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Paint Design Dilemma living room

Advise on which colors to paint

4 years ago

I want to update the living room and go for some bold colors. Looking at greens and blues as a accent wall and maybe go with a grey for the rest of the walls? I’m not sure any advise or tips? I will be looking at new furniture as soon as I figure out pain colors.

Featured Answer

PRO

Diana Bier Interiors, LLC

4 years ago

last modified: 4 years ago

Paint color is the last item to choose when redecorating a room. Select your upholstery, rugs and window treatments first, then choose a paint color that works. It's easier to select from thousands of paint colors to work with fabrics than the other way around.

And while a neutral background color is a good choice, an all-neutral overall palette can look dull and boring. So go a little braver on your furnishings, colors and patterns, and add texture as well!

Here are some attractive living rooms for inspiration. You'll notice that there are no accent walls, and the wall color is neutral. The color comes from the upholstery, window treatments, rugs and accessories.

Charming Sea Captain's Home · More Info

Lemon Street · More Info

The Summer House · More Info

Nantucket in the Palisades · More Info

House on Long Island · More Info

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Comments (8)

yumelizabeth
4 years ago
Do you have any art or decor that you are basing this decision off of? I don’t really see much blue or green in the room. Blues and greens can work together, I have them in my master bedroom and it’s very calming.
Clair As Mudd
Original Author
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
I’m going to be getting new furniture and starting over with the entire room. I’m looking for a big change. With the color of the floors I’m having a tough time figuring out what colors for paint would be best.
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Just about any (acrylic) spray paint will work, Chery. You need to visualize how the wreath will look with various 'finishes' of gold paint... flat (matte), semigloss, gloss (shiny), and I even have a can that looks like gold chrome - very shiny! Here's an idea... spray it all with your choice of gold, then place it flat on a table and gently spray it with a white from an angle just above the top (hanging point) of the wreath. Just a heavy misting from the one direction only, and at a low angle. It would look like snow has fallen on the gold acorns! This is a little tricky to get just right, so if you decide you'd like this look, try it with a sample first. I think you can even buy 'snow spray' also. But then again, perhaps one shouldn't snow the acorns (gild the lily) - LOL!! Whatever you and your daughter decide, I bet it will be spectacular! Please post pictures for us to see!!
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Both of those colors (sea haze and healing aloe) would be great in theory, but it's hard to know which you personally will prefer, especially with regard to how dark or light they will actually appear, without testing a swatch on a neutral wall in your natural light. Also, your new floor will reflect and change the way the paint looks. I have seen healing aloe in particular look completely different in different houses, although it's one of my favorites and I always think it's beautiful. That being said, a color along the lines of healing aloe or sea haze is a really excellent compliment to your cabinets and would be quite a step above revere pewter or any greige.
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you could try something like SW Urbane bronze for the trim work. I like everything else. Power wash your stone to get it super clean. you really need to tackle the landscaping first. as stated, it will make a huge difference. If DigDoug see this (cross post over at the garden/landscape) he could do a mock up for you. The house could be gorgeous w/those hedges gone and something else instead. It's really very nice. lovely limestone. would never paint that! you might think about about bringing in some natural cedar, which would look beautiful w/the limestone, in either the siding and/or the posts (remove the wrought iron black ones). can't find a pic, but imagine this wood above the window area where you have the siding
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Hi every be! Thank you for your comment. We recently purchased this house. The room was a former porch thus the low ceilings. the previous owners added the flooring which was a big hole near the rounded windows where there was originally supposed to be a spiral stair But was never finished. There was a 1/2 inch gap between the windows and the flooring. My contractor suggested putting a baseboard to connect the space Thus the reason now there are baseboards. The size of the baseboard was determined from the hallway as you enter the room Thus the reason for the larger base. This room will be a laundry/exercise studio. It is on the second floor overlooking the backyard. The low ceilings were a concern to me since I did not want to feel closed in. I was originally thinking a dark color like medium blue thus the paint color on the wall, but I think it’s too dark. Now I am open to suggestions. The house was built in 1920 and is a craftsman Style. My colors in the house are SW alpaca with shell white trim. The dining room is SW Oceanside blue. I do live sherbet orange with pink and have a room in current house in that color. I am thinking of same color ceiling and walls but can’t decide to go with the alpaca or a light green like SW kind greeN. If I go with color walls should the trim be painted a dark color or light color Like navy blue? Or light color vertical lines? Any help is appreciated.
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yumelizabeth
4 years ago
I'm thinking a warm grey would work with your floors but you should probably have all of your art, furniture and other accessories before choosing paint. Options are endless with paint but not furniture.
PRO
Bushra's LIfestyle | A Lifestyle & Home Decor Blog
4 years ago
Light gray would look awesome in your space and blue is also a great color to have. Either way, you can't go wrong. You have way too many nooks and corners in the room so I will not go with more than 2 colors. Too much green will not go with your flooring. Although blue and green are the best matches. I hope it helps. I will also add fake curtains on the window and door on either side of the fireplace just to give it asymmetry. The art wok on the tv is very little and square so I would be considering changing that too linear or rectangular artwork. What kinds of furniture are you looking for? Let me know if you need any further help please otherwise good luck with everything.
sunshine home
4 years ago
Classic grey by Benjamin Moore might work
decoenthusiaste
4 years ago
Upload pix to major paint company sites and use their color apps to "try on" colors. Floor colors will make it tricky, but generally you want to work with fabrics and textiles when choosing colors.
PRO
Styldod
4 years ago
Hi Clair. Colors like blue and green can create bold accents in a space. Since you have enough light it will create a balanced look.

Here are some examples

Use accessories of bold colors while keeping the major area light.
Canaan Accent Table · More Info

Go bold on the walls while keeping the furniture light.
Family Residence · More Info

Create accent walls
Downtown LA LEED Loft · More Info

Traditional home in Cardiff · More Info

Paint just the hallway in a bolder color while keeping the rest of the space neutral
Beaming Bibliophile Hallway · More Info

DOWNTOWN LIVING · More Info

**Images for reference only**

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