This "what color is my paint" thread turns up frequently, even when the finished paint is the same manufacturer as the sample used in selection. And more so when the paint manufacturers differ. There are several common causes: 1. No two paint mixtures are exactly the same, even from the same manufacturer and color. There are always small variations. Those who have tried small spot touch-up painting know what I am talking about. 2. And then there's the lighting that may be used to select a paint color versus the lighting used to illuminate the final painted area. Natural light varies each day, depending on the angle of the sun, the quantity of direct and indirect light in the painted space (or not) and reflections. Artificial light varies depending on the type and temperature of the lamps (bulbs) used. 3. A simple reason for finished paint to not closely match the sample: Most painted surfaces are vertical. Often paint samples are viewed, and decisions made, with the sample placed horizontally. The difference between the appearance of a vertical surface compared with a horizontal surface can be surprisingly great. Always view samples in the same plane and in the same light as the final painted surface. Combined, these lighting effects help explain why painted surfaces may appear different at different times of day, and why the appearance of painted surfaces in the daytime may appear to be different than the same surfaces during evening hours. It's a simple question with some less than simple ingredients.

After living with the (boring) neutrals that were in the house when we moved here 15 years ago, we just finished painting all of our upstairs rooms and I love all the colors. Hard to pick a favorite, as each was chosen to go with the light and furnishings in that particular room. What I probably love most is the Atrium White trim and how it plays nicely with all of the somewhat intense colors we chose. All have LRVs around 30: Louisburg Green, Van Cortland Blue, Richmond Gold, Summerdale Gold are all lovely. In the bath, which gets lots of western light and has bright white fixtures and shower curtain, we went more intense with Philipsburg Blue. I couldn't be happier.

My favorite is Edgecomb Grey. I painted both of my children's room's this color. It looks fab with pink accents and black furniture in my daughter's room, and equally terrific with navy and red in my son's room. Also love Stonington Grey, which is in my bedroom. Grey Wisp is another great color. Have it in the office and powder room. Hmmm...i think I like grey! Just realized that every room that I've painted in this house has been some shade of grey.! Kitchen is next. On the table is revere pewter and Harbor Grey. Of course.

Thanks for the responses. We have oak hardwood floors that are a honey color, we have exposed beams in the LR that are stained dark wood and a fireplace that is white painted brick that has been "antiqued" a bit, for lack of a better word, so some of the red shows through. We also have some french doors with dark stained wood, with reddish undertones. I'm not really sure what undertones I want, but I don't want anything too yellow or too grey, but a little creamy. I'm really clueless at paint colors. The LR and DR have lots of natural light, but the hallway is very long and pretty dark. Hope that helps.