• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
  • Partner
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy Policy

Southern Hospitality

Adventures in Decorating, Thrifting, Cooking, Fashion & Gardening

  • My Home
  • Categories
    • A+ Blogs
    • My Blog Story
    • Decorating
    • DIY/How-To
    • Family
    • Gardening
    • In the Kitchen
    • My Home Tours
    • Thrifting
    • Travel
  • DIY Gallery
  • Fashion
  • Feature Friday
  • Shop My Home
    • Email
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
    • RSS
    • Twitter

My New House Paint Colors

November 11, 2012 By Rhoda 34 Comments

23 shares
  • Share
  • Tweet

Many of you have asked about the paint colors in my new house, so I’m happy to share.  I’ve shared them as I’ve blogged about each room painted, but this time I’ll put them all together in one post so they can be referenced back to when needed.

When deciding paint colors for my house, I took into consideration all the fabrics and furniture I already owned, knowing what colors were in those fabrics and making sure the colors I chose would flow well and I’m happy to say, my choices have worked well with what I have.  I really think I’m going to enjoy these colors for years to come.  That is, until something new catches my eye, but that won’t be for a long while.

Paint is one of the easiest things to change, as we all know, and changing your mind about a room color is not the end of the world.  If you find out you’ve picked a wrong color, go ahead and change it. You’ll be happy you did!  As they say, it’s only paint.

Painting my main living spaces one neutral color was something that I always had in mind from the beginning. I’ve seen that done in  magazines and loved the look.   Since I chose a very neutral warm white, I also decided that my trim paint would be best served in a bright white for some contrast at least and I’ve been happy with that decision too.

SW Moderate White

It’s hard to capture the real hue of a warm white, but Moderate White by Sherwin Williams is a warm white, not too yellow or peach or gray, but it’s very nice in the daytime and at night.  It has a slight yellow tone to it in daylight, but is really nice and mellow at night.  I didn’t want stark white, but a little warmth in this color plays well with fabrics and is a great backdrop for artwork.  This is the main color from the living room, up the hallway, to the guestroom, and master bedroom.

All trim is done in Sherwin Williams Pure White in Semi-Gloss.  And all of my wall paints are in Satin finish. That’s the finish I always prefer for walls.

Ben Moore Rockport Gray

In the dining room, above the board and batten, I’ve used Benjamin Moore Rockport Gray (mixed in Valspar at Lowes).  It’s a nice warm gray and I love it in this room with my golden tan upholstered dining chairs.

P&L Fennel mixed at Sherwin Williams

My kitchen and office are both done in Fennel by Pratt and Lambert, although I had it mixed at Sherwin Williams, since they too have the formula.  It’s hard to capture the true hue of this vibrant yellowy-green, but it’s somewhere in between these 2 pics.  Sneak peak at my office drapes just hung up this weekend.

Fennel mixed at Sherwin Williams

It is lively and has quite a bit of yellow in it and I love it.

SW Windsor Greige

Hall bathroom is done in Sherwin Williams Windsor Greige, a nice medium Khaki color.

SW Windsor Greige and SW Moderate White

My master bedroom focal wall gingham paint treatment is also Sherwin Williams Windsor Greige mixed with glaze and this color is also in my vanity area.  White color on this wall is also Moderate White.

SW Quietude

In my master bath, I have Sherwin Williams Quietude, a nice watery blue-green.  It’s hard to capture with the lights throwing shadows around the tiny room.

SW Quietude 2

But this is pretty accurate.

SW Comfort Gray and Valspar Fired Earth

Downstairs in the den, I have Sherwin Williams Comfort Gray and it’s a great blue-gray color.

All of my interior doors are painted with Valspar Fired Earth in Satin finish as well.

SW Comfort Gray

Another look at Comfort Gray and Fired Earth.

So, those are my paint colors throughout the house.  I’ve really enjoyed choosing them and maybe these will give you some inspiration as well on picking paint colors that you’ll enjoy living with for a few years.  I don’t plan on changing any of mine for quite awhile.

The best tips I can give for choosing paint colors are these:

  1. Look to your fabrics first for inspiration and don’t try to pick paint colors first.  Let your fabric choices dictate the paint color you choose for a room.  I had that in mind as I chose all of mine.
  2. Satin finish for walls will show the least amount of imperfections except for flat.  Satin is a low luster and gives a nice glow to the walls without being shiny.
  3. Painting your main space with a warm white will allow your furniture and fabrics to really shine and is a great backdrop for artwork.  A non-color will not compete with artwork or accessories and allows your furniture and accessories to show their full potential.
  4. Be aware of undertones in paint before you commit.  Be careful of pink, gray, and green undertones which might not show up unless you look at a color chip and see all the hues of that color down the row.  You can then start to see the undertones much better and avoid a bad tone coming out that you might not want.
  5. Always, always get test quarts of paint first before you commit to those 2 or 3 gallons.  That’s a lesson I’ve learned along the way and still stick to that one!  As some mentioned in the comments, it is a really good idea to paint swatches on the walls or poster boards and look at them throughout the day, in morning, afternoon, and evening light.  It’s amazing how color changes from time of day, room to room and house to house!

That’s my paint colors!  As you can see, I’m going with lots of lightish neutrals (except for my green!)  these days and really liking the lighter and airier feel that they bring to a home. 

I’m still working away on the house, making baby step progress, but it’s coming along slowly but surely.  I will be so glad to get it all in shape again! 

Related


Don't Miss a Post, join my list!

Filed Under: Decorating Ideas, House Renovation 34 Comments

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. ann says

    November 11, 2012 at 5:30 pm

    I love all the colors you chose, You were SMART to chose the colors that matched what you already had. You dd a great Job. Your new home looks Fabulous.

    Reply
  2. Barbara (WA) says

    November 11, 2012 at 5:35 pm

    Thank you so much for putting all this in one post – I love seeing all your choices and reading your tips. I love your new house!

    Reply
  3. Debbie says

    November 11, 2012 at 5:50 pm

    Thanks for this post with the tips. We have a lot of painting to get done in the next year (I hope!) so this will come in handy! I’ve pinned for reference.
    Debbie 🙂

    Reply
  4. Cindy * Daisies & Crazies says

    November 11, 2012 at 5:50 pm

    I love these! My three favorites are Rockport Gray (LOVE), Windsor Greige, and Quietude.

    Thank you. 🙂

    Reply
  5. Lisa says

    November 11, 2012 at 6:05 pm

    Such a pretty color palette! I love how there is a bit of contrast with your trim and neutral wall colors, and how bright and cheerful your space is!

    Reply
  6. Sarah says

    November 11, 2012 at 6:08 pm

    They all look fabulous and are great choices to live with – it is difficult to picture color. If people have time, its also good to paint some swatches on the wall and see how the light affects them during a whole day – this can determine too dark, light, muddled etc. Have a great week! ;-))

    Reply
  7. laura @ the shorehouse says

    November 11, 2012 at 6:10 pm

    I love your whole palette, probably because I gravitate towards the same! Love Quietude – it was in the mix for our new bath but turned out to be just a smidge too blue for the tile (which is green glass. And if I still blogged I’d write about it, lol). Another thing I did when we first got the shore house was to paint small boards and move them around the rooms at different times of day/night so I could see what the colors would look like in all possible lights/angles. Even though the colors are mostly soft and neutral it still made a big difference looking at them that way.

    Reply
  8. Kimm at Reinvented says

    November 11, 2012 at 6:12 pm

    Hi Rhoda! Beautiful colors! I’m so excited for you and will follow every step as you make your house your home! 🙂

    Reply
  9. Rebecca says

    November 11, 2012 at 6:59 pm

    Thanks for posting these! I may have to look again at Windsor Greige. SW’s 40% off sale ends tomorrow; I bought sample cans of Irish Cream and Fragile Beauty for our open architecture living room/foyer, but I think they’re going to be too light. I’ve had SW Beeswax for a very long time; have loved that golden yellow but am ready for something to accomodate any changes in fabric/artwork that I may make.

    Reply
  10. Kathi says

    November 11, 2012 at 10:15 pm

    Hi Rhoda, I’ve been reading for a very long time. Love your new house. What color paint and finish do you use on your ceilings?

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      November 11, 2012 at 11:01 pm

      Thanks, Kathi. I had a painter friend paint my ceilings and he just used a basic ceiling white in a flat finish. Have no idea the color, but usually there is a ceiling white at most paint stores. My ceilings are 70’s style swirly plaster.

  11. Kennesha says

    November 12, 2012 at 3:37 am

    Thanks for sharing Rhoda! I think my absolute favorite is the BJ Rockport Gray!

    Reply
  12. Jo says

    November 12, 2012 at 7:28 am

    Tasteful as always, Rhoda — beautiful neutral palette, calming and pleasant. I know you’re having a ball. It’s good for the spirit to have a new space to decorate. As I’ve lived in Dove Cottage almost 8 years, I re-decorate often, or at the very least rearrange the floor plan much more often than average. Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  13. Debbie says

    November 12, 2012 at 7:35 am

    Thanks, I happen to be painting my new to me home and this post is a big help. Where did you get the shade in your office? I’ve been thinking of something like that for my house somewhere, maybe bedroom?

    Thanks, again. Great post!

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      November 12, 2012 at 8:59 am

      Hi, Debbie, those drapes are from Ikea in my office. Blad is the name.

  14. tara dillard says

    November 12, 2012 at 7:52 am

    Stippled ceilings can be easily sanded ‘mostly’ smooth DIY.

    When painted they look like a plaster ceiling.

    Not a perfect smooth, but at least better than stipple.

    Garden & Be Well, XO Tara

    Reply
    • Rhoda says

      November 12, 2012 at 9:01 am

      Hey,Tara, so I really don’t hate my stippled ceilings that much, considering all the other things I had to deal with. So, no way am I going to sand down all these ceilings. Oh no, not gonna happen! I’m fine with them.

  15. Tammy Killough says

    November 12, 2012 at 8:20 am

    Such a BEAUTIFUL selection. Thanks for sharing the tips too!
    Tammy

    Reply
  16. Barbara says

    November 12, 2012 at 8:35 am

    Your color choices are great! I especially love the “gingham” painted walls. Really sharp!

    Reply
  17. Leslie Stewart says

    November 12, 2012 at 9:19 am

    What beautiful colors! Thanks for sharing your paint tips too!
    Leslie

    Reply
  18. Barbara @ DIY Home Staging Tips says

    November 12, 2012 at 9:26 am

    Rhoda — I applaud your choice of neutrals that still have some personality to them. Your walls look beautiful.

    I prefer flat finish on walls because it’s easier to touch up, whether you need to patch and spot-touch up, or just dab on some paint. However, satin finish will just get more shiny if you try to touch up with paint.

    But if you like the glow of satin paint, I understand your choice. Satin finish does clean easier with soap and water if the paint is good quality, and it sound like you’ve chosen good quality paints.

    Thanks for a great paint roundup post and all your tips.

    Reply
  19. Betsy(@coastal-colors) says

    November 12, 2012 at 9:32 am

    Absolutely gorgeous! Thanks for the tips! Your paint colors are wonderful! Your work on your home is amazing and so inspiring! I know you are enjoying it!

    Reply
  20. Cynthia says

    November 12, 2012 at 9:37 am

    Great colors, love them and great tips.

    Cynthia

    Reply
Newer Comments »

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Recipe Rating




Primary Sidebar

Thanks for stopping by! I'm Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn't have to cost a fortune and I've spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I'm here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won't you join me?

Subscribe

Click Here

Click Here

Subscribe to the Blog
How to Decorate in
Classic Timeless Style
.....without breaking the bank!

House Renovation Journey!

Our Paint Colors

Archives

Categories

Footer Widget Header2

Featured here:

Better Homes and Gardens
Atlanta Magazine
Better Homes and Gardens

Footer

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter
  • Home
  • Contact
  • Partner

Copyright © 2025 · Southern Hospitality · Blog Design by Little Blue Deer
Privacy Policy