The first step when settling into a new space is always to get the colors right.
If you’re changing your wall color, be sure to place your paint samples in the right spots around your house. Picking your wall color instantly becomes so much easier.
It is impossible to get a feel for a room, for what furniture from your old space will work, and for what pieces you will need to add, if the colors surrounding you aren’t what you want in the end.
Our new house is currently very warm (think lots of yellows!) where as I am a cool(ish) tone kind of girl, so right away, I was on the hunt for the perfect shade of white.
Yes, there will be accent walls with darker colors (and maybe even some wall paper!) but for now, setting the tone for all of that to come later is what’s important.
IMPORTANT NOTE
See what I did there? I admitted that I don’t know where the accent walls are going to be or what they’re going to look like yet..and that’s ok! Don’t get yourself overwhelmed trying to make all those decisions right away. Get the overall color right, live in your space, and give yourself time to get a feel for where the accent walls should be, and what they should look like!
I narrowed my search down to two colors, both from Sherwin Williams…Alabaster and Pure White. They are very similar…alabaster being a little warmer, pure white a little cooler.
I painted swatches on the walls in LOTS of rooms, and covered all my bases…sunny spots, shady spots, and everywhere in between. It is always important to live with the colors for a day or two and really notice how their tones change with the sun. You may like a color in the morning light, but not in the afternoon shadows.
On top of that, you also want to really look at how the colors work with things in your house that won’t be changing any time soon. For me, that was my trim color and my kitchen, in general.
The cabinets in my kitchen are off white (not my first choice in color) but they are in perfect condition, and so I can’t bring myself to paint them. The backsplash has some brown tones in it (again, not my preference) but same thing…changing that is not anywhere on the to-do list.
All of this to say, I need to pick a color that is going to work with the colors I already have, but also be flexible enough to stick around as I slowly change this house over from warm tones to cool.
Oh wait…and I want to find this color just by painting some quick samples on the wall. I don’t want to tape. I don’t want to put the paint right up against the cabinets and need to have a super steady hand.
I want to do all of this just with some easy squares I quickly put up on the wall in a matter of just a minute or two.
How do I do this, and compare the paints with the colors that are sticking around? Take a peek at my quick demo video below. I’ll give you a hint…change your perspective!
See how easy that was? Placing your paint samples in the right spots is so important!
Remember, you are looking for the following things when you are deciding where to place them:
- Full sun and lots of light
- All shade or no natural sunlight
- Perspectives that allow you to compare the paint colors with fixtures in your home that aren’t changing
So what do you think I went with?? The Alabaster or Pure White?
I’ll put my choice down the comments so I don’t ruin the surprise!
XOXO,
Nikki, In Stitches
PS…Remember that time Sherwin Williams saved me when I was knee deep in DIYtherapy? They matched my color perfectly, and saved me from repainting an entire room!
I went with Alabaster! Paint goes up Monday morning!
Last night I chose alabaster from the paint cans. Today I went with Pure White from the can samples. You never get a true color on your phone or Internet! Both colors are beautiful! As I voted for both!😂
Ha! Mary, when I first got the samples, I thought for sure I wanted the Pure White…the little Alabaster card from the paint store looked really ivory to me. But when I put the paint on the wall, I fell in love with the Alabaster…the Pure White ended up being too bright! You’re right…you can never tell!
I just painted alabaster in my new kitchen and living room! Can’t wait to see the after pictures
Kat, I knew you had great taste!!