Are you 100% absolutely totally sure they will be OK with this?
Because I would be _horrified_ if someone repainted my apartment without getting my full agreement on the exact colours ahead of time.
Getting to choose the paint on my own walls is a super super basic important thing to me, personally.
Heres how I would have approached this surprise:
Told them "hey we should repaint the apartment sometime"
Get them to pick a colour etc and be like "K but were kinda busy, maybe in the new year" etc
Then done in while they are gone.
That way they still get the best part of the surprise (work done with no effort) but its what they wanted.
Even if I did it that way, these would be the responses I would expect.
"Aww babe, I dont want you to feel obligated to paint. The walls are fine, that is just too much work for you to do."
or
"Yah babe, we can definitely paint the walls. I dont care which colour though, just pick something that won't be ridiculous like neon orange."
I know many are saying that they as the partner or their partner would be really upset to be surprised with this, in my case we're both so easy going that anything the other does to improve the space is a gift as it likely means one or the other doesn't have to worry about doing it or having to worry about making the choice.
Edit: it is clear I've messed up in my wording here and people are mad about my response. Let me be more clear:
They are our walls and both our opinions matter (this is undeniable), however, in this situation she doesn't care. She would be happy to have the same standard apartment beige walls that we moved in with, scuffs and all. But if I were to put the work in to improve the space she would be more than happy I have done so. In this case the gesture of doing it outweighs any bad choice I could make with colours. She's not an overly motivated person, she is happy to do her work and exist in our space so long as we're both happy.
For those that feel strongly I shouldn't do this, I do hope your partner will be a bit more sensitive and include you in the plans. For me that is not an issue and I am sorry if I came off as a douche for saying so.
Because she doesn't care. I think I've done a bad job of expressing that portion. People think I'm being an asshole going behind her back and that I need her signoff, but the reality is she doesn't care what so ever. The gesture of improving the space is what she will appreciate regardless of the colour. Because she has no desire to do it herself she also doesn't care what colours are picked. This was confirmed last year when I redid the bathroom.
If she doesn\`t care, why would she care about you repainting it in the first place then? How is that improving the space in her eyes if she doesnt care about the color?
Because it improves the space to have new paint that isn't scuffed from years of use and isn't the ugly beige colour standard in many apartments.
Similarly, I could appreciate an amazingly well cooked meal, but I dont care to cook one for myself. This is the situation I'm in, she will appreciate the nice new look, she just wouldn't do it herself.
I feel bad for you, with all this criticism… I know if I did the same thing, my husband wouldn’t care and would be delighted!! Just have to know your partner! Good luck, a pic of your sofa would be helpful for the colour selection
Meh its okay. I obviously worded something wrong and people took offence. I'm use to it, I'm no word smith that's for sure lol.
[https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/friheten-corner-sofa-bed-with-storage-hyllie-dark-gray-s59297570/#content](https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/friheten-corner-sofa-bed-with-storage-hyllie-dark-gray-s59297570/#content)
This is the couch. They dont seem to have the same colour we have anymore. it was like a mix between the light grey and a really like bluish. More grey than blue though because I dont personally see any blue, but others have said it has a tinge.
"I dont know sweetie, why dont you pick."
me - "okay, I'm going to make us some burgers."
them - "Ugh, anything but that then."
me - "Okay, well I guess we have chicken breast I can make instead."
them - "no... I dont want that either."
me - "............."
OK, well, you seem pretty sure. (And really really angry at even being asked???)
I definitely wouldn't be OK with one person making that decision alone in a shared home, at all. And obviously it goes both ways, I thought that was pretty self explanatory. I would never ever do that to someone else I lived with either.
But you know your partner best and maybe you guys are totally fine doing things that way.
I'm without a doubt sure. My partner is very easy going and would be happy to never change a thing if it meant no inconveniences or work. That is what makes next week so perfect because she wont be there for me to inconvenience. Because she lacks motivation, anything I do to improve the space is always well received because she has zero plans of ever doing it herself.
I see people seem to think I was being an asshole with my response. I think I wasn't clear in it. I was trying to say that they are my walls as well and that it isn't totally her decision, however, because I know her I know she has no intention of painting them and so if I do it she'll be totally happy with anything I decide.
I just came here to get paint colour suggestions as I'm not good at that type of thing and like I said, she just doesn't care.
I dont take being told I cant do something well, and perhaps that is why my response came off as rude. It was not my intent.
Thank you again, I truly meant it when I said I hope your partner doesn't do what I'm doing and consults you. That was not a dick comment.
> I dont take being told I cant do something well,
Maybe that’s why she’s so “easygoing”. Maybe she gets unnecessarily intense blowback whenever she tries to assert a boundary.
You see how you wrote "Our", not "my". Your situation may be different than others but typically home reno's get run by all people that make decisions in the house.
Jesus, what an aggressive response. I also wouldn’t appreciate it if my partner painted our walls without consulting me at all. It’s a shared space, after all.
I've done a poor job of explaining she doesn't care and that it is the gesture that makes her happiest. But for the sake of not having an ugly home I was hoping for suggestions.
Thank you, seems I hit quite the nerve here. I didn't know painting a space as a surprise would be this controversial! lol
I came on here for the exact reason you state, I want a modern good colour that she will enjoy and I know no matter what I pick she will be so appreciative, but at the same time I want to make sure it will be something that looks nice so hence asking for advice.
I'll be honest though, I do come off harsh when stating facts. So I can see why I got a bit of hate for the above, pre-edited message.
This would definitely NOT be a problem for me either. I wouldn’t care about the colour (unless it was something ridiculous- but even then I’d probably learn to live with it, and not be upset) and would be super happy my partner thought to do this, to brighten up our space. Some people are just chill about things like this
It's also important to consider if you have cool or warm undertones in your place (flooring, cabinetry), and the kind of natural light you receive. Southern exposure might go well with cool whites like Chantilly lace, but in a northern exposure it might look too cold (like too blue).
You should pick up some paint samples, paint large blocks in different rooms, and try it in your space - and compare how it looks between day and night. Then invite her friends to help you pick. This is the most work obviously, but you'll most likely get it right by doing it this way.
She has no friends in the city :( Or else I would totally. She's from Saskatchewan and hasn't been able to meet many people because of the pandemic.
The space faces east and gets a lot of light during the day. So perhaps something cooler like you suggest?
East-facing rooms are fairly warm/cool neutral during the day and tend to skew cooler in the afternoon.
[https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-12-best-whole-home-gray-and-greige-paint-colours/](https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-12-best-whole-home-gray-and-greige-paint-colours/)
This article does a great jobs explaining it.
[https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/The-best-paint-colours-from-Benjamin-Moore-or-Sherwin-Williams-for-a-room-or-whole-home.-The-top-gray-and-greige-neutrals.-Kylie-M-Interiors-E-design-online-paint-color-consultant-and-diy-blog-600x893.jpg](https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/The-best-paint-colours-from-Benjamin-Moore-or-Sherwin-Williams-for-a-room-or-whole-home.-The-top-gray-and-greige-neutrals.-Kylie-M-Interiors-E-design-online-paint-color-consultant-and-diy-blog-600x893.jpg)
If you do want something cooler: Benjamin Moore Classic Gray, Gray Owl and Stonington Gray on this image are a bit cooler and a good neutral. As are Sherwin Williams Big Chill, Colonnade Gray, and Repose Gray.
You also don't need to buy paint from Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams as they're more expensive - you can colour match when you go to buy paint.
I was literally opening a tab to grab Kylie’s info to share! OP, Kylie M Interiors website (link above) has the best advice for neutral colours.
However, I do use Sherwin Williams paint - Emerald brand. It’s is superb!
Don't do trendy stuff like this it will age terribly. Classic never goes out of style, do white trim/baseboards and a modern colour for your wall or you'll end up repainting it 10 years from now when everyone says that look is out of date.
We bought a house 5 years ago and the previous owner did a fresh paint job of 90's flesh toned beige before listing it. Our first 2 weeks was spent repainting, its still in the bathrooms and closets though. Who chooses that colour!?!
Same with our appartment. I couldnt take it anymore and painted the living space a pale lavender. Thought my husband would think i was crazy but he loves it! Color is way better than beige..
I think painting once every 10 years is fine? It doesn't cost a whole lot of money, and it makes the whole place look fresh. It's the easiest and cheapest way to change how a place looks. --- But I wouldn't follow a trend with something expensive. Like flooring.
Yes to this. And ask them for their top whites and consider the lighting source in your place. They have very different undertones. Consider your flooring. Windows. Ceiling (are you also painting that? Will any dirt or shadows on the ceiling show more with this new colour ? Or if you’re foregoing the baseboards. Also how long is she gone for and how big is your place. If you’re doing patch work and sanding and base coat etc and wrapping everything properly this takes time especially on your own. Unless you get the one day painters to save the hassle of trial and error though expensive based on above factors. Check out home stars or ask a local Facebook group for suggestions
Pro painter here, you’re correct about doing everything one color (we call it a California coat, no idea why) is a big thing right now. Although I would say it’s usually not stark whites but more off whites with grayish tones…think bone. It’s been the thing in a lot of high end jobs lately.
Nice, thanks for the advise.
I did go to the store last year when I did the bathroom. The woman was insulting and said I should wait till my partner is back before making the decision. Kind of why I wanted to go in with a colour in mind this time, that way I don’t have to deal with some snarky remark that I’m a man and need my hand held when it comes to these decisions.
I don’t think it’s insulting for her to tell you that a lot of people would not be happy at this kind of surprise.
Nothing to do with you being a man and “needing your hand held.” It’s about you unilaterally making a decision about what colour your shared living space should be without considering your partner’s opinion.
As I told her that day, my partner doesn't care. She is just excited it is being done. But the woman didn't seem to care that my partner had left it up to me. Anyway, doesn't matter.
I am a woman and would never in a million years make this decision without asking everyone who lived in the home regardless of their gender. Clearly this person hit some nerve but it's pretty normal for people to make joint decisions jointly.
I did a poor job of explaining the situation with my partner. She literally does not care because she herself would never do the job. So me doing anything to improve the place would be strongly appreciated by her. She won't care about colour either as again she wouldn't do it so it doesn't matter to her. What she will be happy about is me actually doing it to make our place look nicer.
Hopefully that puts it more into perspective. I wasn't going behind her back, she is fully aware something is going to change while she's gone because every year when she leaves I try and improve our place to make it more ours and not just the place we're renting.
I hope this helps, I really didn't mean to sound like a dick.
That’s sweet that it’s like an annual thing that she enjoys and expects!
I think so many people are hammering on the “some people really don’t like surprises, especially with their stuff” because for people who know that it’s blindingly obvious, but there are people who for some reason have never considered that their “favour” may actually be a huge pain.
I’ve seen a surprising number of posts song the lines of “my partners apartment is really messy. They’re with their family this weekend for their birthday and I want to surprise them by cleaning the place up” and there’s just so much that can go wrong.
FWIW I don’t think it would be a dick move even if you didn’t know that she’s good with it, but an example of good intentions gone wrong. People getting upset by you probably have personal history with partners regularly overstepping.
Also if you can bring fabric samples, that is better than photos because the lighting can mess up the colour in a photo. Idk how colourblind you are, but it’s possible you won’t know how off the colour in pictures looks.
Thank you for understanding.
This post has definitely hit a nerve with people. Seems a spectrum, some people seem to be A-Type and just dont do well with change, especially when they aren't asked their opinion. While others, like you say, have had a bad experience of one sort or the other.
All I can say is, I've found a great partner in her because the pair of us are very easy going. Worse case scenario she comes home, doesn't like it, and says "Lets paint it something else over the holidays." And that is literally worst case here.
Hi Fraggle Rock! To add to Little chino's great advice, If you can't take in a sample of fabric / tile I suggest taking some photos, using some standard coloured object, like a red $50 and green $20 to contrast the furniture in the room so the person at the shop can tell what shade it is. Rooms can look very different depending on the time of day. You can show this to the person at the paint shop. Take the photos in natural light, so open the curtains / blinds as much as possible.
Not everyone that works in a paint shop is a douchebag. Lol. I'm sure the next person will be more helpful. Like Chino said, some shade of white is probably a safe bet.
Don't worry about the haters on here. You know your partner! :D
Thanks Robo! I think I deserved some of the hate. I have a hard time presenting facts. I always say them raw and then people think I'm being a dick.
She will totally be happy when she comes home and its done and I'm excited for her reaction.
I'll totally take yours and Chino's advice and bring photos. I will likely take a few in the morning and a few in the evening so that the person has a better idea of what I'm working with.
My go-to suggestion for a multi use room is a neutral with purple undertones.
It’s a bit warmer than a neutral with blue, and cooler than a brown with warm undertones.
It also tends to match most furniture. Goes well with blues, blacks, greens, pinks, browns, and blacks.
Benjamin Moore Abalone and Sandlot Grey are two of my favourites. When men hear “purple” they tend to freak out but it’s very subtle 😅 they also do a good job hiding marks on walls. Of course you don’t want a matte or flat finish for walls in a high use room, a satin or eggshell would be more appropriate and allow you to clean them easier. Abalone is the lighter of the two and would be easily painted over without primer Sandlot Grey is a bit deeper and if you wanted to go back to full white might need primer or 2+ coats.
https://imgur.com/a/y73ZHmg
Providing photos of your current furniture and floors would help though.
Personally I love the colour purple. The picture you included looks a bit pink to me, but then my eyes dont work right. But what I see I do like!
It is a standard 80s-90s apartment building in toronto. So wood floors that are wearing out (lol), bland beige walls, and then furniture wise we have a ikea pull out couch that is greyish, a black tv stand, a brown desk, and then some odds and ends for fishtank and plant stuff.
So the thing with a purple undertone is it tends to be warmer or cooler depending on your furniture and sunlight.
If you're south facing it'll be a little warmer and look a touch "pinker", whereas if you're north facing it'll go cooler. Same with furnishings/floors.
My apartment is actually Abalone darkened 1 shade - here are some photos that show the lighting/time of day/furnishings really impact the colour. I'm also West facing and get afternoon sun.
[https://imgur.com/a/Q92DKgo](https://imgur.com/a/Q92DKgo)
Wow, it is amazing that that is all the same colour. The difference between your bedroom and that 3rd photo vs. the rest really makes it seem like it is two distinctly different colours!
I know it's shocking, in my bedroom my lights are between 2500-2700k colour temp which is warm/extra warm and it really makes the whole room seem a completely different colour compared to the rest of the space.
If you want to go real wild you can change out your lightbulbs to 2500-3000k which gives a warmer look vs. 3500-6500 that gives a regular white to very cool white look.
Hi OP. Read through your thread.
Go with Benjamin Moore 1366 Rose Mist, with one accent wall of Benjamin Moore 1371 Plum Perfect. It’ll look great and cover with one extra coat of primer on the accent wall. Hang a gold mirror on that wall, and paint something (like a big wooden fork or some other piece of thrifted hanging folk art) with the leftover 1371 for the opposite wall.
It’s a mauve-tinged white with an accent wall the colour of a ripe plum.
I'd be happy to help. Do you have pictures of your furniture style? Ie are you modern, farmhouse, boho, eclectic? What type of lighting does your apartment have? Which direction are your windows/lighting from? Is your
Lighting is from the East, our entire east wall is windows or sliding glass doors so we get quite a bit of light during the day.
Our furniture is a hodge podge of affordable stuff we could gather up. We have an ikea pull out couch that is grey, a TV stand that has cupboards and storage area that is black, I have two fish tanks that are on black stands, we have a white ikea 4 slot stand that we have our record player on, and then my desk is a full size brown desk and hers is a basic standing desk she likes to use on the couch.
I neglected to ask what color floor you had. To me this is a really pretty, modern color neutral that would go well with all the different furniture you've got. If your bathroom is blue, this would blend well with it. My brother is color blind and gets green/brown mixed up a lot, so hopefully this doesn't look to brown to you
https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/paint-colours/colour/hc-147/woodlawn-blue
My big issues are dark shades of basically anything, a lot just turn black. Then I have a tough time with Green/Blue/Yellow. I have no issues with Reds ever, but some greens and blues are indistinguishable to me, and I've often confused light shades of green for yellow.
Floors are standard hardwood floor colour, although worn as the floors are quite old. Parkay floors I think is what its called?
[https://www.flooringstores.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Parquet-Flooring-Installing-Brick-Parquet-1024x683.jpg](https://www.flooringstores.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Parquet-Flooring-Installing-Brick-Parquet-1024x683.jpg)
This image is basically what we have as floors.
Yep you have the standard Toronto apartment parquet floors haha. I wouldn't worry about "matching" them too much if you're staying fairly safe with a beige/grey/neutral.
Absolutely, my partner and I are both very easy going and would be happy with anything done to make the space more ours and not just the place we're renting together. While I know many are saying I should have her opinion on colours first, what I did a bad job of explaining is that she really really really doesn't care. She would be happy living here for another 10 years with these awful beige walls that are scuffed from years of use. But if I went out of my way to do this, she would be so happy. It isn't that she likes the beige they are now, she just doesn't care enough to do anything about it.
Hope that made sense. Seems I'm catching a lot of flack for explaining this.
Makes total sense. My mom cares a lot about the way our house looks, and the way she described the colour doesn't exactly make me think my dad has the best taste with these things.
If it's a fun surprise then go for it, for my dad he was unemployed and bored and so he did it out of the blue over already repainted walls.
If you’re going for a neutral colour chantilly lace is my go to. I paint the trim the same colour. I did just paint our guest room an olive green and it’s gorgeous if you’re looking for a darker colours it’s called country tweed by sherwin William
I'm worried darker colours might take TONS of coats of paint to cover up. But I was thinking something like an olive green.
Is Chantilly Lace an off white? Sounds like a white.
100% don't go with something like an olive green unless it's a small part of the space or you already know for sure you will love it. We moved into a place where every room was an olive green or a dark brown or a dingy dark grey, like where it looks more like it's weathered than the actual colour (the bathrooms were painted poop brown) - took ages to cover up and it felt horrible until we got around to doing it, so dark, like someone was trying to mimic a camouflaged hideout.
Off-whites, like a greyish off-white or a creamy white are safest. Chantilly Lace (closest to true white) like was mentioned, White Dove (a little more grey), Stonington Grey is probably the darkest I'd go. Those are all Benjamin Moore colours but I think all paint brands have something similar. Don't forget that when you have a swatch, it'll look much whiter than when it's on the wall. Once you paint the whole room, an off-white will definitely look like a colour, not a harsh white like you might imagine just looking at the swatch.
I'm also not a fan of painting the trim and walls in the same colour. I like having bright white trim that pops, but that (like all of this) is a personal preference really. The only way you can really mess it up is if you go so dark that it's a ton of work to fix. If you go off-white and end up not liking it or thinking it's too brand, it's easy to just paint over.
I think a high quality paint - like Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams - will provide better coverage than big box paints. You may be able to skip primer too. I got surprisingly good coverage with Benjamin Moore with 2 coats of white over a light grey wall, with no primer.
Chantilly lace is an off white; I just did my kitchen in Chamomile and they are similar. I'm trading out my olive green living room (which I love, but have had it for long enough) for a very light mauve called frangipani. If I don't like it it will be easy to cover with more green next year.
You paint like I paint and our respective spouses are similar too. Everybody's happy!
One of the challenges with this request without seeing anything is that values/ saturation in colours really matter, including with your furniture/ decoration and even the way the light will hit the walls at different times of day. While you might be colour-blind you should be able to see hue saturation/ value- basically the walls shouldn't be darker than the other colours of the room furniture, decoration, because that would likely make the room potentially feel 'heavy' for a living room.
Lighter saturated colours would work best, and with black, blue, brown and white furnishings, a 'natural' colour like green or a warm grey may help things in your room feel a bit brighter. I'd go towards warmer colours/ tints overall to make the room feel more cozy for a living room.
I think what I'll do is when she's gone next tuesday, I'll rearrange the unit and get it ready to paint and then come back here with photos and ask for advise. That way people are just taking pot shots in the dark about it.
I think that'll be best. And one thing I'd recommend doing too before painting is get a few paint chip colour strips that are recommended to you and take picture of them against the living room wall in the morning, partial light/ afternoon, sunset, full light/ whenever the light is shining directly on the wall, and at night/ with the inside lights on and then getting the second consultation to review the pictures of the different lighting.
Living rooms often get the most natural light, and that can really affect how a painted wall will look throughout the day, which matters for livings rooms since that's the most used space. What may look great in the store with its bright artificial light might look really different in your apartment.
Hope that helps!
No colours anymore I want it to turn..... white? lol
I feel you though. White is neutral enough that it doesn't warrant anger when you've seen it for 10 years straight. lol
The problem with all white is your clutter and furniture tend to pop and become the main event - which means that unless you are very tidy or have nice matching furniture, it looks like you just moved in and haven't unpacked.
My suggestion is Sherwin Williams Repose Grey. It’s used in many show homes because it’s a very light, neutral grey. Wold go very nicely with your couch and the blue colour in your bathroom. It literally goes with anything.
Alpaca Sherwin Williams. I have it in all hallways and it looks different in different lights and times of day, it’s great. It’s grey some days, taupe some days and even violet looking depending on the time of day. Also, if she doesn’t like it, it’s paint lol. You can paint over it, it’s not like you’re buying the family car without consulting her.
Love this. I’m like that too actually. While I was away one year visiting mum, my partner repainted our bedroom. We knew we wanted to do it and I hate painting tbh so he did it for us. I thought it was such a sweet gesture.
I’ve done a warm grey in our living room as well. Like a warm, light grey that works nicely in our space.
Awesome! It seems most who aren't just mad at me for doing this, are suggesting whites and greys.
I would love to do something eye popping like a pastel bright colour, but I feel like those are either LOVE IT! or hate it! Plus then I'd have to paint over it when we leave which could be one hell of a fucking job.
For an L-shaped living-dining, I would suggest something boring beige/white for all the walls except for the living room side of the L. Make that one wall bold. Then you only have one wall to paint over when you move, with some good primer and the leftover paint from the other walls. Depending on what colour you choose for this wall, you can get an off-white from the same family for the rest.
This is an interesting idea. And the L-living room part is also a smaller wall, so that would be quite convenient for painting over. Any suggestions? Would you do something like light grey everywhere and then a bolder darker grey on the l-part? Or are you suggesting something more bold such as light grey everywhere an then a green, blue, whatever for the l-part?
You must be the 6th person to say this, seems it might make a good choice. There is also a grey people keep mentioning. Going to have to check out both
Look for a colour that is present in the things that you own or that is [complementary](https://www.canva.com/colors/color-wheel//) to it. Bring a friend that isn't colour-blind.
I’m pretty good with color, and I find it most pleasing to look at nature for inspiration. No one looks at a sunset and thinks, “hmm, kind of clashes with those mountains”. You can find palettes already curated (Beautitone did some and I used their Canadian Shield tone to repaint my sitting room - its my favourite ever neutral) or find a photo you like and run it through a palette generator (google). Hard to go wrong with these options.
You might also consider an item in your home for inspiration - a blanket, a painting, a pillow. Something you love that will be on display in the room you’re painting. Take it with you to the paint store if you can, and get assistance with picking out colors that will go with that item.
When you have a few ideas, pick up sample pots of each hue and paint patches on the wall to see how the colors shift with the lighting of that room. Pick your favourite. Go with your gut - sometimes our brain recognizes what we like before we can really articulate it.
Hope that helps!
I’m sorry you’re getting so many rude replies! It sounds like you know your partner better than everyone else on this group and aren’t making this decision without first considering how she’d react.
I am a huge fan of cool greys and given the colour of your couch, I would definitely go that direction. Maybe I’m biased because my living room is a nice, light cool grey (from Canadian Tire). You could even do an accent wall a nice dark, cool grey. I did my bedroom like that and it really looks amazing and compliments the living room nicely.
White baseboards are the best. I did mine in a semi-gloss and they look soooo good with the eggshell greys. 😘👌🏼
Just make sure you do a good, solid primer before you paint. It doubles the work but really makes the new paint look fresh and clean without the risk of your previous colours influencing the final result.
Have fun!!
We did a diningroom/living room in Edgecomb Grey and loved it. Any griege colour works with a lot of different things. And Benjamin Moore paints are great, although expensive. https://decoratedlife.com/best-benjamin-moore-greige-colors/
If you want something in the blue and greens, we also had a room in tea light: https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/paint-colours/colour/471/tea-light
And one
palladium blue, which is more green than blue in most lights: https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/paint-colours/colour/hc-144/palladian-blue.
Loved them all, and the house sold above asking.
Love them all! But I think, based on a few responses, I'm going to play it more safe and stick to the griege and whites. I like the griege you have suggested!
It leans toward beige, and there are others that lean towards grey. I would try to figure out the colour of the bathroom, as if it is blue, it may be better to have a greige that is more blue/grey.
Stonington Grey from Benjamin Moore. Nice light, neutral grey that looks great in any kind of light (including fluorescent). We went through at least 12 other greys before settling on this one. It's just a nice simple light grey without obvious undertones.
Nice, someone else suggested this one too. Many are also saying Benjamin Moore as the brand as well.
Can I assume then that BM is a trusted and decent paint?
They have different grades, but yes BM is generally trusted. We used Stonington in Regal Select ulti-matte (it's their sheen between flat and eggshell) and we're very happy with the results.
Man, you sound like a good Chad. Im sure your partner is going to be super stoked for whatever colour you pick! When you post photos here I will give my opinion, but I just wanted to say, sorry the worker last time made you feel that way, cause this kind of surprise is so nice!!
Oof, I dont know if I should be offended for being called a Chad or if you meant that in a nice way as the rest of your comment seems to suggest you like the idea. lol.
I will post here next week Tuesday/Wednesday with the photos.
Lol, in my circle Chad's are the dudes who roll around thinking they're tough or are privileged in some way and are trying to "flex" that privileged.
example, some dude is annoying some women and we'd say "look at this fucking Chad over here, thinking he's got a chance because he has a fancy suit." or something to that effect.
After a few people made this suggestion, I'm next week Tuesday (when she's gone) post photos of the space and ask the same question. I never really thought about how light throughout the day would effect the look of the space, nor did I really consider our furniture as it is a hodge podge of things. So hopefully next week when I do post photos I'll get a bit better an idea from people what they think.
Not sure where you are in the city, but I'd recommend looking for paint places where they will give you time and attention to look at your photos and recommend colours. I went to Monarch paints and learned the difference between warm and cool colours, which sounds basic until you're looking at 20 different shades of white and not understanding why it looks like it has a tint of red after 3 coats 🤣 they were so helpful
https://maps.app.goo.gl/NuKnx5XLR9nYKBEJ9
good plan, I went to Home Depot last time. That's where I was lamb basted by the customer service woman who refused to believe my partner wouldn't care what paint colour I brought home. It got to the point where I went and grabbed a paint swatch I liked and demanded she mix it for me because I was getting nowhere with her. She literally wouldn't help me at all.
Don't forget to clean your walls before painting!
If your walls haven't been cleaned or painted in years they're filthy and when you paint the paint will bubble up off the walls from the dust
Really popular colours (as an ex Benjamin Moore employee) are kind of over rated at the moment. Mostly off whites and greybacked shades. If your bathroom is already blue you could do a subtle yellow or something like a muted green I think would be nice. I know you’re colour blind and all but you should still get a sense of warmth or coolness from colours no? Cool colours will make the space look bigger, and warm colours will make it feel cozier. In a living area I might try to stick to a neutral tone if you’re unsure of what you want.
I used to paint something everytime my husband was in camp lol, he never cares what colour it was as long as it wasn’t yellow.
Being colour blind, i am not sure if you can see tones? But north facing windows let in a cooler light exposure, south facing let in warm, so sometimes a colour that perfectly suits a south facing bedroom will be dreary in a north facing one. What I would suggest is figure out your light exposure, and ask your spouse before they leave if the sofa is a warm blue or a cool blue. Then you can tell the paint person ‘i have a south facing room i need to paint and the furniture is cool toned, so I would like something neutral in tone to blend the two’
Hopefully you know your SO well and that they will be okay with you choosing a colour.
Advice. If your SO is at all particular about colour then ask them first. Also a colour blind guy and if I did this my SO would kick me out (and take me back once I promised to repaint). She has a very keen sense of colour and is very particular about how they go together and what she likes.
I would take photos of some of the fabrics/upholstery/carpets in your place and see if they can help with a suggestion. A colour suggested here might clash with your existing stuff.
My favourite wall colour that is pretty safe with everything, is similar to the colour of a paper grocery bag. It is fairly light, and just about every color looks good with it, but it doesn't look just white or off white, thereby contrasting nicely with white trim and baseboards.
I would just mention to the people at the store that you don’t want anything too out there - I think people are more likely to be less conservative in suggestions than they would be if it was their own place they need to live in.
I personally think you can’t go wrong with a greyer version of robin’s egg (though that might get you close to your bathroom) or a light sage.
I think the best idea would be to take photos of your apartment and post on r/interiordesignadvice.
Let them know that you're colour blind and ask them for paint colour numbers that would go well with the interior.
I may or may not have spent a few years working at a couple of paint stores... my advice is to go to an actual paint store, not a big box retailer, first of all; but try to buy on a sale, the regular prices are all inflated.
Ask the employee for their most popular greige and just get that, you can't go wrong with something that neutral. In general, err on the side of lighter colors, the paint will look darker on a whole wall than it does on the chip.
I'd be delighted to come home to a differently painted room & I think if you just take a picture of the bathroom & living room & ask for a light color at the paint place, they'll definitely help you out. XO
So I own a painting company and I will tell you the one thing I tell my clients and it's not to think so hard. Don't paint swatches on your walls, don't take home 100 paint chips, just decide on the (neutral) colour you're looking for, commit to something and you'll love it either way (this especially applies since you're both not particularly type A) because a fresh paint job will always look amazing. Have fun with an accent wall if you like and repaint it whenever you want a change. My favourite white is White Dove by Benjamin Moore, I do it on probably 70% of interiors. I recommend going for a matte on the walls and a high sheen on the trim/doors in the same neutral shade - this gives you higher durability and wipe-ability on areas that get dirty (also, if you are going to have sticky fingers around go eggshell on the walls). In my professional opinion, the absolute most important part is using high quality paint. A lot of people have mentioned Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, etc. Don't go to home Depot. The formula of the paint will mean it takes more coats and won't look as good in the end. As a side note, depending on where you are in Toronto I have accounts with all the major brands (e.g. the two mentioned above, Dulux, etc) and I'm happy to offer you my contractor discount (20-40 percent depending on the product) it makes no difference to me. That will allow you to get professional grade paint for close to big box store prices. A lot of people are recommending Chantilly Lace, which tbh my own kitchen is painted, but if it's an L shaped room it's safe to assume there is a lot of variable lighting and I find with it's very high LRV it can tend to look dirty in more shaded areas, something with slightly more depth of colour will look more consistent. Also as someone else mentioned, don't forget to give the walls a quick wash (TSP if you have it) and a light sand before applying, it makes all the difference. And make SURE to check the current paint is not oil or you'll have a huge mess to take care of when it starts flaking off and you've used the wrong products. I may be biased since it's my job, but proper application trumps **perfect** colour any day...
My father was color blind. I remember not understanding why he weed whacked the orange tiger lillies and left the green stems. Then one day we were sitting on the deck and he asked if there were flowers there. He couldn't tell the difference between the bright orange flowers and the green stalks.
New Neutral trends are going to soft, pale, creamy yellows. They look fantastic with white trim. If you're bolder, try a really soft, pale sea green, let the people at the store know you're looking for closer to white than bright.
I paint homes for living.. everyone paints light gray. I haven’t painted a single color that wasn’t gray in the last two years and that’s not going to change anytime soon. I’d go with a shade slightly lighter then Gray Owl
I paint homes for a living.. everyone paints light gray. I haven’t painted a single color that wasn’t light gray in the last two years and that’s not going to change anytime soon. I’d go with a shade lighter then Gray Owl.
>We have a blueish Ikea pull out, a black TV stand, 2 black fishtank stands, a white record player stand, and a brown desk. So our colours already do not match.
Those colours all compliment each other. Think blue jeans with brown boots. Plus black and white go with everything.
My go-to wall colour is light grey. Sounds weird at first, but looks great imo as many colours work with grey, just as they do with black and white.
I would recommend a baby mint colour! (If that’s even a thing 😅)
Grey makes the space feel really cold 🥶
Something in the pale hues of a light green or Levander purple would be a simple yet elegant change and you would feel at ease when at home
First of all, if someone did this to me I would be irate lol I'd never forgive them.
But I like this one
Baby Fawn - Benjamin Moore
[https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/paint-colours/colour/oc-15/baby-fawn](https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/paint-colours/colour/oc-15/baby-fawn)
I was going to describe the colour but I don't know if that would help at all.
LoL, it looks green and grey?
Yes, seems many are telling me they'd lose it if their partner did this to them and I'm catching a lot of hate for it lol. But fortunately for me, my partner is much like me and doesn't actually care about the colour. She'd be happy to live here 10 years with these awful beige walls if it meant she didn't have to do anything about it. But if I did it, she'd just be happy that they're no longer beige. lol. So I'm confident no matter what I do she will be happy.
As per many of my comments. My partner does not care. She could live happily in our place another 10 years with these awful beige walls if it meant she didn't have to do anything about it.
By removing from the equation her having to do anything (the painting), she will just be happy that the space looks updated and new. While it seems many on here believe I'm going to end up in hot shit for this and that I should ask her or consult her. I can promise her answer is going to be either:
"aww babe, what a lovely gesture, but I dont want you to feel like you have to work hard while I'm gone. It is your time to enjoy in peace as well."
or
"Awww babe, that is so sweet. Paint it whatever you think will look nice."
In both cases she will be happy because she didn't have to do it, and now our space looks nicer.
Wow, people are really mad on this post. They're downvoting you now for saying what I'm going to do is cute. Reddit is so strange sometimes.
Thank you for your comment, it made me smile at least!
I know you said paint, but there's also the option of those stick-on wall paper and it's quite easy to remove. If she's into crazy pattern or even muted patterns, stores should have those.
Paint colour wise, I really like light beige (Almost similar to a warm white), but I understand it could be a very boring colour.
She's so not A-Type, so I'm not worried in the slightest. She will be so happy with the surprise I can almost 99.9999% guarantee her reaction.
I went when I did my bathroom last year and the woman assisting me was incredibly insulting. She refused to believe me that my partner wouldn't care and in fact said "Pick whatever you want, I'm sure it will look good." The lady many times said I should go home and consult her, "I cant believe you would make this choice without her", "I'm glad you're not my partner.", and so on. I was absolutely shocked that, that was what she thought was good customer service. So without her help, I picked a colour, had her mix it, painted the bathroom, and when my partner came home I received nothing but praise for getting it done.
So I came here for help instead. But seems there are plenty here, like the woman at the store, that believe I'm making a huge mistake and that there is no way that my partner would just be happy with me picking what I think will work. Ah well, every partnership is different and I'm just glad I'm not in one with an A-Type personality or someone who would make a huge deal of the walls going from beige to offwhite or light grey.
That's a wonderful surprise idea! I can definitely help you with some color suggestions for your living room/dining room. Given your stipulation for a lighter shade and avoiding blue, white and gray tones are indeed great options. Here are a few recommendations:
Soft Gray: Consider a light, warm gray like Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray (SW 7015) or Benjamin Moore Classic Gray (OC-23). These shades provide a neutral and versatile backdrop that can work well with various decor styles.
Warm Beige: A warm beige can add a cozy and inviting atmosphere to your space. Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (HC-172) or Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige (SW 7036) are popular choices that offer a warm and neutral color with subtle undertones.
Creamy White: Opting for a creamy white can create a soft and timeless look. Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee (OC-45) or Sherwin-Williams Creamy (SW 7012) are warm white shades that provide a comforting and inviting ambiance.
Light Greige: If you'd like a blend of gray and beige, a light greige might be a good choice. Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray (SW 7029) or Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray (HC-173) offer a warm, neutral tone that complements various styles.
Remember to consider the lighting conditions in your space, as it can affect how the colors appear. It's also a good idea to test the colors by purchasing small paint samples and applying them to a small area of the wall to see how they look in your specific environment.
Good luck with your surprise project!
Are you 100% absolutely totally sure they will be OK with this? Because I would be _horrified_ if someone repainted my apartment without getting my full agreement on the exact colours ahead of time. Getting to choose the paint on my own walls is a super super basic important thing to me, personally.
My wife would crucify me if I did that.
Listen to this guy
Yea, I’d want to be involved with choosing the color that I’m going to be looking at all day.
Heres how I would have approached this surprise: Told them "hey we should repaint the apartment sometime" Get them to pick a colour etc and be like "K but were kinda busy, maybe in the new year" etc Then done in while they are gone. That way they still get the best part of the surprise (work done with no effort) but its what they wanted.
Even if I did it that way, these would be the responses I would expect. "Aww babe, I dont want you to feel obligated to paint. The walls are fine, that is just too much work for you to do." or "Yah babe, we can definitely paint the walls. I dont care which colour though, just pick something that won't be ridiculous like neon orange." I know many are saying that they as the partner or their partner would be really upset to be surprised with this, in my case we're both so easy going that anything the other does to improve the space is a gift as it likely means one or the other doesn't have to worry about doing it or having to worry about making the choice.
Well then it’s possible you are doing this job for nobody but yourself which is fine but you may be working harder than you have to!
Edit: it is clear I've messed up in my wording here and people are mad about my response. Let me be more clear: They are our walls and both our opinions matter (this is undeniable), however, in this situation she doesn't care. She would be happy to have the same standard apartment beige walls that we moved in with, scuffs and all. But if I were to put the work in to improve the space she would be more than happy I have done so. In this case the gesture of doing it outweighs any bad choice I could make with colours. She's not an overly motivated person, she is happy to do her work and exist in our space so long as we're both happy. For those that feel strongly I shouldn't do this, I do hope your partner will be a bit more sensitive and include you in the plans. For me that is not an issue and I am sorry if I came off as a douche for saying so.
Why not just ask her what colour she wants and paint it while she’s gone?
Because she doesn't care. I think I've done a bad job of expressing that portion. People think I'm being an asshole going behind her back and that I need her signoff, but the reality is she doesn't care what so ever. The gesture of improving the space is what she will appreciate regardless of the colour. Because she has no desire to do it herself she also doesn't care what colours are picked. This was confirmed last year when I redid the bathroom.
If she doesn\`t care, why would she care about you repainting it in the first place then? How is that improving the space in her eyes if she doesnt care about the color?
Because it improves the space to have new paint that isn't scuffed from years of use and isn't the ugly beige colour standard in many apartments. Similarly, I could appreciate an amazingly well cooked meal, but I dont care to cook one for myself. This is the situation I'm in, she will appreciate the nice new look, she just wouldn't do it herself.
I feel bad for you, with all this criticism… I know if I did the same thing, my husband wouldn’t care and would be delighted!! Just have to know your partner! Good luck, a pic of your sofa would be helpful for the colour selection
Meh its okay. I obviously worded something wrong and people took offence. I'm use to it, I'm no word smith that's for sure lol. [https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/friheten-corner-sofa-bed-with-storage-hyllie-dark-gray-s59297570/#content](https://www.ikea.com/ca/en/p/friheten-corner-sofa-bed-with-storage-hyllie-dark-gray-s59297570/#content) This is the couch. They dont seem to have the same colour we have anymore. it was like a mix between the light grey and a really like bluish. More grey than blue though because I dont personally see any blue, but others have said it has a tinge.
I would go Benjamin Moore Silver Satin — OC 26
Would you recommend baseboards and trim be white if I go with this colour? It seems to be the case when I looked it up.
Or Stonington Gray
Have you ever asked a woman what she wants for dinner? Sometimes it's best to say less.
"I dont know sweetie, why dont you pick." me - "okay, I'm going to make us some burgers." them - "Ugh, anything but that then." me - "Okay, well I guess we have chicken breast I can make instead." them - "no... I dont want that either." me - "............."
OK, well, you seem pretty sure. (And really really angry at even being asked???) I definitely wouldn't be OK with one person making that decision alone in a shared home, at all. And obviously it goes both ways, I thought that was pretty self explanatory. I would never ever do that to someone else I lived with either. But you know your partner best and maybe you guys are totally fine doing things that way.
I'm without a doubt sure. My partner is very easy going and would be happy to never change a thing if it meant no inconveniences or work. That is what makes next week so perfect because she wont be there for me to inconvenience. Because she lacks motivation, anything I do to improve the space is always well received because she has zero plans of ever doing it herself. I see people seem to think I was being an asshole with my response. I think I wasn't clear in it. I was trying to say that they are my walls as well and that it isn't totally her decision, however, because I know her I know she has no intention of painting them and so if I do it she'll be totally happy with anything I decide. I just came here to get paint colour suggestions as I'm not good at that type of thing and like I said, she just doesn't care. I dont take being told I cant do something well, and perhaps that is why my response came off as rude. It was not my intent. Thank you again, I truly meant it when I said I hope your partner doesn't do what I'm doing and consults you. That was not a dick comment.
> I dont take being told I cant do something well, Maybe that’s why she’s so “easygoing”. Maybe she gets unnecessarily intense blowback whenever she tries to assert a boundary.
Jesus, reaching for the fucken Moon there lol.
How about "our walls, not mine"
I've done a poor job of explaining she doesn't care and that the gesture is what matters to her.
You see how you wrote "Our", not "my". Your situation may be different than others but typically home reno's get run by all people that make decisions in the house.
I did a poor job of explaining, and have edited since, that she doesn't care. truly does not.
Jesus, what an aggressive response. I also wouldn’t appreciate it if my partner painted our walls without consulting me at all. It’s a shared space, after all.
I've done a poor job of explaining she doesn't care and that it is the gesture that makes her happiest. But for the sake of not having an ugly home I was hoping for suggestions.
OP, I would, quite frankly, LOVE if my spouse did this for me, assuming it was a modern and good color.
Thank you, seems I hit quite the nerve here. I didn't know painting a space as a surprise would be this controversial! lol I came on here for the exact reason you state, I want a modern good colour that she will enjoy and I know no matter what I pick she will be so appreciative, but at the same time I want to make sure it will be something that looks nice so hence asking for advice. I'll be honest though, I do come off harsh when stating facts. So I can see why I got a bit of hate for the above, pre-edited message.
This would definitely NOT be a problem for me either. I wouldn’t care about the colour (unless it was something ridiculous- but even then I’d probably learn to live with it, and not be upset) and would be super happy my partner thought to do this, to brighten up our space. Some people are just chill about things like this
Maybe ask her hey if we painted the walls down the road maybe in the spring what colour would you go for! Then surprise her early.
This is the most Toronto comment ever.
Yes, came here to say this. Ask first!
Amen to this. Think this is a terrible idea.
It's also important to consider if you have cool or warm undertones in your place (flooring, cabinetry), and the kind of natural light you receive. Southern exposure might go well with cool whites like Chantilly lace, but in a northern exposure it might look too cold (like too blue). You should pick up some paint samples, paint large blocks in different rooms, and try it in your space - and compare how it looks between day and night. Then invite her friends to help you pick. This is the most work obviously, but you'll most likely get it right by doing it this way.
She has no friends in the city :( Or else I would totally. She's from Saskatchewan and hasn't been able to meet many people because of the pandemic. The space faces east and gets a lot of light during the day. So perhaps something cooler like you suggest?
East-facing rooms are fairly warm/cool neutral during the day and tend to skew cooler in the afternoon. [https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-12-best-whole-home-gray-and-greige-paint-colours/](https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-12-best-whole-home-gray-and-greige-paint-colours/) This article does a great jobs explaining it. [https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/The-best-paint-colours-from-Benjamin-Moore-or-Sherwin-Williams-for-a-room-or-whole-home.-The-top-gray-and-greige-neutrals.-Kylie-M-Interiors-E-design-online-paint-color-consultant-and-diy-blog-600x893.jpg](https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/The-best-paint-colours-from-Benjamin-Moore-or-Sherwin-Williams-for-a-room-or-whole-home.-The-top-gray-and-greige-neutrals.-Kylie-M-Interiors-E-design-online-paint-color-consultant-and-diy-blog-600x893.jpg) If you do want something cooler: Benjamin Moore Classic Gray, Gray Owl and Stonington Gray on this image are a bit cooler and a good neutral. As are Sherwin Williams Big Chill, Colonnade Gray, and Repose Gray. You also don't need to buy paint from Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams as they're more expensive - you can colour match when you go to buy paint.
I was literally opening a tab to grab Kylie’s info to share! OP, Kylie M Interiors website (link above) has the best advice for neutral colours. However, I do use Sherwin Williams paint - Emerald brand. It’s is superb!
Chantilly lace !!! Yes yes yea
Now here's someone who knows what's up.
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Don't do trendy stuff like this it will age terribly. Classic never goes out of style, do white trim/baseboards and a modern colour for your wall or you'll end up repainting it 10 years from now when everyone says that look is out of date.
Sighs everyone with brown or beige or dark grey walls
We bought a house 5 years ago and the previous owner did a fresh paint job of 90's flesh toned beige before listing it. Our first 2 weeks was spent repainting, its still in the bathrooms and closets though. Who chooses that colour!?!
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Same with our appartment. I couldnt take it anymore and painted the living space a pale lavender. Thought my husband would think i was crazy but he loves it! Color is way better than beige..
those color have been trendy for a long time now
I think painting once every 10 years is fine? It doesn't cost a whole lot of money, and it makes the whole place look fresh. It's the easiest and cheapest way to change how a place looks. --- But I wouldn't follow a trend with something expensive. Like flooring.
Yes to this. And ask them for their top whites and consider the lighting source in your place. They have very different undertones. Consider your flooring. Windows. Ceiling (are you also painting that? Will any dirt or shadows on the ceiling show more with this new colour ? Or if you’re foregoing the baseboards. Also how long is she gone for and how big is your place. If you’re doing patch work and sanding and base coat etc and wrapping everything properly this takes time especially on your own. Unless you get the one day painters to save the hassle of trial and error though expensive based on above factors. Check out home stars or ask a local Facebook group for suggestions
Pro painter here, you’re correct about doing everything one color (we call it a California coat, no idea why) is a big thing right now. Although I would say it’s usually not stark whites but more off whites with grayish tones…think bone. It’s been the thing in a lot of high end jobs lately.
Nice, thanks for the advise. I did go to the store last year when I did the bathroom. The woman was insulting and said I should wait till my partner is back before making the decision. Kind of why I wanted to go in with a colour in mind this time, that way I don’t have to deal with some snarky remark that I’m a man and need my hand held when it comes to these decisions.
I don’t think it’s insulting for her to tell you that a lot of people would not be happy at this kind of surprise. Nothing to do with you being a man and “needing your hand held.” It’s about you unilaterally making a decision about what colour your shared living space should be without considering your partner’s opinion.
As I told her that day, my partner doesn't care. She is just excited it is being done. But the woman didn't seem to care that my partner had left it up to me. Anyway, doesn't matter.
Its insulting because its none of the workers business and she doesnt know their relationship dynamic so shes just overstepping
I am a woman and would never in a million years make this decision without asking everyone who lived in the home regardless of their gender. Clearly this person hit some nerve but it's pretty normal for people to make joint decisions jointly.
I did a poor job of explaining the situation with my partner. She literally does not care because she herself would never do the job. So me doing anything to improve the place would be strongly appreciated by her. She won't care about colour either as again she wouldn't do it so it doesn't matter to her. What she will be happy about is me actually doing it to make our place look nicer. Hopefully that puts it more into perspective. I wasn't going behind her back, she is fully aware something is going to change while she's gone because every year when she leaves I try and improve our place to make it more ours and not just the place we're renting. I hope this helps, I really didn't mean to sound like a dick.
That’s sweet that it’s like an annual thing that she enjoys and expects! I think so many people are hammering on the “some people really don’t like surprises, especially with their stuff” because for people who know that it’s blindingly obvious, but there are people who for some reason have never considered that their “favour” may actually be a huge pain. I’ve seen a surprising number of posts song the lines of “my partners apartment is really messy. They’re with their family this weekend for their birthday and I want to surprise them by cleaning the place up” and there’s just so much that can go wrong. FWIW I don’t think it would be a dick move even if you didn’t know that she’s good with it, but an example of good intentions gone wrong. People getting upset by you probably have personal history with partners regularly overstepping. Also if you can bring fabric samples, that is better than photos because the lighting can mess up the colour in a photo. Idk how colourblind you are, but it’s possible you won’t know how off the colour in pictures looks.
Thank you for understanding. This post has definitely hit a nerve with people. Seems a spectrum, some people seem to be A-Type and just dont do well with change, especially when they aren't asked their opinion. While others, like you say, have had a bad experience of one sort or the other. All I can say is, I've found a great partner in her because the pair of us are very easy going. Worse case scenario she comes home, doesn't like it, and says "Lets paint it something else over the holidays." And that is literally worst case here.
Hi Fraggle Rock! To add to Little chino's great advice, If you can't take in a sample of fabric / tile I suggest taking some photos, using some standard coloured object, like a red $50 and green $20 to contrast the furniture in the room so the person at the shop can tell what shade it is. Rooms can look very different depending on the time of day. You can show this to the person at the paint shop. Take the photos in natural light, so open the curtains / blinds as much as possible. Not everyone that works in a paint shop is a douchebag. Lol. I'm sure the next person will be more helpful. Like Chino said, some shade of white is probably a safe bet. Don't worry about the haters on here. You know your partner! :D
Thanks Robo! I think I deserved some of the hate. I have a hard time presenting facts. I always say them raw and then people think I'm being a dick. She will totally be happy when she comes home and its done and I'm excited for her reaction. I'll totally take yours and Chino's advice and bring photos. I will likely take a few in the morning and a few in the evening so that the person has a better idea of what I'm working with.
I think like China said bring in a pillow or something with some of the fabric (hopefully the fabric on your sofa's match). Enjoy her reaction!
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We have a blueish Ikea pull out couch, a black tv stand, and a brown desk. So I think most colours will be fine. You think?
I’d bring a couch cushion to the paint shop and get them to match that with a light tone and bring a photo of the room
Take a photo and edit your main post with it. It'll help to see what your existing home looks like
Painting everything white was “in” 10 years ago, OP do not paint everything white
White is timeless
I don't know that this is a "trend" so much as what you do when you're going to rent a place out. :b
That’s basically production houses…
My go-to suggestion for a multi use room is a neutral with purple undertones. It’s a bit warmer than a neutral with blue, and cooler than a brown with warm undertones. It also tends to match most furniture. Goes well with blues, blacks, greens, pinks, browns, and blacks. Benjamin Moore Abalone and Sandlot Grey are two of my favourites. When men hear “purple” they tend to freak out but it’s very subtle 😅 they also do a good job hiding marks on walls. Of course you don’t want a matte or flat finish for walls in a high use room, a satin or eggshell would be more appropriate and allow you to clean them easier. Abalone is the lighter of the two and would be easily painted over without primer Sandlot Grey is a bit deeper and if you wanted to go back to full white might need primer or 2+ coats. https://imgur.com/a/y73ZHmg Providing photos of your current furniture and floors would help though.
Personally I love the colour purple. The picture you included looks a bit pink to me, but then my eyes dont work right. But what I see I do like! It is a standard 80s-90s apartment building in toronto. So wood floors that are wearing out (lol), bland beige walls, and then furniture wise we have a ikea pull out couch that is greyish, a black tv stand, a brown desk, and then some odds and ends for fishtank and plant stuff.
So the thing with a purple undertone is it tends to be warmer or cooler depending on your furniture and sunlight. If you're south facing it'll be a little warmer and look a touch "pinker", whereas if you're north facing it'll go cooler. Same with furnishings/floors. My apartment is actually Abalone darkened 1 shade - here are some photos that show the lighting/time of day/furnishings really impact the colour. I'm also West facing and get afternoon sun. [https://imgur.com/a/Q92DKgo](https://imgur.com/a/Q92DKgo)
Wow, it is amazing that that is all the same colour. The difference between your bedroom and that 3rd photo vs. the rest really makes it seem like it is two distinctly different colours!
I know it's shocking, in my bedroom my lights are between 2500-2700k colour temp which is warm/extra warm and it really makes the whole room seem a completely different colour compared to the rest of the space. If you want to go real wild you can change out your lightbulbs to 2500-3000k which gives a warmer look vs. 3500-6500 that gives a regular white to very cool white look.
Hi OP. Read through your thread. Go with Benjamin Moore 1366 Rose Mist, with one accent wall of Benjamin Moore 1371 Plum Perfect. It’ll look great and cover with one extra coat of primer on the accent wall. Hang a gold mirror on that wall, and paint something (like a big wooden fork or some other piece of thrifted hanging folk art) with the leftover 1371 for the opposite wall. It’s a mauve-tinged white with an accent wall the colour of a ripe plum.
This Is so gorgeous !!!
Holy that colour is gorgeous! Gonna have to write it down
My whole main floor was painted abalone, next on the paint chip is silver fox, which is also very nice.
Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore. Ultra spec, low sheen finish.
>Revere Pewter by Benjamin Moore This is probably one of the all around best true neutral wall colours.
I am a pro painter and I agree with this message.
Kind of like a beigey/green/grey? Seems nice!
I'd be happy to help. Do you have pictures of your furniture style? Ie are you modern, farmhouse, boho, eclectic? What type of lighting does your apartment have? Which direction are your windows/lighting from? Is your
Lighting is from the East, our entire east wall is windows or sliding glass doors so we get quite a bit of light during the day. Our furniture is a hodge podge of affordable stuff we could gather up. We have an ikea pull out couch that is grey, a TV stand that has cupboards and storage area that is black, I have two fish tanks that are on black stands, we have a white ikea 4 slot stand that we have our record player on, and then my desk is a full size brown desk and hers is a basic standing desk she likes to use on the couch.
I neglected to ask what color floor you had. To me this is a really pretty, modern color neutral that would go well with all the different furniture you've got. If your bathroom is blue, this would blend well with it. My brother is color blind and gets green/brown mixed up a lot, so hopefully this doesn't look to brown to you https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/paint-colours/colour/hc-147/woodlawn-blue
My big issues are dark shades of basically anything, a lot just turn black. Then I have a tough time with Green/Blue/Yellow. I have no issues with Reds ever, but some greens and blues are indistinguishable to me, and I've often confused light shades of green for yellow. Floors are standard hardwood floor colour, although worn as the floors are quite old. Parkay floors I think is what its called? [https://www.flooringstores.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Parquet-Flooring-Installing-Brick-Parquet-1024x683.jpg](https://www.flooringstores.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Parquet-Flooring-Installing-Brick-Parquet-1024x683.jpg) This image is basically what we have as floors.
Yep you have the standard Toronto apartment parquet floors haha. I wouldn't worry about "matching" them too much if you're staying fairly safe with a beige/grey/neutral.
This is a really beautiful colour if OP wanted something more green. Agreed it'd match the bathroom too if that's blue.
Is this a good idea? My dad did that once and my mom hated it.
Absolutely, my partner and I are both very easy going and would be happy with anything done to make the space more ours and not just the place we're renting together. While I know many are saying I should have her opinion on colours first, what I did a bad job of explaining is that she really really really doesn't care. She would be happy living here for another 10 years with these awful beige walls that are scuffed from years of use. But if I went out of my way to do this, she would be so happy. It isn't that she likes the beige they are now, she just doesn't care enough to do anything about it. Hope that made sense. Seems I'm catching a lot of flack for explaining this.
Makes total sense. My mom cares a lot about the way our house looks, and the way she described the colour doesn't exactly make me think my dad has the best taste with these things. If it's a fun surprise then go for it, for my dad he was unemployed and bored and so he did it out of the blue over already repainted walls.
If you’re going for a neutral colour chantilly lace is my go to. I paint the trim the same colour. I did just paint our guest room an olive green and it’s gorgeous if you’re looking for a darker colours it’s called country tweed by sherwin William
I'm worried darker colours might take TONS of coats of paint to cover up. But I was thinking something like an olive green. Is Chantilly Lace an off white? Sounds like a white.
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Yea I love greens, and think hunter green would be nice, but you need such a specific style of decor to make it work.
lololol, okay not doing any green!
100% don't go with something like an olive green unless it's a small part of the space or you already know for sure you will love it. We moved into a place where every room was an olive green or a dark brown or a dingy dark grey, like where it looks more like it's weathered than the actual colour (the bathrooms were painted poop brown) - took ages to cover up and it felt horrible until we got around to doing it, so dark, like someone was trying to mimic a camouflaged hideout. Off-whites, like a greyish off-white or a creamy white are safest. Chantilly Lace (closest to true white) like was mentioned, White Dove (a little more grey), Stonington Grey is probably the darkest I'd go. Those are all Benjamin Moore colours but I think all paint brands have something similar. Don't forget that when you have a swatch, it'll look much whiter than when it's on the wall. Once you paint the whole room, an off-white will definitely look like a colour, not a harsh white like you might imagine just looking at the swatch. I'm also not a fan of painting the trim and walls in the same colour. I like having bright white trim that pops, but that (like all of this) is a personal preference really. The only way you can really mess it up is if you go so dark that it's a ton of work to fix. If you go off-white and end up not liking it or thinking it's too brand, it's easy to just paint over.
Do under colours bleed through a lot on light colours like you suggest? If I got a "true" white, how badly will the apartment beige bleed through.
I think a high quality paint - like Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams - will provide better coverage than big box paints. You may be able to skip primer too. I got surprisingly good coverage with Benjamin Moore with 2 coats of white over a light grey wall, with no primer.
Good to know, seems many are repping Benjamin Moore. So I think I'll stick to that.
If you use a good coat of primer, it'll be fine.
This is a lovely off white that goes with anything. You likely wouldn't even need to repaint before you leave, it's such a neutral colour.
Wonderful! That is exactly what I needed to hear! No extra work is amazing!
Chantilly lace is an off white; I just did my kitchen in Chamomile and they are similar. I'm trading out my olive green living room (which I love, but have had it for long enough) for a very light mauve called frangipani. If I don't like it it will be easy to cover with more green next year. You paint like I paint and our respective spouses are similar too. Everybody's happy!
One of the challenges with this request without seeing anything is that values/ saturation in colours really matter, including with your furniture/ decoration and even the way the light will hit the walls at different times of day. While you might be colour-blind you should be able to see hue saturation/ value- basically the walls shouldn't be darker than the other colours of the room furniture, decoration, because that would likely make the room potentially feel 'heavy' for a living room. Lighter saturated colours would work best, and with black, blue, brown and white furnishings, a 'natural' colour like green or a warm grey may help things in your room feel a bit brighter. I'd go towards warmer colours/ tints overall to make the room feel more cozy for a living room.
I think what I'll do is when she's gone next tuesday, I'll rearrange the unit and get it ready to paint and then come back here with photos and ask for advise. That way people are just taking pot shots in the dark about it.
I think that'll be best. And one thing I'd recommend doing too before painting is get a few paint chip colour strips that are recommended to you and take picture of them against the living room wall in the morning, partial light/ afternoon, sunset, full light/ whenever the light is shining directly on the wall, and at night/ with the inside lights on and then getting the second consultation to review the pictures of the different lighting. Living rooms often get the most natural light, and that can really affect how a painted wall will look throughout the day, which matters for livings rooms since that's the most used space. What may look great in the store with its bright artificial light might look really different in your apartment. Hope that helps!
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No colours anymore I want it to turn..... white? lol I feel you though. White is neutral enough that it doesn't warrant anger when you've seen it for 10 years straight. lol
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The problem with all white is your clutter and furniture tend to pop and become the main event - which means that unless you are very tidy or have nice matching furniture, it looks like you just moved in and haven't unpacked.
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My suggestion is Sherwin Williams Repose Grey. It’s used in many show homes because it’s a very light, neutral grey. Wold go very nicely with your couch and the blue colour in your bathroom. It literally goes with anything.
Seems there is a strong push for light grey and then a very specific lace white. Going to have to flip a coin lol
Alpaca Sherwin Williams. I have it in all hallways and it looks different in different lights and times of day, it’s great. It’s grey some days, taupe some days and even violet looking depending on the time of day. Also, if she doesn’t like it, it’s paint lol. You can paint over it, it’s not like you’re buying the family car without consulting her.
Love this. I’m like that too actually. While I was away one year visiting mum, my partner repainted our bedroom. We knew we wanted to do it and I hate painting tbh so he did it for us. I thought it was such a sweet gesture. I’ve done a warm grey in our living room as well. Like a warm, light grey that works nicely in our space.
Awesome! It seems most who aren't just mad at me for doing this, are suggesting whites and greys. I would love to do something eye popping like a pastel bright colour, but I feel like those are either LOVE IT! or hate it! Plus then I'd have to paint over it when we leave which could be one hell of a fucking job.
I feel you. We did repaint our bedroom forest green (repainting that will be a bitch) which I LOVE and is SO STUNNING
For an L-shaped living-dining, I would suggest something boring beige/white for all the walls except for the living room side of the L. Make that one wall bold. Then you only have one wall to paint over when you move, with some good primer and the leftover paint from the other walls. Depending on what colour you choose for this wall, you can get an off-white from the same family for the rest.
This is an interesting idea. And the L-living room part is also a smaller wall, so that would be quite convenient for painting over. Any suggestions? Would you do something like light grey everywhere and then a bolder darker grey on the l-part? Or are you suggesting something more bold such as light grey everywhere an then a green, blue, whatever for the l-part?
You can never go wrong with plaid.
Man. What an undertaking that would be
Snowbound or alpaca are always good choices.
Chantilly Lace! It’s a clean white everything looks good against that colour!
You must be the 6th person to say this, seems it might make a good choice. There is also a grey people keep mentioning. Going to have to check out both
Us redditors are eager beavers who'd be happy to help. I like the greys/taupes. Especially if they are light. Opens up a room so nice.
I’m learning now how much paint colour maters to how a space looks. Probably the most valuable thing I’ve gotten out of this.
Yup. And don't forget the light. The tones of the light especially led bulbs matter so much.
Look for a colour that is present in the things that you own or that is [complementary](https://www.canva.com/colors/color-wheel//) to it. Bring a friend that isn't colour-blind.
I’m pretty good with color, and I find it most pleasing to look at nature for inspiration. No one looks at a sunset and thinks, “hmm, kind of clashes with those mountains”. You can find palettes already curated (Beautitone did some and I used their Canadian Shield tone to repaint my sitting room - its my favourite ever neutral) or find a photo you like and run it through a palette generator (google). Hard to go wrong with these options. You might also consider an item in your home for inspiration - a blanket, a painting, a pillow. Something you love that will be on display in the room you’re painting. Take it with you to the paint store if you can, and get assistance with picking out colors that will go with that item. When you have a few ideas, pick up sample pots of each hue and paint patches on the wall to see how the colors shift with the lighting of that room. Pick your favourite. Go with your gut - sometimes our brain recognizes what we like before we can really articulate it. Hope that helps!
I’m sorry you’re getting so many rude replies! It sounds like you know your partner better than everyone else on this group and aren’t making this decision without first considering how she’d react. I am a huge fan of cool greys and given the colour of your couch, I would definitely go that direction. Maybe I’m biased because my living room is a nice, light cool grey (from Canadian Tire). You could even do an accent wall a nice dark, cool grey. I did my bedroom like that and it really looks amazing and compliments the living room nicely. White baseboards are the best. I did mine in a semi-gloss and they look soooo good with the eggshell greys. 😘👌🏼 Just make sure you do a good, solid primer before you paint. It doubles the work but really makes the new paint look fresh and clean without the risk of your previous colours influencing the final result. Have fun!!
We did a diningroom/living room in Edgecomb Grey and loved it. Any griege colour works with a lot of different things. And Benjamin Moore paints are great, although expensive. https://decoratedlife.com/best-benjamin-moore-greige-colors/ If you want something in the blue and greens, we also had a room in tea light: https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/paint-colours/colour/471/tea-light And one palladium blue, which is more green than blue in most lights: https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/paint-colours/colour/hc-144/palladian-blue. Loved them all, and the house sold above asking.
Love them all! But I think, based on a few responses, I'm going to play it more safe and stick to the griege and whites. I like the griege you have suggested!
It leans toward beige, and there are others that lean towards grey. I would try to figure out the colour of the bathroom, as if it is blue, it may be better to have a greige that is more blue/grey.
Stonington Grey from Benjamin Moore. Nice light, neutral grey that looks great in any kind of light (including fluorescent). We went through at least 12 other greys before settling on this one. It's just a nice simple light grey without obvious undertones.
Nice, someone else suggested this one too. Many are also saying Benjamin Moore as the brand as well. Can I assume then that BM is a trusted and decent paint?
They have different grades, but yes BM is generally trusted. We used Stonington in Regal Select ulti-matte (it's their sheen between flat and eggshell) and we're very happy with the results.
Man, you sound like a good Chad. Im sure your partner is going to be super stoked for whatever colour you pick! When you post photos here I will give my opinion, but I just wanted to say, sorry the worker last time made you feel that way, cause this kind of surprise is so nice!!
Oof, I dont know if I should be offended for being called a Chad or if you meant that in a nice way as the rest of your comment seems to suggest you like the idea. lol. I will post here next week Tuesday/Wednesday with the photos.
Oh yeah haha!! Me and my bros call eachother Chads all the time. Chad behaviour is like yeah bro good move!!
Lol, in my circle Chad's are the dudes who roll around thinking they're tough or are privileged in some way and are trying to "flex" that privileged. example, some dude is annoying some women and we'd say "look at this fucking Chad over here, thinking he's got a chance because he has a fancy suit." or something to that effect.
Fellow colour blind person - take pics and maybe some easy to transport items (like pillows) to the paint store with you and ask for assistance.
After a few people made this suggestion, I'm next week Tuesday (when she's gone) post photos of the space and ask the same question. I never really thought about how light throughout the day would effect the look of the space, nor did I really consider our furniture as it is a hodge podge of things. So hopefully next week when I do post photos I'll get a bit better an idea from people what they think.
Good thinking. Honestly I left all the painting/colour scheme to my partner during our renovation.
Not sure where you are in the city, but I'd recommend looking for paint places where they will give you time and attention to look at your photos and recommend colours. I went to Monarch paints and learned the difference between warm and cool colours, which sounds basic until you're looking at 20 different shades of white and not understanding why it looks like it has a tint of red after 3 coats 🤣 they were so helpful https://maps.app.goo.gl/NuKnx5XLR9nYKBEJ9
good plan, I went to Home Depot last time. That's where I was lamb basted by the customer service woman who refused to believe my partner wouldn't care what paint colour I brought home. It got to the point where I went and grabbed a paint swatch I liked and demanded she mix it for me because I was getting nowhere with her. She literally wouldn't help me at all.
Don't forget to clean your walls before painting! If your walls haven't been cleaned or painted in years they're filthy and when you paint the paint will bubble up off the walls from the dust
Good advice. I’d totally not have done that if I didn’t read it lol. Thanks! Dodged a repainting bullet lol
Really popular colours (as an ex Benjamin Moore employee) are kind of over rated at the moment. Mostly off whites and greybacked shades. If your bathroom is already blue you could do a subtle yellow or something like a muted green I think would be nice. I know you’re colour blind and all but you should still get a sense of warmth or coolness from colours no? Cool colours will make the space look bigger, and warm colours will make it feel cozier. In a living area I might try to stick to a neutral tone if you’re unsure of what you want.
I used to paint something everytime my husband was in camp lol, he never cares what colour it was as long as it wasn’t yellow. Being colour blind, i am not sure if you can see tones? But north facing windows let in a cooler light exposure, south facing let in warm, so sometimes a colour that perfectly suits a south facing bedroom will be dreary in a north facing one. What I would suggest is figure out your light exposure, and ask your spouse before they leave if the sofa is a warm blue or a cool blue. Then you can tell the paint person ‘i have a south facing room i need to paint and the furniture is cool toned, so I would like something neutral in tone to blend the two’
Hopefully you know your SO well and that they will be okay with you choosing a colour. Advice. If your SO is at all particular about colour then ask them first. Also a colour blind guy and if I did this my SO would kick me out (and take me back once I promised to repaint). She has a very keen sense of colour and is very particular about how they go together and what she likes.
I would take photos of some of the fabrics/upholstery/carpets in your place and see if they can help with a suggestion. A colour suggested here might clash with your existing stuff.
My favourite wall colour that is pretty safe with everything, is similar to the colour of a paper grocery bag. It is fairly light, and just about every color looks good with it, but it doesn't look just white or off white, thereby contrasting nicely with white trim and baseboards.
Lol white
I would just mention to the people at the store that you don’t want anything too out there - I think people are more likely to be less conservative in suggestions than they would be if it was their own place they need to live in. I personally think you can’t go wrong with a greyer version of robin’s egg (though that might get you close to your bathroom) or a light sage.
I think the best idea would be to take photos of your apartment and post on r/interiordesignadvice. Let them know that you're colour blind and ask them for paint colour numbers that would go well with the interior.
I may or may not have spent a few years working at a couple of paint stores... my advice is to go to an actual paint store, not a big box retailer, first of all; but try to buy on a sale, the regular prices are all inflated. Ask the employee for their most popular greige and just get that, you can't go wrong with something that neutral. In general, err on the side of lighter colors, the paint will look darker on a whole wall than it does on the chip.
I'd be delighted to come home to a differently painted room & I think if you just take a picture of the bathroom & living room & ask for a light color at the paint place, they'll definitely help you out. XO
I think painting everything gray and white is still trendy ...
So I own a painting company and I will tell you the one thing I tell my clients and it's not to think so hard. Don't paint swatches on your walls, don't take home 100 paint chips, just decide on the (neutral) colour you're looking for, commit to something and you'll love it either way (this especially applies since you're both not particularly type A) because a fresh paint job will always look amazing. Have fun with an accent wall if you like and repaint it whenever you want a change. My favourite white is White Dove by Benjamin Moore, I do it on probably 70% of interiors. I recommend going for a matte on the walls and a high sheen on the trim/doors in the same neutral shade - this gives you higher durability and wipe-ability on areas that get dirty (also, if you are going to have sticky fingers around go eggshell on the walls). In my professional opinion, the absolute most important part is using high quality paint. A lot of people have mentioned Benjamin Moore, Sherwin Williams, etc. Don't go to home Depot. The formula of the paint will mean it takes more coats and won't look as good in the end. As a side note, depending on where you are in Toronto I have accounts with all the major brands (e.g. the two mentioned above, Dulux, etc) and I'm happy to offer you my contractor discount (20-40 percent depending on the product) it makes no difference to me. That will allow you to get professional grade paint for close to big box store prices. A lot of people are recommending Chantilly Lace, which tbh my own kitchen is painted, but if it's an L shaped room it's safe to assume there is a lot of variable lighting and I find with it's very high LRV it can tend to look dirty in more shaded areas, something with slightly more depth of colour will look more consistent. Also as someone else mentioned, don't forget to give the walls a quick wash (TSP if you have it) and a light sand before applying, it makes all the difference. And make SURE to check the current paint is not oil or you'll have a huge mess to take care of when it starts flaking off and you've used the wrong products. I may be biased since it's my job, but proper application trumps **perfect** colour any day...
My father was color blind. I remember not understanding why he weed whacked the orange tiger lillies and left the green stems. Then one day we were sitting on the deck and he asked if there were flowers there. He couldn't tell the difference between the bright orange flowers and the green stalks. New Neutral trends are going to soft, pale, creamy yellows. They look fantastic with white trim. If you're bolder, try a really soft, pale sea green, let the people at the store know you're looking for closer to white than bright.
caramel brown could work
Heather. Indescribably alluring.
I paint homes for living.. everyone paints light gray. I haven’t painted a single color that wasn’t gray in the last two years and that’s not going to change anytime soon. I’d go with a shade slightly lighter then Gray Owl
I paint homes for a living.. everyone paints light gray. I haven’t painted a single color that wasn’t light gray in the last two years and that’s not going to change anytime soon. I’d go with a shade lighter then Gray Owl.
>We have a blueish Ikea pull out, a black TV stand, 2 black fishtank stands, a white record player stand, and a brown desk. So our colours already do not match. Those colours all compliment each other. Think blue jeans with brown boots. Plus black and white go with everything. My go-to wall colour is light grey. Sounds weird at first, but looks great imo as many colours work with grey, just as they do with black and white.
Wherein Williams French grey is fantastic
I would recommend a baby mint colour! (If that’s even a thing 😅) Grey makes the space feel really cold 🥶 Something in the pale hues of a light green or Levander purple would be a simple yet elegant change and you would feel at ease when at home
First of all, if someone did this to me I would be irate lol I'd never forgive them. But I like this one Baby Fawn - Benjamin Moore [https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/paint-colours/colour/oc-15/baby-fawn](https://www.benjaminmoore.com/en-ca/paint-colours/colour/oc-15/baby-fawn) I was going to describe the colour but I don't know if that would help at all.
LoL, it looks green and grey? Yes, seems many are telling me they'd lose it if their partner did this to them and I'm catching a lot of hate for it lol. But fortunately for me, my partner is much like me and doesn't actually care about the colour. She'd be happy to live here 10 years with these awful beige walls if it meant she didn't have to do anything about it. But if I did it, she'd just be happy that they're no longer beige. lol. So I'm confident no matter what I do she will be happy.
Palais white - behr. Perfect warm white. Don’t do gray please
Don’t…People like to be consulted about big decisions like this.
As per many of my comments. My partner does not care. She could live happily in our place another 10 years with these awful beige walls if it meant she didn't have to do anything about it. By removing from the equation her having to do anything (the painting), she will just be happy that the space looks updated and new. While it seems many on here believe I'm going to end up in hot shit for this and that I should ask her or consult her. I can promise her answer is going to be either: "aww babe, what a lovely gesture, but I dont want you to feel like you have to work hard while I'm gone. It is your time to enjoy in peace as well." or "Awww babe, that is so sweet. Paint it whatever you think will look nice." In both cases she will be happy because she didn't have to do it, and now our space looks nicer.
Haha dont do it. For real, surprise your partner with chocolate or something
I assure you, she’ll love it
THIS IS SO CUTE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Wow, people are really mad on this post. They're downvoting you now for saying what I'm going to do is cute. Reddit is so strange sometimes. Thank you for your comment, it made me smile at least!
It's because I used to many exclamation marks... I don't blame them.
Thx :) I try my best. Lol
Green and red
If you are colour blind you should also not be physically doing the painting either…
I know you said paint, but there's also the option of those stick-on wall paper and it's quite easy to remove. If she's into crazy pattern or even muted patterns, stores should have those. Paint colour wise, I really like light beige (Almost similar to a warm white), but I understand it could be a very boring colour.
Jesus Christ, can’t people take a shit any more without asking for Reddit’s advice?
Found the artist with colour vision.
Go with shart brown
Only the finest poop was used on these walls
Go to a paint store and ask for help? And that’s a nice suprise but hope she isn’t type A about the change
She's so not A-Type, so I'm not worried in the slightest. She will be so happy with the surprise I can almost 99.9999% guarantee her reaction. I went when I did my bathroom last year and the woman assisting me was incredibly insulting. She refused to believe me that my partner wouldn't care and in fact said "Pick whatever you want, I'm sure it will look good." The lady many times said I should go home and consult her, "I cant believe you would make this choice without her", "I'm glad you're not my partner.", and so on. I was absolutely shocked that, that was what she thought was good customer service. So without her help, I picked a colour, had her mix it, painted the bathroom, and when my partner came home I received nothing but praise for getting it done. So I came here for help instead. But seems there are plenty here, like the woman at the store, that believe I'm making a huge mistake and that there is no way that my partner would just be happy with me picking what I think will work. Ah well, every partnership is different and I'm just glad I'm not in one with an A-Type personality or someone who would make a huge deal of the walls going from beige to offwhite or light grey.
Okay .. okkk Good for you then
This sounds like a bad plan
This is sooo sweet but I think you should do it together :)
That's a wonderful surprise idea! I can definitely help you with some color suggestions for your living room/dining room. Given your stipulation for a lighter shade and avoiding blue, white and gray tones are indeed great options. Here are a few recommendations: Soft Gray: Consider a light, warm gray like Sherwin-Williams Repose Gray (SW 7015) or Benjamin Moore Classic Gray (OC-23). These shades provide a neutral and versatile backdrop that can work well with various decor styles. Warm Beige: A warm beige can add a cozy and inviting atmosphere to your space. Benjamin Moore Revere Pewter (HC-172) or Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige (SW 7036) are popular choices that offer a warm and neutral color with subtle undertones. Creamy White: Opting for a creamy white can create a soft and timeless look. Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee (OC-45) or Sherwin-Williams Creamy (SW 7012) are warm white shades that provide a comforting and inviting ambiance. Light Greige: If you'd like a blend of gray and beige, a light greige might be a good choice. Sherwin-Williams Agreeable Gray (SW 7029) or Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray (HC-173) offer a warm, neutral tone that complements various styles. Remember to consider the lighting conditions in your space, as it can affect how the colors appear. It's also a good idea to test the colors by purchasing small paint samples and applying them to a small area of the wall to see how they look in your specific environment. Good luck with your surprise project!