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Paint Home Decorating Flooring

Need help finding a wall color to compliment floors and trim work

4 years ago

My house was built in the 1950's. It has original flooring that is heart pine. The floors, doors, windows - all trim work are finished in the old varnish/shellac that has now turned somewhat orangey. There is also light paneling in the den area which gets lots of morning sun. I'd like to paint my house but I'm really struggling to find a color that compliments all of the orange trim and flooring. I'm not sure I want to paint over all of the wood trim so any suggestions you guys can give would be appreciated. I'd like to brighten it up a bit and make it look clean. Recommendations and suggestions appreciated.

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Comments (4)

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JudyG Designs
4 years ago
last modified: 4 years ago
Guessing this sample of colors is about the brown/orange to which you refer. Floors of pine are mixed with the orange tone of the woodwork.

Suggesting B.M. Iced Cube Silver for your walls. With an LRV of 75, it will keep the rooms brighter, while complementing the wood. tones.

Most importantly, paint the ceilings a fresh new white. B.M.. has a white ceiling paint that will work just fine.
Phyllis Carter thanked JudyG Designs
SJ McCarthy
4 years ago
Photos would be helpful. And then the next question becomes, when were the floors LAST refinished? How do they look right now? Are they showing signs that a sand/refinish is coming SOON (next 3-5 years)?
Phyllis Carter thanked SJ McCarthy
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I would do the trim the same as the cabinets .It depends on your slabs but often that stone has a bit of a green running through it and that is the color I would use for all the walls it is neutral but not beige or gray. It really is a very light grayed/ green and I find that color so easy to work with.
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Oh that is not my house. Sadly a previous owner painted all my woodwork in my 1920 storybook. I spent a year stripping all my doors but quit before getting to the trim when I started my family. your before house is my after dream inspiration. I love crisp whites, blues and even green painted walls with dark wood. Often people use creams and tans but I do find yellow or brown undertones with wood trim dreary instead of stunning. If using a wall paper simple linen window treatments are lovely. Also blue grass cloth would be beautiful in your room! But if using plain paint i love printed curtains and they suit the era of your home. I used a blue/ green paint and went with a printed linen fabric in my sunroom with mahagony doors and a dark tongue and grove ceiling. when the curtains are drawn it almost works like wall paper. There is a 25 pound cat sleeping behind the curtains right now and that is why the right looks crooked. If you click on image you can see the paint color and dark wood ceiling
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The suggestion for tiger wood flooring with mainly lighter oak with few red oak slats is a good one. That way you echo the warm trim you like but lighten the room. See second photo. Since you're changing the wall color, here's a Houzz article about paints that go with wood trim, cabinets, floors. If you're going to do white walls, you'll want a warm white or greige with warmth to them as below. Note how well the tigerwood flooring harmonizes with the red oak risers. https://www.houzz.com/magazine/11-terrific-paint-color-matches-for-wood-details-stsetivw-vs~9025200
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EvaElizabeth
4 years ago
I have seen so many people trying to update houses with wood trim recently and the only thing I can say is do not get pulled into trying to use a “warm” white, or into painting your trim to “update” it. The wood is already warm, and using a warm white is what makes these rooms feel heavy and dated IMO. I think the color suggested by Judy is spot on. If your house is how I imagine it, once the walls are painted, it will look fantastic. If you still feel down the line that the trim needs work, consider refinishing it or replacing it (with wood) instead of painting it. Too often when the trim is painted in these style homes, the house becomes very flat.
Phyllis Carter thanked EvaElizabeth
Phyllis Carter
Original Author
4 years ago
Thanks to all of you that replied to me. The floors are in pretty decent shape for the house to be as old as it is. Only one room - the dining room - actually needs refinishing and I'm thinking of putting a rug in there. I tried BM Lennox Tan in one of the bedrooms and hate it. It does feel heavy - never thought of it that way, but that's exactly what it does. Another bedroom is in SW Honest Blue. I'm considering painting the entire house one color, but can't quite figure it out. I want it clean bright and inviting. I appreciate your comments and will definitely look at BM Iced Cube Silver.

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