10 Steps to Foolproof Decorating - Step 2: Paint

Paint is the easiest and least expensive way to improve the overall appearance of a room. Period. So today i’ll be sharing some colors that are excellent choices.

They are all neutrals (whites, grays, greige family) because they make rooms appear larger. The trick is to stick with warm or cool bases for wall and trim colors. I’m also a fan of painting every room in your home the same colors. I’m not anti-color – color can be added in a variety of ways, but neutrals will never go out of style and allow everything you put into a room a clean bright backdrop. 

Lately, I’ve loved using a slightly darker color to paint trim and keep walls white. Here are some paint colors that I love and are foolproof! 

White Family

White Dove, Benjamin Moore

I’ve used this in two of my homes and love the warmth of this white. Like all paints depending on the light you have in your room the color can read as creamy more than white. 

Capitol White, Benjamin Moore

With tones of yellow, it is a white with just a hint of ivory. So warm.

Snowbound, Sherwin Williams

A paint that works well with everything and has a soft warm undertone. 

Decorator White, Benjamin Moore

I’ve used this and suggested clients use it too primarily on kitchen cabinets, but this color looks great on walls as well. 

Huntington White, Benjamin Moore

This shade is truly neutral – reads both warm and cool. 

Pointing No. 2003, Farrow & Ball

A nearly perfect warm white. Love Farrow & Ball’s paint and color palette. 

Grays and Greige Family

Pewter Neutral, Benjamin Moore

A warm greige color if there ever was one.

Edgecomb Gray, Benjamin Moore

A gray that is not too yellow and compliments cool colors well.

Collingwood, Benjamin Moore

If I was recommending a trim color against a whiter wall, this would be my pick. A true greige (a mix between a gray and warm beige) that would add a deeper and richer dimension to a room.

Balboa Mist, Benjamin Moore

A great gray color that I’ve used in two of my homes as well as recommended it to clients of mine as well. Everyone loves this gray.

Blackened, Farrow & Ball

A beautiful cool ivory with a spec of gray. This is not a bright white and is a perfect neutral color.

A few combinations I like are:

Balboa Mist on walls, Simply White (Benjamin Moore) on Trim, or vice versa. 

White Dove on walls, Chantilly Lace (Benjamin Moore) on Trim.

Simply White on Walls, Collingwood Beige on Trim. 

Dune White (Benjamin Moore) on Walls, Revere Pewter HC-172 (Benjamin Moore) on Trim.

Alabaster (Sherwin Williams) on Walls. Repose Gray (Sherwin Williams) on Trim. 

Eggshell is a good choice for walls. Satin or semi-gloss finishes are good on trim and moldings.

Not sure what paint combination will suit you?

Order samples from Samplize at www.samplize.com. They offer large pieces of the color of paint for about $6 a sheet. You can move the sample around in a room to see how it looks depending on the time of day and amount of light is reflecting. Get both the wall and trim color to put them together to see if you like the combination. This is so much easier than opening a small pot of paint and testing it on a wall.

If you ever ending up using any of these colors, don’t forget to tag me on Instagram or Facebook @nancymichaelsinteriors!