I’ve watched a lot of your videos in the last month as I am trying to repaint ALL of the interior of my home. I have learned things I can’t imagine being taught anywhere else so thank you. Your channel should have more views and subscribers. People are missing out. So here I am commenting hoping to effect your views and get you in front of more people like me who need education and guidance. Thank you for the wonderful content.
@@marysheamahiques3712 when I made this comment over 1 year ago the channel had far less subscribers and this video had far less views. I watch, comment and subscribe to creators I think deserve and need support. Doing so also gets their channel and content in front of more people. So your comment to my comment has in turn helped them as well. I hope you found value in their content as I did.
This is perfect, I’ve been trying to explain wanting a light color that has depth not just being light. Wish more painters were as thoughtful as you about color rather than just painting when I ask for suggestions.
dark colors can be very surprising! my son picked chrome green in eggshell (LRV 5!!) which is extremely dark (i was a little scared painting the entire small room that color as well as he wanted black trim also. With good accents!) however it’s “bright” and makes the room feel calm and sophisticated not at all dark, cave like or depressing! I was shocked how it feels.
Can I start with a huge MAHALO! You have become quite the daily conversation in my home these last few weeks. I am remodeling my entire home so painting is right around the corner. I have bought a few (SW & Benji) samples and learned that YOU WERE and ARE !00% RIGHT about "lighting". It's imperative to bring the colors home. The art of elimination began to happen with colors I thought I was going to love. Lighting and LRV matter. I live in Hawaii and picking colors for Island homes can be so up and down. I am going for cool, pastel colors with some neutrality. Hope I do good. Thanks to you I have prevented some major "Don't do this". Sending you a warm and cool Aloha! Thank you again.
I have a large north facing fam. room. White walls looked terrible ( caused dark shadows). Tried gray, antique white and other neutrals & all looked drab.l didn't want yellow. Ended up with light baby blue( old sw color called " ballet slipper") which looks great. Not a popular color now but it was all that worked. I have white sofas & lots of white crown moulding plus a khaki seagrass rug.
Alabaster is ok but I love Swiss Coffee, its beautiful against grays. I used eggshell swiss coffee and kendell charcoal on my vanity in my bathroom with no windows, it came out beautiful. I was surprised
All of the directional info on rooms and what will most likely work best for paint in said rooms is something I am interested in! I am going to be painting my whole house soon so all the advice I can get, especially from someone so knowledgeable, is very welcome.
I had old very darkened knotty pine walls in my dining and living rooms. After doing everything else I could to lighten the room- replacing windows, painting the trim white, light colored furniture, etc. So I filled the knotholes, primed with stain blocking kilz, and painted the pine Navajo white, with bright white trim, and leaving a bit of the wood on the mantel and beams and shelves. A huge hassle, but I am happier every time I go in there. The walls still have the three dimensional quality- this was pine planks, not flat panelling.
I was going to comment, yes please post videos for North facing rooms and west facing rooms and... Well a quick shows me you already did! Thanks so much for providing incredible information 🌟Soooo helpful!
This came just in time for me. I'm having a small cottage built and I noticed too late that the sunlight doesn't get in because of the tree's foliage blocking it. I'm using super white for all the woodwork but I had no idea what color to use to brighten it.
Thank you for this video! You’re a gem! My north-facing den has windows, but they’re overshadowed by my balcony. I’d been considering a high-gloss or high-sheen flavour of Salamander, since there’s no LRV in the world that’ll make my little jewel-box of a den look airy and expansive, so I might as well try to make it look expensive lol Good to know I’m not totally crazy for choosing dark shades in a low-light room!
I bought a townhouse and the first floor was so dark, after adding a lot of lights to the living room, it still feels depressing. Then I realized it was the paint, and I asked the seller, the color was Fossil by Benjamin Moore. That’s why I felt like I live in a cave. Then I painted my entire first floor in High Reflective White by Sherwin Williams, it is slightly warmer than Chantilly Lace with a higher LRV. I would say it made a night and day difference. Sometimes I walk to some areas during the day and I was like wow this is bright here.
@@OGCJ10 I painted the walls first and it was already very bright. Then I painted the ceiling and the crown molding to this color afterwards. My ceiling was already a very bright color previously so it didn’t make a big difference but it definitely helped with making the living room more cohesive since they are now the same color. I actually started panting my doors to this color yesterday haha. What a coincidence. I felt the doors were too dark compared to the walls, they look a bit weird.
@@OGCJ10 I didn’t paint the baseboards because I felt that was too much work, I have darker color floors so a slightly darker baseboard actually acts as a transition imo. But I’m sure it will look good if I pain the baseboards as well
Would like all four please...and how the different light reacts with undertones. I tried Balboa Mist in a west facing room with descent natural light, but I found it looking pink/purple. I tried London Fog as well and it looks way darker than swatch..ugh.. also its so hard to recognise undertones in paint, but thats why we have you James, please shed light on us mere mortals🙂
I think undertones are simply the hue of the color, which should be easy enough to look up or detect with a color meter. You can also get familiar with what extremely light or dark shades of each hue look like. Forever example, Farmhouse Vernacular breaks down some good examples in her Color Theory 101 video. th-cam.com/video/Kgy03j6VfIQ/w-d-xo.htmlm45s I think James agreed with this in a previous thread, but I’m all ears if he’s up to clarifying.
I’m having the same issue with Balboa Mist right now! Did you land on a better color? Instead of this “warm gray” I’m considering trying a “tan that leans gray” instead. Something like SW Natural Linen. Would love to hear if you found a winner!
@K4 Climate I landed on Pale Oak and it frankly doesn't look like any of the images I have seen online. But I do quite like it. In the summer it has a very soft taupe coming through the day, but I have a huge tree completely covering the window and the walls pick up on that as the green tones it down. In the winter I have lots of cool light because I have Western exposure (and in the UK it's pretty much like that 9 months of the year) so the grey is dominant. Pale oak is great for me as I do not get any if the purple undertones in Balboa Mist.
@@deedots2878 thank you for sharing that! I’ve got the Pale Oak Samplize sample too 😂 Same situation here with the greenery just outside. It’s beautiful but adds an extra element to the paint selection for sure! Thanks again for your reply :)
Great video, thank you. A show(s) outlining all window directions would be so appreciated. I very much struggle with colour choices, my home is semi-detached, with large East facing windows in the front living room, medium North Facing on the side (with the house next door being a faded red brick), and finally it has a medium sized West window in the rear (my bedroom). Sigh. Lol.
I know this post is few months old, but I’m just now seeing it. Love your channel. I learn so much. Took a break from painting-too hot here-so will start again in Fall. Got my stairwell, hall color picked thanks to you!
Can you review colors for north facing exposure? I made the mistake of painting my townhouse kitchen panda white SW because I felt the windsor greige SW was too dark.
I live in a 90 year old farmhouse (with a large 70s era addition,) which was originally my grandparents' home. The living room and adjacent dining room faces east, with three medium sized windows, a front door and a red brick fireplace. The walls are badly in need of paint and minor repairs, but the oak floors are still good. I really love Aegean Teal. Is it light enough for rooms that are in shadow after 10 a.m.?
So, another shallow wardrobe comment from me: your sweater is awesome. It feels very appropriate to your content, and you’ve ditched that distracting Under Armour logo. 10/10!
Thank you, thank you, thank you! On top of all the other factors, choosing color for my dark room is nightmarish. Thank you for sheding some 'light' on the subject :-). Love and watch ALL your videos, thanks so much!!!
Which's the best Benjamin White for a cozy elegant Tuscan Spanish home in the warm tones ? I just became one of your biggest fans IM IN!!!! You are amazing with your knowledge 👏👏👏👏✨
I always use alabaster white as my ceiling white and have done for years. it’s just so much more interesting than a flat primer looking white on the ceiling.
Please review red colors. I want to paint above the chair rail in my dining room BM Hot Tamale; and the trim and above the chair rail Dove White. I love bright colors and I have been living with builder’s white for far too long. Trying also to determine what color to paint the foyer (next to the dining room) and living room (across the foyer from the dining room) so that they do not clash.
Stick to maybe 74-80 LRV to lighten up dark rooms, unless darker walls seem within the flow but in that case still have light and warm touches throughout. Got it! Thanks!! Been picking colors for a basement room with 2 small windows though sunshine does come in them.
Hi there, Thanks for posting this video as I am having this issue. Your videos are a wealth of information and I appreciate that. I finally narrowed it down to 3 colors, White Duck, Shoji White and Alabaster. Although I liked all 3, White Duck and Shoji White still made the walls look muddy or dingy. I have an open concept and ended up going with Alabaster in my kitchen and then darkening it 50% for the living room. It gave a warmer feel in the living room by darkening it. The color looks bright, open and airy but I never thought I would have white paint in my house. I am not sure that I am sold on white yet since I am so used to warmer, beige colors. I originally wanted to go with a greige but nothing worked as they were too dark and dingy in my house. Next, I have to paint the bedrooms and I am looking for a tan, NOT beige that leans gray. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks
Hi there, I like Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan SW 7531 and Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan. But, I would test them out, as the sometimes green/gray undertones in tans might present in a way that doesn't work for you.
Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely consider and research them. During research, I have also found SW Natural Tan and SW Natural Linen. Those LRV's seem like they might work. What opinion do you have for those? Is either one a better option?
Wow, this sums up so eloquently about 100 different blogs I’ve read through! Lol. Great video! Idk if you can answer this, but you said Alabaster could work in a dim room...I saw the video you made comparing that color to White Dove, so what about White Dove?
Please help! Would City Loft be a good choice for a dimly lit room? My condo has some angled walls that create shadows and my windows are recessed behind a enclosed deck and it faces east. My furniture is crisp white Scandinavian furniture and floors are blonde birch.
i have two west facing rooms and one i painted with BM rain drop on roses which is beautiful with sun set coming in. The other one i painted with BM white dove and it looks so yellow and dingy. I need help to find a warm color that does not look yellow. I am wondering if BM oyster is going to look nice?
My house has a large west facing window in the living room. That room opens into the dining room area (which opens into the kitchen) that has a large east facing slider, but there are trees there providing a fair amount of shade. I've painted the walls with Benjamin Moore OC-27 Balboa Mist with white trim. I do really like the look, but it's kind of humdrum at the same time. Figuring what sort of color or accent wall to change it to is going to be a challenge.
I LOVE your videos!! You are so knowledgeable and easy to listen to. I have been dealing with a north facing room that gets little sunlight and is paneled (triple whamy.) I see you suggested Mascarpone for northern exposure (which I love), but you suggest keeping the LRV at 80 or under for darker rooms. The LRV of Mascarpone is much higher than that. Can you touch on what to do if you have both dark AND northern exposure? And do the "rules" change if you are dealing with millwork such as paneling that is adjacent to rooms with wainscotting? Should that all just be treated as trim for flow? I would love for you to impart your wisdom on those of us dealing with multiple different issues at the same time.
Thank you Jim! You know rules are meant to be broken lol. The truth is every space is unique and there are unique factors at play. I share what I tend to do but there are always exceptions. Your best bet is always to try out the paint and see if it still "reads" the way you want it to. Your wainscotting doesn't have to be treated like trim. You could also treat it like an accent wall. Up to you!
Hi James! Ty for your awesome videos concerning everything paint and design! I closed my house purchase just as the pandemic began. I am going to open up a wall to connect my livingroom with my front hall and kitchen. My 2 large windows plus a soon to be installed full glass front door are south-facing. The fully open main floor will have light from an east and a west window. My floors are warm, dark brown engineered hardwood with reddish/peachy undertones. In the kitchen, I have a floor to ceiling [8.5 ft] X 5 ft wide X 3.5 ft deep 'chimney' type structure clad in offwhite, taupe and greige-brown stone bricks that houses plumbing and my black wall oven. Do I need a light colour with brown and red undertones? The BM whites with red undertones are actually pink..which I don't like. Any suggestions for this scenario?
Could you give recommendation for public restroom paint lrv level for canned light no natural light? Would Emerald Isle BM be ok to use as half wall accent and then Hawthorne yellow on all other walls? Or are there other similar colors in BM that might be better to consider based on only canned lighting?
I have a townhouse oriented east-west with the living room to the west and den/breakfast area facing east. There is the addition of a covered patio that leads into a carport. This makes the den so dark after about 10 am. The previous owner painted every room a sort of yellowish tan that I do like but I also want some variety. The trim is white as are doors. I’m looking at Swiss Coffee for the demand maybe even the living room. I will have to see how it looks. I would also love something that deals with early 1980s design elements that one just can’t afford to renovate at the moment. Lol. I did rip out the porch railing that was dividing the living room from the dining room (complete with turned wood columns) but there are a few other things that I am having to live with for a bit. What can we do with paint to disguise those architectural elements?
I have 2 red walls 2 brilliant white Orange picture railing and upper wall (all 4) And a blue ceiling I'm looking to paint the ceiling maybe yellow? Or a warmer off white colour but I don't want the space to feel to bright
This is great! I’m thinking of doubling down on dark for a windowless music room. Which color did you use here? I really like it. If this seems like more of a green/gray, what would recommend for a dark blueish gray?
I really need help w our south facing rooms. Its the kitchen, dining and living rm w floor to ceiling windows. We want 1 color for this space. We currently have grey/brown flooring and the walls were painted agreeable grey 😬. Bc of all the light its very washed out and cold feeling. Wed love a beige or taupe color natural color but need it darker without an orange undertone:/ we have navy blue drapes and a taupe colored couch. This is ALOT 😂 sorry....i saw u said leave a comment at the end and ivebeen searching for months between bm and sw paints lol
Hello your channel has great information. I need to repaint my home, I’m considering creamy off whites, my house faces SE and I am overwhelmed understanding what fits best. Can you do a video covering home orientation and paint selection. Thank you!
Painting a condo with lots of windows facing west or north. In the main area 7 windows all facing north. I thought about White Dove but now I'm not sure.
I just painted our guest bathroom in Evening Shadow (blue/gray color) and the cabinets, doors & trim in Alabaster White. Both colors from Sherwin Williams. I have received compliments and requests on the color. I bought a sample to apply on the wall before painting. I also replaced the fluorescent lightning with LED which made a huge impact. Good luck with your project.
my house is very dark. my kitchen and family room are just one room in all. With this being said I really would like a splash of color and the only color that's consistently on my mind is orange. I really would like gray floors but all my major furniture is brown so I think a brown floor will be better than gray. I'm a little lost and need suggestions...
I am still stuck with picking a color since we moved in in January. Country home. However master bedroom is in the basement. We have 2 small windows for lighting but it is just too dark and boring. We have lower ceiling in the basement and one wall is a brick wall w a fireplace. A huge space but I can't settle on a color. A bright yellow keeps drawing me but just not sure. Any ideas would b appreciated.
I like the idea of doubling down on dark and moody. But if my dark room doubles as a daytime office, can I pull off dark and moody without putting myself to sleep during the workday?
I live in a town home with no windows in the bathrooms. My powder Room and spare bathroom actually came out looking pretty good. But I'm stumped in my master bath. I'm actually thinking about a darker blue like a blue black in that bathroom. Any thoughts
North-facing living room with south-facing adjacent dining room. I think shoji white might work in both spaces, which appear as one large room. Thank you!
I have that issue but I chose a terrible color for my space. North living room looks darker purple gray and south living and kitchen area look much warmer and even a bit greenish on one wall I hate it so much. Did you paint yet? I’m thinking alabaster for the north side (it looks good on the sample) and a different color like stonington in south.
Both sides are currently painted in Benjamin Moore abalone and look like they’re two completely different ones :( especially when they’re right across from each other.
I'd go with stunning light fixtures, nowadays they also have coving and skirting with recess for lighting strips, can be a striking combo with a nice deep colour.
Hi James...I would love to know your opinion on taking a darker color i love and making it lighter...25%..50% sometimes there is no lighter version available. Do you think this is a good option that can work out to lighten a favorite color? Thanks (love all your advice and clarity)
Would ballet white work as a whole house color for a home that is dark. There are 100+ old trees in the front side and back yard that I don’t want to cut down.
Thanks for this video. I have gone back and forth on so many colors now 🤯🤯🤯 My daughter thinks I should go with agreeable gray throughout the main portion of the house (in eggshell) but can eggshell be used in the kitchen? I wish I could afford some simple advice from an interior decorator, but I cannot. I appreciate all your help in the videos.
East facing please. And, I have a gong that is purple which will be the focus of my room...wondering about how to compliment that pop of color that I love with paint?
Hi Mystic, you actually have a lot of options for purple. The obvious ones, are greens, yellows and oranges. But there are a lot more options, turquoise, red, charcoal, light grey. Lots to choose from. Do you have colors that you tend to gravitate towards?
@@thepaintpeople After watching most of your Color videos last night, I woke this am visioning about the purple color for the focus wall of "Shadow 2117-30" Benjamin Moore and then for the other three walls "Hint of Violet 2114-60." On the focus wall I will have a custom built-in open backed book shelving unit that the center of will hold the purple-ish Gong and crystal bowls below so I can play them. This room is my office and I do energy healing work such as Polarity and Craniosacral Therapy. One of my Crystal bowls is a gorgeous Orange. I love purple and Orange. New question: I would like to do a rustic flooring of Slate/Limestone (natural shaped uncut)with a sand color grout. I intended for the focused wall unit to be white (with purple backing). With this eclectic zen vibe, how white should the wall unit be? Any suggestions? Gratefully.
What are your thoughts on Navy Blue? 🤣 If you go with a very high quality paint, it should help with coverage, although you may need a third coat in certain cases, especially if you’re not using a primer.
Thanks for your video and great advices. I'm looking for BM analogue to SW Shoji White. Could you advise? Encycolorpedia says "Featherstone" but to me it have more red in undertones compared to Shoji White. Also I thought to try BM Portland Gray but lavender undertones somewhat bothers me. I guess I like Shoji White more. Btw nice website too.
I'm trying to pick a color for my basement. I'm thinking light grey or light griege. What are the best colors that won't make my basement look too dingy?
In our dark, 1960’s semi-open floorplan, we chose a custom color which is close to BM Dark Linen without any black or grey. Haven’t found a note gif note color in BM. I’ve I suspected it may be close to SW Pearl Onion. The ceiling is BM Seahorse, which looks a little better in the S spaces, but plays well with our wall color everywhere. Both finishes are eggshell.
I need some help my neighbors put up a privacy fence and then painted it this horrid orange color. At dusk the sun reflects off of that orange and through my back door turning my entire open concept downstairs….. pumpkin orange. Usually this is a pretty dark room, do you have any tips for how to handle this? we are going to put up curtains for this door but it’s not a fix all and we don’t want to keep them closed all of the time.
Oh wow! Hmm...what color are the walls now? I'm assuming you don't want to re-paint? Trying to think if cool light bulbs in the space might neutralize the orange?
@@thepaintpeople hi! Wow thanks for replying! Our current paint is the basic builder paint super light beige color. We are definitely going to paint we were just told to wait a year to let the house settle some before we painted and we just hit that mark. Is there a way to tone it down with paint? I ask because my fear is that we paint and the orange still ruins it.
My house is built like a submarine. You can throw a baseball from the front entryway out the back door. From front to back, it goes giant living/dining area, kitchen, back “foyer” that leads outside. I have no idea what the hell to do with it. Edit: very little natural light, too. And there's a stairwell up to 2nd floor about halfway down the left wall. Lol. It's beyond my understanding. A video on this would be phenomenal
Hey my body is built like a submarine but we can thank Covid for that lol. What's the vibe you're going for? How do you want to feel in your space? Any style inspiration?
I gave this a thumbs up but i was disappointed in this video. You didn't discuss much actual colors at all, which are lighter, darker, what tones they have like yo do in other videos. A video on indoor lighting might be good too.
My kitchen and combined dining/living room area have ample windows on the S, W and N. But because of the LED patio string lights that adorn every structure across the road from my house I had dark reflective film applied to the windows. Unfortunately, dark reflective film does nothing to diminish the piercing white lights that burn 24/7. I will do not and will not have window treatments. The interior lighting bounces back from the reflective film depending on the degree of illumination and the height of the lighting. Have you consulted on paint colors for such a situation?
I’ve watched a lot of your videos in the last month as I am trying to repaint ALL of the interior of my home. I have learned things I can’t imagine being taught anywhere else so thank you. Your channel should have more views and subscribers. People are missing out. So here I am commenting hoping to effect your views and get you in front of more people like me who need education and guidance. Thank you for the wonderful content.
Thank you so much Brenda! Such kind words! 😊😊
I agree with Brenda. I needed this video so badly. Thank you
He’s very knowledgeable and teaches well!
UM um ummmm 87,000
Any a lot??!??!
@@marysheamahiques3712 when I made this comment over 1 year ago the channel had far less subscribers and this video had far less views. I watch, comment and subscribe to creators I think deserve and need support. Doing so also gets their channel and content in front of more people. So your comment to my comment has in turn helped them as well. I hope you found value in their content as I did.
This is perfect, I’ve been trying to explain wanting a light color that has depth not just being light. Wish more painters were as thoughtful as you about color rather than just painting when I ask for suggestions.
I want this channel to blow up so badly. Great synthesis, easily communicated, and awesome examples! Awesome job yall!
Same. When friends ask me for help with paint colors, I always send them a few of their videos as a primer.
💯👏
dark colors can be very surprising! my son picked chrome green in eggshell (LRV 5!!) which is extremely dark (i was a little scared painting the entire small room that color as well as he wanted black trim also. With good accents!) however it’s “bright” and makes the room feel calm and sophisticated not at all dark, cave like or depressing! I was shocked how it feels.
Can I start with a huge MAHALO! You have become quite the daily conversation in my home these last few weeks. I am remodeling my entire home so painting is right around the corner. I have bought a few (SW & Benji) samples and learned that YOU WERE and ARE !00% RIGHT about "lighting". It's imperative to bring the colors home. The art of elimination began to happen with colors I thought I was going to love. Lighting and LRV matter. I live in Hawaii and picking colors for Island homes can be so up and down. I am going for cool, pastel colors with some neutrality. Hope I do good. Thanks to you I have prevented some major "Don't do this". Sending you a warm and cool Aloha! Thank you again.
I have a large north facing fam. room. White walls looked terrible ( caused dark shadows). Tried gray, antique white and other neutrals & all looked drab.l didn't want yellow. Ended up with light baby blue( old sw color called " ballet slipper") which looks great. Not a popular color now but it was all that worked. I have white sofas & lots of white crown moulding plus a khaki seagrass rug.
Alabaster is ok but I love Swiss Coffee, its beautiful against grays. I used eggshell swiss coffee and kendell charcoal on my vanity in my bathroom with no windows, it came out beautiful. I was surprised
All of the directional info on rooms and what will most likely work best for paint in said rooms is something I am interested in! I am going to be painting my whole house soon so all the advice I can get, especially from someone so knowledgeable, is very welcome.
I had old very darkened knotty pine walls in my dining and living rooms. After doing everything else I could to lighten the room- replacing windows, painting the trim white, light colored furniture, etc. So I filled the knotholes, primed with stain blocking kilz, and painted the pine Navajo white, with bright white trim, and leaving a bit of the wood on the mantel and beams and shelves. A huge hassle, but I am happier every time I go in there. The walls still have the three dimensional quality- this was pine planks, not flat panelling.
Enjoy these, thank you. It would help a lot to see realistic looking rooms rather than magazine perfection.
Good point Michaela, something to consider!
I was going to comment, yes please post videos for North facing rooms and west facing rooms and... Well a quick shows me you already did! Thanks so much for providing incredible information 🌟Soooo helpful!
Woohoo! Happy I could help! ;)
Hey James thanks for your videos!! If using Alabaster or Shoji white for the wall colour what colour trim would you use?
This came just in time for me. I'm having a small cottage built and I noticed too late that the sunlight doesn't get in because of the tree's foliage blocking it. I'm using super white for all the woodwork but I had no idea what color to use to brighten it.
Thank you for this video! You’re a gem! My north-facing den has windows, but they’re overshadowed by my balcony. I’d been considering a high-gloss or high-sheen flavour of Salamander, since there’s no LRV in the world that’ll make my little jewel-box of a den look airy and expansive, so I might as well try to make it look expensive lol
Good to know I’m not totally crazy for choosing dark shades in a low-light room!
I bought a townhouse and the first floor was so dark, after adding a lot of lights to the living room, it still feels depressing. Then I realized it was the paint, and I asked the seller, the color was Fossil by Benjamin Moore. That’s why I felt like I live in a cave. Then I painted my entire first floor in High Reflective White by Sherwin Williams, it is slightly warmer than Chantilly Lace with a higher LRV. I would say it made a night and day difference. Sometimes I walk to some areas during the day and I was like wow this is bright here.
Did you paint the ceilings and baseboards the same color as well ?
@@OGCJ10 I painted the walls first and it was already very bright. Then I painted the ceiling and the crown molding to this color afterwards. My ceiling was already a very bright color previously so it didn’t make a big difference but it definitely helped with making the living room more cohesive since they are now the same color. I actually started panting my doors to this color yesterday haha. What a coincidence. I felt the doors were too dark compared to the walls, they look a bit weird.
@@OGCJ10 I didn’t paint the baseboards because I felt that was too much work, I have darker color floors so a slightly darker baseboard actually acts as a transition imo. But I’m sure it will look good if I pain the baseboards as well
Would like all four please...and how the different light reacts with undertones. I tried Balboa Mist in a west facing room with descent natural light, but I found it looking pink/purple. I tried London Fog as well and it looks way darker than swatch..ugh.. also its so hard to recognise undertones in paint, but thats why we have you James, please shed light on us mere mortals🙂
I think undertones are simply the hue of the color, which should be easy enough to look up or detect with a color meter. You can also get familiar with what extremely light or dark shades of each hue look like. Forever example, Farmhouse Vernacular breaks down some good examples in her Color Theory 101 video. th-cam.com/video/Kgy03j6VfIQ/w-d-xo.htmlm45s
I think James agreed with this in a previous thread, but I’m all ears if he’s up to clarifying.
I’m having the same issue with Balboa Mist right now! Did you land on a better color? Instead of this “warm gray” I’m considering trying a “tan that leans gray” instead. Something like SW Natural Linen. Would love to hear if you found a winner!
@K4 Climate I landed on Pale Oak and it frankly doesn't look like any of the images I have seen online. But I do quite like it. In the summer it has a very soft taupe coming through the day, but I have a huge tree completely covering the window and the walls pick up on that as the green tones it down. In the winter I have lots of cool light because I have Western exposure (and in the UK it's pretty much like that 9 months of the year) so the grey is dominant. Pale oak is great for me as I do not get any if the purple undertones in Balboa Mist.
@@deedots2878 thank you for sharing that! I’ve got the Pale Oak Samplize sample too 😂 Same situation here with the greenery just outside. It’s beautiful but adds an extra element to the paint selection for sure! Thanks again for your reply :)
@@AlexMercadoGo i want to paint my bedroom with alabaster, what would be the sheen of the walls and the ceiling ?
Thank you so much for explaining these colors so happy with your view of paint wall colors
Great video, thank you. A show(s) outlining all window directions would be so appreciated. I very much struggle with colour choices, my home is semi-detached, with large East facing windows in the front living room, medium North Facing on the side (with the house next door being a faded red brick), and finally it has a medium sized West window in the rear (my bedroom). Sigh. Lol.
What are some ideas for the inevitable and darkish “hallways” that lead to staircases? This is my nemesis. The hallways !!! 😉
Second this! Especially a mix of wall and hallway door colors
I know this post is few months old, but I’m just now seeing it. Love your channel. I learn so much. Took a break from painting-too hot here-so will start again in Fall. Got my stairwell, hall color picked thanks to you!
Can you review colors for north facing exposure? I made the mistake of painting my townhouse kitchen panda white SW because I felt the windsor greige SW was too dark.
I'm moving into a basement apartment with only 7 small windows. Great info for me me. THANK YOU!
I live in a 90 year old farmhouse (with a large 70s era addition,) which was originally my grandparents' home. The living room and adjacent dining room faces east, with three medium sized windows, a front door and a red brick fireplace. The walls are badly in need of paint and minor repairs, but the oak floors are still good. I really love Aegean Teal. Is it light enough for rooms that are in shadow after 10 a.m.?
I needed this video. I'm trying to Reno a basement guestroom with only one small basement window on the (north)west wall.
So, another shallow wardrobe comment from me: your sweater is awesome. It feels very appropriate to your content, and you’ve ditched that distracting Under Armour logo. 10/10!
Interested in colors for South Facing window. We also have a big tree blocking lots light outside of the south facing window.
Thank you, thank you, thank you! On top of all the other factors, choosing color for my dark room is nightmarish. Thank you for sheding some 'light' on the subject :-). Love and watch ALL your videos, thanks so much!!!
Which's the best Benjamin White for a cozy elegant Tuscan Spanish home in the warm tones ? I just became one of your biggest fans IM IN!!!! You are amazing with your knowledge 👏👏👏👏✨
I always use alabaster white as my ceiling white and have done for years. it’s just so much more interesting than a flat primer looking white on the ceiling.
Is alabaster good for room ? And is it more bright than Swiss coffee by Benjamin Moore ?
If a room is naturally dark, just go with that and make it cozy.
Double down on it. That could definitely be the answer in some cases!
I agree 100%. Makes the ceilings feel higher too!
YES! I was wanting to do shoji white!! I was praying you would say it!!🙌🏻thanks!!
Thanks Buddy for addressing this challenge!
Thank you so much I really enjoy this...I'm about to paint my bedroom and the questions I had you answered so again Thank you
Do you have any Benjamin Moore off white suggestions around 80 lrv that would look nice in a house that doesn’t have too many windows??
Please review red colors. I want to paint above the chair rail in my dining room BM Hot Tamale; and the trim and above the chair rail Dove White. I love bright colors and I have been living with builder’s white for far too long. Trying also to determine what color to paint the foyer (next to the dining room) and living room (across the foyer from the dining room) so that they do not clash.
Stick to maybe 74-80 LRV to lighten up dark rooms, unless darker walls seem within the flow but in that case still have light and warm touches throughout. Got it! Thanks!! Been picking colors for a basement room with 2 small windows though sunshine does come in them.
And some people like a basement to feel cozier and might go with something darker, it all depends on the feel of the space you want to create!
Hi there, Thanks for posting this video as I am having this issue. Your videos are a wealth of information and I appreciate that. I finally narrowed it down to 3 colors, White Duck, Shoji White and Alabaster. Although I liked all 3, White Duck and Shoji White still made the walls look muddy or dingy. I have an open concept and ended up going with Alabaster in my kitchen and then darkening it 50% for the living room. It gave a warmer feel in the living room by darkening it. The color looks bright, open and airy but I never thought I would have white paint in my house. I am not sure that I am sold on white yet since I am so used to warmer, beige colors. I originally wanted to go with a greige but nothing worked as they were too dark and dingy in my house. Next, I have to paint the bedrooms and I am looking for a tan, NOT beige that leans gray. Do you have any suggestions? Thanks
Hi there, I like Sherwin Williams Canvas Tan SW 7531 and Benjamin Moore Manchester Tan. But, I would test them out, as the sometimes green/gray undertones in tans might present in a way that doesn't work for you.
Thanks for the suggestions. I will definitely consider and research them. During research, I have also found SW Natural Tan and SW Natural Linen. Those LRV's seem like they might work. What opinion do you have for those? Is either one a better option?
Wow, this sums up so eloquently about 100 different blogs I’ve read through! Lol. Great video! Idk if you can answer this, but you said Alabaster could work in a dim room...I saw the video you made comparing that color to White Dove, so what about White Dove?
I would love to see a video on north facing (lots of light light) foyer colors.
Please help! Would City Loft be a good choice for a dimly lit room? My condo has some angled walls that create shadows and my windows are recessed behind a enclosed deck and it faces east. My furniture is crisp white Scandinavian furniture and floors are blonde birch.
I'm also wondering about City Loft for a room with angled walls and low light. Let us know how it worked out for you
i have two west facing rooms and one i painted with BM rain drop on roses which is beautiful with sun set coming in. The other one i painted with BM white dove and it looks so yellow and dingy. I need help to find a warm color that does not look yellow. I am wondering if BM oyster is going to look nice?
I agree, dark nook like rooms are hard to work with, but something like a two story living room with a wall of windows has its own challenges.
Oh definitely!
Love this guy!
Hello I’m trying to build a salon in the basement and need some advice on what color bulb would be best for salon? Thank you
My house has a large west facing window in the living room. That room opens into the dining room area (which opens into the kitchen) that has a large east facing slider, but there are trees there providing a fair amount of shade. I've painted the walls with Benjamin Moore OC-27 Balboa Mist with white trim. I do really like the look, but it's kind of humdrum at the same time. Figuring what sort of color or accent wall to change it to is going to be a challenge.
I LOVE your videos!! You are so knowledgeable and easy to listen to. I have been dealing with a north facing room that gets little sunlight and is paneled (triple whamy.) I see you suggested Mascarpone for northern exposure (which I love), but you suggest keeping the LRV at 80 or under for darker rooms. The LRV of Mascarpone is much higher than that. Can you touch on what to do if you have both dark AND northern exposure? And do the "rules" change if you are dealing with millwork such as paneling that is adjacent to rooms with wainscotting? Should that all just be treated as trim for flow? I would love for you to impart your wisdom on those of us dealing with multiple different issues at the same time.
Thank you Jim! You know rules are meant to be broken lol. The truth is every space is unique and there are unique factors at play. I share what I tend to do but there are always exceptions. Your best bet is always to try out the paint and see if it still "reads" the way you want it to. Your wainscotting doesn't have to be treated like trim. You could also treat it like an accent wall. Up to you!
Hi James! Ty for your awesome videos concerning everything paint and design!
I closed my house purchase just as the pandemic began. I am going to open up a wall to connect my livingroom with my front hall and kitchen. My 2 large windows plus a soon to be installed full glass front door are south-facing. The fully open main floor will have light from an east and a west window.
My floors are warm, dark brown engineered hardwood with reddish/peachy undertones. In the kitchen, I have a floor to ceiling [8.5 ft] X 5 ft wide X 3.5 ft deep 'chimney' type structure clad in offwhite, taupe and greige-brown stone bricks that houses plumbing and my black wall oven. Do I need a light colour with brown and red undertones? The BM whites with red undertones are actually pink..which I don't like. Any suggestions for this scenario?
Could you give recommendation for public restroom paint lrv level for canned light no natural light? Would Emerald Isle BM be ok to use as half wall accent and then Hawthorne yellow on all other walls? Or are there other similar colors in BM that might be better to consider based on only canned lighting?
My living room is super exposed to the mid day sun makes it super bright and hot. what color should be best?
I have a townhouse oriented east-west with the living room to the west and den/breakfast area facing east. There is the addition of a covered patio that leads into a carport. This makes the den so dark after about 10 am. The previous owner painted every room a sort of yellowish tan that I do like but I also want some variety. The trim is white as are doors. I’m looking at Swiss Coffee for the demand maybe even the living room. I will have to see how it looks.
I would also love something that deals with early 1980s design elements that one just can’t afford to renovate at the moment. Lol. I did rip out the porch railing that was dividing the living room from the dining room (complete with turned wood columns) but there are a few other things that I am having to live with for a bit. What can we do with paint to disguise those architectural elements?
Wish you would have shown contrasts of whites on wall and trim
I have 2 red walls
2 brilliant white
Orange picture railing and upper wall (all 4)
And a blue ceiling
I'm looking to paint the ceiling maybe yellow? Or a warmer off white colour but I don't want the space to feel to bright
This is great! I’m thinking of doubling down on dark for a windowless music room. Which color did you use here? I really like it. If this seems like more of a green/gray, what would recommend for a dark blueish gray?
I have a question for the opposite end--what paint would you recommend for a home office to minimize reflections onto the computer screen?
I really need help w our south facing rooms. Its the kitchen, dining and living rm w floor to ceiling windows. We want 1 color for this space. We currently have grey/brown flooring and the walls were painted agreeable grey 😬. Bc of all the light its very washed out and cold feeling. Wed love a beige or taupe color natural color but need it darker without an orange undertone:/ we have navy blue drapes and a taupe colored couch. This is ALOT 😂 sorry....i saw u said leave a comment at the end and ivebeen searching for months between bm and sw paints lol
Hello your channel has great information. I need to repaint my home, I’m considering creamy off whites, my house faces SE and I am overwhelmed understanding what fits best. Can you do a video covering home orientation and paint selection. Thank you!
Painting a condo with lots of windows facing west or north. In the main area 7 windows all facing north. I thought about White Dove but now I'm not sure.
Helpful video. I am struggling to find a paint colour for a small windowless basement bathroom. Suggestions other than Alabaster White? Thanks Krys
I just painted our guest bathroom in Evening Shadow (blue/gray color) and the cabinets, doors & trim in Alabaster White. Both colors from Sherwin Williams. I have received compliments and requests on the color. I bought a sample to apply on the wall before painting. I also replaced the fluorescent lightning with LED which made a huge impact. Good luck with your project.
I have dark brown cabinets with a hint of golden color
my house is very dark. my kitchen and family room are just one room in all. With this being said I really would like a splash of color and the only color that's consistently on my mind is orange. I really would like gray floors but all my major furniture is brown so I think a brown floor will be better than gray. I'm a little lost and need suggestions...
Hello again, it's me. Have you heard of a wax treatment that can be applied to painted cabinets or walls to add dimensions?
I am still stuck with picking a color since we moved in in January. Country home. However master bedroom is in the basement. We have 2 small windows for lighting but it is just too dark and boring. We have lower ceiling in the basement and one wall is a brick wall w a fireplace. A huge space but I can't settle on a color. A bright yellow keeps drawing me but just not sure. Any ideas would b appreciated.
What color is the space with the couple it’s looks like lite blue what light grays and blues you recommend
I like the idea of doubling down on dark and moody. But if my dark room doubles as a daytime office, can I pull off dark and moody without putting myself to sleep during the workday?
Great advice, as usual. 👍🏻
I live in a town home with no windows in the bathrooms. My powder Room and spare bathroom actually came out looking pretty good. But I'm stumped in my master bath. I'm actually thinking about a darker blue like a blue black in that bathroom. Any thoughts
My whole appartment is facing west. What nutral and accent colours should I use so it looks bright but not borring ;)
North-facing living room with south-facing adjacent dining room. I think shoji white might work in both spaces, which appear as one large room. Thank you!
Oh.....the living room is quite dark, as there are two windows and lots of trees all around the house.
I have that issue but I chose a terrible color for my space. North living room looks darker purple gray and south living and kitchen area look much warmer and even a bit greenish on one wall I hate it so much. Did you paint yet? I’m thinking alabaster for the north side (it looks good on the sample) and a different color like stonington in south.
Both sides are currently painted in Benjamin Moore abalone and look like they’re two completely different ones :( especially when they’re right across from each other.
@@lindat.7520 Have not started the process yet. I like your suggestion and thank you!
My half bath & main hall have NO WINDOWS (including my front door) & therefore, NO NATURAL LIGHT comes through. PLEASE HELP😩!!!
I'd go with stunning light fixtures, nowadays they also have coving and skirting with recess for lighting strips, can be a striking combo with a nice deep colour.
@@deedots2878 that's a great idea!
Hi James...I would love to know your opinion on taking a darker color i love and making it lighter...25%..50% sometimes there is no lighter version available. Do you think this is a good option that can work out to lighten a favorite color? Thanks (love all your advice and clarity)
He has a video about this. Basically, he says to be careful and to get a sample of the resultant color before you buy enough for the room.
Hi, i wonder if there is any similar colour for Alabaster on dulux?
Do you have suggestion on Benjamin Moore ?
Would ballet white work as a whole house color for a home that is dark. There are 100+ old trees in the front side and back yard that I don’t want to cut down.
it can work.
Thanks for this video. I have gone back and forth on so many colors now 🤯🤯🤯 My daughter thinks I should go with agreeable gray throughout the main portion of the house (in eggshell) but can eggshell be used in the kitchen? I wish I could afford some simple advice from an interior decorator, but I cannot. I appreciate all your help in the videos.
PS- What is a good white which can be used with warm or cool colors?
I like Oxford White as a right down the middle white!
East facing please. And, I have a gong that is purple which will be the focus of my room...wondering about how to compliment that pop of color that I love with paint?
Hi Mystic, you actually have a lot of options for purple. The obvious ones, are greens, yellows and oranges. But there are a lot more options, turquoise, red, charcoal, light grey. Lots to choose from. Do you have colors that you tend to gravitate towards?
@@thepaintpeople After watching most of your Color videos last night, I woke this am visioning about the purple color for the focus wall of "Shadow 2117-30" Benjamin Moore and then for the other three walls "Hint of Violet 2114-60." On the focus wall I will have a custom built-in open backed book shelving unit that the center of will hold the purple-ish Gong and crystal bowls below so I can play them. This room is my office and I do energy healing work such as Polarity and Craniosacral Therapy. One of my Crystal bowls is a gorgeous Orange. I love purple and Orange. New question: I would like to do a rustic flooring of Slate/Limestone (natural shaped uncut)with a sand color grout. I intended for the focused wall unit to be white (with purple backing). With this eclectic zen vibe, how white should the wall unit be? Any suggestions? Gratefully.
What colour will you recommend I paint over a black wall?
Ps: I’m not looking for a primer or anything
Just want a simple colour that will cover cover
What are your thoughts on Navy Blue? 🤣 If you go with a very high quality paint, it should help with coverage, although you may need a third coat in certain cases, especially if you’re not using a primer.
i want to paint my bedroom with alabaster, what would be the sheen of the walls and the ceiling ?
Thank you. I really needed this video. Your awesome!
Not as awesome as you!
Thanks for your video and great advices.
I'm looking for BM analogue to SW Shoji White. Could you advise? Encycolorpedia says "Featherstone" but to me it have more red in undertones compared to Shoji White. Also I thought to try BM Portland Gray but lavender undertones somewhat bothers me. I guess I like Shoji White more.
Btw nice website too.
I need help with a North facing bedroom. We wanted hale navy but fear it's too dark.
Go for it!
I'm trying to pick a color for my basement. I'm thinking light grey or light griege. What are the best colors that won't make my basement look too dingy?
I used a yellow leaning cream and with daylight wafers. Its bright and beautiful.
In our dark, 1960’s semi-open floorplan, we chose a custom color which is close to BM Dark Linen without any black or grey. Haven’t found a note gif note color in BM. I’ve I suspected it may be close to SW Pearl Onion. The ceiling is BM Seahorse, which looks a little better in the S spaces, but plays well with our wall color everywhere. Both finishes are eggshell.
My living room is painted latte by Sherwin William's I need to paint my kitchen but have no idea please help!
Can you review Sherwin Williams Braintree?
I need some help my neighbors put up a privacy fence and then painted it this horrid orange color. At dusk the sun reflects off of that orange and through my back door turning my entire open concept downstairs….. pumpkin orange. Usually this is a pretty dark room, do you have any tips for how to handle this? we are going to put up curtains for this door but it’s not a fix all and we don’t want to keep them closed all of the time.
Oh wow! Hmm...what color are the walls now? I'm assuming you don't want to re-paint? Trying to think if cool light bulbs in the space might neutralize the orange?
@@thepaintpeople hi! Wow thanks for replying! Our current paint is the basic builder paint super light beige color. We are definitely going to paint we were just told to wait a year to let the house settle some before we painted and we just hit that mark. Is there a way to tone it down with paint? I ask because my fear is that we paint and the orange still ruins it.
Oh God, can you please come to my house and help me pick out this sh*t?!? It’s soooooo hard. 😆
Love your videos as always but I have to just be random and say, " I'm loving that shirt!
Yaaaaas! Zara baby!
yoooooooo the perfume guy
My house is built like a submarine. You can throw a baseball from the front entryway out the back door. From front to back, it goes giant living/dining area, kitchen, back “foyer” that leads outside. I have no idea what the hell to do with it.
Edit: very little natural light, too. And there's a stairwell up to 2nd floor about halfway down the left wall. Lol. It's beyond my understanding. A video on this would be phenomenal
Hey my body is built like a submarine but we can thank Covid for that lol. What's the vibe you're going for? How do you want to feel in your space? Any style inspiration?
Who makes Shoji White?
Tip: Yellow lightbulbs in dark rooms.
Hot tip Deb! Thanks so much!
I live in the forest. Not a single window in my home gets direct sunlight
Sounds lovely! What colors do you have in your space now?
West facing
I gave this a thumbs up but i was disappointed in this video. You didn't discuss much actual colors at all, which are lighter, darker, what tones they have like yo do in other videos. A video on indoor lighting might be good too.
Great ▪️video 🔲 as usual🔹️◻🔵 ▪️🔲 admire 🌠 your energy🌞🙏 and 🎯👍🔸️ diligence ♡☯️🔹️🟨♥️🌝
I am an eggshell evangelist
I feel the same way about Pearl finish
Me too
My kitchen and combined dining/living room area have ample windows on the S, W and N. But because of the LED patio string lights that adorn every structure across the road from my house I had dark reflective film applied to the windows. Unfortunately, dark reflective film does nothing to diminish the piercing white lights that burn 24/7. I will do not and will not have window treatments. The interior lighting bounces back from the reflective film depending on the degree of illumination and the height of the lighting. Have you consulted on paint colors for such a situation?
South facing single window
OONGA BUNGA WANTS CAVE. BUNGA GETS CAVE. ALL BLACK
yep, it annoys me that many thinks painting pure white = good...
it's soooo boringggggg...!