How Hard Can It Be To Choose a Paint Color?

Much harder than I thought! Why is it that one home project just leads to another...and another...and another? I've come to realize that there really is no such thing as a simple renovation, especially in an old house. Our house was built in 1830 and this room, being the largest in the older part of the house, was probably the original Master bedroom. Along the way (probably in the Seventies by the look of it), the room had been carpeted. Now we're ready to finally tear up the carpeting and put in hardwood floors. After a trip to Readfield, Maine to get the flooring (we didn't even know where Readfield, Maine was!), we thought we were all set. But no..."somebody" (yup, that would be me) decided that, since the floors would be up, it would be a good time to paint. See what I mean about one project leading into another?

The room was a very unpleasant green that was supposed to be Sage but was closer to Grasshopper so I decided that a nice warm neutral would be just right. Clearly, over the years, I had forgotten just how hard neutrals are to choose. I'm sure we've all been there...taping the dozens of paint samples to the wall and staring at them until your eyes go blurry. Does this one have green undertones? Is that one too pink? A person could make themselves crazy choosing paint!

I finally gave up and decided to look at my Pottery Barn catalogue for inspiration. Heck, if my room could look half as good as the ones in that little book, I'd be a very happy camper. And voila, I narrowed down my choices to these...

...and came up with Manchester Tan...not too brown...not too gray...just right!

So after school today, it was off to Maine Hardware, where you can find anything and get a free bag of popcorn from their old fashioned popcorn machine while you shop.

I strode up to the paint counter and , as if I do this all the time, confidently said, "I'll take a Gallon of Manchester Tan, Latex, eggshell finish...with a stir stick, please". I even tried to use my best "I know which beiges have the correct undertones" decorator voice. Whistling in the dark...

And it was done...paint was mixed, I coughed up my $46.95, and was out the door. (Since my Weight Watchers meeting was tonight, I even managed to avoid the popcorn machine!)

 Here's my Manchester Tan...a blob on top and, in a sample room, below. I think I really love this color!

So now, all that's left to do is lay the hardwood floors, paint the room, clean up the mess, make new curtains, replace the bedding, and sew throw cushions...nothing to it. And I can visit all of my favorite blogs for inspiration. See what I mean about one project leading right into another???