IMO paint color is the last choice you make . You mention the kitchen what exactly were you planning on painting in there ? I always wait in a new to me home before doing much I like to see how the house functions that will tell me if any big renovations are in my future . I for sure want the kitchen to function for how I cook before doing much else. I know thurge to make it yours but really think before choosing paint color . The flooring and in your case the carpet need to be chosen before wall color. . IMO the flooring in the kitchen in no way works with the entry floor so I guess how much money are you planning to spend will aslo be info we need.My advice always is to work on the lighting it IMO should all be LED 4000K that mimics daylight and makes spaces feel better and also keeps colors true at all times of the day.

Thank you. When we first 'got' the house, we thought we'd get the kitchen done on priority. However, we are realizing that it's not in our budget to do that yet (ever?) for various reasons. So I thought at the least I can paint. If we're not planning on doing any major renovations for years, I am thinking why not at least have some new paint and can always repaint if/when we do the other updates?

The kitchen floor is awful, I really loathe it - but similarly, have been advised not to update the floor until we know what we're doing overall with the kitchen. It's become chicken/egg. Another suggestion was to replace with some alternative inexpensive laminate (like what's there now, not LVP) to tide us over until we do a bigger renovation, but also we are spending so much in general, I'm not sure if that's the right approach either.

I have no aspirations to be in a magazine of beautiful houses, I'm not overly concerned with it being perfect, but I do want some fresh paint and some things that make it feel more like ours.

We recently switched out the main kitchen light from fluorescent box to flush fixture, though it's one with bare bulbs and I don't like it, so we have another switch this weekend. I have 100w LED bulbs for it (3 bulbs), but not the daylight ones. They always feel too 'hospital' to me. I also have dimmers. I like cozy (clearly in a kitchen, lighting is important though).

I do love getting people's thoughts and suggestions on this as I'm not good at it, and this community has a lot of great ideas, so thank you!

p.s. I realize the photos don't really give a great representation of the actual color - the green is more like the photo at the bottom of the stairs - quite light. The living room in this photo makes it look the same color as the hall, but it is more of a yellow/beige.

If you are getting new carpet soon, wait until you get it to pick the wall colors. However, if it is aways off, go ahead and prime the hallway with white primer and change the lighting there. Then try the Shoji White you picked for the kitchen on the hallway. You can sample other classic whites there, too. Use "bright white" bulbs, not "daylight" or "soft white".

Post some more photos of the house, including the kitchen and baths. Kitchen and bath updates can become very expensive. But if everything is in good physical condition you may be able to make some inexpensive diy changes that will make you happier. For example, new hardware, new faucets, painting walls, framing mirrors, new light fixtures. You may discover you can make less expensive updates and still be able to afford new flooring.

As far as hallway paint, I think at least the foyer, stairs and upstairs hall should all be the same. I'd suggest a light color that works well with the carpet. I'd stay away from cool and grey colors. Off whites are always a good starting place. The ceiling in the hall almost looks glossy - I much prefer flat paint on walls and especially ceilings.

The light fixture in the upstairs hall could use an update. It's not a difficult DIY.

Doorknobs are also an easy update. I went from 'builder grade' hollow brass with little round rosettes to an Emtek lever with a rectangular backplate. It made such a difference! Choosing an antique brass finish allowed keeping the existing hinges.

I think the easiest way to make a home begin to feel yours (especially when cost is a factor) is via paint, changing the light fixtures and weirdly enough, the light switch plates.

I bet that slate is great for those snowy, icy days.

You know, I really like berber carpet. My husband convinced me 15 years ago that we should NOT get it but I think this next time around, I'm going with berber. I love the way it looks and feels (we have carpet in the basement). I understand carpet would be very welcome in your cold climate but light-colored carpet would need good maintenance!

If you are okay with repainting if needed, maybe paint it all one color. The trim and doors can be the same color with a different sheen.

Are you looking for white or did you want COLOR on the walls? Furniture, rugs, all of that plays a role in the color you pick.

Thank you, thank you!! I will post some more photos later.

Yes, exactly I'm trying to do some of the smaller items. We're replacing the kitchen faucet this weekend and some light fixtures.

For the upstairs hallway, I already bought fixtures but again I'm not sure if they're the best - they are the drum kind (I got flush and semi flush to compare).

We are also absolutely replacing outlets/covers - we did one in the kitchen so far when we installed the light fixture and it's amazing how much better it looks. And when I say 'we', I mean our friend because we are useless at this!

For the kitchen, I'd love hardwood (we had it in our last house) - I just really always liked how it felt. However, of course again cost + we have a dog who was not kind on the last one so we'll see. I have to balance my anxiety over spending money with what's really important - I won't do this as quickly as I first envisioned.

We were considering replacing all the doors upstairs (they previous owners recently redid one bathroom there and so it has a different door already).

As far as paint color, I've typically always had 'color' but I'm open. If I'm doing the kitchen shoji white, I would probably prefer something a little more colorful elsewhere so the house doesn't look like one big off white place. I'm not skilled enough to make things pop with furnishings and etc...(plus don't want to have to buy more).

At some point I will repaint all the bedrooms too, but down the line. One bedroom is currently named the Pepto Bismol room for its shade of paint. I try not to go in there :)

If anyone is still reading LOL. I feel ya, we were in a similar boat many years ago. Thought we would tackle the kitchen first, but that didn't happen until 15 years after we moved in. Flooring and raising three kids took priority! You will have to find the right balance for carpeting with affordability, durability, pet friendly, etc. for high traffic areas.

BM Classic Gray is a soft, neutral and versatile color. I like the look of your slate flooring with dark painted trim instead of stark white, but painting it the same as the wall would be lovely as well. I would paint the entry, stairwell and upstairs hall in the same color. Investing in paint samples is super helpful, because you really need to see the colors in your lighting. As previously stated, getting your lighting set first is key to enjoying your paint color selection. What direction does your entry face?

I think Shoji White would be a good choice to eradicate the green which is awful. They clearly were trying to match the slate in the foyer, which they did, but it's just too dark. If you already know you like it, give it a try at least. I totally sympathize with your desire to do something, anything, to change and improve the feeling of the house, and a light color will do that. I lived in Michigan nine years myself and I know there are a lot of overcast days. :-)

@zebedest I've seen at least one of your other threads on this house. If you don't mind me asking (and I apologize if I missed it in the other comments) why did you purchase this home? Please don't take this as any criticism or judgement. I'm just genuinely curious because you keep saying buyers remorse and you just seem so frustrated - I feel sorry for you! I know this house seems like a lot of work and it would overwhelm me too. Best of luck!

PS- your dog is adorable!!

Thank you for the suggestions and mock up - it is helpful!

Cynthia - you must have seen the only other post I’ve ever made on here :) and actually buried somewhere in the post I gave some

background on the purchase. Mainly I struggle with change and we were at our last place for 18 years so had a lot of memories. This house is very different and it all happened so fast that it’s caused me to find it even more difficult. I am really trying though and each day is a new day :) Thank you for your gentle way of asking, I know I must sound crazy.

Dog is cute (thanks!) - a handful too, so it is a good thing he’s cute. I say we bought the house for him so he has room to run (8 acres omg) and I am only partially kidding haha

- the house faces west

Kandrewspa - I am wondering if I have shoji white in the upstairs hall, stairs, entry and kitchen whether that will be a bit too bland? I have the paint as I was going to start the kitchen and still have my sticky paint sample of it on my kitchen wall - just not sure if having it in so many places would work or not.

I would wait a while and live in the house to see what your priorities are. Assuming that budget is always a consideration, come up with a whole house plan/color scheme, and then tackle it in stages in order of priorities. . Choose a neutral wall color and flooring that can flow from room to room and complement your furnishings. i agree that the foyer and kitchen floors do not work well together.; they do not have to be exactly the same (although that would be preferable,) but they need to be complementary. above all, DO NOT mix real hardwood and fake on the same floor. Good luck!