“What paint color is that?” is one of the most frequent question I get via emails, messages, and comments. Coming from someone who’s been known to knock on the front door of strangers’ houses to ask about their exterior paint color, I totally get it! For today’s post I’ve gathered together all of the paint colors in our previous home – good paint colors are tough to find and these are all keepers in my book! (post includes affiliate links – see my full disclosure statement {here})
Exterior Paint Color – Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray
The exterior of our home was painted in Benjamin Moore Coventry Gray (flat finish) – I can’t take any credit for choosing it since it was the color of our house when we bought it but I loved it! It’s a great midtone gray that looks a tad darker in person than it comes across in photos. One thing to keep in mind when you’re choosing a paint color for the outside of you home is that it will look lighter once it’s on the house than you’d expect from the paint chip (basically the opposite of how it works for interior paint colors).
Porch Sources: Fall wreath | Doormat | Lantern sconces | Large planters (closest to door) | Urn planters | Set of black lanterns
Home Office Paint Color – Benjamin Moore Nightfall
Office Sources: Faux fiddle leaf fig tree (similar) | Console is thrifted | Rug (similar) | Semi flush mount ceiling light | Elephant art print | Woven tray | Curved basket (similar) | Other sources no longer available
Dining Room Paint Color – Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray (tweaked!)
Our dining room was painted a tweaked version of Sherwin Williams Keystone Gray (Duration Home matte finish) – it’s a color that I used in my previous house and loved so much that I put it on repeat. It’s a warm, brownish gray (greige) that’s a good choice if you want something versatile (it seems to go well with everything!) and want to go darker than a lot of your typical grays. I did tweak the formula just a hair because it has some slight purple undertones that I wanted to downplay. I have the exact paint formula I used at the end of {this post}.
Dining Room Sources: Wood bead chandelier | Table & chairs – no longer available | Rattan chargers (similar) | Colorblock napkins | Table runner (similar) | Glass hurricane vases | White wall plates | Patterned wall plates | White chenille scalloped pillow
Living Room Paint Color – Sherwin Williams Anew Gray
Originally our living room was also painted Keystone Gray but it’s a much darker space than our living room so last year I decided to change it up and go a little lighter with the paint color. I tested out several greige paint colors (check out {this post} on readers’ favorite greiges) including these four finalists (from left to right: Worldly Gray, Anew Gray, Revere Pewter, Agreeable Gray):
I ended up going with Sherwin Williams Anew Gray (second from the left in pic above) and love it so much!
Living Room Sources: Loveseat & ottoman (custom order from Lee Industries) | Linen swivel chairs | Wood floor lamp | Framed leaf art print | Woven ottoman tray | White vase | Faux eucalyptus | Bone beads | Gray plaid pillows | Gray crosshatch pillows | Black & white striped pillows | Round mirror over fireplace | Vases on mantel – no longer available | Faux flowers in mantel vases
Girls’ Bathroom – Sherwin-Williams Alpaca
One of my favorite makeover projects was sprucing up my daughters’ bathroom that included painting the vanity as well as the walls. I chose Sherwin-Williams Alpaca (Emerald Interior Latex in Matte finish) for the walls which is another one of the greiges in my post on the 10 Best Greige Paint Colors. It’s a really pretty light-but-not-too-light greige that I would absolutely use again:
And the vanity/cabinets are painted Sherwin-Williams Alabaster which TOTALLY freshened them up from the dated, worn look they previously had. You can see the details of how I transformed our bathroom cabinets with paint in {this post}.
Kitchen Paint Color Before Remodel – Benjamin Moore White Dove
Our kitchen was originally painted Benjamin Moore White Dove (Regal Select matte finish), which is one of my favorite white paint colors (see some of my other favorite white paints in {this post})! It’s a warm white with yellow undertones – I’ve used it several times before and it definitely looks more yellow in some spaces than others depending on the light. You can see in this pic that in areas where there is a lot of light (by {these wall hanging herb crates}) it looks like a true white and in more shadowed areas (like the corner by the baker’s rack) you can see the yellow undertone:
Sources: Rolling bakers rack (similar) | Nesting herb crates on wall
Kitchen Paint Color After Remodel – Benjamin Moore Cloud White
After remodeling our kitchen (you can see the “before” and “after” pics of our remodel {here} if you missed it), I changed up the white paint color a bit and went with Benjamin Moore Cloud White (Regal Select flat finish). Cloud White is fairly similar to White Dove in that it’s a warm white with slight yellow undertones but it’s a little cleaner. The trim in our kitchen is also painted in Cloud White but in Satin finish:
Kitchen Sources: Lantern pendants over island in gild size small (12.5″) | Rattan counter stools in Fog | Pulls on island drawers (12″) | Large framed floral art print | Flooring
The other room in our house that’s painted Cloud White is our family room…
Family Room – Benjamin Moore Cloud White
When deciding on a white for our family room I tested White Dove, Cloud White, and Simply White on the walls. Dove White looked too yellow in the space and Simply White looked a little too stark white for this room. Cloud White was somewhere in between – pretty much the Goldilocks of white paint colors! The ceiling and the walls are both painted Cloud White but because the ceilings are painted in satin (using BM Advance) and the walls are painted in matte (Regal Select), the ceiling color looks a good bit brighter than the walls. With white paint, I feel like sheen plays a bigger role in the look of your painted walls than it does with other colors.
Sources: TV console (similar) | Chandelier (satin bronze) | White tasseled pillow cover | Blue linen pillow cover | Green & blue block print pillow cover | Faux fiddle leaf fig tree | Rug | Pair of floor poufs | Art prints (details in {this post} | Acrylic coffee table (similar) | Coffee table tray (28″ square) | Black and white striped box (on coffee table) | Brass cricket (on coffee table) | Wood beads | Basket planter | Rattan chair
You can see the complete “before” and “after pics of our family room {here}.
Powder Room Paint Color – Benjamin Moore Chelsea Gray & Platinum Gray
Powder Room Sources: Annapakshi Indian Damask Wall Stencil (11.25″ x 15.5″) | Arched wood mirror (similar) | Pedestal Sink | Sconces (Polished Nickel)
Master Bedroom – Farrow & Ball’s All White
Farrow & Ball’s All White (Estate Eggshell) is the color I used to paint the shiplap walls and trim in our master bedroom (you can see more pics of our bedroom + a full source list for the room {here}). Also check out my post on our DIY shiplap walls for all the details on our shiplap wall installation. It’s a very true white without any significant blue or yellow undertones (the bluish tint on some areas of the wall in our bedroom is the reflection of the drapes). Very bright, clean, and fresh without being stark.
Sources: Upholstered Bed | Gray nightstands | Camp stools | White USB table lamps | Semi flushmount light (available {here} and {here}) | Gray & white patterned linen duvet | Gray & white dragon/floral pillows | Gray velvet crosshatch pillow | Quilt in king (color is Flagstone) | Drapes (mine are single-width blackout lined) | Diamond jute rug
Guest Room Paint Color – Pratt & Lambert Ever Classic
Guest Room Sources: Mirror over Bed | Upholstered Wingback Bed (fabric is Zuma White) | Quilt (similar) | Pillows & duvet cover – no longer available | White Bedside USB Lamps | Round Wood Beaded Tray | Clock | Folding camp stools
My Daughter’s Bedroom (Original Look) – Sherwin-Williams Lucky Green
When we made over my youngest daughter’s bedroom several years ago, she wanted to paint the walls of her room green which is basically a 180 from my usual neutrals. I was actually pretty excited about doing something so bold and after trying several green paint samples we ended up choosing Sherwin-Williams Lucky Green (Duration Home matte finish). It’s a great bright, lively green without being too obnoxiously bright. You can see more pics of this space + a complete source list for it {here}.
My Daughter’s Bedroom (New Look) – Behr Blueprint
Several years later she wanted to tone the color in her room down so we painted three of the walls white and used Behr’s 2019 color of the year, Blueprint, for an accent wall. It’s a beautiful blue that’s saturated but not overly bright (you can see more pics in her boho chic room reveal {here}):
Room Sources: Gold quatrefoil pendant | Upholstered headboard (DIY) | Moroccan leather poufs | Woven lidded laundry basket | Small acrylic lamp | Chest of drawers | Brass globe lamp | White linen quilt
And do you see the navy dresser? That’s a white IKEA dresser that I painted and added overlays too. The paint color is Behr’s Blue Metal – it’s so pretty in person!
Master Bathroom – Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace
The most recent paint project in our home was for our master bathroom addition – I wanted a crisp, clean white that complimented all of the marble in the space and went with Chantilly Lace. I’m so happy with it and think that from now on it’s going to be my go-to white paint color for bathrooms:
Vanity Area Sources: Wood & rattan double vanity | Vanity knobs | Bathroom faucets – brushed nickel | Vanity lights | Vanity mirrors – gold | Woven seagrass tray on vanity | Cross base planter | Marble stacking dishes | Soap & lotion sink set with tray | Toothbrush holder | Bamboo toothbrushes | Gray & white striped towels | Robe hooks – golden champagne
I wrote an entire post on Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace, comparing it to other similar white paint colors – you can check my Chantilly Lace post {here}.
Guest Bedroom in NC – Benjamin Moore Simply White
And last but not least, I’ve painted a few rooms in our new house in NC and chose Benjamin Moore Simply White. This house gets a lot more light and after testing out three of my favorite whites in it (Simply White, Cloud White, and White Dove), Simply White was the winner:
Sources: Queen beadboard bed (weathered white) | 12″ Memory foam queen mattress (no boxspring needed) | Blue & white quilted shams | Blue tasseled edge pillow covers | Navy embroidered lumbar pillow cover ( with {this} pillow insert) | Navy border duvet cover | Navy border sheets | White quilt | Backless bench at foot of bed | Nightstand | USB Lamp | Mirror (white – small)
It just goes to show how whites can look so different from home to home because when I tested those same three colors in our current home, I liked Cloud White the best! You can see more pics of our NC guest room {here}.
And with that… we’ve made it through each and every room! I hope you’ve found a paint color or two that might work in your own home. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your weekend!
Angie Riley says
Thank you for sharing your wonderful paint colors and helpful decorating advice that designers would charge thousands of dollars to give. I’ve incorporated many of your shopping finds into my home recently, and I can’t tell you how many compliments I’ve received! Of course, I share your site with them. Haha.
Kris Jarrett says
Angie, you are the sweetest! Thank you! And thanks so much for sharing my site with your friends – that’s the biggest compliment I could get!
Jane Charpie says
Beautiful, Kris! I have the 90’s wood trim in my home. What neutral colors go with it? My next project is our dining room. It is on the small side with only 1 window which overlooks a covered porch so it doesn’t get a lot of light. Help!!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Jane! It’s hard to pick a winner without being there in person to see what else you have going on in your room, but I’d go with something lighter. You could try one of the whites I talked about in the post or a light gray or greige would be pretty – Sherwin Williams On the Rocks is a good one to get a sample of and try!
Alyaa says
Hiya Kris,
Thanks for sharing all your paint colors and sheens which are so important as well.
I am wondering why you chose to put a satin on the ceiling in the beautiful
family room rather than the traditional flat/matte ceiling paint. Were you trying to make it more reflective. And are you happy wth the finish?
I am dealing with painting a low light low ceiling basement and trying to get as much light bouncing around down there as possible.
Thanks much and enjoy the Apple!
Alysa
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Alysa,
I used satin in my family room because the ceiling was planked wood so I treated it the same as the trim. If the ceiling had been a typical drywall ceiling, I wouldn’t have gone that route. I always stick with flat for drywall ceilings – the problem with going with satin or eggshell or a higher sheen is that it tends to show imperfections and roller marks a lot more and these imperfections tend to be more noticeable when they’re on the ceiling than on the walls. Hope that helps!
Susan says
I’m a huge admirer of your grey and white choiceS! What paint colors and sheens have you used on trim?!
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Susan! The trim colors in my house are mostly Cloud White and Dove White – I like satin finish but semi-gloss is a good choice too!
Toni Mahana says
Thank you for sharing! I’m curious what color your front door is and the sheen. Is the outside the same color as the inside? I’m trying to decide if I want to paint our door black and how it should be done. Thank you
Kris Jarrett says
Hi Toni,
Unfortunately I don’t have any info on our door color – it was painted by the previous owners and they didn’t leave the paint can with us 🙁
Loree Dowse says
Hi Kris – I love your site, and have incorporated many of your ideas into our coastal California rancher. We just remodeled our kitchen and went with Keystone Gray for the cabinets. I chose brass for the hardware and lighting, along with white quartz counters and 1 1/2-inch white hex tiles for the backsplash. It turned out beautifully and everyone – I mean, EVERYONE – comments on the paint color when they see it.
Keep up the great work and I can’t wait to see what you do with your kitchen remodel.
All the best,
Loree
Yvonne Aileen says
Thank you! I was torn between White Dove and Cloud White and you helped me decide 🙂 I’ll be pretty much using this throughout my house I just purchased, before I move in. I may switch things up eventually but for now I need blank slate to start with.
Kris Jarrett says
I’m so glad you found it helpful! Good luck with your move!
Becky Lambert says
What is your take on matte vs. flat? I see you use matte a lot….any reason why? I like flat paint and I’m not sure if I would like to do matte or flat? I am painting freshly installed shiplap boards in my new bedroom (probably Cloud White). What would you suggest…flat or matte? I think I will prime first!
Kris Jarrett says
I have used Matte a lot in the past because it has the flat sheen that I like but it’s more scrubbable. However, I have noticed that for whites the Matte seems to be a bit more yellowy than the Flat in Benjamin Moore colors. For shiplap, I would probably do an eggshell!
Maureen says
Beautiful home, love the colors!! We are re-doing our family room and I am wondering about the sheen. For the ceiling we are putting up beadboard panels with 3×6 boards on the seams. Not sure what white I am going with and I love the whites you chose. I am going with SW Agreeable Gray for the walls but again not sure about the sheen. It’s a south facing room so plenty of light. Any help would be appreciated!! Thank you! Love your newsletter and always learn something new!
Karen B. says
I really like your paint color selections but I will tell you, I hate to paint. It’s a DIY that I’m happy to hire out. Haha. I like the way your colors tie the house together. I’ll be excited to see your master bathroom redo.
Happy Super Bowl Sunday.
Karen
Catherine Smith says
Your paint color choices are very soothing and inviting. Wish I had your talent for eyeing the colors. It’s always a pleasure to go into a home that has different paint in each room yet they create a very cohesive look. A console table in your office caught my eye because I’ve been looking for something similar for our dining room. I didn’t find a link for it so hoping you can help me out.
Always look forward to your posts.
Nippon says
Your ebullience is refreshing!!
Dianna Fahrion says
Hi, I am renovating our high end Townhouse. Colors have me perplexed…are they still using a lot of Greys in 2020? Or have colors moved on? Thank you!
Wendy Chin says
Do you have a blog post of how you refinished the white IKEA dresser? I love it! I’m wondering where you bought your overlays and/or how’d you make them.
Kris Jarrett says
Yes, you can find more details about it in this post: https://www.drivenbydecor.com/boho-chic-bedroom-design-ideas/
Julie says
Hi what color trim did you use for your exterior?
Terri Miles says
Hi Kris! I just found your blog today and love your home! I am renovating my home and am torn between Dove White and Cloud white! They are both perfect in my home. Question. I would like one trim and ceiling color throughout my home, that I can keep even if I change my wall color. I am thinking about BM Super White. Would this color work with Dove White and Cloud White? And most any other color I choose? And, would it work if I painted the bedrooms clould white and living spaces Dove White? Thank you very much!!!
Patricia says
This is the best descriptive article about paint choices I have ever read. Kudos to you or whomever photographed your rooms for getting great angles to display the nuances of how each color is affected by light. Thank you so much.
Betsy says
Your bathroom tiles look great painted, l have the same tiles in my kitchen that you have in your laundry area, tera cotta look, do you recommend painting them?
Kris Jarrett says
I’ve never tried painting terracotta tile but I would think the same painting method that I used on my bathroom floor would work!
Trish says
Love your style! Where did you get the blue white throw pillow and blanket that are in your quest room?
Kris Jarrett says
Thanks Trish – those are both from The Company Store but unfortunately I don’t think they carry them anymore…
Pamela Riordan says
Hi! What paint color in Benjamin Moore is your front door? What do you think of the idea of using a gloss sheen on a front door? Thanks!
Missy says
Hi! What is the paint color on the kitchen island? It’s a beautiful gray/brown. Thanks!
Lauren says
I would love to know answer to this too!!
Painting Contractor says
This is great advice! Very honest and practical. Everything is special and unique. Thanks for sharing.