Wishful Thinking
Wishful Thinking is a bright and airy paint color from Cloverdale Paint. Our real-world data shows it is a primary choice when homeowners need to maximize natural light while maintaining a clean, neutral backdrop. Below, you'll find 8 examples of this shade in actual homes along with suggested color relationships.
Hex
#FCDCE0
LRV
79.00
Wishful Thinking's Color Strip
Wishful Thinking is the second shade on this 7-color strip, sitting between Royal Wedding and Fruitbowl. The strip spans from Royal Wedding at the lightest end to Siren at the deepest. Strip 32 lines up the full value range so you can see exactly where this color lands among its closest relatives.
Wishful Thinking in Real Rooms
Wishful Thinking has a high LRV of 79 — it reflects a lot of light and will read pale and airy in most spaces.
1 Bathroom Photo
For bathrooms with limited natural light, Wishful Thinking provides a necessary "glow." It uses its subtle undertones to mimic the warmth of sunlight, preventing the space from feeling subterranean or overly dark, even in windowless layouts.
The walls here show Wishful Thinking in bright, well-lit bathroom light.
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2 Bedroom Photos
For guest bedrooms, Wishful Thinking is a welcoming embrace. It's a universally appealing tone that feels clean and fresh for new arrivals, yet has enough "personality" to make their stay feel special and considered. It works across all seasons, feeling cool in summer and cozy in winter.
A bedroom painted in Wishful Thinking — soft-spoken and easy to wake up to.
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This open bedroom shows Wishful Thinking in honest, natural light.
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1 Dining Room Photo
Dining rooms are often the best place to take a "color risk." By choosing Wishful Thinking, you're opting for a shade that is saturated and confident, yet still refined enough to act as a neutral backdrop for colorful table linens and floral arrangements.
See Wishful Thinking in a formal dining setting — composed and quietly present.
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2 Misc Photos
More spaces painted in Wishful Thinking, shared by homeowners and designers across kitchens, hallways, dining rooms, and beyond. This collection shows how one color can take on a dozen different personalities depending on the room.
A foyer painted in Wishful Thinking sets the tone for everything beyond it.
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Natural light reveals Wishful Thinking's true character in this bright sun room.
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1 Kitchen Photo
Wishful Thinking in a kitchen reads differently from how it might anywhere else — the hard surfaces, task lighting, and constant activity give it more to work against, and it holds up beautifully. It doesn't compete with the colors of food or the texture of countertops; instead, it frames them with a professional finish.
This kitchen scene shows how Wishful Thinking holds up under practical light.
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1 Living Room Photo
Few colors transition as gracefully from day to evening as Wishful Thinking. In natural light, it reads clean, grounded, and modern; by candlelight or lamp, it deepens into something much more soulful. For a living room that needs to function as a bright morning coffee spot and a moody evening lounge, that tonal range is an invaluable asset.
See how Wishful Thinking holds up in a real living room setting.
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