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Help me pick out paint for my living room!

14 years ago

We are in the process of buying a house, and I'm having a really hard time picking out paint for the living room. It has dark wood trim and a brick fireplace. In decorating magazines and websites, all they show are rooms with white trim! I really don't want to paint the trim and fireplace - it's too much hassle and I actually like the fireplace as is!

Here are two pictures from when the house was listed for sale online - these are not my decorations or furniture. My furniture is lighter than that pictured, more of a sand color.

My sister wants me to paint the room dark brown. I think it will be way too much brown in one room, and it will make it dark and not as open.

Any ideas?

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Comments (4)

randita
14 years ago
I have a fireplace and carpeting a lot like yours and I painted the room SW Latte and I like it very much. I have a beige couch and burgundy leather chairs and olive green accents. They all blend well together. If your room doesn't get a lot of light, then the next lighter color might work - Nomadic Desert.

Other possibilities I envision would be a gold beige like SW Blonde. It would also blend with the rug and look nice with the brick, I think. Or a neutral green like SW Grassland or Svelte Sage.

If you want a gold with more punch, try SW Golden Fleece or a green with more punch, SW Wheat Grass or Rye Grass.

Just depends on whether you like walls to be neutral background shades or whether you want them to make a statement.
liirogue
Original Author
14 years ago
Thanks randita! I really like the greens you posted, and I will definitely look closer at those! The walls in the house we currently live in are very similar to SW Blonde, and hubby is tired of it, so the greens would be a nice change!
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I love what u have so far! Great neutral colors. However, I do agree with you the room seems a bit bland as is. U have so many great neutrals. I would suggest getting dark grey drapes to flank either side of the window and accent with golden or teal colors for a bit of pop. The photo above has the warm colored floor and charcoal cabinets, the brass hardware and teal bar stools add a bit of character without losing its sophistication. U could accent with mustard and teal pillows. Do the dark curtain and possibly have a 2nd later under the charcoal drape in one of the accent colors.
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Jillian, You have a lovely home. Apple-pie gave great advice. I think with those beautiful warm wood floors you might need a more neutral gray or greige paint. If you want me to choose one of your grays. I will have to say Repose Gray because it has a hint of warm beige in it that might work better with your floors. BUT.....that gray can look purple. I like the idea that Sara S had about priming a wall and choosing the right color rather than go over the colors you have. It is hard to see a colors undertones with teal or purple or yellow or really any color that might take away from the gray shade you are searching for. I know you will find the right gray. Those beautiful wood floors deserve a gray that will bring out the beauty. Visit a few blogs that talk about gray paints and how to choose them. Repose Gray Blog Warm orange floors and gray paint (blog) Fabulous warm gray paint colors And then find out how much light you have (natural or not) and think about the directions your rooms face. I am sure you will find the perfect color. I am looking at Balboa Mist and Shale for my own space. Shale is a little darker but I think it will work with my dark chocolate floors where Balboa works even better with warm golden floors. ~boxer
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Although pretty, these fixtures will not give you "a lot of light", for a couple of reasons, 1. they are shrouded in the crystal which will shadow 2. they are pushing light to the ceiling. 3. the one with Edison style bulbs is just altogether no good. As the space is formal dressy is a good thought, however, large chandeliers will overpower the room. I would go with something much simpler, thin arm with shades, help force light down or Something from justice designs with downlight , they make the most amazing light fixtures
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Yes, I would do the window to the left of the slider too. Yeah, the one I posted is pricey! Article.com has a more affordable version but the leather tone seemed wrong. I would get painters' tape and tape out the dimensions of the other ottoman you found. I think two could be fun and nice to move around for family movies, etc. ...assuming the proportions work. However, since you already own the table you posted above I would definitely try that out first!
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fnmroberts
14 years ago
Our home is bright with windows. We selected SW Latte as accent for the entry and one wall in our LR. The remainder of the LR and the DR are SW Kilim Beige which is a couple shades lighter than Latte.

Here's a photo showing Latte behind the secretary, then Kilim Beige to the right.

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This is an overall of the LR in Kilim Beige.

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The color provides nice contrast with white trim and I'm sure will compliment your dark stained trim too. Our rooms are not dark at night.

Good luck in your new home.
jovtfam4
14 years ago
Ralph Lauren's Tangier Island is a wonderful color.

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