The Paint Picking Process – Cast Your Vote

Hello!

As I mentioned briefly in Tuesday’s post, I’m in the process of trying to determine a new paint color for my family room (which also carries through to the breakfast nook, kid’s hallway and hallway off the garage), and have gone a bit overboard with the paint swatches.

You’ll be happy to know that I have narrowed it down even further.  A dreary day today too, so the colors change as a result.

Here is a wider angle, so you can get a better idea of the feel of the room with the colors:

And I’m also working with this in the room:

I’ve also slapped paint on another wall, in an attempt to aid in my decision making.

And a wider view:

I made the mistake of asking the family for their opinions, and they’re (of course) different than what I’m thinking.  This then leads to the following conversation:

Husband:  “Why do you ask me if you’re not going to take my advice?”  
Me:  “There’s always the chance that we’ll agree and then I can make you feel like you were part of the decision making process.”

So, my husband and oldest son like Anew Gray (which is probably my least favorite option).  I hadn’t even added it to my second wall (which is why it’s a small patch at the bottom of the pile in the photo).  My middle son likes Revere Pewter.  Everyone nixed Gray Wisp and Comfort Gray because they’re too similar to what we already have in there (Palladian Blue).  

I’m drawn to Gray Wisp, but I’m looking to change up the room from its current look, with a warmer color.  I’m leaning towards Collingwood or maybe Revere Pewter.  Originally I was drawn to Gray Owl, but now I think it might not be warm enough for the space.  I am open to adding one of these colors to my kitchen though.  I really do like the look of the colors together as a palette.

Maybe I’ll poll my daughter after school and see which color she likes…

I will be happy to get these out of my sight – although I’m really  happy that I did go a bit crazy with the samples.  It’s really given me the chance to live with the colors for a bit, and rule some out altogether, that I originally thought I would love, based on the swatch on the paint deck.

So, I’m turning it over to you for your opinion.  Which one do you like best?  Why is it so difficult to choose paint colors for your own home? 

43 Comments

  • Reply
    Kris @ Driven by Décor
    November 13, 2014 at 6:08 pm

    My house is starting to look exactly like yours today as I'm slapping up gray samples on the wall! I'm voting for Revere Pewter – I'd love you to try some new different gray but have to say that this predictable winner may have just had another win – it looks great in your space!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      November 13, 2014 at 6:54 pm

      I was hoping to do something different than "the most popular color ever", but sometimes you have to remember that there is a reason it's so popular, right? 😉

  • Reply
    shoemarnster
    November 13, 2014 at 6:22 pm

    I vote for Comfort Gray – all the way! They are all nice though. I'm having trouble picking a gray for my home as well. It's tough! Good luck.

    • Reply
      Jenny
      November 13, 2014 at 6:55 pm

      Grays are about impossible, I've determined!

  • Reply
    Emily Anne
    November 13, 2014 at 6:31 pm

    My first thought was Collingwood. You definitely want it to look quite different from what you have to justify all that effort! I do think one of the darker grays would look better around your built-ins tho. Your trim seems to be a warm white, so i think a dark gray might contrast better- maybe anew or comfort? I used a mix of 2 grays in my 1st floor, lighter in the kitchen, halls and foyer, and darker in the mudroom, dining, living, and bathroom. Love the dark in all but the living room- not enough white trim to break it up. My husband is running a few years behind in my plan to add white built-ins there!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      November 13, 2014 at 6:55 pm

      I hadn't thought of that Emily! You're giving me even more to think about here!

  • Reply
    Becky M.
    November 13, 2014 at 7:38 pm

    Collingwood was my first choice…I may have to look at it myself because the tile,granite,etc in your house are very similar to mine. I painted my pantry door Comfort Gray…and it went VERY green in my house, so paint a large swatch before deciding! Good luck!

    • Reply
      Jenny
      November 13, 2014 at 7:39 pm

      It's funny you mention the Comfort Gray "going green" Becky. That's what my husband called it when he looked at it. So interesting how all of these different colors react in different homes!

      • Reply
        Laura
        February 14, 2017 at 7:11 am

        I just painted my basement in comfort grey. The small color sample I used on my wall was grey with a hint of green. On my wall it turned blue/green. (Mainly blue). So the small color sample on the wall can lie. 😉

  • Reply
    Sandy A
    November 13, 2014 at 8:12 pm

    Collingwood is my choice. Though it is impossible to tell unless you see it in your home with your lighting and furnishings, but online I think it is a lovely color…

  • Reply
    Jennifer @ Dimples and Tangles
    November 13, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    Computers are funny, to me, Gray Wisp looks the closest to what you already have. I was liking the browner tone of the Revere Pewter, but I'm sure it looks totally different in your real room!

  • Reply
    Sheila
    November 13, 2014 at 10:12 pm

    I am with you, I like both Revere Pewter and Collingwood. Agreeable gray is okay too. I think if it was me I would go with Revere Pewter. I have seen it in a lot of rooms (though only online and not in person) and it is gorgeous every time. I have never seen Collingwood in a room either in person or online to know what it would really look like. I have seen Agreeable gray in several rooms online too and love it also about as much as I do Revere Pewter but I think it would be too light in your large room. So I cast my vote for Revere Pewter.

  • Reply
    Missy in Texas
    November 14, 2014 at 5:59 am

    Hi there! I just went through this… But with even more paint samples! After much debate we decided to paint the whole house Revere Pewter. Our home is similar to yours in size of space, windows, etc. We had it mixed in Sherwin Williams paint because that's what our painter liked to use. BIG MISTAKE. I have Revere Pewter in my sons room mixed in Ben Moore and this looked nothing like it. It Also looked nothing like the RP sample mixed in the sherwin W paint. So weird. It looked too light and very minty green. I'm not sure why it didn't work, but I should have known better. I had agonized for months over the paint and my worst fear had happened. So back to the drawing board. We ended up going with Anew Gray. It looks almost exactly like the Revere Pewter in my sons room. It is definitely a greige. Most of the time it leans more gray but in the AM when we have lots of direct natural light it reads more beige. I worried that it would be too dark, but it's just right. I had a decorator consult with me before we started. She said if you want a true gray look, not blue not beige then use the SW Modern Gray. So you might like that color. I'm happy to email you pictures if you are interested. Good Luck! : )

  • Reply
    pam {simple details}
    November 15, 2014 at 12:26 am

    My favorite is Collingwood, but Revere Pewter is right up there. I'd paint BIG samples of both of those. Good luck! 🙂

  • Reply
    faith
    November 15, 2014 at 2:59 am

    Comfort gray is a nice for the darker tone grays. Collingwood or revere pewter would work as well. In my opinion the wisp gray is too similar to ur wall color. Has a blue greenish color. I am in the process of trying to pick out a paint for our bedroom as I purchase a new bed from west elm in the dark gray. Love the bed btw. I want the more modern true gray look. No blue or green hues. Best of luck too you!!!

  • Reply
    Tabitha
    August 7, 2016 at 1:13 pm

    Hello- I was wondering if there was an update to this post? You have four of my top paint choices on your wall – aggreable gray, revere pewter, gray owl and anew grey. I’m curious which color you chose!

  • Reply
    Janeth
    August 28, 2016 at 7:40 am

    I have revere pewter in my hallway and formal living room and also paired it with the Palladian blue! It’s absolutely stunning.

  • Reply
    Mary Canedy
    September 8, 2016 at 2:08 pm

    I have been doing this same thing at my house. I never thought it would be so hard to choose a color for a wall! I vote for Collingwood as well. Good luck!

  • Reply
    Lucia Corwin
    October 23, 2016 at 6:44 pm

    Collingwood or gray owl would be my choice. Put the names of two on separate cards, have someone hide them behind their back. You pick a hand then see if you felt any disappointment, however little, then choose the other one. Gets you out of your head and into your feelings about the color. Good luck!!

  • Reply
    Teri
    November 3, 2016 at 10:19 am

    I have the same problem I went with revere pewter because it seems to change colors giving a different look with the same paint color and blending well with what ever is around it and it’s warmer than a plain gray.
    Good luck it’s a tough decision

  • Reply
    Lee
    November 5, 2016 at 7:56 am

    Anew gray! It has the hint of biege/brown that ties in the granite counter top adjacent to it.

  • Reply
    Erika Del Rio
    June 2, 2017 at 4:49 pm

    I have always loved the Gray Owl. It is cool without being to heavy and dark. It has a nice crisp clean look to it. but for a warmer look I also like the Colling Wood. It is very natural looking and has some warmth and coziness.

  • Reply
    Nicole
    August 28, 2017 at 11:25 pm

    I would either go with rivere pewter or Collingwood. Collingwood as my first choice. Because I dont think you should go to dark with that stone fireplace or else it will just look to blended. The lighter colour will be a nice contrast to everything else.

  • Reply
    Cindy Whittaker
    December 24, 2017 at 1:28 pm

    I personally, looking over the colors picked Revere Pewter. It seems to work looking at all the components in the other rooms surrounding the room being painted. It’s isnt a cold color . I think it gives the room warmth even if it tends to be in the gray shades.

  • Reply
    Francine
    January 8, 2018 at 10:54 pm

    Collingwood is nice neutral color and would go well with other colors in other rooms. But I love the grey wisp.

  • Reply
    Debra
    January 21, 2018 at 9:35 pm

    Revere pewter definitely

  • Reply
    Janie Pruitt
    February 10, 2018 at 8:38 am

    Jenny I personally see a lot of blue in the gray wisp. From the pics it looks like a blue hue! I like something that would go with your beautiful fireplace possibly Revere Pewter plus there is a pretty color I have in my den by S.W. Paint called Greige or Perfect Greige. Perfect color between gray & beige! Excited to see what u pick! Let me know curious!

  • Reply
    MARIANNE
    February 10, 2018 at 12:07 pm

    I wish you had put the name of the manufacturer with the colour samples, for 2 reasons. #1 the computer monitors vary, so the colours don’t always appear “true”. #2 in case we liked a particular colour and want to use them in our own homes. I’m looking for a gray myself and it would have been helpful to know which paint stores to visit to grab some chips. You’ve got some really nice colours there.

    • Reply
      Jenny
      February 10, 2018 at 12:28 pm

      Marianne – you can easily google the colors and the manufacturers will show up along with them. They’re all either Benjamin Moore or Sherwin Williams colors.

  • Reply
    Dottie
    February 19, 2018 at 8:07 am

    Collingwood looks good to me

  • Reply
    Sharyn
    February 21, 2018 at 7:42 am

    I like agreeable gray. It’s a gray with a touch of warmth. It’s the perfect modern shade to blend your cabinet color with the counter and couch. Revere pewter is a close second for more contrast.

  • Reply
    Liz
    February 25, 2018 at 7:24 pm

    Comfort gray❤Go with what you love! No one else’s opinion matters if your choice makes you happy! Trust me!

  • Reply
    Linda
    March 17, 2018 at 6:11 pm

    Gray Owl

  • Reply
    Lenore
    April 30, 2018 at 8:45 pm

    We have Anew Gray on our living room walls and hallway. It’s beautiful, and I’ve received many compliments on it. It’s a warm, inviting gray – I didn’t want anything cold.

  • Reply
    Sue Peoples
    May 13, 2018 at 1:18 pm

    My vote is for Revere Pewter. I used it in a house in the PNW and it looked amazing. We then used it in a condo also in the PNW. The color changes with the light throughout the day. Sometimes more gray, somethings soft green gray.

  • Reply
    mallory
    May 14, 2018 at 9:25 pm

    I think Collingwood looks the best with your hard surfaces. Your warm colors will look best with a warm grey that is more greige. Have you tried Edgecomb? I think that would look great.

  • Reply
    ELLEN EMORY
    May 31, 2018 at 10:46 pm

    Try Benjamin Moore’s Sweet Innocence. It is a gray with a blue hue that changes slightly purplish in darkness. It is soothing and lovely nd I’ve received numerous compliments on it from others. It’s it my entry hall, stairways, and master bedroom. I love it!

  • Reply
    Staci
    June 5, 2019 at 12:06 pm

    when your home has all the warm beige colors how do you make grays look right?

    • Reply
      Jenny
      June 9, 2019 at 10:25 am

      It’s a lot of trial and error. I have found that you can’t go too cool with grays when you have warm beige colors in your home. Revere Pewter is my favorite go-to paint color for working with beige. It’s the perfect shade!

  • Reply
    Serena
    November 11, 2019 at 12:20 pm

    Recently, we did all three floors of the house in Collingwood. It looks different depending on the lighting in each room. Any suggestions for a compliment color to use with it?

    • Reply
      Jenny
      November 11, 2019 at 10:15 pm

      Revere Pewter would be nice – I just painted our master bedroom in Collingwood!

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