Every Paint Colour I used in my Home

All 22 of them plus finishes and light sources...

Feb 11, 2024

I feel like paint is one of the most exciting parts of a renovation as finally your shell of a house is starting to resemble a home personal to you. I remember plastering being very exciting (I have actual walls!) but it was only when the blue paint started going up in our snug that really felt that ‘I’m actually going to live here’ buzz. I remember our builders saying we used the most amount of different paint colours they’d ever done… the irony is, I look back through this list and actually think I was quite restrained!! I was pretty particular about using different shades for each room to work with the light available; there are 7 different shades of white and off-white through the house so maybe they have a point!

’What paint colour is that ?’ is probably one of my most asked questions on instagram and while I’m always so happy to answer, the truth is paint one of those things that looks different in every space, hence why I’ve given a brief description of the light/perspective of each room so you can get a better idea. I think so many people will look at rooms on Pinterest or IRL at friend’s homes or hotels and love them, but then get very spooked at the idea of using colour in their own home. It feels permanent and a huge decision and while yes, professional decorating is costly and so is paint, it is only paint. If you really hate it, you can paint over it without too much disruption. Paddy O’DWhen in doubt, the below rules of thumb with paint colours helped me personally.

-If in doubt, go for the slightly earthier hue of the colours you’re debating between. Something a little muddier is just easier to live with and dates less quickly.
- Personally I love a colour drench aka painting ceiling, walls, woodwork, window frames, EVERYTHING (except floor) in the same colour. Not only is it infinitely easier (no worrying about accompanying colours) but it’s chic and all-encompassing. And I promise an entire room will be less confronting that just the walls or worse one wall.
-On that note, never paint one wall! Unless it’s the ceiling and it’s not white… I elaborated on this here.
-When choosing a white paint, I use this mental arithmetic to think in terms opposites. This works for me as a very visual/lateral-thinking person but I totally get this just doesn’t make sense to some! So, north-facing rooms (I always think North pole =ice=blue) need more yellow pigment to stop it feeling cold and dingy, and south-facing rooms (south=sun=yellow) can take bluer-toned, fresher whites.
-Don’t paint a room with minimal natural light or north-facing in a pure, pigment-free white. I promise it won’t lighten it up and will feel dingy.

So without further ado, let’s dissect paint colours room by room… The only room I haven’t included is our downstairs loo (soon to be changed!) and another tiny spare room which has nothing in it apart from drying laundry but it’s painted in Mylands Sella.

Snug/Den/TV Room (North Facing)

Farrow and Ball Yonder everywhere. Dead Flat finish on walls, eggshell on woodwork.

Central sitting room (minimal natural light)

Farrow and Ball Schoolhouse White. Dead flat finish on walls, eggshell on woodwork.

Hallway (Dark/north facing)

Mylands Soho Pink walls, ceiling and skirting. Marble matt emulsion
Paper and Paints Porphyry Red water-based gloss on stairs.
Farrow and Ball Bancha on door.