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Help with warm and cool colors in family room

4 years ago

I have recently updated my family room. I had help with this and now I think the person helping me steered me in the wrong direction. The green leather chair and the other green “tweed” chair are new. The “decorator” told me she considered the rust sofa a neutral. There is green in the rug. I liked this until I started to overanalyze and read about mixing warm and cool colors. Can’t repaint walls as they were repainted in November and have a baby grand in other part of room which can’t be moved again. My husband wants to put the rust sofa in our lower level. So I’ve been looking at the two leathers pictured on the back of the sofa. If I do this, I’ll remove the last vestige of the rust tie in to the room. I’ll have green chairs and a beige sofa with a rug that has a huge amount of rust. Wondering how this will look. I could get rid of the rug but it’s a real oriental rug so I hate to just ditch it. Really don’t know what to do.

Featured Answer

Cindy Fialka
Original Author

4 years ago

One Devoted Dame lolol.

Grapefruit, I plan on curtains on the side of the room not pictured that has a bay window, Had a “swaggy” valance there that I thought looked dated so I removed it. I do like the windows on the sides of the sofa bare with the exception of the wood blinds.

Prickly Pear, I understand what you’re saying about the beige perhaps being too close to the wall color. I think in real life, the darker swatch is enough of a contrast to avoid that. I’ve been convinced, I will pull the sofa forward and also the chair on the right. And yes it is a Hancock and Moore sofa. Good eye, it’s the September sofa. :)

Thanks for the opinions. They’ve made me feel better.

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Comments (9)

Cindy Warren Fialka
4 years ago
Yayagal
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Either one could work but I would go with the darker one as it has more character against that fabric, the other looks a bit washed out. It will look wonderful, love all you've done thus far. Oh, and the rug is wonderful too, it works very well now so keep it there.
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What a great space to have for you and your family! Unfortunately, I don’t think the current blue throw pillows are doing anything beneficial. To warm up the space, it would help to actually add in some warm colors. Think fire: red, yellow, orange, or a variation thereof. Try googling images such as “gray couch peach accents”, “gray couch green accents” (green can lean warm, too.) Find an image that really resonates with the feel that you want your space to convey. This can give you a better idea of what to look for when you do go shopping. You have a fantastic neutral base to build on, so don’t be afraid to add some bold colors, pattern, or textures. I realize these images don’t lean very “Farmhouse”, but hopefully they’ll give you some ideas of just how much you can add to your space and bring it to life. Have fun! ETA: Link to google pictures of Farmhouse, gray couch, turquoise accents.
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Hi Cindy! I don’t think you have too much to worry about, honestly. You’ve got a lovely room! The rug is great. Keep it forever. Even if you took everything else out of the room, the rug would look great just with your floors. If you replace the sofa with a lighter one, it will blend more into your wall. It will also pick up on the beiges in the rug. You could keep the existing sofa pillows to pull colors from the rug to that part of the room. or you could find some new pillows that you like to do the same thing. Personally, I would go with the darker beige swatch you have on the sofa. That will offer a little more contrast from the walls. Hopefully that helps! Doug
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One Devoted Dame
4 years ago
I think it all looks very, very nice! The only thing that popped into my head (aside from, "Oh my gosh where did she get that coffee table?!?!?!") was maybe try turning the rug 90*, so that all of the furniture pieces were on it. :-)

Like Yayagal, I also like the darker of the two swatches.
ljptwt7
4 years ago
I echo everything One Devoted Dame said.
Cindy Fialka
Original Author
4 years ago
Thank you Yayagal, One Devoted Dame, and ljptwt7. I think it’s an optical illusion because the rug is an 8” square. I can pull the chair on the right in a bit so the front legs are on the rug. The coffee table is a Sherrill table that we’ve had for probably 20 years. The slate has been great, I’ve never had to worry about it scratching like a wood table might. I like the darker leather too. Had just wondered if it would be better to have a lighter sofa since the other pieces are dark. Although I do have the creme colored chair that is in the photo to the far right. I’m glad no one seems to be bothered by the juxtaposition of the warm colors with the cool.
One Devoted Dame
4 years ago
The coffee table is a Sherrill table that we’ve had for probably 20 years.

Oh, darnit! I swear, I am always 20 (or 120) years too late for stuff!!! lol
grapefruit1_ar
4 years ago
I think that you have made great choices. I think the room just needs some curtains. Something neutral will complete the room and add warmth.
pricklypearcactus
4 years ago
i think what you have now looks lovely! I actually love the sofa and I worry the beige is too close to your wall color. Having some cool and warm tones together balances the room and keeps it from being one note / flat. By any chance is that a Hancock and Moore sofa?

I would suggest pulling the furniture, especially sofa, forward so the conversation pieces all have front feet on the rug. Right now the pieces are floating a bit.

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