Asking a designer to choose a favorite paint color is like asking a parent to pick a favorite child. But we’re not here to lob softballs! We ask the hard questions! Their answers vary from daring—the ladies of Pulp Design Studios chose Sherwin-Williams’ “Tricorn Black,” which they say is alternatingly “cozy or super-dramatic”—to totally timeless. “There’s a reason there are more whites in a paint deck than any other,” says Paul Draper of Paul Draper Design. Still others, like John Bobbitt of Bobbitt & Company Interior Design, insist it is an impossible task: “There’s no such thing! Any color can be a failure in the wrong light and location. It has to be seen in situ.” Here are a few of the top vote-getters.
1. Benjamin Moore, “Kendall Charcoal”
2. Benjamin Moore, “Britannia Blue”
3. Farrow & Ball, “Borrowed Light”
4. Benjamin Moore, “Palladian Blue”
5. Benjamin Moore, “Admiral Blue”
6. Farrow & Ball, “Pigeon”
7. Benjamin Moore, “Revere Pewter”
8. Benjamin Moore, “Dark Celery”
9. Farrow & Ball, “Down Pipe”
10. Benjamin Moore, “Palest Pistachio”
11. Farrow & Ball, “Pointing”
12. Benjamin Moore, “Water’s Edge”
13. Little Greene, “Tea with Florence”
14. Benjamin Moore, “Spanish Red”
15. Benjamin Moore, “Opal”
Paint Primer
What’s Your Type?
We’ve all been there: You’re standing in the aisle of the hardware store, staring at cans of latex and oil-based paints, not sure which to grab. Elizabeth Tenorio of DFW Painting makes it simple: “Oil-based paint is used on trim, cabinets, doors, baseboards, crown molding, and so forth, because it’s more durable,” she says. “Latex is mainly used for walls and ceilings.”
The Rules of Refinishing
Love the profile of that piece of furniture, but tired of the finish? Tiffany Taylor of Scout Design Studio recommends refinishing with lacquer for its smooth surface and durability that cannot be achieved with enamel-based paint. Before you start applying lacquer layers, though, be sure to sand the surface down: “We prep everything by either wet or dry sanding,” she says. “This provides a smooth surface and allows the paint or stain to properly adhere for a lasting finish.” Stripping can be a great way to remove the finish on flat surfaces, but it’s easier to use sandpaper strips on items with curved edges. Make sure you pay attention to the material you’re refinishing, too—while lacquer can be applied to many veneers, Scout doesn’t recommend it for rosewood or mahogany, as the oils in the woods tend to bleed through.
Drying and Curing
Different paint types mean different dry and cure times—and it’s important to know the difference. While dry time refers to when paint becomes dry to the touch, cure time pertains to how long it takes the paint to completely set. “Full cure means the resins and the chemical components and the paint itself has cured to its complete durability and hardness,” says Joseph Long of Texas Paint & Wallpaper, who notes that dry time is also influenced by factors such as airflow and humidity.
- Latex
- Oil
- Spray paint
- Acrylic
Dry time:
20-45 minutes
Cure time:
12-20 days
Dry time:
4-12 hours
Cure time:
14-21 days
Dry time:
20-45 minutes
Cure time:
12-20 days
Dry time:
20-45 minutes
Cure time:
12-20 days
Got leftover paint to get rid of but don’t feel like hauling it to the Dallas County Home Chemical Collection Center? Call Dallas Paint Disposal, which offers contactless pick-up and disposal of latex and oil-based paints for a fee. (You can use their online calculator to determine your cost.) Depending on the condition of your paint, it may be recycled, donated, or used in energy recovery.
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