Color choices and working with what i got?
Question:my husband is colorblind and bought this house long before we met... i'd like to make some changes but here is the scenario now.
in the living area (which consists of an entryway, living room area, dining area, laundry, and you can see the most of the kitchen...three of the walls are grass green. done in a faux swirley design (not the best job but it looks pretty cool). the other few walls are white and very matte, no gloss at all.
the bathroom is pee yellow (and he uses those ugly spiral lightbulbs so it looks even yellower) with an orange floor.
the office is lavendar (my least favorite color). our room is white.
the carpet is gray.
he likes all the colors, lol. any suggestions for the white walls? i'd like a color that unifies all of these rooms ultimately so that i'm not taking away but adding. it would do best for my relationship. but he'd be okay with a few changes. note: we are self-proclaimed "closet hippies." murals would be cool. and we are from alaska.
Answers:
First of all, if you like the swirls, dab them with some of the metallic paints - you won't use much so it won't be expensive and you will like how they accent the texture. You could use any kind from silver to antique brass. Make the white walls 3 shades lighter of the same color green to unify the space but only use the metal on the swirls. Have fun and experiment. Some places sell actual samples that really can give you a better idea than the color swatches. For the bathroom, play with the yellow and orange and use some stripes in the towels and rugs just be sure they include green. Replace the crazy lightbutb (just one room isn't too sinful). For your bedroom, leave the walls white and use the green again in pillows and curtains or BEADS in your windows (for the hippie in you). There are lots of cool pillows now that are shiney fabric or adorned with metal and beads, etc. Use neutral colors that won't clash with the green. Maybe a big shaggy green/grey/rust rug tucked under one side of the bed. Make sure it coordinates with the grey tone of the carpet. Add some more metal to the bedroom in some candle holders with lots of shades of green candles. Some neutral bedding will make it restful and fun too. As for the lavender - lose it - people might think you started smokin' LOL! Enjoy your project!!
I suggest finding a print or another piece of art that you both like and using the colors in that as your basic color palatte. To the extent possible find something containing the colors already in the house.
You will decorate around the colors in the artwork, although the actual art will only be in one room of the house. By using the colors in the print you'll unify your household color scheme.
For each room you'll use one color from the print and accessorize using 2 or 3 other colors in the print. So, say, you chose a print of... I don't know... some people on the beach. Some of the swim suits and towels are yellow and some of the sand is sort of yellowish, so in the bathroom you've already got yellow. You'll buy your shower curtain, rug, soap dish, etc. in some other colors from the print - maybe a blue and reddish brown print. If you can find a shower curtain in a stripe or print that includes your colors for that room it will help. (To diminish the yellowness from the curly light bulb you can find a glass fixture cover that fits over it. Stick with those weird light bulbs! They're far better for the environment!)
In the room that is lavendar, since you really hate it, maybe you could negotiate repainting. If that will be awkward, do the same thing in that room, but cover as much of the wall space as possible with book cases, prints, plants, and art using the colors from your unifying print.
a Grey blue is a good color for your white walls goes with everything, like blue jeans go with any color tee-shirt. A mural is a great idea, if your from Alaska probably something nature, or wildlife. Good luck.
First, go to a hardware store and by a bunch of Kills and start from the beginning with white. You're gonna need it no matter what color you decide to paint. Then place an ad in the local paper for a local artist that can paint a mural. Be sure to look at their drawings before letting loose on your wall. I think it would look great. I'm sure you two aren't the only "closet hippies" up there. Someone should be able to paint the type and color filled mural you have in mind. Then the other rooms, paint colors to match. Good luck with your project.
i like that "closet hippies". :-D So if i'm understanding.. u walk into the house thru the entryway.. & u c LR, DR, Laundry & Kitchen? wow.
so let's go back to the furniture & drapes/curtains/blinds... what is going on w/ that? U never mentioned any of that except u'r carpet is grey. Or is that only in u'r room?
So depending on what's going on w/ above mentioned. mayb to please u'r hubby.. leave one of the walls the sponge green. ( mayb the wall that isn't seen as u walk into the door.
So together.. what r some of u'r likes in colors that would go w/ u'r LR furniture etc...? Tan/lighter green/grey/dusty purple... whatever it is, u could paint u'r LR area the color u like that would go w/ the green but different shades of that color. (mayb as u start painting, he will realize that this color is better than the poor faux finish wall)
Then u said u can c the kitchen/laundry rm/DR.. & the walls r white? Again.. is the DR open into the LR? If u don't like that look, Then put up large curtains & tie them back w/ decorative rope/etc... then u can close it or 1/2 of it. Again.. what's going on in the DR? furniture wise. Again.. what colors do like?
If u do the LR in different shades of the green then u could do the DR in tans/greys for tone down or for some pop.. oranges/terracotta
then try to either pick anthr color that u would go w/ u'r main LR for kitchen PLUS go w/ u'r decor in the kitchen. As in towels..cabinets/table..
Also r u leaning more towards the " closet hippie" look or more towards retro..70's..classic.. country... traditional...modern...contemp...
Start w/ ONE room then proceed from that or u'll overwhelm u'rself.
So look at u'r furniture... decor...drapes/blinds..carpet/... likes of colors... then pick 1 or 2 then go from there for u'r walls & accents. .. then decide what u'r taste in decor is. look at some websites like
http://www.hgtv.com or htt://www.diynetwork.com OR BHG.com
that may give u some ideas. After u start, he may find out he really likes what is going on compared 2 what he had.
Be creative! have fun!
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