Free Advice Friday

Since Salvage Savvy is not yet one week old, I think it’s safe to say that it’s still in the “building phase.” Therefore, when I inform you that there were no questions submitted for today’s Free Advice Friday post, no one will be terribly shocked, right?! However, the simple fact that no one asked me a question rarely stops me from dishing out my advice [just ask my super hero husband] so, I shall continue on undeterred!

Btw, I refuse to make up a question from some make-believe follower and fool my faithful [of 4 days] readers [I’m saving that for next week if no one responds].
Instead, I am going to write about a common question- how to choose a [non ugly] paint color.

We’ve all done it…you get the first coat of paint on the walls and think, “It’ll be better with two coats.” [Deep, deep down you already know that it won’t; nonetheless, pride, denial and hope all converge forcing you to press on]. Once the second coat goes up you think, “It’ll dry to the perfect shade that I chose at the hardware store.” Then, once it dries… it looks worse. You immediately rush over to the paint can thinking, “They mixed this color wrong, I should’ve waited for the old guy who knows what he’s doing- that teenager who helped me looked like he was high.” Finally, you hold your selected paint swatch up against the wall and… it’s a perfect match. D’oh.

Here is a simple, stress-free way to [hopefully] avoid that situation. First, never ever, ever [ever] begin your hunt for a paint color at the hardware store [ever]. Always begin at home, standing [I guess you could sit too] in the room that will be painted. If you have already begun the decorating process, then find an item in the room that has colors you love [a favorite pillow, rug, curtain, vase- you get the idea]. If you are starting the room from scratch, then you can find anything in the whole world that has colors you love [a favorite shirt, purse, your dog…]. Once you have your item, decide if you want it to stand-out in your room or blend into the room. If you want it to stand out, then select a color from it that is used sparingly [meaning one of the accent colors]. If you want it to blend in [meaning that you want the entire room to “feel” like that item] then select the main color from it to “pull” for your paint color.

Once you’ve chosen the color to “pull,” take the item to the hardware store [don’t say, “I think I’ll remember the shade.” You must bring it – because you won’t remember]. While at the hardware store pull all of the colors that seem to match your item and then [this is important] follow the color you’ve chosen down to the darkest shade and make sure you like that shade.



For example, what looks like a light brown could have some serious mauve undertones and end up looking pink on your walls [been there, done that]. Lastly, if you have plenty of patience, time & money it’s a good idea to purchase a little sample can of your color and paint it on your walls to make sure you like it in your room.

Honestly, I never do that- I’m too excited at that point. I just grab the swatch and sprint to the paint counter where there’s usually a teenager working who looks a little high…then I say to myself, “it’ll be fine, I’ve got to get home and PAINT!”

*Need a specific example?? Check out my follow-up post entitled As Requested!!