Paint color advice

Discussion in 'Choosing Colors' started by jp834168, Sep 8, 2007.

  1. jp834168

    jp834168 New Seed

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    Hello all,

    I just moved into a new place with a very difficult layout but a nice room divider is on its way from IKEA to help me. I was wondering though if any of you could help me pick some paint colors for the walls in this area and advice on whether or not I should paint the ceiling.

    I know already that I really enjoy the colors in my couch. The oranges and browns and brown-black together on a cream colored background. My end tables, coffee table, tv stand and room divider are all white like you see in the picture.

    So I was thinking I could take colors from my sofa to use on the walls. Maybe the lighter brown on all of the walls except the wall that the sliding glass door and fireplace are located on. That wall has diagonal wood paneling on it that has sadly been painted white so you cant see it very well in the pictures. I thought, instead of trying to ignore the paneling by painting it the same color as everything else, that I should paint it some other color. Maybe the darker brown from the couch on that wall? I thought I might leave the bright orange for the couch and use it as an accent color in a few decorating accessories. Such as a large orange painting that will go on the wall behind the couch. There is also the issue of the large block in the center of the space which you can see in the pictures is currently sponge painted that yellow color. What color should I paint that? Same color I choose for the three walls or should I paint it the color I choose for the wood paneled wall? Or another color entirely?

    So what do you guys think? Can you lend a unique perspective on this? Sorry for the long post.

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  3. zuzu's petals

    zuzu's petals Silly Old Bat Plants Contributor

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    Hi JP -
    I think that your idea for taking your color cues from the sofa upholstry is a good one,
    you already know that the combination appeals to you. :smt023

    Personally, :-D I like a color-rich environment,
    so I would probably use the darker of the taupy-brown shades
    from the fabric pattern for at least one or maybe several walls
    and then use the lighter brown tone for the other walls and ceiling.
    I agree with using the stronger colors, like the orange and black,
    for accents in the space.

    If you prefer a bit less color, you might use
    the paler brown and the cream shade
    in place of the deeper tones that I suggested above. :)

    Either way, I think that I might paint the partial wall (the yellow-sponged one)
    the same color as (whichever one) you choose for the fireplace wall,
    that might tend to minimize it, by blending it into the far wall,
    instead of making it stand out quite so much,
    I guess it all depends on the effect you are going for. :D
     
  4. SgtBaldy

    SgtBaldy New Seed

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    Go with orange on the walls! Your furnishings and wood floors will tone it down. Anything you hang on the walls will really pop out against the orange. Just keep all furnishings and accessories toned down color wise.
     
  5. Anonymous

    Anonymous Guest

    suggestions about color

    I think you should take a browner version of the orange in your sofa as the cental element color: is it a fireplace? There is a technique called Venetian Plaster which can be done in any color and I would recommend that. For the walls I'd choose one of the lighter soft browns in the sofa. The ceilings can remain white, or cream. How about a rug?
     



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  6. kuntrygal

    kuntrygal Texas Rose

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    I would paint the wall behind the sofa a dark orange (not the same as the orange in the sofa... a deeper tone), the other walls a light brown. The wall with diagonal panels, some type of wood graining. I would consider a large area rug with colors from the sofa to pull things together. You could go with a solid or large stripes in the rug. Some lime green throw pillow (maybe even lime green in the rug) and some vases or lamps. You don't want everything to be orange and brown/tans. I would leave the ceiling white.
    Hope this helps... even though it sounds garish :!:
     
  7. rushme

    rushme New Seed

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    Hi JP the color plate which you have secreted for the spaces is great, it is a warm color scheme, generally use for formal places like living areas. So good selection on that, i would like to add few things which you can think about before coloring your space.

    First it seems from your photographs that the space is not that big and have the normal ceiling height, in such case using darker shades on major of the wall and ceiling surface can make your space look smaller.So i will suggest you to go with lighter shades and highlight the surface around the fire place in a darker shade.Other accessories can also be darker shades, like art work rug ect.

    Second thing which i have notice is about the natural light in the space. the opening beside the fire place is the only opening in the space, than darker color will again add darkness to your space and reduce the natural light. what i will suggest you is go with the light color draperies for the opening,which will add more light to your space and increase the imporatnce of the fire place and help in creating interesting focal point in the space.

    Third thing about the middle wall with the opening i will suggest you to paint in the same color as i will help the space to look bigger than its actual size, as same color will help in maintain the continuity of the space which in terms terms make your space look bigger.

    You can always add darker color in the form of furnishings with light walls to make the space bight and color full as your couch is.

    One more suggestion for the art work, you can use the print of the couch as your art work theme but the only difference will be the couch print is having the light color bag round, the art work will have darker bag round of same color family. You can ask any local artist to paint for you, it wont cost you much.
     
  8. jp834168

    jp834168 New Seed

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    I want to thank those of you who offered helpful advice. So, I basically painted 3 walls and the center bit a dark brown color from behr called "sweet georgia brown" and a lighter tan color, called "sweet wheat", I think, on the fireplace wall. I chose to paint the doors and all the trim "ultra pure white". I'm completely in love with my room divider and the quirky little chair I picked up, all from IKEA. In fact, all the furniture except for the dining room table is from IKEA. I also hung the pendant lamp above the table, which I picked up from a garage sale for 25 cents, which was orange and green, and which I painted black and tan. Special thank you to "zuzu's petals" for suggesting that I use the darker brown color the most. You were right! I love all the beautiful rich color! So here are some pictures and I'm sorry about the quality. The colors are a little off in these pictures making the brown look a little orange/greenish in some of them. It is a beautiful color.

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  9. jp834168

    jp834168 New Seed

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    a couple more pictures.. I think these picture (taken with my camera phone) show the colors a little more accurately. You can see the lighter color on the fireplace wall and the beaded curtain I hung up in the entry way to the kitchen. I think it softens the blow of having the kitchen connected to the living room like that. And I'm trying to over-look the ugly color of the tile around the fireplace! Don't know what to do about that. Please excuse my toe in the first picture..

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  10. bsewnsew

    bsewnsew Hardy Maple

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    Painted walls.............

    You get an A on the whole house......
    I love brown........HD doesnt so I use it wisely.

    i love the way it shows off the furniture.
     
  11. kuntrygal

    kuntrygal Texas Rose

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    Very nice! I love it!
     
  12. zuzu's petals

    zuzu's petals Silly Old Bat Plants Contributor

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    WOW!! What a difference! :)
    You did a fantastic job - the look is so sophisticated, yet very comfortable looking.

    You've created a real feature with your use of that divider,
    making a big plus out of what was an architectural quirk.

    I'm glad you didn't pull your punch when it came to color choice ;)
    I totally LOVE what you've done!
     
  13. Droopy

    Droopy Slug Slaughterer Plants Contributor

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    Your rooms are beautiful! I love the way you have arranged things, and it looks like it's always been like that. The lamp also fitted perfectly. Ikea is good for many things.
     

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