Another one of my favorite parts of the renovation … picking paint colors!
I have a confession: I picked the same Sherwin Williams paint colors we used when we repainted our Cincinnati house.
But I loved them so I was excited to use them again!
When we were first picking paint colors back in Cincinnati, we used this handy paint swatch book from Sherwin Williams. It seriously has every color possible!
A few tips for picking paint colors. Because choosing the wall colors for the whole house at once can seem like an overwhelming task!
Trends are good, but go with what you love
I love tan. I know gray is ‘in’ right now, but I’m a fan of tan. I think tan is warm and cozy.
So we went with Sherwin Williams’ camelback for most of our house … the kitchen, family room, living room, hallways and two of the bedrooms.
You can see pictures of Camelback in finished rooms here.
Pay attention to rooms that open up to each other
While our first floor has definitive rooms, most of the openings from one to another are big openings – so we couldn’t pick colors that clashed with each other.
We didn’t necessarily have to pick the same color throughout the whole house – even though we did – but this is something to note if you want to paint every room a different color.
Using some pops of color (that match your overall color palette)
To add some color, we used Sherwin Williams’ Ryegrass (green) for our bathrooms and the third bedroom.
This green went well with the Camelback tan color we were using in the hallways right outside all of these rooms, so we wouldn’t have to worry about the green looking out of place.
Paint color for doors and trim
The original bedroom doors had been a pale blonde wood color. (No thanks!) We wanted all white doors and trim.
Unfortunately, the doors had a shiny veneer on top of them that had to be scraped off before we could paint anything.
It was a lot of work – and scraping the veneer off the doors made a sound similar to that of nails on a chalkboard. But we did it!
More pictures to come of the finished painted rooms!
Planning your own renovation?
Download my Kitchen and Bathroom Renovation Checklists so you can easily keep track of each step. Click one of the options below.
If you’re already an email subscriber, hop over to my free printables library to get your copy.
If you’re not an email subscriber yet, sign up here to subscribe to new blog posts and gain access to everything in my free printables library.
If you want to save this post for later, remember to bookmark it or you can pin it here:
Want to read more posts like this?
Follow along: Get my emails | Facebook | Pinterest | Twitter | Instagram | Google+
Becca @ Amuse Your Bouche says
I actually really like grey walls! It has to be the right grey though, otherwise it can be quite cold. LOVE that swatches book!
GreenWithDecor says
I definitely agree – the wrong shade of gray can seem cold. Love the swatches book, too – so many fun colors to choose from!
Crystal says
I have the itch to paint our house! My house was built in 2006…I think it’s time for a facelift! I agree that tan is warm and cozy. I’m kind of in-between – maybe a greyage!! Great tips
GreenWithDecor says
Thanks, Crystal! Good luck painting your house – it’s fun to have new paint colors on the walls!
Kate says
so many options you picked great colors!!
GreenWithDecor says
Thanks, Kate! I’m so happy with the colors we chose!
Elizabeth R says
I am terrified of choosing colours for the house. Partly because it takes my husband a loooong time to agree to repaint again so I am definitely stuck with what I choose. Want to come paint my place??
GreenWithDecor says
Haha, painting one house is enough for now! Good luck picking a color. If it will be around for awhile, would lean towards a more neutral shade!
[email protected] says
Great tips, I am in the market for a home and these will come in handy!
GreenWithDecor says
Thanks, Ashley! Good luck house searching!
Christina says
I like grey walls but I agree, I still would probably go with tan. I think it’s neutral and can go with any thing you want to add to the room. 🙂
GreenWithDecor says
I totally agree – I am a tan walls kind of girl!
Holly housewife says
ooooh all such good advice!! I love a fresh coat of paint but it is so so hard to pick the perfect colour!
I think I know exactly what I want but then spend hours in the pair chip isle looking at and re looking at chips. Taking them outside and inside and holding it next to things. Hahaha
It’s a major process.
I adore grey and have quite a few rooms painted in varying shades but it’s very very tricky to pick the appropriate one!
GreenWithDecor says
Thanks, Holly! It can definitely be a process figuring out the perfect color for your walls!
Betsy @ Happily Ever After, Etc. says
Love these tips! Especially the part about picking whatever color YOU love! I work at a little paint store called Sherwin Williams and it’s amazing the number of people who want to pick what’s popular… and then end up re-painting! Pick what makes you happy and you’ll never go wrong!
GreenWithDecor says
Absolutely! Everyone should love the paint colors in their home – whether they’re on trend or not!
Ashley ~ 3 Little Greenwoods says
Choosing the right paint colors can be so tricky! Thanks for the tips!
GreenWithDecor says
Thanks, Ashley!
Emily, Our house now a home says
I agree with these tips. I use a lot of gray in our home. But in our bedroom I am using a light tan paint. I like the warm feeling of it for a bedroom space. I have never picked paint for the whole house. I usually go room by room.
GreenWithDecor says
Love tan in a bedroom!
April Rutherford says
I love picking paint colors too, although it can be overwhelming!
GreenWithDecor says
True!
Sara says
I enjoy picking out the colors too! I love gray walls! My whole house (main living) is brown. I need change! I’ve been a “brown” “Pier One” gal for too long! . The green you picked out is great.
GreenWithDecor says
It’s fun picking paint colors, glad you agree!