skip to main content

Design Dilemma Home Decorating living room

Living Room help with secondary paint colours

5 years ago

Hello,
We haven't done any painting yet in our new house. The furniture is staying but I don't like the beige. We are thinking BM glacier white (or similar) in the living room and maybe in the dining room too (which is fairly connected). Any recommendations for colours for the fireplace and built-in? what about for the walls in the foyer which right now are red... I think there should be some connection to colours in the living room but not sure how to do it without being too matchy. Also are we are way off base thinking white?

Featured Answer

Rachel Lee

5 years ago

Paint it all Glacier White.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (6)

lindsey_9002
5 years ago
I think I'd paint everything white but leave the fireplace/built-in it's current color so that it ties into the kitchen cabinets, bar cabinet in the room, and the stair banister. Is the hutch yours or did it come with the house? (For clarification, when you said built-ins you meant the shelf above the fireplace and not the hutch, correct?) Also, are my eyes deceiving me or is the crown on top of your bar cabinet black?
Related Discussions
Dark living room - what colour paint?
Q
Comments (2)
Paint doesn't brighten up a room...light brightens up a room! Make sure you have 3 layers of light - ambient, accent, and task. http://blog.1000bulbs.com/home/the-three-layers-of-lighting-design-explained That said, lighter colors may reflect what light there is, while darker colors may absorb what little light you have. I could say "paint it BM Dove White" but without further context my suggestion is meaningless. A look at the light sources may help. Post photos. Also, the Home Decorating forum is better on color suggestions. Good luck!
...See More
Paint colours for living room
Q
Comments (0)
The walls are SW temperate taupe. Ceiling is SW snowbound accented with SW Poised taupe. open concept. Should we paint the white projection of the entertainment center in a different colour?
...See More
Paint colours for living room
Q
Comments (4)
I would paint the whole thing in white, the same color as the trim. That two-tone look is not very current, and it's the objects/books on the shelves that should stand out, which this background color will not enhance.
...See More
Paint colours for living room + entry way?
Q
Comments (2)
I think it is your ceilings which need attention (unless it is the lighting). When I look at picture #1 the ceiling color is not the same as the walls and looks dingy; picture #2 the dining room ceiling and the living room ceiling are not the same, either. I don't mind the white, so suggest your repaint it all the same white in all the same finish...eggshell. As for the kitchen, the chosen white for cabinets in semi-gloss. Just a small detail...the front window arch which is stained paint it the wall white. It looks like an eyebrow with the wrong color pencil. Great house...congratulations. Splurge on new chandeliers.
...See More
Mars
5 years ago
Just had my house painted and also did it all in white. Makes everything so clean and bright and everything else pop!
Beth
Original Author
5 years ago
@lindsey_9002 it is very dark close to black but not quite and to be honest I didn't notice it's a different colour until you pointed it out.

Yes I was asking about the fireplace shelves but I think we should paint the hutch too. we brought it with us from our previous house... it looks a bit dated.

Thanks for your advice!
K R
5 years ago
Yup, paint it all white. The red doesn’t go with your style, white will make it all pop as the other poster said!
lindsey_9002
5 years ago
I think if you paint everything white, the hutch will look less dated to you. I would wait to paint the hutch and see if you like it after painting the walls. Paint makes a big difference in how you perceive furnishings. I like to to think of home decorating like weddings: “something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue” - that’s what adds charm. The hutch will bring warmth and naturalness if you leave it as is. Painting everything can feel cold and sterile. You want balance.

Related Stories

COLOR Color Palette Extravaganza: Room-by-Room Help for Your Paint Picks

By Vanessa Brunner

Take the guesswork out of choosing paint colors with these conveniently collected links to well-considered interior palettes

LIVING ROOMS Room of the Day: Color Wakes Up a Living Room

By Becky Harris

A modern blue, gray and orange rug is at the center of a redesign that embraces the homeowners’ art collection

DECORATING GUIDES Room of the Day: Color Cheers Up a California Living Room

By Jeannie Matteucci

A couple’s eclectic city style brightens a suburban bungalow

LIVING ROOMS Room of the Day: Colorful Living Room Hums With New Energy

By Mitchell Parker

A Broadway poster inspires the makeover of a much-redecorated space, this time with vibrant new upholstery and a faux fireplace

DECORATING 101 How to Choose a Paint Color You Can Live With

By Toronto Interior Design Group

See 8 tips and tricks that can help you commit to a color you’ll love

LIVING ROOMS New This Week: 7 Colorful Living Rooms

By Mitchell Parker

See how bold paint colors and furniture schemes come together to create stylishly coordinated spaces

LIVING ROOMS Trending Now: 10 Great Living Room Color Combos to Try

By Mitchell Parker

These recent popular photos show examples of color combos that exude comfort and style

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 Find the Right Color for Your Living Room

By Amanda Pollard

With so many seductive shades, how do you decide? These tips can make your color choice easy

BATHROOM DESIGN 7 Striking Paint Colors for Your Powder Room

By Jennifer Ott Design

Whether you opt for a little or a lot, see why the petite bathroom is the perfect place for a fun hue

Sponsored

More Discussions

Which of these neutrals do I need to get rid of to fix my bedroom?

18

Need help with a dining room table?

1

Updating Foyer in 1980’s Ranch

10

Nursery Furniture ....does it have to match? Mixing wood tones?

4

DO YOU SELL THE LEATHER WALL PANELS IN THE DIAMOND PATTERN?

0