Choosing the right paint color can be a daunting task. There are so many factors to consider; the light, complementing the floors, furniture, art, appliances and surrounding rooms, the trim and ceiling are something to consider as well. 

After our renovation was completed I couldn't make any more decisions.  We wanted to keep the interior paint simple and start with a bright, modern white to complement our light oak floors. Who knew there would be an unlimited amount of whites to choose from? I was completely overwhelmed. I picked up a ton of Benjamin Moore color chips and paint samples from Laysville Hardware and ultimately asked the expert. John suggested Benjamin Moore's Decorator's White OC-149 based on what I was looking for. I also loved Chantilly Lace OC-65 so we used this for our trim and our kitchen cabinets. The hint of grey in the Decorator's White offset the Chantilly Lace trim for a crisp contrast that we all love. Now that the project is finished and all our decisions are behind us, Moxi (our Fox Red Lab) loves that we have plenty of time to play with her.

​Benjamin Moore put together these helpful steps to make the process of selecting the right paint color for your home a little easier.

>> Read the full article and find more helpful tips on benajminmoore.com.

I probably spend way too much time on Pintrest, especially after 11 pm when I can't fall asleep. For those of you that don't know about Pinterest (John), it is a web community where  members can "pin" images, videos and other objects to their pinboard.  I get a lot of my "inspiration" from things I find on this site. The chalkboard paint was something I had to try.

Our kitchen has a 10 foot by 8 foot wall that was a perfect backdrop for something creative. Laysville Hardware suggested the Benjamin Moore Chalkboard paint. I chose black - but there are a ton of color choices! They recommended a 3/8" nap roller and I picked up the paint tray, some painter's tape a drop cloth and off I went. I saw they also sold magnetic paint — how cool is that?! I picked up a quart of Rust-Oleum magnetic paint and a smaller nap roller to see how we could add a magnetic back board to the project. John from Laysville Hardware recommended I only do a small area for the magnetic paint and boy was he right. I chose to do a bar across the mid/top of the wall so we could post photos, kids art work or little daily notes. After 8 plus coats the magnetic paint finally started working — well worth the effort but it added a little more time to the project.

For detailed instructions on how to apply the Benjamin Moore Chalkboard paint you can visit the Benjamin Moore web site.

We have received so many compliments on our chalkboard wall. Everyone is drawn to it (pun intended). The kids enjoy decorating it for Birthdays, different seasons, and we use it for the letter of the week and other learning opportunities. It is the wall that keeps on giving... and perfect for someone who likes to redecorate every week.

The only con is it can get a bit messy on your floor. I would recommend picking up a dust pan and brush - and stay away from wall to wall carpeting.  A damp sponge makes it easy to clean the chalk off the wall (and floor.)

Other Ideas for the Chalkboard paint:
I have seen chalkboard paint on the back of doors, cabinets, serving trays, kids bedrooms... the possibilities are endless.
Click here to see more chalkboard paint ideas from Benjamin Moore.