Never Buy a Paint Color Based on its Name!
Have you ever wondered how they pick paint color names? Is it a real job for people? I feel they should have done a Seinfeld episode or SNL should do an episode on picking paint colors.
So you go to your local paint store to choose paint colors. You’re looking at colors like Cherry Cola, Agreeable Gray, Battleship Gray and think these colors sound interesting. You picture in your mind how these colors might look on your walls at home.
Perhaps you pick some neutrals like Indian White, Moderate White and Shoji White because you’re also looking for a white paint color so you buy some samples and bring them home. BUT SURPRISE!!!!
Indian White, Shoiji White and Moderate White, ARE not white!!! They are beige!! Yes that is so confusing! I know!!! Because ALL. THE. TIME. I’m explaining to clients over and over again that you can’t pick a paint color based on its name.
Why do the Paint Manufactures Have Inaccurate Paint Color Names?
So why do the paint manufactures mislead us with inaccurate paint color names? To sell paint colors of course. They want us to picture an image in our mind with the name of the color. Here’s what I mean….
Behr Battleship Gray
Photo: Behr Battleship Gray via Pinterest
Take Behr’s Battleship Gray as an example. When you hear the term “battleship gray” you of course think of the color of a battleship. And by looking at the exterior house color above, it DOES look like the color of a battleship. BUT!!! The color is actually considered a greige. Its not a pure gray but a blend of gray and beige so its NOT a PURE gray color.
What do you think of when you hear the name “blue jeans?”
Benjamin Moore Old Blue Jeans BM 839
Photo: Benjamin Moore
When you hear “blue jeans” you obviously think of the color of blue jeans as we see above with Ben’s Blue Jeans BM 839. The color looks like faded blue jeans. The color is blue with gray undertones.
However, Sherwin Williams has two equivalent colors, Favorite Blue Jeans and Denim to compete with Ben’s Blue Jeans.
Sherwin Williams Favorite Jeans SW 9147
Photo: Sherwin Williams
Sherwin Williams Old Favorite Jeans is a cool blue very similar to Benjamin Moore’s Blue Jeans.
Sherwin Williams Denim SW6523
Photo: Sherwin Williams
Sherwin Williams give their customers TWO blue jean colors options, Sherwin Williams has Denim SW6523 in addition to Favorite Jeans. SW Denim is a color that looks like a bluer & newer denim jean would, but its actually in its purple paint color collection meaning it leans a bit towards purple. So, that my friends, is why you need to check out what is behind the name of the paint color!!
Neutral Paint Color Names are the Trickiest!
In my online paint color consulting business, I am OFTEN explaining to clients that just because a color is called beige, tan, cream etc. doesn’t mean its actually that color.
Just because a paint color is called white, beige or tan, doesn’t mean that its THAT color!
Here’s what I mean …..
Benjamin Moore Navajo White OC-95 is ….. beige
Sherwin Williams Antique White 6119 …. is a cream with beige undertones.
Benjamin Moore Indian White OC-88 is …. beige
- Shoiji White is …. beige
- Indian White is …. beige
- Timid White is … cream
- Moderate White is …. beige
- Pure White is … not pure. It has a black of drop which gives it a gray undertone.
- Bennington Gray is … tan.
- Canvas Tan is … beige.
- Grant Beige is … tan.
- Agreeable Gray is … greige – a blend of gray & beige.
- Bennington Gray is … beige.
And the list can go on and on. But I’m not writing this blog post to dump on the paint manufacturers. I have alot of respect for them. After all, I make my living recommending paint colors. And I can see that the paint color companies goal is to sell more paint. HOWEVER, my job is to make sure my clients are selecting the correct paint colors for their home, regardless of the paint color name. And if you don’t eat, breathe, and sleep paint colors all day long, lol, it can be challenging to pick the right color, especially if the name is misleading. This is where I come in to help you decipher the world of paint colors!
Does Picking a Paint Color Overwhelm You?
Perhaps your exterior needs updating, like your front door. Or perhaps you need some help picking out paint colors or you need to “Pick My Brain” on a room that you’re working on. You have some ideas but you’re just not sure which way to go. I can help you with that!
I help busy homeowners, just like you, to style their house to make it a stunning retreat, where they can live and enjoy their home. I help homeowners, make money beyond their wildest expectations from the sale of their house by guiding them when they’re getting their house ready to sell.
Check out my Online Color Consults & Room Makeover Consults here
Hi! I’m Debi Collinson. Designer. Color Consultant & Real Estate Investor.
I conducted my first color consult at the age of 7, for my father for one of his design | build projects. I’m an Interior Designer, a Double-Certified Paint Color Expert, with advanced training in kitchens + bathrooms!
Since 2006, I have helped hundreds of clients, just like you, to style their house to make it a stunning retreat, that is functional for the family AND that they love and enjoy their home. I was one of the first stagers in the industry when staging just started out, and I have helped hundreds of clients make money beyond their expectations when they sold their house.
In 2020, I moved my design business online. In my spare time lol, I renovate, manage and am the general contractor for my rental properties.
