I’m not an expert at selecting wall color. I usually pick a color and hope for the best. Hey, it’s only paint, right? However, when we’re talking about painting a two-story foyer plus the ceiling in the entire opened area of the second floor….. then picking the right color really does matter! I did the scaffolding about ten years ago and I’m certain that what ever I choose now will have to last me another 10 years. This is not a room that you just wake up one morning and decide to paint.
So I actually taking the time to view paint sample. With my Sherwin Williams paint deck, I headed over to Lowes and had 7 paint Valspar samples mixed up. Valspar samples are a bit cheaper and they the colors are dead on to SW.
Then I quickly ran into Wal-Mart for a package of poster boards, painted my samples, and hung them up on the wall. Okay, my kids thought I was crazy because they say all the colors look the same!! Yet, they’re the first ones to give me their opinions.
I’ve moved the samples around from wall to wall, trying to see how the paint will look under different day light. The Hubs and my daughter have picked out their favorite (ironically, it’s the same color!) but I’m not sure if I found the right color yet.
Oh, I wanted to mention, I met with a professional painter about painting the space. He saw all my samples and knew right away that they were SW colors, but without knowing that it was Valspar paint, he told me how he works only with Valspar paints and how well he thought they performed! Good to know….
I paid for the samples above, but Valspar Paint is giving away 1,000 free paint project starter kits a day!
Just visit Facebook.com/ValsparPaint and click “Like” to receive their FREE postage-paid paint project starter kit. Choose from Genevieve Gorder’s palette or any of the 3,000 Valspar paint colors!
Well, I “Like” and received my sample kit on Saturday. Yay! It included an 8 oz. paint sample, mini roller, paint try PLUS a $5. off coupon!!! What color did I choose?
The pretty aqua blue color I used on my Back Door Wreath!
I found this video interesting and want to share!
What’s your thoughts….
Which comes first???
Wall color or big ticket items,textiles, and artwork?
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I'm not sure which traditionally comes first...furniture/decor or wall color...but I just go on a room by room basis. If I have something on hand already that I'm using in that room (furniture, accents, drapes/bedding, etc.) then that obviously comes first...but if I'm starting a room from scratch...I start with the feel and then choose the wall color. I think a room totally changes with different tones of color...and the right color can make a room "feel" right, ya know? LOL I liked all your choices...and not knowing what the rest of your decor looks like, I like the first gray (on the left)in the top row. I know you were waiting for MY opinion! LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks for the tip re: Valspar!
I have also gotten the Valspar free sample and love it. I am working on a project for painting a picture while our preacher delivers his sermon. To get the colors I need I have ordered samples for several people at church. I really like the paint.
ReplyDeleteI like to choose my inspiration piece first. It may be a textile or pottery or painting. Then I have my color palate.
I usually use fabric(big surprise there) as a jumping off point for any room. I love finding a fabric that speaks to me, pulling in coordinating fabrics, and then going to the paint swatches. Can't wait to see what you end up choosing.
ReplyDeleteI like that top left color too, but who knows what it looks like in real life compared to my monitor? :) BTW, we painted our entire house using a buncha different brands and Valspar was the BEST by far. Loved it!
ReplyDeleteI can definitely relate to your struggles with choosing a paint color. Everyone says, "paint is cheap," but our living room flows into the kitchen and dining area and halls...I'm going to need a lot of paint! Add cathedral ceilings to that and I had a terrible time deciding on a color. I don't even want to think about how much money I've spent on paint samples over the last 6 months, but I finally decided on Sherwin Williams' Ecru and I started painting on Sunday. At the rate I'm going, I should be finished sometime before Memorial Day. Best of luck to you!
ReplyDeleteI'm right there with you girl. I just had a painter at the house last night to give me an estimate since we have a similar dilemma. Tall room, coffered ceiling = not a job for me. And, like you said, it's not a room that I'm going to have painted again for a LONG time, so I need to be very diligent in my color choice! What Sherwin Williams colors are you looking at? I can kind of see some of the names in your photo, but not all of them. I have a SW paint deck at home too, so I am curious as to what you're considering. I like the Softer Tan color and the one in the middle on the bottom as well. Looking forward to your selections! :-)
ReplyDeleteI am so not good at this. So when we had our house built, we went with a more nuetral tannish color, seeing as we knew it would go with everything. It's a very rich tan, so I like it. Guess we took the safe route, but we are happy with it.
ReplyDeleteI always think it's neat though, when someone does an accent wall a different color. I've never been that brave, but think it can be very nice.
Have a great day Carrie :)
I love this idea. I'm trying to decide on paint colors also, so I think I might have to do this. Those colors are some that I am thinking about! So what are you getting close to deciding because maybe I'll choose the same, lol!
ReplyDeleteMegan
Oh boy. Can I relate....I took 5 years, yes I said 5 years, to pick a paint colour for the HUGE cathedral space on my main floor. let's be serious, I was only getting the husband up that ladder once so I knew I had to be happy. Your choices look very similiar in tone to mine. My skylight and main front windows face west so I chose a bluer gray. I did do the patches all over thing too :)
ReplyDeleteMan,fun huh? Good luck Lady!
Haha I have my own pile of paint samples like that in my dining room (I swear I will never find the right green). If any of those samples you have are "Silver Dollar" I just painted my kitchen that color and LOVE LOVE LOVE it! I just want to wrap myself up in it!
ReplyDeleteGood luck!
I've had the same Valspar paint on my walls for six years and I still love it! It's called Faint Maple 2008-9C. Check it out. I think you may like it. It's in the same color family that's on your wall samples.
ReplyDeleteHi this is Nicole from Colie’s Kitchen I just discovered your blog and wanted to drop by and say hi. I am now a new follower. I would love to have you stop by Colie’s Kitchen if you get a chance. www.colieskitchen.com
ReplyDeleteHey Carrie! Thanks for this post...my Valspar sample is on it's way as we speak! I also told my mom who generously ordered another color for me as she has no painting going on right now.
ReplyDeleteI just went through the process of painting, then repainting, my office this week all due to my thriftiness and not wanting to buy samples. I should have sprung for the $3 sample as it cost me $60 in oops paint to get the job done. Blogging about it tomorrow!! :)
I like all of the samples you tested. When we built our house, we had the entire interior painted the Softer Tan sample you have (top row, second from the left). I've changed the paint color in the laundry room and master bathroom, but we really do like the Softer Tan. A friend had her new home done in Macadamia (I think it's the one to the right of Softer Tan in your sample boards) - it's a bit darker than Softer Tan, but it works well with her house full of kiddos!
ReplyDeleteI'm always afraid when I paint rooms that I picked the wrong color.
ReplyDeletelisa