it’s for those of you who are just going CRAZY not knowing which way to go and which colours paths to avoid. And let’s be honest, not everyone has 8-10 business days to wait for advice – you get this bad boy within 3-5 business days – BOOM.

Your package information could look something like this (this has been slightly shortened)…

EXAMPLE CONSULTATION

COLOUR GROUPS TO CHECK OUT

• GRAYS. You’ll want to focus on grays with subtle purple undertones. This undertone will work best with the main finishes in your home, especially your countertop. You will want to look at WARM grays rather than cold ones
• GREIGE. You can also look at greige paint colours as long as they pick up on that purple undertone and avoid green undertones

SPECIFIC COLOUR GROUPS TO AVOID

• GREEN OR BLUE UNDERTONES: You’ll want to avoid green or blue undertones as these won’t clash, but they also won’t CONNECT with the purple undertone in your countertop. Green and blue will be better ACCENTS for your room rather than full-scale commitments
• TRADITIONALLY WARM PAINT COLOURS. If you’re thinking of CREAM, BEIGE OR TAN, that would be a tough sell as they would be too warm for the slightly cooler approach of your products and you wouldn’t see a visual connection
• WHITE. White would be too stark

THE BEST PAINT DEPTH/LRV FOR YOUR ROOM

Looking at the natural lighting in your room, you may want to focus on…

• OFF-WHITE paint colours (LRV 75-80)
• LIGHT DEPTH paint colour (LRV 55-75)
• LIGHT-MEDIUM depth paint colours (LRV 40-55)

LINKS TO BLOG POSTS AND BONUS PDF

• If you’re not sure what LRV is or how to find it, it’s VERY important and worth the read – CLICK HERE (link will be attached to the consult).
• SEARCH BAR: I have a great search engine on the RIGHT-HAND SIDE of my blog home page. I have 300+ articles full of gorgeous paint colours and helpful information!
• Please note the attached PDF on proper PAINT SAMPLING AND PAINT SHEEN

END OF BASIC COLOUR CONSULTATION EXAMPLE

BUT, no follow-up emails with more questions (unless they’re emails with awesome AFTER photos of your beautifully painted room). No follow-up? Whuuut? Well, a follow-up email is part of the custom package – this is a BASIC PACKAGE FOR BASIC GUIDANCE – just meat n’ potatoes, no gravy and that’s one of the ways I can keep the price low.

Oh, I’ll include gravy with the helpful TIPS and the PDF, but those, along with your room’s best COLOUR GROUPS are what this package is about.

ARE YOU EXCITED? I sure as heck am.

Check it out HERE.

READ MORE

The 12 Best Whole Home Gray & Greige Paint Colours

The 8 Best Warm Neutral WHOLE HOME Paint Colours

5 Budget-Friendly Ideas to Update Your Home

ORIGINALLY CREATED IN 2020, UPDATED IN 2021

The post QUICK & EASY E-DESIGN Package (Online Paint Color Consulting) appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

When it comes to paint colours, NOTHING affects our perception more than light – either natural or artificial. So, when a paint colour isn’t looking like it should, the FIRST thing you should consider is your light source!

Benjamin Moore Collingwood

Wait, I take that back. The first thing you should ACTUALLY consider is that maybe you didn’t pick the right colour to start with. HOWEVER, for the sake of brevity (which you know I’m SO good at), we’re focusing on the light that’s shining on your walls (I have hundreds of blog posts covering the other issue).

There are two types of light:

1.  NATURAL LIGHT

Natural light refers to the exposure of your room. The effect the exposure has on your paint colour can vary depending on how big your windows are, whether you have dual exposures, a patio overhang or landscaping blocking a window.

Sherwin Williams Incredible White

If you want to learn more about how each exposure affects paint colours, you can read all about them HERE.

2.  ARTIFICIAL LIGHT

Artificial light is the light shining on your walls from interior sources such as ceiling fixtures, lamps, pendant lights and otherwise. All of these involve terms like KELVINS, LUMENS and WATTAGE, however, there’s one VERY important term that’s often missed…

CRI

CRI stands for COLOUR RENDERING INDEX and refers to how TRUE a paint colour looks based on the light given by the bulb.

If this is a new term for you, stay with me – this is good stuff…

Sherwin Williams Gossamer Veil

Just as LRV runs on a scale from 0-100, so does CRI. A bulb with a CRI of 100 will show a paint colour in its most clear, true form. Ermmm, true based on WHAT?

As it relates to CRI, ‘true’ means how good and clear a paint colour will look based on a comparison with natural sunlight or an incandescent bulb. 

AN INCANDESCENT BULB – ARE WE GOING BACKWARDS IN TIME, WHERE’S MARTY MCFLY?

Believe it or not, an incandescent 2700K bulb, which is inefficient and has a short life-span, actually has a CRI of 100. As the Kelvins go up, that decreases slightly, but still leaves a CRI of 95+.

BTW, if you’re not sure about this whole ‘Kelvins’ thing, you’ll find a link to a great blog post near the end. 

But how does the CRI of a bulb actually AFFECT paint colours?

We know that the higher the CRI of a bulb is, the better it will do its job as it relates to paint colours. But what is BAD, GOOD, BETTER and BEST?

LIGHT BULBS WITH CRI’S BELOW 80

First off, anything below 80 is BAD. If you buy cheap bulbs, it’s like buying cheap wine – you risk bad results.

When a bulb has this low of a CRI, it can make paint colours look washed-out, dull or they can even pick up entirely different undertones.

LIGHT BULBS WITH CRI’S BETWEEN 80 & 90

If you go to your local hardware store, this is the range you’ll usually find. Most light brands START at 80, and while that’s an ‘okay’ place to start, you can do SO MUCH BETTER. If you ask me, 80 is borderline, 85 is a WAY better starting point, but 90 is the way to go. However, for bulbs with higher CRI’s (more than 90), you often have to visit a speciality lighting store.

LIGHT BULBS WITH CRI’S OF 90+

With a CRI of more than 90, your paint colour will be shown at its best, but keep in mind, for the average home/room, 90 is REALLY GOOD. If you’re super anal about how your paint colour looks, you may want to purchase bulbs that have a CRI of 95+. Now, this doesn’t account for Kelvins (temperature of your bulbs) or LUMENS (output), but it will give you the CLEAREST, most genuine representation of your paint colour.

And not only that, but a high CRI also helps to see subtle variations in paint colours such as shades, tints and tones.

As an Online Paint Colour Consultant, do I worry about CRI?

Generally speaking, no.  When paint colours that SHOULD WORK, don’t, that’s when we’ll have a discussion about Kelvins and CRI.

Online Paint Colour Packages and E-Books

CRI Summary 

MY BEST ADVICE is to always wear clean underwear, drink half-decent wine, and be aware of CRI in knowing that you shouldn’t buy a bulb with a CRI beneath 80 (you know what, let’s say 85). HOWEVER, you should pay a lot of attention to the TEMPERATURE (Kelvins) of your bulbs (link below). Combine that with your paint colour preferences and the right LRV and your walls could look gorgeous!

READ MORE

How Light Bulbs Affect Paint Colours – KELVINS

4 PART SERIES – HOW TO CREATE A TIMELESS HOME

The Right Height to Hang Light Fixtures

Why You Shouldn’t Paint Your Room the Same Colour as Your Friend’s

Chat soon,

The post LIGHT BULBS: How a Bulb’s CRI Affects Paint Colours appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

‘Should I prime my walls first?’ I get this question a lot with my Online Color Consulting, along with, what is the best gray for my room, and, do you prefer red or white (white, in a box).

And the answer is complicated but worth exploring so that YOU can decide for yourself if you need to prime before you paint.

1. SHOULD YOU USE PRIMER IF YOU HAVE FRESH DRYWALL? 

YES. Drywall and drywall mud absorb paint more than previously painted surfaces (which often don’t absorb any paint). This means that your first coat of paint is absorbed INTO the drywall, making it act more like a primer and less like a coat of paint. This means that once you do your second coat of paint, it will act more like a FIRST coat. And no matter what they say, one coat of paint is NEVER cool.

Of course, this can be solved with ADDITIONAL coats of paint, but in the end, you’ll save blood, sweat and beers if you just add a coat of primer to begin with and apply two coats of paint. If a painter tells you otherwise, he’s just trying to save money and time – don’t fall for it.

And I’m a HUGE sceptic of paints that say they can ‘paint and prime’ in one, you know, those paints that apparently have ‘built-in primer‘. Primer is primer, paint is paint. Are some of these paints higher adhesion and better than ‘regular paints’? Maybe. But for my money, I’m going to bust out the bucks and buy them separately so I don’t have to second guess myself.

PRIMER IS PRIMER, PAINT IS PAINT

just like…

Red wine is red wine, white is white. 

If I mix them together, I get a crappy 2 in 1 wine, which doesn’t 

do justice to the original intent of EITHER. Don’t fall for 2 in 1’s.

2. SHOULD YOU USE PRIMER IF YOU HAVE A LOT OF PATCHES ON YOUR WALL? 

YES. Because paint absorbs into new drywall and drywall mud/filler, you can get a super blotchy look if you don’t set up a solid, consistent foundation. I don’t get carried away with priming if I have wee small patches, but if they are bigger than a twoonie…oh, this is awkward, I’m Canadian. Okay, so if they are bigger than two inches I would probably slap a bit of primer on. And not the WHOLE wall, just on the patch, feathering out the edges.

In between trial holes and anchors, I had close to 50 holes to fill on this wall (remind me not to drink whilst hanging). However, they were pinholes, so I didn’t worry about priming as they filled with a wee dab of mud.  If I had larger patches, I would have primed for sure.

The Best Paint Finish for Any Surface in Your Home

3. SHOULD YOU USE PRIMER BEFORE PAINTING WITH BRIGHT OR PRIMARY COLOURS? 

YES! Primary colours are absolutely horrible to paint and paint over. Why? They have TONS of pigment in them, meaning that they don’t have the little googley-balls that bind together to give coverage (super technical, I know). This means that the darker and brighter your colour is, the less ‘hide’ you will get from it – resulting in a somewhat ‘translucent’ look. To get hide (the thing that covers your previous paint colour and creates a solid, consistent new colour) you have to do many…many coats of paint to build up the surface so that it covers your old finish.

Do you want a photo example? I’m not giving you one. Why?  Because in the over 7000 online and 1500 local consultations I’ve done, online one person has wanted a primary colour – it’s not a common approach.

And you don’t just want to use any old primer, you’ll want to get a quality primer and have it tinted to some version of gray. The lighter your ‘new’ paint colour is, the lighter your gray tint can be. The darker and brighter your ‘new’ paint colour is, the more shaded, darker your gray should be. Trust me. This will set you up for success so that you don’t have to do a freakin’ bajillion (give or take 6-8) coats of paint.

Want to read more, check out this little story… Apartment Therapy

4. SHOULD YOU USE PRIMER BEFORE PAINTING OVER BRIGHT OR PRIMARY COLOURS? 

HECK YES! The same things that make bright colours a bugger to paint are the same things that make them a bugger to paint OVER. What’s the difference?

• you don’t HAVE to get your primer tinted to accommodate your new colour as long as your new colour is relatively neutral (although it’s free and sets you up for success, so may as well)

• with a high-quality primer, one coat should do – two NEVER hurts

A good example is Maggie’s room. When we moved in it was a rather bright green. Not bright enough to be day-glo, but bright enough that it would be a small pain to cover…

Maggie’s Room Before…

Maggie’s room after being primed and painted…

To see more, check this out… Little Girls Bedroom

5. SHOULD YOU USE PRIMER WHEN PAINTING OVER A SHINY WALL OR TRIM? 

YES! The higher sheen a surface has, the less it will absorb and the fewer things will stick to it. This means that if you apply new paint to a wall that has any sheen (satin/pearl/semi-gloss/high-gloss) the paint won’t stick. It will dry and just ‘sit’ on the surface, ready to be peeled off. The same goes if you have grease or greasy fingerprints on your wall.

This info also applies to painting surfaces like wood panelling.

6. SHOULD YOU USE PRIMER WHEN PAINTING OVER OLD OIL PAINT? 

YES! Back in the day (you know, 30+ years ago), oil paint was the go-to product for walls. And while I still have clients who prefer it over latex (the 80+ crowd), most people are realizing that the quality of latex has improved so much that there’s no NEED to use oil paint.

How to tell if it’s oil paint…

• take a Q-tip or a rag (if you have white/light paint, use a darker coloured rag or cloth)
• dip it in rubbing alcohol or nail polish remover (NOT the acetone-free type)
• rub a sneaky, inconspicuous spot on the wall in a small circle for about 8-10 seconds
• if the paint comes off and gets gooey, it’s latex
• if the paint feels maybe mildly tacky, but otherwise stays put, it’s oil (and you’re screwed…just joking…kind of)

If you paint over oil with latex your paint WILL peel off, I pinky-promise. Latex paint will not stick to oil paint, therefore you need to set up a new foundation for the latex paint to stick to. Sanding is NOT enough. Using a 2 in 1 product is not enough (or better cross your fingers it works, because if it doesn’t you are hooped.)

7. SHOULD YOU USE A PRIMER WHEN PAINTING YOUR WALLS, TRIM OR CABINETS WHITE? 

Again, YES. Seems strange, but white is one of the WORST colours to paint as there isn’t enough colourant to cover your old colour (read more HERE).

Ask me how I felt after doing 7 coats in my daughter’s bedroom with good quality SW paint – just ASK me if I wished I’d primed first…funny enough, the black was an EASY 2 coats.

WHEN SHOULD YOU USE PRIMER WHEN PAINTING – A SUMMARY

• when you have fresh drywall

• when you have a patch bigger than two inches OR so many small patches that your wall is more drywall filler than it is paint

• before you paint a bright colour (a colour without any black in it)

• before you paint OVER a bright colour

• if you are painting over a shiny surface

• if you are painting over oil paint

• when you’re using white paint

READ MORE

The 12 Best Whole Home Gray & Greige Paint Colours

The ULTIMATE GUIDE to White Paint Colours

The 8 Best Whole Home Warm Neutral Paint Colours

That’s it, that’s all! Need help?  Gimme a call! Actually, email me, it’s better that way…

Chat soon,

WRITTEN ORIGINALLY IN 2017, UPDATED IN 2021

The post 7 Good Reasons to Use Primer Before You Paint appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

NO. There, that was easy! I mean, you CAN, but that doesn’t mean you SHOULD. Why?

Paint companies are terrible at matching each other’s colors

Whether a paint company has a computerized matching system or does it by eyeball, it’s rarely accurate. Why? Well, the main reason is that most paint companies use different BASES.

So, you know how paint cans on the shelf have ‘Base 1, Base 2, Base 3, Base 4′ or something to that effect written on them? Well, that’s the BASE that’s needed to create a certain depth of color. Base 1 is used to make white/light colors right up to Base 4 which is used to make dark paint colors. The LRV of a paint color would directly relate to the base needed to create it. Paint companies often use different ingredients in their bases, so you’re not necessarily working with the same foundation when you move to a different brand.

In the above example, while both samples are still wet (I mean, they aren’t literally STILL wet, surely they’ve dried by now), you can see that Sherwin William’s version of Edgecomb Gray is considerably warmer than the actual color from Benjamin Moore. This isn’t Sherwin Williams fault, it’s just not their paint color. However, they should be making customers aware that they can’t create a perfect match.

Edgecomb Gray in action…

Paint Color Review of Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray

Let’s take a look at Sherwin Williams Sea Salt…

10 Questions to Ask BEFORE You Hire a Painter

Just LOOK at the variation in undertones! The Benjamin Moore match has more green, which means that if you had a south-facing room, it could look even greener. This might make Kermit the Frog happy, but I’ll safely assume you don’t like to eat flies or date pigs, which means you may want to get Sherwin William’s version of their own color which casts that bit more blue in comparison.

Sea Salt in action…

Paint Color Review: Sherwin Williams Sea Salt

Not only that, but some companies use different COLORANTS or tints to make up their colors, ie. Benjamin Moore’s black is…black. Sherwin Williams black has a wee hint of blue in it.

To put that in example form, if you chose a popular Benjamin Moore paint color like Stonington Gray, which is MADE with black, and had it made with Sherwin William’s paint, you wouldn’t get a perfect color match because they would be using a different type of black to make it.

But why would anyone would you want one brand to match another brand’s paint color?

• to save money as one brand might be more affordable than the other

• the painter says they’ll only paint with one particular brand (which is why you should read THIS)

• you’re more COMFORTABLE with the other brand due to familiarity/experience

All of the above are NOT good excuses to get a color match UNLESS you’re okay with not getting the color you went in for.

Let’s just do the math here (not my strong point, especially after two glasses of wine). Let’s say you needed three gallons of paint.

• Brand A: $60 per gallon = $180

• Brand B: 40 per gallon = $120

What you end up with is a $60 difference and the wrong paint color. If you ask ME, it would be worth spending $60 to get the right color, rather than having to spend ANOTHER $180 to paint my walls with the RIGHT color in the RIGHT brand when the color match doesn’t turn out QUITE as I expected.

And of course, EXPOSURE can play a VERY BIG PART as well, but that’s a whooooole ‘nother blog post.

Let’s look at another color matching disaster…

It’s like falling in love with a good white wine from one brand and wanting another brand, that uses different types of grapes, to make the SAME taste profile. It might be SIMILAR, but it won’t be the same (but let’s be honest, I’d drink it anyway).

This is also a valid point with paint. If you aren’t too fussy about undertones and are just looking for ‘a color to change your space’, then you might not care too much (and I’ll slap you with a wet noodle next time I see you). However, if you’re aware of the different undertones in paint colors and want the color you’ve CHOSEN to be the color that ends up on your walls, you’ll want to use the paint brand that your chosen color came from.

Let’s hammer that one down…

If you want the color you’ve CHOSEN to be the exact color that ends up on your walls, you’ll want to use the paint brand that your chosen color came from – moi

How should I properly sample paint colors?

Undoubtedly, you’ll be heading out in the near future to grab paint samples – stop right there! I want you to check out SAMPLIZE. Samplize offers peel and stick paint samples that are more AFFORDABLE, EASIER and more ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY than traditional paint pots. Here are just a FEW reasons why I recommend Samplize to my clients…

• samples arrive ON YOUR DOORSTEP in 1-3 business days, depending on location

• they’re more affordable than the samples pots/rollers/foam boards that are needed for traditional paint sampling

• if you keep the samples on their white paper, you can move them around the room

• they use each brand’s PARTICULAR PAINT to make their samples – no color matching!

Visit the SAMPLIZE website HERE

Let’s look at a few more examples, just to seal the deal (I love this stuff)…

In the above example of Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray, the PROPER sample shows the wee nugget of green that’s tucked inside of it. The color match from Sherwin Williams shows very LITTLE green and is also a bit darker.

In this next example, we have Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White, a popular off-white paint color…

Sherwin Williams Aesthetic White in action…

Hells bells, some paint companies even have a hard time getting their OWN paint colors to look as they should #thingsthatkeepmeupatnight. That’s right, as you move through the LEVELS of paint (ie: Benjamin Moore Regal to Benjamin Moore Aura for example), the recipe has to be adjusted to suit the new base, as each LINE of paint has its own base ingredients. Good paint techs can almost nail it, but you always have to make sure you actually got the color you went in for.

READ MORE

The 12 Best ‘Whole Home’ Gray and Greige Paint Colors 

LRV and Paint Colors: The Ultimate Guide You Need to Read

10 Questions to Ask BEFORE You Hire a Painter

Not sure which paint color is best for your home?

Check out my Online Paint Color Consulting, I’d love to help!

Chat soon,

The post Color Matching Between Paint Brands – Does it Really Work? appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

Who invented rounded drywall corners anyway? Clearly it wasn’t a designer or anyone with common sense, as they’re a royal P.I.T.A when you want to use TWO different paint colours! I figure it must have been a drywaller who decided that it was easier to create a curved line than a clean 90-degree angle.

So, I’m going to share with you some ideas on how to change paint colours when you encounter these blasted things. This blog post is not photo heavy and is more detail-oriented, so you better get ‘yer big girl (or boy) panties (and reading glasses) on!

1.  PRIMARY VS SECONDARY

What does this mean? This means that when you’ve got two walls that meet at a 90-degree angle with a curved edge you need to decide which room is the PRIMARY room (wall) and which is the SECONDARY room (wall).

But before we get into what’s what, let’s talk about hallways.

MAIN HALLWAYS

If you have a main hallway, ie. a hallway that the living room, dining room, and/or kitchen are joined up with (via rounded corners), the hallway is almost always considered the PRIMARY consideration, as you need to walk through it to reach the adjoining rooms. It can be awkward to have the colour in the adjoining rooms wrapping around into the hallway when it’s the FIRST SPACE YOU’RE WALKING THROUGH before you reach the adjoining rooms. But let’s be honest, having that ole vertical stripe of colour is awkward REGARDLESS of which room it’s in, the key is in picking the lesser of two evils (which is why many people choose to do both areas/rooms the same colour – as shown below).

Sherwin Williams Accessible Beige

If you have a back hallway, it’s more acceptable to have the adjoining room’s colour wrap around the rounded corner. Why? Because you usually have to walk through the adjoining room before you reach the back hallway, making the room the PRIMARY consideration and the back hallway SECONDARY.

Long story short, if you have to walk down a hallway to get to a room, and the hallway/room meet with a rounded corner, the hallway is USUALLY the PRIMARY consideration.

THE PRIMARY ROOM

When it comes to rounded corners, we’re dealing with two rooms/walls that are meeting via a rounded or bullnose corner. Excluding hallways (as discussed above), the PRIMARY room is the most important room of the two for whatever reason you decide. Here are a few considerations…

• Which room do you have to walk through to get to the ‘other’ room? The room you walk through is often the PRIMARY room/area.

• Which room do you use more? The room you spend the most time in will often be the PRIMARY room.

• Which room is larger? The larger room will often be the PRIMARY room.

In the above photo, it seems LESS awkward to have the dining area colour rolling into the kitchen, whereas if the kitchen colour wrapped around the corner into the dining room, there would be an awkward stripe that affects a VERY large, often-used space.

REMEMBER, if you don’t cut a rounded corner in HALF, you’re going to see a stripe of colour in one room or the other. While seeing it in EITHER room isn’t awesome, try to choose the lesser of two evils. 

THE SECONDARY ROOM

This is the room that comes in second place in the pecking order.

• this is often the smaller of two rooms

• the secondary room is often used less than the main room

So, now that you’ve decided which area is primary and which is secondary, you’ll bring your ‘primary room colour’ around your rounded or curved corner and will start your secondary colour where the wall resumes its flatness.

The reason for this is that it’s better to have a wee stripe of the primary room colour in the secondary space, rather than the other way around, as one way or another you will get a bit of a ‘stripe’ where the one colour ends and the other begins.

In the above area, we’re dealing with two transition type areas – a stairwell and a hallway. While they happen to be the same colour, if we WERE to paint two different colours, the stairwell area would be the PRIMARY space with the hallway being the SECONDARY space.

Why?

Because we have to walk through the stairwell area to get to the hallway. Now, the shaded areas may be whispering in your ear and telling you otherwise, which we will talk about below, but remember that these shadows will change as the day progresses.

IMPORTANT DETAIL

The higher the contrast is between the two colours (ie: one is considerably lighter and one is considerably darker) the more likely it is that you should do this NEXT tip instead (to avoid a drastic, shocking stripe in one room or another).

The 3 Best NOT BORING Paint Colours for a Dark Hallway

2.  DIVIDE YOUR BULLNOSE OR CURVED CORNER IN HALF

This one is tricky, but if you’ve got a good eye and steady hands it’s a GREAT solution (in other words not me, two glasses deep on a Friday nite…). It’s also the best choice if your colours are high contrast with each other.

Take your Frog Tape  (much better than regular painters tape) and run a vertical line right down the center of your curved corner. What this does is it creates the ‘illusion of a 90-degree sharp angle’. Of course, your corner is still rounded, but when you look at it from four feet away it looks more like a standard corner and you also reduce the risk of having a ‘stripe’ of another colour in your primary or secondary space.

I am not a pro-painter, but a ‘pretty darned good one’ and this is almost always what I do with my rounded corners.

3.  FOLLOW YOUR SHADOW

In the middle of the day, take a look at how the shadows fall on your walls. Often you’ll see that the natural light and shadows will help you to define where to stop one colour and start another.  Usually, the natural light flows entirely around the rounded corner and then falls into a bit of a shadow where the flat part resumes.  Now, this is certainly a way to figure out what goes where, but keep in mind that this can change quite a bit as the day progresses, so make sure that your shadows stay somewhat consistent throughout a 12 hr period. PERSONALLY, I prefer to stick with TIPS 1 & 2.

The person above did NOT follow the shadows and you can see that they actually created quite a distinct ‘THREE-colour palette’ as the gray paint colour turns lighter when the natural light hits it. This can be hard to avoid to a degree, however with the type of contrast that is shown, they would have been better off doing one of the following:

• taking the cream colour around the corner as the highlighted corner would have made more sense in the lighter colour

• taking tape, and cutting that corner right down the middle

4. BONUS IDEA – WRAP YOUR CORNERS IN MOULDINGS

If you just aren’t happy with your rounded corners, figure out which ones are the worst offenders and consider wrapping them in mouldings which will cover up those rounded corners and give you a clean starting point in each room.

In this next photo, notice how there are rounded corners in the inner hallway area, but the transition between the hallway/dining room is covered in mouldings – SMART!

READ MORE

Why You Keep Choosing the Wrong Paint Colours

The 12 Best WHOLE HOME Gray & Greige Paint Colours

5 Budget-Friendly Home Update Ideas

How to Deal with Popcorn or Textured Ceilings – Info You Need BEFORE You Scrape!

Not sure which colours to choose for your home? 

Check out my affordable Online Color Consulting Services!

ORIGINALLY WRITTEN IN 2017, UPDATED IN 2021

The post How to Paint Bullnose or Rounded Drywall Corners appeared first on Kylie M Interiors.

If you read my last article on LRV and why you should NEVER choose a paint colour without it, you’ve probably got the main idea down pat, which is…

• LRV refers to how light or how dark a paint colour will look once it’s up on the wall (on the large scale)

• the higher the LRV number is, the lighter a colour will look and the more light it will reflect

• the lower the LRV number is, the darker the colour will look and the more light it will absorb

However, in my never-ending goal of being a non-scientific colour nerd, I have figured out a few more things about this crazy thing called LRV.

And btw, if you HAVEN’T read my first article on LRV, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THAT YOU DO. It sets the bones in place and will give you the info you need to understand the info below. This blog post is more about my wine-infused ramblings and insights into what I’ve discovered about LRV.

Even dark paint colours will reflect light

When I first started learning about LRV, I read that lower LRV numbers ABSORB light, higher LRV numbers reflect light. And this is true…but kind of misleading.

What I’ve discovered is that we get caught up in DARK colours absorbing light, forgetting that they STILL REFLECT IT – even that low LRV colour (say, 5 for example) reflects light. It might not reflect a TON, but it still reflects some. How do I know that? Well, I’ve seen it in action literally THOUSANDS of times now and I think I’ve finally figured it out. Unless you’re dealing with a hardcore black (of which paint companies generally don’t have access to) EVERY colour will reflect SOME amount of light, as long as it’s given light to reflect, because remember…

Let’s check out an example that I touched on in my previous LRV blog post. Benjamin Moore Hale Navy has a super low LRV of 6.3, so you’d naturally assume that it would absorb a heck of a lot of light. And it does. However, it still will reflect some light, as shown in this next photo…

If it didn’t reflect light, it wouldn’t look lighter where it does. Top left corner has NO light, so Hale Navy looks blackish. However, in the central area, you can see how Hale Navy lifts up and brightens up when it gets natural light on it. And I’m not talking about the area that is COMPLETELY whited-out by an intense sunray, I’m talking about the wall space around it, where you can really see the navy blue of Hale Navy coming out – oh Hale yes.

When a colour has a low LRV – let’s say it’s a dark colour in between 5-10, it still reflects some light. Its number generally relates to the percentage of light it reflects back. So, if a colour has an LRV of 10, you can expect it to reflect 10% of the light that it’s given – meaning it absorbs 90% of it. Of course, this can shift based on HOW much light its given and WHERE the light hits and and and…there are a lot of variables. However, like any colour, if it’s not given any light, it won’t reflect a thing. THIS IS NOT SCIENTIFIC and is based on almost 20 years of hands-on experience – you can take it or leave it (but you’d be smart to take it – wink wink).

Look at the above photo of the wine bar painted Sherwin Williams Cyberspace (LRV of 6). You’d think it would just be friggin’ dark with an LRV of 6, and it IS on the far left and in the middle where it gets little to no light. But just LOOK at the glory of it on the right! The colour rises UP and brightens, so you can actually see the ‘colour’ of Cyberspace, rather than a slightly blackish colour as shown on the left. Why? BECAUSE IT’S REFLECTING GLORIOUS LIGHT!

My Home Office Black & White Makeover

Why does this matter to you?

Because you love me and you need to humour the crazy lil’ Ginger.

Really though, let’s say you hire me for E-Design and you want a nice dark gray with subtle undertones for a feature wall. So, I suggest some colours for you. I tell you all about their undertones and what you can expect, you look at them and think, ‘hmmm, those are super dark grays but I just don’t see those undertones she’s talking about‘. OR maybe you say, ‘Kylie told me this was a great colour for me, but it seems too dark, is she drinking again?‘ And then you start painting and you see that on a LARGER scale, the colour has some darned interesting undertones. It has depth and interest and maybe isn’t AS dark/plain as you thought it would be. Basically, on a larger scale, you see that the colour looks different than you thought it would.