Help me pick colors!?
Question:I am decorating my family room. It is a very "open" room where you can see an archway into a dining room (which I plan to paint an apricot or orange creamsickle color). Also visible and part of the room are staircases up and down (this is a townhouse we're referrring to!) The "hallway" color of the staircase is a pale yellowish cream. Very pale, close to offwhite. Specifically, it is "Serenade" by Devoe paints.
Furniture in room currently consists of chocolate brown sofa, leather, credenza/media stand (espresso), and coffee table (espresso). Also have wood blinds in a lighter wood in the back of the room. Tile is an offwhite color. Also a large black widescreen TV.
Room feels very dark even with the light wall color and tile. I need a rug and want to paint.any colors suggested to perk this up? I was thinking a shade of pear green but...I'm not sure. I would like suggestions on wall color, rug, drapes and tray ceiling (if different from wall color). I'm so overwhelmed!
Answers:
I'm trying to picture it but sounds like you have a lot of dark furniture. If you paint your walls dark, will look like you are in a cave. Try brightening it up with maybe a med. to light green. There are a lot of shades that will blend with the color's you already have. I'm partial to green. It just makes a room look fresh and alive. Hope this helps you decide. Lots of luck.
Dark chocolate...
light sage green. As for a rug i would try to find something on the lighter side too, but not to light to where it will always look dirty no matter how much you clean it.
many paint stores and home centers sell paint in tiny little cans for samples at low cost ,so get yoursef some samples on the wall and you will not be so overwhelmed. They dont come in all colors but you can find something c;lose and go from there
I am so glad that you included the other room and furniture colors.. helps give a better visual. I would suggest this technique basically making stripes... at least 1ft in width in 2 alternating colors. Normally I would choose a dark chocolate and a light latte color ... but since your furntire is already dark you could:
1. Pick a toasted almond, and a chestnut color. The alternating colors pick up light. Also makes a room look taller.
2. I always advocate painting a ceiling white.. It relfects light and the darker the color the darker the room will seem.
3. In your specific case I would also suggest a deep red. Alot of people shy away from red , because it is a very BOLD color but very nicely compliments the espresso. I would not pick such a rich color for the walls in the living area, seeing as your furntire is dark... but thats why I suggested the brown in the muted tones instead.
4.Again if you dont want the room so dark dont have dark window treatments... Golden goes great with brown and red.
Sheer!! and You can reserve the darker colors for the sides ofd window and sheer in the middle to allow the light in.
5. Also placing a large mirror.. or you can easily make one using mirror tiles ( I crafted one that actually looks like a window with smaller panes in it and , placing it directly across from the REAL window it brings in more light for one and two... it makes the space seem a whole lot bigger!
If you want to stay lighter, maybe a pale blue which goes really well with white or chocolate, also the pale blue will blend with your other colors, or you can do a dark blue if you prefer dark.
I think that the pear green is a good idea, but you may want to look at a slightly cooler green color with subtle blue hues to accent the yellow and orange tones in the adjoining rooms. The blue tones also look great with the dark chocolate colors of your furniture.
More Related Questions & Answers...