Hi SI family, happy Tuesday to you! As per last weeks comments, today’s post is all about WINNING Color Combo’s for your painted furniture!
I get a TON of questions asking what colors go together, so today I’m sharing 10 of my favorites combos’ that I’ve used — and a few others that I’ve seen used, and absolutely love!
To backtrack, when I started painting furniture I only used SAFE neutrals – creams and whites mostly. If this is where you’re at, don’t fret. Solid neutrals are ALWAYS a classic. And if you sell your pieces, they sell extremely well too.
But if you’re getting the itch to experiment and branch out… I know choosing colors that pair well together can feel INTIMIDATING, right?!!!
I know because I’ve made my fair share of mistakes. And truth be told, I’ve had to repaint my fair share of pieces due to ugly combos… but YOU don’t have to! If you’re curious to see my color mishaps, I’ve linked to a few of them at the bottom of today’s post under “Related Posts”.
Here are 10 of my all-time favorite WINNING color combinations. I hope you love them as much as I do…
1. French Linen + Sawmill Gravy
I’ll start with last weeks headboard makeover as this is the piece that you guys left the comments on. These 2 colors are BRAND SPANK’N NEW to the Dixie Belle Paint line and won’t be available until mid-August… definitely worth the wait! I’m so excited because this is such a gorgeous greige neutral. French Linen and Sawmill Gravy are definitely going to be a staple in my paint arsenal!
2. White + Tilton + Barcelona Orange + Emperors Silk
Looking for a yummy sorbet kind of finish?! Check out what Ildiko from Restored4U created with this winning combo of Annie Sloan Colors. It reminds me of a gorgeous sunrise!
3. Fluff + Sand Bar
Another amazing soft and neutral combo is Fluff and Sand Bar. If you’re looking to create a classic dreamy piece, these colors work perfectly together. You can check out the full dresser and blending tutorial [including video] here.
4. Blueberry + Bunkerhill Blue
Love blue? These two blues blend beautifully together! This French Provincial High Boy was transformed by using a base coat of Blueberry and then blending in Bunkerhill Blue. Tip~ blending two colors can be as dramatic or as subtle as you like just by the amount of blending you do!
5. Old Ochre + Tea Rose
Tip~ you can always mix paint brands so long as the base formula is the same ie water-based with water-based. Years ago, this flip-top desk was originally painted in Annie Sloan’s Old Ochre. The flat paint job wasn’t doing a whole lot for me so I put it to the side. Then a few years later, I had the urge to give this desk some character, so I added a blend of Dixie Belle’s Tea Rose and some floral transfers. This is a great duo if you’re looking for a warm neutral with a soft pink added in.
6. MMS Flow Blue + Grain Sack + Eulalie’s Sky + Artissimo
Color combos aren’t just for Chalk and Mineral paints. Check out what Jeanne from Blush Vintage Design did with milk paint! Painted with Miss Mustard Seed’s Milk Paint in Flow Blue, a custom blend (Flow Blue, Grain Sack, Eulalie’s Sky and Artissimo), and finished with a watered-down wash of Schloss, this piece is heavenly.
7. Rebel Yellow + Terracotta + Collard Greens
This is one of my all-time favorite curb-shopped makeovers. The color combo on this piece was inspired by YOU, all of you who chimed in on Facebook. This is a great warm autumn look, don’t you think? This winning combo was created using Rebel Yellow, Terracotta and AS Olive… but you can get the equivalent and substitute with DB Collard Greens.
8. Drop Cloth + Sand Bar
The brown wax which creates texture on this piece may trick your eye away from this paint duo, but believe me, if you’re looking for winning subtle beige duo, Drop Cloth and Sand Bar are a winning combo! They look great layered or blended or even individually painted side by side. You can check out all the details on this DIY Weathered Wood dresser here.
9. Amethyst + Blueberry
One of my all-time favorite purple pieces is this gorgeous tallboy dresser restyled by my friend Do at Do Dodson Designs. She used Amethyst and Blueberry to create this dramatic effect. You can check out all the details on this makeover here.
10. Dried Sage + Tea Rose
This Restore Buffet Before and After was blended in Dried Sage and Tea Rose and I’m in love. It’s an easy combo which creates a soft combination of beige/green with hints of soft rose. Tip~ if you want any of your colors and/or details to stand out, even more, try adding a light touch of gilding wax in a coordinating color.
Bonus ~ Spanish Moss + Terracotta + Stormy Seas
If you’re a fan of green, this color combo is earthy and rich. I used Spanish Moss, Terracotta and Stormy Seas which compliment each other beautifully. You can check out how I layered all three colors here.
Color creates a mood. When picking your colors, go with what you love and what makes you happy. Referring to a color wheel can be helpful, but I also like to keep in mind that mother nature has NO color wheel. Everything seems to go with everything and look absolutely perfect… so follow your heart. xo
I HOPE THESE COLOR COMBO’S HAVE INSPIRED YOU! IF YOU HAVE ANY FAVORITE COLOR COMBO’S YOU’D LIKE TO SHARE … I ALWAYS LOVE HEARING FROM YOU.
Thanks for reading. 🙂
Wishing you a beautiful day filled with inspiration and Happy Painting friends!
Denise XO
RELATED POSTS::
DIY Dresser – 80’s Tallboy Makeover
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Some Bad Takes and Some Good Advice
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I love your work they are all beautiful. Can you tell me if you have done a tutorial on painting a fireplace Tim I mantle? Would love to see it if you have.
Thanks for sharing the valuable information. I was Looking something like this.
Good luck
Hi Denise. I apologize if this post appears twice! I accidentally hit delete (I think). I have been doing an Internet search for “painting furniture” and came across your website I love your tutorials and projects ! I have a few furniture painting projects coming up and I could use some inspiration and suggestions . I have an old kitchen dining set: in need of some love! Solid oak pedestal table and six spindle back Windsor side chairs The top of the table looks pretty rough from years of completing craft projects with with my children. We are talking dried glue, glitter, water marks, etc. Everything else is in good condition I want to update the set for a more modern, fresh feel and also cover up all of the wear and tear. What colors or color combinations would you suggest? I would like to stick with the neutrals like white, cream, espresso and black. Gray is a “maybe“ My kitchen cabinets are espresso. I’d also like to avoid sanding and priming, so I have been looking at chalk paint, but I’m open to other suggestions. I would appreciate your thoughts and thank you in advance ! Thank you too for sharing all your wonderful ideas with the rest of us!
Hi Liz! I think a really sharp (and more modern look) is to paint the bottom in a neutral cream or white, and then sand the top and stain it to tie into the rest of your decor ie gray or expresso/java. If you go with the chalkpaint idea, the bottom wouldn’t require sanding or priming, only the wood top. 🙂 It’s a gorgeous look imo. 🙂
Congratulations on your artistic taste .
Thanks, Morteza! 🙂 Super talented furniture painters featured… love their pieces. xo
Thank you for the feature, my friend! Great blog post and I love all the color combos. xo Do
Thanks, Do! And thanks for sharing your creative talent… your purple dresser is stunning! XO
How wonderful to revisit some of your gorgeous color combos, Denise! As I was scrolling I thought, oh that was my favorite…and then I’d scroll more and say the same thing…and again…and again. LOL The love of bright colors and all things summer has me in swooning over Restored4U’s sorbet piece. If only I had the courage to be so bold!
You’re too sweet Marie, thank you. 🙂 And yaaaa, aren’t Ildiko’s nightstands amazing!? Those colors… I’m swooning too!
Hi Denise,
The French Linen combo will be my undying all time Favorite Forever!!!! And #3, also a pale creamy combo gets my second place favorite! But the French Linen bed headboard,/footboard is out of this world! Love, love love it!
I’m in love with these new Dixie Belle colors as well Judy! Soooo classic and elegant… can’t go wrong pairing these colors. XO 🙂
Thanks for this post! I,too, think nature has no color wheel. I tend toward neutral colors, but love every single one of these🤩
Thanks, Toia! I totally get people using color wheels and trying to coordinate colors, but for myself, when I overthink color, it rarely turns out for me. Yet when I remind myself of mother nature and pick colors I’m ‘feeling’, sometimes the most unexpected matches make for the best looking pieces.
That blue chest! Then the Tea Rose one . . . LOVE those! Some of the colors are just not me, but the techniques are wonderful! The Barcelona Orange for example. The technique is gorgeous, but I would personally never use orange. I’d pick something that had a blue undertone because those are the colors I love! That’s the fun of DIY, we get to pick the colors and techniques that we love! And even if I never do any projects of this magnitude, I love seeing what you do. It’s inspirational. And it keeps me coming back to see what you’ll do next.!
Hi Teckla!! That is the fun of DIY furniture. Inspiration comes from all types of colors and techniques. 🙂
I love the headboard/footboard. How did you paint the scrolly mouldings on them so perfectly? I can’t find the answer anywhere.. Thanks.
Thanks Lizzy! I used “Vintage Lace” Chalk Paste included in this tutorial here. 🙂
Hi Denise. You are so right when you say “nature has no color wheel”. I couldn’t agree with you more. I love these color combos and appreciate you sharing your expertise!
Thanks, and isn’t that the case! Every color goes with every other color in nature… and always looks amazing. XO Have a super day my friend. 🙂
Beautiful colors. I too love the pale basic colors but recently have gone to blue and greens. I love the combo lok will have to try that next
Hi Dee! If or when you give one of these color combos a try, I’d LOVE to hear how it turns out for you!