We have a soft spot for a good Britney reference, and an even bigger one for painting—walls, paneling, brick, furniture, even oversized ceramic roosters. Choosing the right paint color is a huge part of that process. Paint chips are basically irresistible; we never pick just one. For years Benjamin Moore has been our go-to source. Their palette is enormous, and we’ve used their colors throughout our home: Sesame in the kitchen, Moonshine in the living and dining rooms, Proposal in Clara’s room, and Dragonfly on the back of our dining room built-ins. We also used Benjamin Moore’s Advance paint for our office built-ins and kitchen cabinets after hearing so many glowing recommendations from contractors and readers. Their paints have even shown up on secret book projects—on walls and furniture pieces that had to stay under wraps until the right time.
So when Benjamin Moore asked us to curate a collection of our favorite colors, it felt like a dream. It’s surreal to see our name and choices on their site. After months of work, we’re thrilled to share the finished collection. Our role was to wade through thousands of swatches and select 32 colors that reflect the tones we love and actually use, with the goal of helping anyone stuck in paint paralysis find a starting point.
Benjamin Moore Collection
Putting the collection together was a hands-on, messy, fun process: imagine us draping our sectional in paint swatches, mixing and matching combos until they felt right. This partnership is one of those creative side projects that pays the bills—similar to writing a magazine column or working on a book—but with the bonus of getting to play with paint chips as part of the job.
Our Picks and Uses
Some shades in the collection are colors we already live with on our walls or furniture, while others are hues we’ve admired for a long time but haven’t yet installed in our own home. A few were chosen from our book projects—colors we used on sets and pieces that are currently hidden until the book is released. While many of the selections work wonderfully on walls, we also organized the collection by suggested uses so you can see which tones shine on trim, doors, or as accents.
We especially love using bolder accent colors to energize a space. Some of our favorite ways to introduce color without committing to painting an entire room include:
- Painting a media cabinet, dresser, bed frame, desk, or chair to make the piece a focal point
- Creating large-scale DIY artwork on canvas to fill a wall with color and texture
- Painting picture frames to create a cohesive, dramatic gallery wall
- Adding color to lamp bases, baskets, or tabletop accessories for surprising pops
- Painting the back wall of a bookshelf or built-in to add depth and interest
We wrote a short introduction to the collection and provided a full gallery of the chosen colors, along with suggestions for where each shade works best. Seeing our choices displayed alongside so many talented designers—yes, even under Candice Olson’s—was an emotional highlight. Expect a few high-pitched squeals, a startled dog, and a delighted toddler joining in the celebration when we first saw it all live.
Sharing this project felt like sharing a little cheat sheet for anyone overwhelmed by a vast wall of swatches. We hope this curated set of favorites helps narrow the options and inspires real-life applications. Whether you’re after the perfect neutral, a saturated jewel tone, or a color that conjures a memory of a special place, having a trusted starting point can make the process much less daunting.
We’d love to hear about your go-to paint color. Is it a subtle neutral that always works? A bold hue that brings a room to life? Or a shade that reminds you of a particular moment or place? Tell us what color you keep coming back to and why.