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Home Decorating

Want to pick a new color for my living room?

15 years ago

The post about how often you paint got me thinking -- almost time to paint my living room! My ceiling is a disaster and the walls aren't great either, so I need a painter to come in and do some repairs and then repaint. Right now it's BM Chippendale Rosetone, which I really like even though I would have never guessed I'd like a "pink" living room (for me, it works because the trim and most of my furniture are dark). The trim around windows and doors, and ceiling beams, are all dark mahogany and not changing. I don't have any full room pics, but below are a couple to give you an idea of what is in the room. I'm usually good with color but I'd love some "outside" opinions on colors you could see here. Preferably BM colors, please, although if I found the right Farrow & Ball color, I might splurge. Anyway, the surrounding colors are: BM Cheyenne Green in the kitchen/family room (open to the living room), BM Stone House in the foyer (next to living room), and BM Stuart Gold in the dining room (other side of foyer).

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Painting over the fireplace:

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Comments (8)

teacats
15 years ago
BM Bittersweet Chocolate (2114-10) for a deep darker room that would be cozy -- and would blend with the darker wood tones BUT your artworks, fabric, area rug would stand out wonderfully!

Jan
indygo
15 years ago
I'm thinking a green, though you said you've got it in an adjouning room. What about something like Philadelphia Cream or Barley (both Ben Moore.)
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No, I don't think it would be a sea of beige at all. You really don't want every single thing to pop out with color. I can see that in your choices so far! I think it's a great idea to make a neutral background, and have your large, expensive items be neutral in general, and make the less expensive, more easily changeable items have the color you like. The beige doesn't jump out when you look at the photos. What jumps out is huge brown items. So, think about getting a lighter neutral (not quite so matchy matchy) chair. Maybe a tan color, or an upholstered fabric piece. Because I have kids, I always pick out a very sturdy, very cleanable material like a high-quality chenille, that has 2 colors in it (if you look closely). Or a subtle pattern--which would make any spills easier to clean. For color, you can add a cozy and attractive throw. Pick out a rug! You can check out esalerugs. Or rugsusa, or one of my favorites, overstock, because you can read reviews to see if the photos represent the actual rug, and the shipping is free. Or go visit World Market or Pier 1 online. Returns can be easily brought back to the store. Or Pottery Barn, with a coupon or on sale; you can sometimes get a bargain. I found these 2 on overstock. These are 9 X 12. I think the first one was $300+ and the second one was $600+. Be sure to buy a big enough rug. You want the front feet of the furniture (at least) on the rug, and the rug pretty much centered in that room.
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No, I don't think it would look awful. I love big art pieces. The important thing though is do YOU like it? It's your home and it's important that it please YOU. Looking at your picture, I'm wondering if the art above the sofa isn't a tad big for that wall. (I really like it, btw.) Usually, the eye appreciates some breathing room around art. If you have painter's tape, try taping out that canvas' size above your couch and see just how much wall it covers. That might help you visualize its negative space better. Good luck and enjoy the process!
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Sorry so many comments, internet slow and won't take a lot of pics at once. Walls Bittersweet stem, accent wall as above. I'd paint the door the wall color since you don't have trim around it. It looks unfinished in these pics. not sure these are the right colors but they give you the idea.
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Sueb20
Original Author
15 years ago
I keep thinking green too, although then I feel like my house will become the Green House. That would make 2/3 of my first floor all green. Also forgot to mention that the sunroom off the living room is a brown color -- I forget the name but it is fairly dark (but the room is mostly windows so it's still a bright room).
parma42
15 years ago
I love your room!

The rug is beautiful. Your wood moldings and art add so much, too.

I'd like to see the rest of the rooms but I'm thinking something like BM Pittsfield Buff a pretty goldy/tan neutral that would be a great background and let everything else shine. I love gold with wood.

Something dark like Jan suggested would also be nice.
Sueb20
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks parma! Below is a link to my rug. Also a pic of my dining room color, which is on the right side as you come into my front door, while the living room is on the left. I'm starting to think a pale gold, like a very pale version of the dining room, might work.

Can't find a good pic of the dining room, but this shows the wall color.
{{!gwi}}

Here is a link that might be useful: my rug
parma42
15 years ago
Just love that gold/red combo in your rug.

While I usually look for any excuse to suggest painting a room in dark colors, in this case I think the dark brown might look too contemporary and may not be right with the rug.

A pale gold would be so nice in keeping with the reds and your posters.
teacats
15 years ago
Next option:

From the latest issue (September) of House Beautiful magazine -- page 116 -- BM's "Southwest Pottery" which appears to be a simply deeper richer version of the color that is presently on the walls.
suero
15 years ago
BM Glowing Apricot. It's not as pink, and will go well with your furniture, rugs and adjacent rooms. I have that color in my family room. Unfortunately, I don't have a good picture that shows the color properly, but I picked it to go with this Fantin-Latour painting.

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