Paint Color Selection – Little Known Secrets You Need to Know!

Hi Everyone,

This is parts 1 and 2 about my selection for a bedroom mural. However, the first part is really in this recent post.
The paint color selection is very much tied into the wall paper selection. This is why it’s important to knock that out first. If you’ve read part 1 from last Sunday, please click the link below.

Otherwise, if you wish to review or are landing here for the first time, please begin from the top of the page.

Part 2 Begins Here

 

Hi Everyone,

I am still immersed in paint color selection and learning much as I go along.

Yes! Even though I’ve been at this for 36 years, I’m still learning about paint colors.

 

Like Martha Stewart says, “When you’re through changing, you’re through.”

 

If you missed this post about how I’m developing a color palette, please check it out here.

And before I forget, I was just interviewed for a satirical article on Bored Panda about bad interior decorating. Please check out what I had to say, here.

 

What have I learned? Here are some things, not in any particular order. Some of them concern comments I’ve read recently.

• I once said that Narragansett Green and Newburg Green are twins. Well, siblings, yes, but twins, no. However, in my defense, it may have had something to do with the fan deck I used then.

 

• Fan decks showing the same color can vary by a lot.

 

Please observe the difference between the same color (Benjamin Moore Nocturnal Gray 2135-30) on two fan decks. In addition, Benjamin Moore has finally come clean about their dupes. Many of the hc colors are also duplicated elsewhere but with a different name.

For example, Narragansett Green hc-157 is also known as Navy Masterpiece 1652. Its sibling, Newburg Green hc-158, is also known as New Providence Navy 1651.

All of these issues only make it more confusing when making your paint color selection.

 

This one I’ve said before, however, it bears repeating.

 

The color you see in a photo of a paint color could look entirely different from how it will look in your room. Often, very dark colors photograph a lot lighter than they are. It’s all about the lighting and how the camera sees the color.

• If there’s a warm light on, it doesn’t mean that all colors will absorb the lighting the same way.

 

• Someone pointed out in a comment that I should take the wallpaper into a paint store, pick one of the mid-tones, and have the clerk copy it.

Based on my experience, I would not do that. There are thousands of colors to select from, and you need only one. Color matching, unless handled by an expert, is quite risky.

 

A well-meaning Bostonian is warning me that a blue paint color selection in my den, will make the room feel cold. And with our harsh winters, even more cold.

 

I respectfully disagree, as  the room will be a “warm” blue, not an icy blue. I find rooms feel cold when:

A) The temperature in the room is cold.

B) The lighting in the room is cold.

A rich, teal blue makes a beautiful, energizing backdrop unless you dislike the color.

 

Clerkenwell Blue-FurniturePaint-deVOL

 

Does looking at this color make you feel cold?

 

My den’s current color, Cat Gromitz Greige, is terribly sad, and although technically a warm color, it leaves me feeling cold. I can’t wait to change it.

 

Right now, I’m focused on the downstairs. Mary had a great point about waiting to decide on a mural. While I get her point, it would make my life more difficult because paint color selection is a little easier if one knows what wall covering they’re doing.

 

I am no longer doing a mural downstairs.

 

Someone was concerned I was doing too many murals in a small apartment.

First of all, the apartment isn’t particularly small at 1215 square feet, and it’s on two floors.

Downstairs, I am using the Plantasia mural only in the WC area. The wallpaper can only be seen when in the bathroom.

Now for the wall color selection.

 

Someone said that dark colors should never go in a primary bathroom.

 

Why not? Please, let’s not repeat the “You won’t be able to put your makeup on properly.”

Well, I usually put it on without a mirror. haha So, I guess the wall color won’t make much difference. I have a theater background and it seems every dressing room I was ever in was painted black.

My bathroom has no windows, and I am going to embrace its darkness with the moody bathroom I’ve always wanted.

 

However, not everything will be dark.

 

The shower is pale, and the center of the ceiling will most likely be pale. The floor will be black and white. The toilet is off-white, and the console sink is pale gray marble.

The wallpaper has elements of light, medium, and dark.

I’d like to put up some prints in gold frames on the long wall perpendicular to the shower.

Here’s what I think about selecting a color to coordinate when the wallpaper only takes up a small percentage of the viewable space. Of course, the color needs to coordinate; however, pick the color you want to see, which is not necessarily the obvious choice.

 

Laurel, can’t you do a pale color in a windowless bathroom?

 

Yes, you can. :]

 

So, what color did you select?

 

I’m not sure because I need the bedroom wallpaper sample to make a final decision.

I’ve looked at dozens of colors.

 

 

Maybe this one. (above) It’s an archived Farrow & Ball color. I need to see if I have a sample.

 

Otherwise, I love Downpipe. In real life, Apollo Blue was a miss as it was a little too bright and green.

 

It looks good here, but not so much in real life.

 

 

Moving onto the bedroom mural, it is impossible to see the wallpaper in the bathroom WC niche and the bedroom mural at the same time.

 

I don’t spend much time in the bedroom during the day, but that might change when it’s finished. I already love the bedroom. It’s now a real room, completely separate from the rest of the space. There’s a small but beautiful entrance.

So, I did receive the sample of Fenimore in Sky we were just talking about. It looks exactly like it does in this photo.

 

It’s really lovely, and I love the light antiquing. However, it’s not right for my bedroom.

 

But, I ordered a sample of a mural I discovered on Wednesday evening.

 

Wait! Please hang on a second. It shipped on Thursday; maybe it’s here!

Yes, it was there, and the envelope was quite wet, with all of the rain, but inside the paper was okay.

Oh, I like it! Based on what I saw, I was a little concerned about the background color, but it’s perfect.

Okay, I will have this all together for you on Monday evening.

xo,

 

 

 

*********************************************************

Part 2 Begins Here

 

As promised, I am sharing the mural I’ve selected for the bedroom.

While I love the Belva antiqued and could do the antiquing after I get it, I’d still want a more muted palette.

The other thing is that I think it would be lovely if it were one wall or two panels flanking something. However, because of the room’s configuration and bed position, I feel it needs to be tiled around the room. I am planning panels, so with the moulding, there will be about 7 inches between panels.

In addition, there are breaks with the two doors, one doorway, and one window. The other long expanses will have the bookcase or bed/nightstands in front of them. Plus, if I do the long drapes, there’s more to break up. Plus, there will be other furnishings that will break up the pattern.

 

Like I said, I’ve pored over The Mural Source website too many times to count.

 

However, every time, I discover something I’ve never seen before.

I had seen the paper I selected before but perhaps overlooked it because it wasn’t as splashy as some. However, that’s a good thing!

 

The paper is called Solitude White.

Doesn’t this look like a Loi Thai vignette? For those who don’t know Loi, he used to have a fabulous antique shop in Bethesda, Maryland, that specialized in Swedish Gustavian antiques like what you see above.

Loi also had an equally wonderful blog. Naturally, he amassed a large following on the blog and Instagram. Several years ago, he closed the shop and the blog but still does interior design and posts regularly on Instagram.

It’s one of the best pages out there.

 

So, I changed the one panel between the door and window and here is the rendering of the room, still set up like a living room.

 

 

In addition to having a Gustavian feel that I love, the darker charcoal grays and soft black add some heft.

Here is the entire mural.

 

 

How do you feel about all of those birds, Laurel?

 

Oh, gosh. I know that some people don’t want to see people or birds. However, I love ’em! You know, I’m exceedingly allergic to mosquitoes. I have scars particularly on my wrists and ankles from them. Those bloodsuckers get high when I’m wearing Eau De Off, and then they bite me despite it. Anyway, it’s my understanding that bluebirds love to eat mosquitoes.

 

Subsequently, I’m fine with having a bunch of them as roommates. ;]

 

Above and below are some detail shots of the Solitude White Mural from the Mural Source.

 

Who needs a hand-painted mural? I mean, there’s nothing wrong with having one if it’s in your budget. However, these printed murals look like their hand-painted originals. Do you see the difference between a rendering drawn at real-life scale and one blown up 10 times its original size? (below)

 

 

Yes, of course you do!

 

Even though you don’t see the bathroom wallpaper from the bedroom, I think there’s a nice flow.

 

 

Well, since the wallpaper is only a tiny part of the bathroom, have you selected a bathroom wall color yet? Are you still insisting on it being dark?

 

Ahhh… Yes, to both; I think so. However, it’s time to stop. I will pick this up for Wednesday’s post.

In the meantime, much is happening, and most of it is in and around the kitchen.

 

xo,

 

***Please check out the recently updated HOT SALES!  

The Big Serena & Lily sale is ending at 11:59PM PT on March 26, 2024!

There is now an Amazon link on my home page and below. Thank you for the suggestion!

Please note that I have decided not to create a membership site. However, this website is very expensive to run. To provide this content, I rely on you, the kind readers of my blog, to use my affiliate links whenever possible for items you need and want. There is no extra charge to you. The vendor you’re purchasing from pays me a small commission.

To facilitate this, some readers have asked me to put

A link to Amazon.com is on my home page.

Please click the link before items go into your shopping cart. Some people save their purchases in their “save for later folder.” Then, if you remember, please come back and click my Amazon link, and then you’re free to place your orders. While most vendor links have a cookie that lasts a while, Amazon’s cookies only last up to 24 hours.

Thank you so much!

I very much appreciate your help and support!