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Living Room Paint Refresh (BM Baby Fawn)

We couldn’t be happier with the Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn walls and White Dove trim in our living room. Learn how to select the right paint colour for your space. Is this greige right for you too?

Do you have a room in your home that’s starting to look tired? Unfortunately, we have more than one after living here for over 10 years. In fact, our whole main floor is in need of a paint refresh and flooring upgrade. That’s what happens when you focus your attention on other projects like landscaping and finishing a basement.

So, when I was recently asked to try out Benjamin Moore’s ben & ME bag to transform a room with a fresh new coat of paint, I jumped at the opportunity. Paint is definitely one of the easiest and quickest ways to give a room a new look.

Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn OC-15 Living Room Walls with White Dove Fireplace and Trim

The overall plan for our main floor is to achieve a light and airy feel. I decided to tackle the living room first since it’s much less work than transforming the kitchen.

We started by ripping out the carpet and oak stained baseboards, which will eventually be replaced with hardwood flooring and deeper baseboards in a white-painted finish.

Selecting the Right Paint Colour

After trying several different paint swatches around the room at different times of the day, I narrowed the living room paint down to 3 possible “greige” colours. I highly recommend sampling paint on the wall before purchasing enough for the entire room. It’s an additional expense, but can save you time, money and a big headache in the end.

Benjamin Moore Paint Colour Samples for Living Room Makeover - Baby Fawn, Balboa Mist, Collingwood

The colour variations were subtle between Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn (top in photo below), Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist (middle) and Benjamin Moore Collingwood (bottom).

Testing Benjamin Moore Paint Colours in Our Living Room - Comparing Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn vs. Balboa Mist vs. Collingwood - Satori Design for Living

I eliminated Balboa Mist OC-27 right away because it had a bit of a purple undertone. I really liked Collingwood OC-28, but against our taupe sofa (which we plan on keeping for at least a couple more years), it looked too blue-green.

The winner was Baby Fawn OC-15, a soft, light greige with a bit of a warm undertone.

Considering Benjamin Moore Edgecomb Gray HC-173 as well? It’s the same colour as Baby Fawn. For a lighter greige paint colour, try Pale Oak OC-20.

Here’s how these Benjamin Moore greige paint colours look side by side…

Benjamin Moore Greige Paint Colours

Using the Right Paint Tools

Choosing the right paint colour is always important, but taking the time to properly prep a room is key for a flawless finish. I like to fill all holes with spackling, sand down any rough patches or lumps, and use a slightly dampened sponge to wipe all the dust away.

Everything else to paint our living room was included in the ben & ME bag- 2 gallons of premium paint, 1 quart for trim, a paint tray with liner, sleeve roller, angled paint brush, paint can opener, plastic drop cloth and green painter’s tape. Having it all-in-one made the process easy-peasy!

Benjamin Moore Painting Supplies for a Flawless Finish - Satori Design for Living

It even included a How-To Guide with smart tips like using a lint brush on the roller to get rid of the excess fuzz so it doesn’t end up painted onto your wall for an eternity. To prevent paint seepage, the guide suggests heat-sealing the painter’s tape edge by running your finger or paint stick along the edge. It worked like a charm!

Painting Tips and Tricks for a Flawless Finish

Why Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn?

After only giving half of the room one coat of paint, I knew it was the perfect colour. A bit of a warm undertone in Baby Fawn by Benjamin Moore means the room won’t feel cold in the fall and winter months. However, the lightness will keep it looking fresh in the spring and summer.

Living Room Paint Makeover with Benjamin Moore's Baby Fawn 0C-15 - Satori Design for Living

You can see how the colour shifts depending on time of day or which direction the light through the windows is coming from. It’s a bit more yellow on the south side (left of fireplace) and blue on the north. Overall, it works.

New Living Room Paint Colour - Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn 0C-15 - Satori Design for Living

White Fireplace Paint

Since we moved in, I’ve wanted to change the red undertone stained wood mantel. A light sanding and coat of primer meant it was ready for a couple coats of White Dove (OC-17). This is the same paint colour we plan on using for our kitchen cabinets, as well as all of the trim throughout the house.

White Painted Fireplace with Oak Trim - BEFORE

The Result

So much better already, don’t you think? The next step will be reworking the fireplace and getting rid of that arch!

Update: See Our Newly Renovated Fireplace

White Painted Fireplace in Benjamin Moore OC-17 White Dove PROGRESS

Here’s a look at the living room paint BEFORE

Benjamin Moore Living Room Paint Makeover BEFORE - From BM Stone House to Baby Fawn
Benjamin Moore Living Room Paint Makeover BEFORE - From BM Stone House to Baby Fawn

Here’s the AFTER, with Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn walls and White Dove fireplace.

Benjamin Moore Living Room Paint Refresh with Baby Fawn OC-15
Benjamin Moore Living Room Paint Refresh with Baby Fawn OC-15 and White Dove

Although we still have a few tasks ahead to complete our living room, I’m thrilled with how this paint refresh turned out. New flooring, along with some accessories and artwork, and the room will be the welcoming space we envisioned.

Like this living room paint project? PIN IT for later!

Living Room Paint Refresh - Painting our living room in Benjamin Moore Baby Fawn and White Dove
ben & ME Bag - Benjamin Moore Paint Promotion
Benjamin Moore Paint

In the coming weeks, I’ll be sharing more living room updates. In the meantime, I’d love to know what paint projects you have on the go. Struggling with your colour choice? Do you take the steps I did to find the right one?

Disclosure: Although this living room paint post has been generously sponsored by Benjamin Moore, the opinions and language are all my own, and in no way do they reflect Benjamin Moore.

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Happy painting!

Shauna at Satori Design for Living Blog - Home Decor, DIY, Vintage Finds, Recipes

16 Comments

  1. I’ve been toying with the idea of repainting my living room (too dark!) with a lighter shade of beige/taupe.  That Baby Fawn looks like an awesome colour.  Thanks for the tip!

    1. Having a softer color really lets the other elements in the room stand out (like your vintage collections!). I think you’ll like something light and airy, especially for our days that can be so short in the winter!

  2. Shauna, the transformation is incredible! I love where you have gone with your changes especially the fireplace mantle and trim. It’s amazing what a difference that makes. I only just learned about Ben & ME -what a great concept!!

  3. Love the color you chose! I’ve been looking for a color like this for our home renovations as well! Thanks for sharing your space! I think it is coming together very nicely! :) 

    1. It’s always nice when you find just the right color. Try a sample of the baby fawn first since lighting and other elements can really make a difference. I would’ve gone with the Balboa Mist if I had just used the swatches and that one read a bit purple- not what I was going for. Good luck!

  4. It already looks so much fresher and cleaner! It’s amazing how new paint can do that. I can’t wait to see what you do with the fireplace and flooring.

  5. Hi there,

    I am curious about the ceiling color? I love BM white dove for wood trim. The baby fawn looks great too!

    thanks

    1. Hi Cheri, It used to be a popcorn ceiling that the builder put in, so I’m not sure about the colour. During the full renovation, we ended up scraping it and painting it in White Dove flat ceiling paint. You can see more photos in this post.

  6. Hi there, this space looks amazing!!
    I am about to paint my sunroom with BM white dove. I am wondering what sheen you used for fireplace mantle and trim? I am trying to decide between Pearl or satin.
    Thank you!

  7. Hi Shauna,
    I am wanting to paint a grey in my living room have 2 north facing windows. I don’t want any blue or purple or undertones. I haven’t had any luck. I have a huge living area and it is currently painted a dark goldfish brown color. I have researched and researched. Don’t even know what to do anymore. Can you help? Thanks

    1. Hi Lori, Grey is definitely challenging when it comes to north-facing rooms. Have you tried any greys with a warm undertone, such as Sherwin Williams Repose Gray or Benjamin Moore Classic grey (a bit lighter). Stay away from cool greys as they tend to go even more blue or purple in north-facing rooms.

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