Werner Straube Photo
One of the easiest and least expensive ways to change the look of a room is a new paint color. However, picking the right color even when selecting a neutral can be tricky. Have you ever selected a paint color, painted the room and disliked the result? It happens a lot. What looks good in the paint store or in a fan deck often does not work on our walls.
Susan Brunstrum, founder of Sweet Peas Design, () a Chicago interior design firm, is a paint color connoisseur. Brunstrum has a go-to list of neutrals—whites, creams, taupes and grays that she and her design team have used over and over throughout the years.
“Asking a designer to choose a favorite paint shade is like asking a chocoholic to choose their favorite truffle—a delicious but difficult task,” says Susan Brunstrum. “But these colors are beautiful classics that work very well with a wide variety of design styles and spaces.”
Most often, Brunstrum uses Benjamin Moore (BM)) paint because of its durability, finish options and ginormous selection of colors. Here are her favorites from light to dark.
BM White Dove OC-17
BM Plaster of Paris CSP-185
BM Ballet White OC-9
BM Cake Batter CSP-215
BM Fossil AF-65
BM Gray Owl OC-52
BM Stonington Gray HC-170
BM Edgecomb Gray HC-173
BM London Fog 1541
BM Revere Pewter HC-172
BM Ozark Shadows AC-26
BM River Reflections 1552
BM Pashmina AF-100
BM Cinder AF-705
BM Tempest AF-590
BM Nightfall 1596
Here are Susan’s tips for selecting the perfect neutral.
Do not try to select a color from a fan deck, they are too small! Benjamin Moore sells small samples that you can use to paint a square on the wall. As designers, we can order large samples.
Make sure to also select your paint color in the room in which you want to use it. Sunlight or lack of it plays a huge part in your decision.
Look at the paint color at various times of day and night to make sure you like it at all times.
Do not make your color decision without having the other paint colors in adjoining rooms handy to make sure all flow and have a continuous feel.
You will also want swatches of the fabrics and rug/carpet used in the room. Many of these colors are a bit chameleon and change based on the colors you choose to accompany them.
About Sweet Peas Design () is located at 1242 North Wells Street in Old Town. It was recently selected as one of the top 25 interior design firms in Illinois by The LuxPad and was an ASID award winner in 2016 and 2015.