Looking to paint living room, but what color? help please

Discussion in 'Choosing Colors' started by synthbent, Sep 11, 2006.

  1. synthbent

    synthbent New Seed

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    Hey everyone. My wife and I have been wanting to paint the bland white walls in our living room for some time now. The problem is, we just can't decide on a color. Our couch and love seat are a bright red microfiber, and our tables are very dark brown, almost black. Everything is a contemporary style, and the decorations on our walls are mostly black iron abstract pieces and bright red accessories. We have a 6 by 8 foot canvas on our wall with a picture of a northern coast that is mostly greys and blues.

    Could someone please help us find a color to match all this? We still want to keep a bit of a bright happy contemporary style.

    Thanks everyone!
     
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  3. eileen

    eileen Resident Taxonomist Staff Member Moderator Plants Contributor

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    Hi there!! :D It's so good to have you drop by our forums and I just know you're going to love it here. Recently we've been discussing colour schemes for various rooms and there are a few useful wesites that may also help you out here:
    http://www.gardenstew.com/about2684.html

    If I was going to repaint your living room then I'd probably go with a cream or a hint of blue or pink on the walls but I'm certtainly NOT an interior designer so I'd look at the websites and ignore me!!! :D :D
     
  4. Rebecca

    Rebecca New Seed

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    wall colors

    I've recently found a color I really like, that I think would work well with the black and red you've described - Sherwin Williams Restrained Gold. It's a warm color, that's not too yellow, and also works well with wood tones (if your trim and doors are stained, instead of painted). Navajo White is a great ceiling color that would go with it - again, it's a little warmer than stark white.

    One recommendation I always tell my clients though before making the final decision, is to tape up those little sample strips to a few different walls within the room and watch them for a couple of days, to see how they look in different lighting (daytime/nighttime/natural/artificial). Depending on which direction the windows in your room face the color will seem quite different than it does in the store.
     
  5. Frank

    Frank GardenStew Founder Staff Member Administrator

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    Hi synthbent, would it be possible to get a photo? It would really help us get an overall idea :)

    Superb tip Rebecca :smt023. Artifical light can skew everything, much better to see things in daylight.
     



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  6. synthbent

    synthbent New Seed

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    Eileen- Thank you for the link, im about to check out that website.

    Rebecca- Thank you for the tip, great idea. We will go looking next weekend for colors and I will keep that one in mind.

    Gardenstew- I will post a photo as soon as I can get our camera charged back up. We went on vacation in Orlando a few months ago and left the charger at our resort :(

    Thank you all for your help and reccomendations :)
     
  7. ElisaP

    ElisaP New Seed

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    One option is to go with "hot chocolate"-type of light brown. Not really traditional beige, little more greyish. Hot chocolate and creamy white would match nicely with red settee and dark wood. Also pretty neutral backround for canvas.
     
  8. CritterPainter

    CritterPainter Awed by Nature

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    I'm guessing from your description that you like a decor that has a little "pop" to it. I'm also guessing that it's usually pretty warm where you live. I'd go with a pale seafoam color, a bit more on the green side than the blue.
     
  9. BEDLAM

    BEDLAM New Seed

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    The colour for your walls

    Hello, I would also go for chocolate and grade through on different walls with mid to deep deep beige, these are colours that are neutral and one dosen't tire of and really blend perfectly with whatever color you have in sofas and furniture whether it be wenge or cherry or light oak.We use these lovely shades a lot in our Interior Designs and they work so well. Good Luck with you decor.
     

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