Finding the Perfect Peachy Paint: Can She Do It?

Here’s the big question of the week: does the perfect shade of peach paint exist for me (outside of coming up with something myself?). I mean, I’m sure something does, but every time I run through the monologue in my head of how I’m describing the wall color I’m after for my bedroom, I start to doubt it a little.

“Peachy, apricoty, but not too orange, plastery blush but not too pink, warm and glowy but not too saturated…” Welcome to the dark corner of my design mind. After exploring some inspirations with you for my bedroom makeover in this post, I decided I definitely wanted something peach. I don’t, however, want anything too blush nor do I want anything too terra cotta or even orange. Someone suggested I use the term “apricot” for my hunt, which at first was great. I started seeing colors I really liked, but of course, upon going back to look at them, I thought “eh, too orange.”

CAN SHE BE SATISFIED? (And why do I keep talking about myself in the third person?!?)

Being that my bedroom windows face both south and east, the sunlight is pretty intense in there. Which means it won’t be an uphill battle to get a bright, glowy vibe going in the space, at the very least. This also means, though, that any color I put in here will be BRIGHT, so I need to plan for that.

I did what any deranged person on the hunt for a color they can’t quite describe (yet) would do: collect so many links that you can no longer distinguish what you really want or what is better or worse than the next. Thank goodness for a blog where I can put it all out there and some of you lovely, design-loving people can talk some sense into me (or suggest a specific shade I’ve yet to discover).

Let’s take a look at where I’ve landed, shall we? I’m going to share in a stream of consciousness format because we’re friends right? You can tolerate some rambling, nonsensical posts sometimes, yes?

I first narrowed it down to 16 (ha, “narrowed down”), which I’ll talk through, then 8. I know I need to get these down to about 4-5 for some sanity before getting samples in to evaluate in person.

PSA ALERT: Promise you’ll always buy samples of paint and get some swatches up on your walls. And like, multiple walls, so you can see what the light does to it on each because yes, it WILL look different depending on the direction of the sunlight and how it changes throughout the day. Look, no one understands that knee-jerk feeling of wanting to do something and do it NOW more than I do. I’m immensely impulsive, but I’ve learned…don’t rush the paint process. Just don’t, mmkay?

The Top 16 Peachy Picks

Wing It by Clare: This is one of the first colors I pinned. It looks really subtle and soft, but maybe too pink.

Modern Love by Backdrop: Spoiler alert…this one made it into my top 8. It’s fleshy, not too taupe, not too pink, not really all that peach. I’ve never used Backdrop paint, which appears to be a new direct to consumer brand. If you have, let me know how you like the paint quality!

Aperitivo Hour by Backdrop: I liked this one when doing my initial research, but after looking at everything together, it feels way too saturated. A great color, just not for this room. Perhaps if my flooring was different and I was able to paint my moldings (my landlord frowns at me touching the woodwork), this would work.

Setting Plaster by Farrow & Ball: I’ve long loved Setting Plaster. Need to test in person to check how pink it looks IRL.

English Sconce by Dunn Edwards: At this point, you’re probably thinking “Arlyn, none of this is peach. This is all beige.” IT’S NOT BEIGE. These all live under the “orange” category of the paint companies, so I know in person, they’ll read less “smut” and more flesh.

Verona Beach by Dunn Edwards: This might actually probably be too beige…let’s call it “sand.”

You’re Blushing by Dunn Edwards: I like this in theory, but possibly too taupe.

Cashew Nut by Dunn Edwards: This one has peachy, pinky undertones which I really like.

Peach by Dunn Edwards: This is just straight up Peach without being super saturated. I think I’m into it.

Sandy Beach by Dun Edwards: Sweet color, but maybe better for a nursery.

Intricate Ivory by Sherwin-Williams: Given that the word “ivory” is in the name here, it might end up being just too beige.

Apricot Tint by Benjamin Moore: I like this one in a swatch, but on the BM site, in a room, it is NOT what I want. Granted, those things are never right and paint color rarely looks the same on screen as it does in person. In fact, it’s usually WAY off.

Apricot Beige by Benjamin Moore: Now we’re talking. I am NOT after beige, though all of these colors might lead you to believe otherwise. Apricot Beige, however, made the short list.

Terra Bella by Benjamin Moore: The digital “in room” inspiration for this one looks really close to what I think I’m after. It’s warm, deep, with enough orange and pink in it that it doesn’t skew beige.

Portofino by Portola Paints & Glazes: Portofino reminds me of Setting Plaster, and frankly, they’re probably pretty much the same color. ::face palm::

Sawyer by Portola Paints & Glazes: Nice but a little too subtle, I think.

After going through that exercise, it was clear to me that I was not, in fact, after peach. Rather, “flesh” that hints at peach and blush. The intention is to avoid anything too in your face and land somewhere soothing but with personality.

The Top 8 Fleshy Picks

Clearly, most of these are very similar, at least on screen. I suspect they will actually be quite different in person, but I could also be very wrong. I went through the exercise of Photoshopping them on my walls just to see. Here are four colors I’m feeling really good about:

Obviously, the furniture will change, there will be other decor in my color palette, but the real clincher here is how these colors will look against the carpeting. I could maybe do a tone-on-tone thing there to lean into it, but if not, finding something that doesn’t subtly clash might be tricky.

Anyhow, that’s where I am with my bedroom wall paint color. Not peach, after all, friends. I really liked these four last night, but now that I’m looking at them again, it all looks like beige. Guess it’s time to order some paint samples… 🙂