I did. I knew what I was going to get, I just didn't have some things delivered until the paint was up.

I paint AFTER buying but BEFORE delivery.

yup, we painted. but we always do everything backwards! I have no idea what we're getting either! But the walls are a nice neutral that will go with anything. I would suggest doing that and getting the painting out of the way.

We painted first, and there isn't much neutral about my paint choice (unless you consider green a neutral)! SW Green Earth on the walls in the great room, light pine trim and ceiling, and NO idea what furniture will ultimately go in. Okay, so it's new construction and it will be awhile before we can afford to purchase furniture that we love. But it isn't a big deal to me. We had to paint before all of the finish work, and I just picked colors I love and look nice with the trim. I guess I'm just hoping that our (someday) furniture works with it all!

We had most of our upstairs re-painted in anticipation of, and just prior to having our DR table delivered. No way did I want to take a chance having it done with a brand new table sitting in the middle of the room (even with the painter being a good friend, and someone who's extremely careful, too). The table was in the process of being made, and we'd already taken delivery of the DR chairs (safely stored downstairs during the painting!).

Oh my, yes. We are just finishing our house, and the contractor wanted our paint colors even before we chose granite and floor finish. Or vanities. I'm pretty happy with most of the colors now, but we actually had to have them stop and then repaint some areas from what they originally did. The original paint colors did not turn out well. (This was a rough period, cost lots extra and one weekend DH went out to buy 16 quarts of samples at SW!)We did know that we like mission style, though, and have sort of kept this in mind as we worked on the house.

Good luck!

Amy

Since it's more than painting being done, you're going to have a lot of dust from the wall coming down. Plus fumes of the paint and floor.

Save yourself some trouble and get the furniture at the very last. And it takes WEEKS for dust to settle. Trust me. lol

Sure, I painted before getting furniture, but I had the color scheme in mind. It's then just a <ironic>simple</ironic> matter of finding in real life what I have in my head.

I never really buy new furniture, most of my stuff comes from classified ads or consignment stores or yard sales, but I always pay way more attention to my painting. In the advice department, I tell people to buy their sofas and chairs first, pick a paint color after. That's because I know that most people shell out hard dollars for furniture. For myself, I see it like this; My walls and floors cover almost all of the space in my room. Choosing the wall color is really important to me. I want the room to 'feel' a certain way, and for that, the walls need to be beautiful, the floors too. Furniture can be added later. And since most all colors that I use work with each other, I just assume it will all come together.

Red

What Red said. :)

I'm pretty much doing what Alicia said, right now :) In couple of rooms I do have an idea of what kiind of furniture I need and hoping that I will find some of those.

Very well put Redbazel, I third what Red said.

I painted before buying furnture...but then I fell in love with a light tan leather sofa. Not thinking about my LR being khaki, I paired it with its love seat, only to find out my room looked like chocolate milk had been thrown up!

Luckily after we re-did the floors I painted again..a nice green, and held the color swatches to the sofa to make sure it would compliment.

I have purchased furniture after painting too though!

I think my biggest mistake was painting after moving our 75 gallon fish tank..try painting BEHIND that baby!

I paint when I find time so I've done it both ways. Since I learned to prep and paint myself, I just repaint if I don't like the color or get new furniture and it doesn't 'go.' Well, I still have my kid friendly furniture and the DDs are 14 and almost 18!