This post is sponsored by Sherwin-Williams®
If there are 2 things that I know in this world it’s Sherwin-Williams paint and Tootsie Roll Eggs. Today I am unleashing the floodgates on my go-to paint colors, how I pick new ones, and something that I have been lobbying for for the last 5 years…
AN EXCLUSIVE VINTAGE REVIVALS COUPON!
This is the mothership of paint posts my dears, you are going to want to pin it, bookmark it, and maybe even get it tattooed on your arm. It’s a good one! So let’s get into it!
Picking Your Colors
First things first, the most important place to start when you are buying paint is color! I mean, isn’t that the reason you’re painting in the first place?! Color is statement-making, and wonderful, but can go wrong really quickly. I think the first thing that we need to acknowledge is that there isn’t a bad color.
When paint colors go wrong it’s because we have expectations for how they will look, and when they don’t look that way, that’s when we feel the soul-aching pain of going back to the drawing board.
There is a whole world of color science that we could dive into, which you are free to do, but instead I am going to give you all of my go-to paint colors and why I feel like they are a staple in every space.
Colors have tones to them, right? This is also known as the temperature.
Color Temperature
This scale is from blue to yellow and is the most common way people describe a color. A warm color has more yellow in it, while a cool color has more blue. Different lighting conditions can bring this out more, but it’s usually pretty easy to see what has a warm tone, and what has a cool tone.
Surprisingly, the most important color staples can be the hardest to pin down. In my opinion, the perfect white and the perfect black have neither a warm nor a cool tone. It’s in the dead center and can be paired with both a cool color and a warm one.
The Best White Paint
Mandi White Custom Formula
I feel like white paint is something that people approach with reckless abandon (I’m going to paint my whole house white!) but the closer they step into the world, the more vast something as simple as white paint becomes until you are stringing a whole slew of adjectives together strong enough to make an English teacher blush.
You know what I mean right? Tell me you have not said, or been part of a conversation like this:
“I am going to paint the walls white.”
“Ohhhh I love white!”
“But not just like white white, more of a white that feels really modern and relaxed like you are in a spa from the year 2403.”
“Ok…”
“You know the kind of white that calms your soul in a spiritual way. But not in a heavenly spiritual way, more of a vast nothingness type spiritual way.”
“Totally.”
“Like just white. Not yellowish, or blueish, or grayish. Just plain white.”
Uhhhhh. Guys! That’s a lot of pressure to find the perfect white paint.
Let me give it to you straight. I have found the perfect white paint. I’ve used it in every room that I have designed since 2013, and seen it in countless other homes, and IT ALWAYS LOOKS AMAZING. In fact, every single picture in this post, and on Vintage Revivals that has white walls is this formula.
It is the best plain/basic/just white paint color on the planet. Check out this post if you want to dive deep into the world of white paint!!
It’s not an actual Sherwin-Williams color, but you can get the formula for Mandi White here!!
So why is the right white important?
The perfect white plays well with everyone. It can hang with warm colors and is always in with the cool crowd. *Snort* See what I did there?
Colors are intense, and sometimes they just look off when they are paired. This can’t-put-your-thumb-on-it phenomenon is usually caused by the tone. A cool white paired with a warm color is going to feel very blue and stark. Likewise, a warm white, paired with a cool color is going to feel dingy and yellow.
The Best Black Paint
Tricorn Black SW 6258
Sherwin-Williams Tricorn Black SW 6258 is the most perfect black on the planet. It is a true black. Deep and saturated and neutral in temperature, it checks all of the boxes.
If you are going to venture into the world of black paint, I highly suggest you do 2 things. Look at it in the space that you are using it (of course) but also take it outside and look at it in full sun. That will tell you very quickly if it’s pulling any sort of tone. Have you ever seen a building that used black on the exterior, but it looks purple? That is such a bummer!! Don’t let that happen to you!
We have Tricorn Black on all of our window trim, doors, and casings.
FYI Tricorn Black is a perfect match to black Andersen windows!
Say it with me, Tricorn Black has my back. Repeat 5 times and you’ll never forget it!
My Favorite Paint Colors (that aren’t neutrals)
I have a few tips for picking paint colors. Unless the goal is to have a true color, or something that is intentionally bright, always steer more in the direction of a dusty version. It’s kind of a fail-proof way to not have a shocking color. For example, let’s say you want to use yellow, but don’t want it to be a bright sun yellow, go a little deeper into a muddier mustard version.
Below I’ve listed some of my favorite paint colors and linked to spaces that I’ve used them!
Jasper SW 6216
My #1 favorite green! Jasper SW 6216 is a super dark, almost black green that we used on our front doors, kitchen cabinets, office makeover, and outdoor planter. It looks amazing paired with Tricorn Black!
Ruskin Room Green SW0042
Super good soft warm green! If you want to learn how to paint furniture, this is the post for you!
Rosemary SW 6187
I’ve used Rosemary a few times in the last year, at the Real Simple Home, and in a charity makeover. I love this color!! It’s an awesome midtone green that isnt too dusty. I would describe it as a desaturated cool olive.
Ripe Olive SW 6209
If you want an olive color that is warmer (vs. Rosemary that is cooler) Ripe Olive is your new fave!
Cavern Clay SW 7701
Such a good terra cotta! Deepens as the space gets darker!!
Chaise Mauve SW 6016
This is unexpected, but I am OBSESSED with this dusty mauve color that we were dared to put in our bathroom! You can see the whole thing play out in this Instagram highlight!
Iron Ore SW 7069
If you want a killer charcoal, THIS IS YOUR GUY. Iron Ore SW 7069 follows the same rules that Mandi White and Tricorn Black follow. It’s the best charcoal and doesn’t pull purple (which is always a charcoal problem!!)
Paint Sheen
Paint sheen is a whole other post that needs to be written because it is a world of info, but since this post isnt that, let me share with you my go-to sheens (cause that’s what you really want to know anyways right?)
I always without fail use Matte on walls, ceilings, and baseboard. If you are using Sherwin’s high quality paint it is easy to clean and always looks awesome.
On doors and casing I like using satin!
Paint Formula: Which One is Right For Me?!
There are a whole slew of different paint formulas. Sherwin-Williams has 9 that are designed to go on your walls! I have a whole post about what type I use and why (always the Emerald line!) But if you want something a little more budget-friendly, SuperPaint is my second fave!
Sherwin-Williams Coupon Code
With Sherwin-Williams, you get what you pay for, and you are paying for the best.
However, I totally understand that there is a real-life factor that comes into play and sometimes budgets are budgets. So I am SO FREAKING EXCITED to offer you an exclusive Vintage Revivals coupon!
- You can use at any Sherwin-Williams store
- On any paint products
- As many times as you want throughout 2020 (painting projects every weekend? I got you man!!)
- WITH THEIR OTHER DISCOUNTS!!
The voice in my head has progressively gotten shriller with each of those bullet points.
You have to have the barcode, so bookmark this post, or save it to your phone!!
Sherwin-Williams now has online ordering! Just place your order online at sherwin-williams.com, and select your nearest location for curbside pickup. You can also order paint chips online for free delivery at swcolorchips.com.
Happy painting my friends!
Great post with so much helpful info. We have tricorn black on our windows with snowbound white walls and it works well in our home. We are currently planning on painting the exterior brick of our home dark and want to go dark grey not super black. Do you have a color recommendation for exterior brick that isn’t going to look purple?
Thanks for the coupon! After reading your previous painting post, I used SW Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel to paint a couple dressers and night stands. They turned out amazing!! A year later they still look like they were just painted- no chips or anything. I rolled on the paint, but it looks like it could have been sprayed. It is 1000% worth it to spend a little more to get such a fantastic product!
I wish this coupon worked for Canada 🙁
That plant. And planter! Who what when where please?
This is all so helpful! I went back and reread your painting furniture post as well. Would you recommend SW Emerald Urethane Trim Enamel for painting kitchen cabinets?
I have just painted my third kitchen with SW Emerald. AMAZING finish and super durable. Just make sure you do the prep work!!!! Sand or use a deglosser and then get a high bonding primer (your local SW will be able to recommend one specific to your application). This is what will make your paint job looking fresh for years.
Thank you!! Which sheen do you use?
I used your Mandi white in my living room/dining room with the Iron Ore as an accent wall in the dining area. LOVE your white. Every morning sitting in the LR drinking my tea I still can’t get over how perfect it is-even a year later. Now I really want to do the rest of the house with this white, and yes they did look at me funny when I gave them the formula 🙂
So glad for this post! We are prepping to paint our main living area white! The coupon will be well used and appreciated. On a side note we used Sherwin Williams Snapdry door and trim paint as is no color added to paint a movie screen on the wall in our theater room. It matched the high cost HD paints that cost hundreds of dollars a gallon. Sherwin Williams is the best paint out there, thanks again for the coupon.
Do you have a go to for grey trim? Not too grey or brown and no other hidden colors. I think we were leaning towards agreeable grey because repose was too grey. I’m going to be painting the walls Mandi white for sure now.