Hello friends!! Today I want to share with you a trick about choosing paint colors for your home. Ever wonder how dark or light color will actually be in your home? Come find out what LRV stands for and how it can affect color choices for your home!
Choosing colors for your home can be tricky! I often struggle with which color to use and usually end up trying out several options before making my final decision. This is where LRV can help. LRV stands for “light reflective value”. Colors range in value from 0 (black and absorbs all light) to 100 (white, which reflects all light). The LRV is located on the back of paint chips for easy reference.
In other words, the lower the LRV number is, the darker the color will look on your walls. Conversely, the higher the LRV number, the lighter the color will look. Recently I painted our powder room in Sherwin-Williams Sheraton Sage, which has a LRV number of 24, meaning it’s very dark. In this case, I love how dramatic the color looks in this small space and how it makes the gold accessories really pop! And painting a small room a dark color doesn’t necessarily mean it makes the room look smaller. Sometimes it’s just the opposite!
One of my favorite go-to colors is Sherwin-Williams Accessible Beige. It has a LRV of 58 which is a medium shade with gray/green undertones, but it can appear darker in certain rooms without much natural light. Another beautiful paint choice is Alabaster by Benjamin Moore. It’s LRV is 85 so it’s a very light color choice. No matter what color you choose, the LRV value can help determine how dark or light it will appear in a room and help you avoid costly surprises. Mystery solved! After all, it’s hard to pick out a paint color for entire room solely based on a small 2×3″ swatch, right?
These are just a few tips on choosing paint colors for your home. But if you want to see an real expert at work, check out our adorable grandson! Photo credit: his Mommy and Daddy while they were at the paint store picking out their own colors!
Later this week I hope to finalize my color choice for our Lounge area downstairs. Hint: It may be in the same color palette Ford was holding! I’ll be sure to share. Then I can’t wait to roll up my sleeves and paint! Yay!
I hope y’all have a fabulous week! And please let me know if you know of an amazing blue/gray paint color you love! Take care, friends! xoxo Dell
