skip to main content

Design Dilemma living room Home Rentals

Best colours to go with magnolia, red & grey

3 years ago

So I've just moved into a rental apartment and in the living room, the carpet is a light grey, the walls are magnolia/buttermilk and the sofa/couch is red (for context, when I went on the property viewing, the carpet was cream). What colours can I use to dress up the living room without a huge clash of colours?

Featured Answer

Maureen

3 years ago

last modified: 3 years ago

You can pull the colors together by adding a Kilim style rug on top of carpet and an eclectic room is interesting

You could add a coffee table on top, per above.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/775109958/blue-kilim-oversize-kilim-vintage-kilim?epik=dj0yJnU9QmxpSGFMZ2k5OEdSRWt3QTI5T2V1LVR4c1A2allpMWomcD0wJm49bXo5R3B0WXpPQkE4T1JFSS1xLXl0USZ0PUFBQUFBRi16N2xn

Cushions and art/collage above couch

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

Connie Stackhouse
3 years ago
Pictures, please!
M Brown thanked Connie Stackhouse
tedbixby
3 years ago
Perhaps a rug over the gray carpet and pillows will pull it together. Without photos we are only throwing darts in the dark...

Red Barrel Studio® Mckim Bohemian Brown/Yellow Area Rug | Wayfair · More Info
Related Discussions
Please help me pick the best cultivar of Magnolia grandiflora
Q
Comments (6)
I ended up getting a Teddy Bear Magnolia grandiflora. Turns out that there really wasn't a whole lot of choice on the availability here in Central AR. Everyone was selling the same cultivars! I could have gotten a Cynthia Wannamaker, as one different one, and the people selling that really noticed the fragrance when planting it. Pat McCraken recommended Kay Parris, but, again, it is not readily available. She said the flowers were large, like Little Gem, which was confusing to me because I thought Little Gem flowers were on the small side. But, she really recommended Magnolia virginnica (sp?), and I think that's got small flowers, so maybe that was the comparison. Does anyone know if Magnolia virginnica smells like Magnolia grandiflora - same quality of fragrance? I visited a botanical garden in PA one time, and there were some magnolias I don't remember the species of (not grandiflora) that I thought smelled pretty bad. Hopefully the Teddy Bear will have flowers that are larger than Little Gem, and hopefully it will flower for a long time. Otherwise, I could have just gotten a Little Gem which is available. I am happy to see the discussion here, too. I was hoping someone who has the room and has multiple cultivars in it would be able to compare and contrast the various ones. It is really hard to shop for a mag grand. No one is familiar with more than one or two cultivars, and most are not familiar with any cultivar in terms of fragrance, bloom size, bloom length, etc.
...See More
Wood fence stain colour to go with light gray/blue siding
Q
Comments (13)
We recently moved to Florida. I dislike those white, plastic fences. They are so artificial looking, so bright they scream as you go up the street. I'm actually thinking of doing something similar. Our house is a greyish blue and I was thinking of staining the fence to match. I think the grey blends in to the landscape, doesn't scream and looks good with plants and trees. Go with your original choice. Jane
...See More
Painting Door Red.. should I keep going with this colour????
Q
Comments (18)
I prefer the garage door trim in the house trim color. Looking at the result, I would, however, paint the whole opening and not just the outer rim. It will lighten the side trim shadow, reducing the contrast between the two so it doesn't have an outlined eyeliner look but will be more blended overall. Try the one door first to see what you think. I'm kind of undecided on the door. It's such a beautiful red that looks like a deep rich brown-red that goes well with the colors of your house. But I'm not sure the door is the right place for it. (I mentioned on another thread that a wreath or planter, for example, could pick up some of the red in a smaller dose.) Hard to tell how bright the red gets from the photo. It doesn't look bright here, just a bit off overall, imo. And too dark, I agree. Of course, it doesn't appear to be wearing any hardware either! Kind of giving us a blank look ; ) I believe you said you were going with a dark orb? What type of hardware are you using? Knob or long handle, kick plate, knocker? I'm wondering how much, if any, impact it will have in dressing it (from a distance in all the shadows). You're doing a great job!
...See More
Gray paint to go with shades of old gold and navy?
Q
Comments (7)
If I were you, I would wait to get some of the bedding and furniture before selecting paint color. A neutral might not be the best choice especially if you are drawn to darker tones. BM Van Deusen Blue is great color, but if you are going to do a dark blue duvet or comforter, then you might not want more blue. So, these elements all have to play well together. Loads of neutrals out there. If you just want neutral pick anyone of the warm grays. But a great chandelier against that neutral wall color won't be as dramatic as if the wall was a deeper color. So, think through everything before you choose a wall color. Do some sample boards of a variety of colors and see what works best with your chandelier and bedding. Those are your main features.
...See More
M Brown
Original Author
3 years ago
Apologies, I'm new on the app and uploading photos took ages. Here you are :)

I've taken two photos, one with the light on and one with the light
Connie Stackhouse
3 years ago
Since it’s a rental, have fun with inexpensive accessories: colorful area rug, pillows, plants in colorful planters, art that incorporates your colors.
M Brown thanked Connie Stackhouse
tedbixby
3 years ago
Yeah, I know that app can be a pain to up- load photos. Welcome to Houzz!

As everyone has suggested, the best route for you would be to find a colorful rug 1st to cover up the gray carpeting and then work off the colors from there. Do you need help finding a rug? If so, give us a size you would need. And I see a brown/tan sofa(?). Is that staying? What do you think of any that have been posted so far?
M Brown
Original Author
3 years ago
Thank you for your suggestions everyone! It is greatly appreciated, even the warm welcome too!. Originally I was going to completely cover the sofa with a navy blue throw, but realise it could make the living room look smaller (as the windows are north-facing).

@tedbixby @Maureen I did originally think of a rug but also thought it could take up too much space, the colourings that you both provided was also along the lines of the colours I thought of (but gave up until I joined Houzz), if covering the sofa didn't become an option. So I'm glad that I was along the right lines (all it needed was a little encouragement!)

@tedbixby - Yes please, that would be great. Sizing can be anything between 120x170cm or a 160x230cm, pricing - as inexpensive as possible. Yes, it's more of a tan sofa and it has to stay (although I'll be covering the brown cushion that is on there at the moment).
SJ McCarthy
3 years ago
I would go shopping for a fun area rug WITH paintings/prints in mind as well. Places like Home Sense have matching (colour or patter or both) area rugs/drapes/prints/pillows. You could have a GREAT TIME playing decorator!

Feel free to find coordinating table cloths or table runners to reduce the gold wood tones. If anything, the gold wood is having the BIGGEST issue with the walls/carpet...not the red sofa nor the beige seating.

Personally I use 'red' as a 'neutral'. The MORE you get of it...the less 'odd man out' it becomes. Either cover the sofa or PLAY with the colour. Bring MORE of the Cranberry tones into the space. Use prints and bold patterns to push the walls OUTWARD. We all know how much space some of these Pizzazz elements need to look good. So go ahead and play to the sofa's strength = colour.

For me the gold tone wood needs to be covered. Pink tones do NOT play well with orange/golds. They don't like sitting next to one another. And ditch the brown cushion. Again, brown (one of the darkest formats of 'orange' that we have) does not like to play with Cranberry. If in doubt, add MORE cranberry...not less.
M Brown thanked SJ McCarthy

Related Stories

COLOR Bathed in Color: When to Use Gray in the Bath

By Jennifer Ott Design

Go for elegance and sophistication without going overboard on coolness, using these gray bathroom paint picks and inspirational photos

DECORATING GUIDES Color of the Week: Decorating With Warm Gray

By Jennifer Ott Design

Tired of tan? Getting gloomy from cool gray? Make warm gray your new go-to neutral

COLOR Dreaming in Color: 8 Gorgeous Gray Bedrooms

By Jennifer Ott Design

With this versatile hue, you can go dark and bold or slip into something more soothing

DECORATING GUIDES Color Guide: How to Work With Charcoal Gray

By Samantha Schoech

The most modern neutral, charcoal gray looks great in dining rooms, living rooms and even nurseries. Here's how to use it best

COLOR Cooking With Color: When to Use Gray in the Kitchen

By Jennifer Ott Design

Try out Trout or shake up some Martini Shaker gray for a neutral-based kitchen that whispers of sophistication

GRAY Choosing Color: Give Me More Gray Days

By Natalie Myers

Layer On the Grays for a Sophisticated Look in Any Room

DINING ROOMS Color Feast: When to Use Gray in the Dining Room

By Jennifer Ott Design

The right shade of gray pairs nicely with whites and woods to serve up elegance and sophistication

EXTERIOR COLOR Exterior Color of the Week: 7 Ways With Warm Gray

By Jennifer Ott Design

See why this hue can be the perfect neutral for any house

GREEN A Great Color Combination: Green Meets Gray

By Janell Beals - House of Fifty

GRAY Color Guide: How to Work With Light Gray

By Samantha Schoech

The hottest new neutral can be cool or warm, formal or casual, and feminine or masculine. Talk about versatile

Sponsored

EK Interior Design

5 Reviews

TIMELESS INTERIOR DESIGN FOR ENDLESS MEMORIES

More Discussions

what would you do?

12

need help with backsplash

16

Backsplash for Taj Mahal with White Cabinets

24

Living room cabinets when one side is window

18

Paint, reface or refinish cabinets + kitchen refresh

2