Order some samples so you can test some colors

Here is your cabinet door with Classic Gray and some other gray paint colors.

Definitely check it out in your space with your lighting. We just painted most of our house with Classic Gray on the walls and Simply White on ceilings/trim. I love it in our living area/kitchen (open concept & lots of light) but I don’t like it nearly as much in my office and a guest room, it looks like a completely different color there (almost peachy)...

Thanks. I did sample classic gray on several walls and it looks great! But I can’t seem to decide if it looks good or not with the brown kitchen cabinets. I actually had a color consultation done and white dove was recommended but it looks too yellow and dingy. Might be just me as everyone else loves this color lol. Below is a picture with and without our 5000k lighting (which we may soften by going for 4000k). First sample on the wall is classic brown and right underneath the yellowish patch is white dove.

We have red birch cabs in our space and it works, but they are lighter than yours. And of course we have no real lighting in (though I did experiment with diff temp bulbs) so maybe we’ll hate it when it’s all said and done... lol I sure hope not, it was a lot of work! We didn’t care for white dove either... What about simply white for everything (just in different finishes)?

Thanks liloregonbug and D walker. I’ll consider white as you suggested. Below picture is from the family room looking into the hallway and kitchen. Maybe I’ll do simply white in the kitchen area/room and the rest classic gray.

This picture is from the foyer looking into the house. Left is the very bright dining area and family room is right at the end. Kitchen to the left. So thinking of doing all walls in classic gray and maybe kitchen area in simply white. I’d love to hear thoughts/suggestions if there are any. Thanks!!

Oh and please excuse the mess!

I know the popular trend is to paint everything in the house one color, a neutral or white (did beige, then gray/greige, now white or off white).

After everything is neutral we start seeing posts - how do I add color.

Is your wardrobe just neutrals and whites? Is your life really that bland?

I had a white on white home 30 years ago, but had a ton of artwork and colorful furniture that was classic Scandinavian at the time. It was beautiful, but it wasn't really me.

I have never again had just neutral walls. I don't want to live in a home that looks like a builder spec home. Other people who see my home often ask me to help them pick colors for their home.

So how do I pick colors? I first look at the things that must stay (have never had the luxury of not having to keep something (flooring, cabinets, counter tops, treasured or newer furniture).

I then look at the things people own - we buy things because we love the colors - Wall art, sculptures, their wardrobes, jewelry. There is almost always a theme to the things people buy and most of the time their things and the colors that bring them joy are colors that look good on them. Our brains imprint colors associated with wonderful memories and when we see these colors we actually produce dopamine and get a rush of joy. Who doesn't like when they feel like a 10?

Think about the colors that make your heart sing and how they work with the things you own. Think about which colors you want in your home and how the colors make you feel - some will energize you, some make you feel relaxed and calm. Which colors do you want in each room, how will the color you use in the kitchen flow into the dining room and from the dining room into the living room? (I usually pick 3 colors - for really large homes, bigger families, more rooms I may go to 5 colors).

Once you know what colors you love and want in your home it is time to pick your neutral - that background color that works with your colors.

With my colors a taupe works better than anything else. For each of my sisters we picked neutrals that worked with their color palette. After picking the neutral I pick a white that works with the neutral for the trim, ceilings, cabinets. . .

My guess is that the whites in your closet are either white or ivory and not ecru. Why, because White Dove looks dirty to you and so will an ecru shirt.

At the end of the day you end up with a coordinated home that is unique and timeless instead of something someone else decided should be popular.

A designer showcased a house on Houzz and I saved the pics because she did exactly what I am talking about .

Here are the pics

Here are the colors I picked for my house

Things I love

Flooring that was a must stay

Paint and other colors

Everything together