skip to main content

Home Decorating

Need Help with picking colors for a well lit high ceiling living area

Chaitanya Inampudi

7 years ago

Hi - Just bought this home and would like to change the colors to brighten up and get a fresher look. Photos look great but the blue seems to dull the home overall. Leaning towards grey tones (heard a lot about Revere Pewter and edge comb grey from BM). Attached are pictures of the formal living, casual living and kitchen. Please suggest colors. We will be outsourcing the job (first time homeowners;not savvy about painting it ourselves for now..:))

Please note the home is empty right now and we are yet to furnish it. My idea is to pick the paints first and then work with the furniture and drapes after.

Thanks for the help.

Featured Answer

PRO

Laqfoil Ltd.

7 years ago

Congrats on the new home, the layout is gorgeous. You have 2 options:

1) Select neutral colors and have pops of color in the furniture

2) Or have more dramatic color walls and neutral furniture

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (13)

User
7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago
I am telling you, in the main living area, use BM Bruton White from their Williamsburg Collection of colors. It is the perfect neutral. It is soft and warm and cool...it's stunning.

What is the climate in your part of the country?
Chaitanya Inampudi
Original Author
7 years ago
This is in NC. So pretty bright and sunny days most part of the year I would say. I am new to the area too. Moved from NY and yet to live through all 4 seasons in NC.

Thanks for the color suggestion. Will check it out.
Related Discussions
I need help picking a ceiling color
Q
Comments (5)
Thanks for hte suggestions. I did actually get a sample of the shaker beige mixed at 50% and tried that. I think it's just a tad too dark for me. I may try to have it lightened a little more and see how that works. I would love to have some contrast, but I'm worried that adding another color may be too much. The kitchen color is kind of green, and the dining room is going to be a dark purple, but I haven't decided which one yet. I thought about a much lighter version of the northhampton putty on the ceilings in the living room and kitchen. I may try that tomorrow too. I have no idea how that color will look once it's lightened though.
...See More
Need help choosing coffee table and curtains colors small living area
Q
Comments (23)
Wow! Thanks a million for the feedback! it's priceless. Being that the photo is very underexposed due to lighting conditions(which btw i installed dimmers on the fan). thanks again. torreykm: color vs muted..if we go with color i would like to compliment the rug since its so close and muted; it's probably our safer choice. But we are open to suggestions. I like the curtains below. However, for some reason the white looked a bit plain when I installed mine. Yet, the whites you showed me here do have some nice patterns/designs. Where can I look into buying the curtain below? I really like this one. ingrid_vc so/always1: At first i thought about the same thing; round, glass and metal to make the room look bigger/small rug issue. But then I think about how delicate a glass table can be and how it sort of takes away from the cozy. But I suppose I can have it all with a small space :) aprilneverends: I am aboard with the "texture in the space", "more texture more interesting" and embrace your valid toddler analogy. My only issue is the size and perhaps it can dwarf the living room space. But my gut feeling says that the table is so nice that it won't matter. With respect to staying with the color scheme, I can always entertain the accent suggestions. Yet, we will prefer nothing flamboyant; yes we do have botanical motives. Perhaps behind/around the wicker basket area. One thing I forgot to mention is that the windows behind the verticals is a sliding door. So we would like to keep it not to busy in case I need to access my BBQ on the porch :) voila: Thanks for the comment. I promise to post a correctly exposed picture soon( as well as the end result). My wife has travels the world and has beautiful photography which we plan to mount on a large canvas to put behind the sofa. I will try to also include a panoramic view of the living space which included the dinning area where we have a nice florida/coastal style painting. lastly, thanks the curtains in JCpenny look very nice and matches our colors. I was thinking about a turquoise color as well. I will be making a stop today to look at curtains in persons as well as possibly buying the first coffee table on here by the end of the day if I don't come across any others. Keep the feedback coming. Cheers Rob
...See More
Need help picking a wall paint color to match Swiss Coffee ceilings.
Q
Comments (2)
Bittersweet stem looks like a strong option. I was also looking at SW Ivoire. I tried a Malibu Beige on a patch of the wall today and it was horrible. Looked like gray putty. Again, no direct light past 10 am.
...See More
Color choices for large kitchen/dining/living space w high ceiling
Q
Comments (14)
Your room is about as warm as it can get already with the floors and yellow walls. I too agree with Bev about white like the ones she shows. They will look really nice with your cabinets, floors, and accent color around the fireplace. Think of your furniture and rugs as all the color blocking you need. Painting the alcove and closet aren't great ideas, because they aren't features I'd want to call attention to.
...See More
User
7 years ago
My broker just did her new build with high ceilings in the Bruton White. It's soooooo gorgeous.

As for the kitchen and bedroom, how do you want to feel when you are in each room?
Chaitanya Inampudi
Original Author
7 years ago
Given the bedroom is west ended and gets a lot of afternoon sun, we like for it to be warm in an earthy tone (I mention earthy for Feng Shui reasons). As for the kitchen, I am not sure. Right now, we dont have the budget to redo the cabinets. A color that goes well with the current cabinets and the open living area color (lets say Bruton white) should work. But again nothing too dark or contrasting; looking for a cooler shade since the kitchen doesnt get that much of light but the breakfast area does.
User
7 years ago
I would use a bit more of a saturated color in the bedroom since bedrooms generally are used at night and therefore use artificial light.

Try a medium tan in the bedroom. Tan really glows in afternoon light and artificial light. It oozes luxury and warmth.

My low-light living room has Lenox Tan in it and I absolutely love it. Also look at BM Sherwood tan, Quincy Tan..

I would not go with a cool color in the kitchen. The cabinets are so warm.

If it were my kitchen, I'd paint the walls in my wonderful BM Capitol White (also from their Williamsburg Collection - someone has a thread here now who just painted her kitchen Capitol White, a few threads down), and I'd paint the Island a saturated color, maybe a deep blue.

I'm going to try to do some mockups. Not sure it will work with the blue on the walls there now. I'll give it a shot.
Chaitanya Inampudi
Original Author
7 years ago
Wow...this is really helpful. Sorry I did not mention but for the bedroom, I am looking to paint only one accent wall (typically the wall against which the bed is placed). I will check tan. What do you think of BM Mexicana for the bedroom? Or do you think I could leave the walls alone and paint the tray ceiling instead?

Also, what trim would go with Bruton white? Do you have any pictures of the project you mentioned earlier? Just so I see the trim in combination with BW.

Thanks much
User
7 years ago
User
7 years ago
User
7 years ago
User
7 years ago
BM Mexicana
User
7 years ago
In the bedroom, I'd paint the whole room and the ceiling tray.
Chaitanya Inampudi
Original Author
7 years ago
Ok. This is really helpful. Thanks a lot.

Related Stories

COLOR Paint-Picking Help and Secrets From a Color Expert

By Tiffany Carboni

Advice for wall and trim colors, what to always do before committing and the one paint feature you should completely ignore

COLOR Pick-a-Paint Help: How to Create a Whole-House Color Palette

By Laura Gaskill

Don't be daunted. With these strategies, building a cohesive palette for your entire home is less difficult than it seems

COLOR Pick-a-Paint Help: How to Quit Procrastinating on Color Choice

By Laura Gaskill

If you're up to your ears in paint chips but no further to pinning down a hue, our new 3-part series is for you

EXTERIORS Help! What Color Should I Paint My House Exterior?

By Jennifer Ott Design

Real homeowners get real help in choosing paint palettes. Bonus: 3 tips for everyone on picking exterior colors

COLOR Pick-a-Paint Help: 11 Ways to Mine Your World for Colors

By Laura Gaskill

Color, color everywhere. Discover the paint palettes that are there for the taking in nature, shops and anywhere else you roam

ARCHITECTURE House-Hunting Help: If You Could Pick Your Home Style ...

By Laura Gaskill

Love an open layout? Steer clear of Victorians. Hate stairs? Sidle up to a ranch. Whatever home you're looking for, this guide can help

COLOR More Top Paint Picks for 2014: New Greens, Blues and Neutrals

By Jennifer Ott Design

Valspar’s new colors aim to lift spirits and express creativity. Here’s how to use 9 of them in lively ways

CURB APPEAL 7 Questions to Help You Pick the Right Front-Yard Fence

By Matthew Ankeny

Get over the hurdle of choosing a fence design by considering your needs, your home’s architecture and more

GRAY Choosing Paint: How To Pick the Right Gray

By Kelly Porter

Which Version of Today's 'It' Neutral Is For You?

ECLECTIC HOMES Houzz Tour: High-Low Mix in a Colorful Victorian

By Natalie Wain

An unloved house is transformed into a cheerful, versatile home with a blend of design classics, budget pieces and treasured finds

Sponsored

More Discussions

powder room wall ideas

6

bar closet in the making

11

Help facelift this dated kitchen

10

Painting Fireplace - color and suggestions!

8

Fabrics to go with oriental rug

2