Choosing a paint color should be fun—but in a 110-year-old house, it comes with a few surprises (like peeling paint, mystery layers, and 102 tiny window panes). In this post, I’m sharing the messy, satisfying process of refreshing our living room—from how to test if your old paint is oil-based, to what products actually worked, and yes… how I ended up wearing my toddler’s goggles mid-project. If you’re tackling an old home, here’s what to know before you pick up a brush.
Old House Paint Problems and How We’re Fixing Them (Goggles Included)
I’ve officially started tackling the living room, and for once, this house project isn’t about stopping water from pouring through the ceiling. No leaks, no asbestos tests, no parade of plumbers—just a good old-fashioned refresh. And honestly? It feels really good.
When we moved in, the walls were a bold salmon pink that, over time (and with lots of shifting sunlight), evolved into a full-blown orange Push-Up.
Definitely not a color I would’ve picked—but hey, it was someone’s vibe, and I respect that. This house has lived many lives. Now it’s time to give it one more.
Of course, in true old house fashion, nothing is ever as easy as just slapping on a new coat of paint.
PSA: Before You Paint, Test What’s Already There
Here’s something I wish I’d known before picking up a roller:
If you live in an older home, always test whether your existing paint is oil-based before painting over it with latex.
Why? Because latex over oil = flaking, peeling disaster.
Latex doesn’t bond well to glossy oil-based surfaces, and you’ll end up with paint that peels off in giant chunks (ask me how I know).
Here’s how to test it:
– Take a rag and some acetone nail polish remover
– Rub a small area of your wall
– If the paint starts to come off on the rag (see below), it’s latex
– If it doesn’t budge, it’s oil-based
– If you get residue from both layers? Yep—latex over oil, and welcome to the flaking club
That’s what I discovered here—and why big areas of my walls were chipping like a bad sunburn. Some spots were so stubborn I had to go in with a paint scraper to really get the job done.
What To Do If You Have Latex Over Oil
Here’s what worked for us:
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Scrape any loose paint using a sturdy paint scraper
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Prime with a bonding primer. I used:
– Zinsser Peel Stop to seal chipping areas
– Zinsser 1-2-3 Primer to cover the orange and prep for paint -
Prep everything: sand rough areas, wipe down all surfaces, and tape off all trim
And I’m not taking all the credit—Max, one of the amazing contractors helping me tackle the house probs, did most of the prep work and very kindly reminded me that he was the one who counted all 102 window panes in the room.
Paint Picks + Progress
Once the surface was prepped, it was time for the fun part: choosing the color. I started swatching on every wall—west, north, and south—because the light in this room changes constantly. What feels soft and warm in the morning turns a little too yellow by mid-afternoon.
I pulled color inspiration from Farrow & Ball (I love their not-too-many-but-all-gorgeous approach), but ended up matching shades to Benjamin Moore for easier access and a gentler price tag here in Fargo. (And I love that I can hop on over to the local Burgraff's Ace Hardware to get all of things I need, including candy to get by!) I highly recommend this website to help you figure out some close matches! While waiting at the paint counter for my samples to be mixed, I impulsively grabbed one random swatch—and now I think it might be the one...stay tuned.
I put a poll up in my stories if you want to help me pick. But I'm pretty sure I know!
Where We’re At Now
We’ve got scraped walls, everything’s taped and primed, and I’m wearing my 3-year-old’s toy goggles from the cutest tool set ever, because I forgot to buy real ones. (10/10 recommend, honestly. (We can discuss my baby bangs later...)
This project is messy—but it’s the good kind of mess. We’re not just fixing what’s broken anymore. We’re making this place feel like ours.
What I Used (and Recommend):
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Benjamin Moore Paints (Farrow & Ball color matches) – check local suppliers
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Toy Work Goggles (because life happens): Little Tikes Pretend Play Set
- Also recommend an actual face mask and not your sweatshirt...
Want to see which color we go with? I’ll be posting updates (and hopefully an “after” shot that isn’t just a pile of dust and regrets) soon!