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Paint Design Dilemma living room

HELP! Need Paint colors for Low-light North Facing Rooms

5 years ago

So, in an attempt to brighten up my low-light North-facing house, I have made a TERRIBLE paint choice. :( I painted my kitchen Benjamin Moore Palladian Blue because the color looked so light and crisp in all the pictures I saw online. Well, NOT in my kitchen. It looks like I smeared my walls in crest toothpaste or something. So, I can't figure out if it just looks bad because it is next to a color in the other room that doesn't coordinate or if it's just that bad and nothing will help it.

Here's the situation.

1 . I have cream trim/cabinets/built ins throughout the entire house, so I'm stuck with cream for now.

2. The rooms I want to paint are North Facing with very small windows, very little light.

3. Our ceilings are relatively low (maybe 8-9 feet?)

Questions:

1. Is there any way for that blue to look good?

2. What color or colors would be better for the living room & kitchen?

*we will likely be getting new furniture, so don't pay attention to that for the colors.

Thank you so much for any help!

Featured Answer

H D

5 years ago

last modified: 5 years ago

Good info in this article: https://www.kylieminteriors.ca/the-best-most-popular-benjamin-moore-paint-colours-north-facing-northern-exposure-rooms/

For blues she recommends Wythe Blue or Woodlawn Blue for north facing rooms

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Comments (7)

PRO
Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design
5 years ago
First, try swapping out your light bulbs. They look yellow right now, a cooler white light will help the paint look like a truer blue. The green in the living room isn't helping either. In a space like that consider painting both rooms the same color.
Lindsay Harris thanked Sina Sadeddin Architectural Design
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Lindsay Harris
Original Author
5 years ago
Sina - The living room color is what was already in there. I was planning on painting both rooms the blue color, but once I finished the kitchen, I was a little afraid to continue because it seems VERY blue. I'll take a look at Wythe and Woodlawn also
Lindsay Harris
Original Author
5 years ago
Also - good suggestion about the lights. I really don't like the fixtures that are there, but I hadn't considered that the color of the lights could also be effecting things. :)
PRO
New York Hardware
5 years ago
Maybe changing your cabinet hardware to glass will add a sense of brightness. A clear crystal cabinet knob will reflect light and "POP" on your cabinets.

Tips from your NY Hardware Team

www.nyhardware.com

949-631-0631
Judy Mishkin
5 years ago
last modified: 5 years ago
my north facing front hall is palladian blue, i like it a lot. i have it paired with white dove trim, which is quite creamy. wythe blue is a fair bit darker. woodlawn blue is about the same as palladian blue but looks greener, side by side.
Michelle Dawn
5 years ago
Did you decide? I'm surprised you find the colour so bad... I actually really like it. It looks very seaside cottage / beachy and it works with the counter tops and back splash I think, which look like sand. If I were you, I'd paint the fireplace bricks the same colour as your trim, and extend the blue into the livingroom. I think it will look great. Good luck!

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