Painting Living room-need help picking color !

[Lucky4me]

I'm having a Trading Spaces moment. I need some color ideas!

The room is 22 x 15 with stairs leading up to the second floor on one end and stairs leading down to the front door at the same end. Right now it's pepto pink with gray sponge effects. The couch and one of the chairs are a solid burgandy. The rest of the furniture is oak. Micro mini blinds at two windows on either end of the room length wise, are a medium off white. Window treatments are a cabbage rose floral. The carpet is light gray. Most of the accents are dark green/cabbage rose floral.

I need something that will look decent with the furniture, carpet and accents. The rest of my house seems to be painted in various shades of green so I was hoping to go with something other than that.

I love the shabby chic/cottage look but I have trouble capturing it. It always ends up looking like Early American garage sale.

I asked this question about my new bathroom last year and you guys were so good! It looks beautiful-a Grecian theme in shades of brown, cream and tan.

Thanks for any help!!

 

[CEDmom]

I'm a huge Trading Spaces and While You Were Out Fan! I checked out a color wheel online to see what would complement your existing furniture. How about a yellow with a hint of green? Nothing really bright that screams "I belong in a kitchen" but rather a soft muted yellow. Good luck and have fun

 

[Trib]

I went to HD last week to get paint chips for teh Disney paint line and they were out of them

 

[Tiggerkeeper]

Sherwin Williams has a color called Bees Wax check it out. It is a muted butter cream yellow (it is hard to describe). I suggest it because my dining room curtains and accents are dark green to sage with burgandy mixed in and I used the Bees Wax color on the walls. The room next to the dining room (in full view of the dining room) is painted Chardonnay (burgandy). It is a beautiful mix of color. Yellow can be a scary color but I promise this doesn't scream sunshine in any way!!

Good luck with whatever you choose!

 

[SoonerKate]

I would also suggest a muted butter yellow, or maybe a very warm khaki color.

How much natural light does the room get? Do you have any pictures you can post? Are there any interesting colors in your accent fabrics?

 

[Disney Doll]

It sounds like you have a lot of dark or muted colors, so I'd go with white to have some contrast.

 

[snoopy]

I'm thinking khaki as well, but I'd have to see the room to get a better idea.

Sounds like fun though Sue!

 

[annemariec]

Well, you've gotten some good ideas. We have painted our basement family room a "Classic Taupe", using Behr paint. I'd describe it as a warm khaki color. I love it. We chose a "Magnolia Blossom" in Behr for the bathroom. It's a buttery yellowish white. The shade would look nice in just about any room. Very subtle.

Have you tried the interactive computer program Behr has called, "Color Smart"? You can use it at Home Depot or on your home computer (www.behr.com). The neat thing is you can print out the color scheme using a sample room set up. And coordinate colors. It doesn't always match the color 100%, but a lot of the time you can get a good idea of what it will look like. It's fun! I think the colors come out a little more true to form at Home Depot. (DH has a hard time getting me away from that program when we go.)

I love just about all of the design shows. They have so many great ideas!

Annemarie

 

[kasar]

We have Ben Moore "Richmond Bisque" in our whole downstairs. It's a classic, neutral color that everyone who comes into our home asks about. It's a very muted yellow/beige color (it seems to be more beige at night) and matches all of our green/blue furniture. It's much prettier on the walls than on the swatch. I think it's in the Historical Color selections. We love it, for what it's worth. Good luck choosing!

 

[firstmickey]

I have the same colors in my family room and I used
Sherwin Williams Butter Up. (yellow)
It didn't seem like yellow would be a good choice, but once it was done it looked great.
It has that cottage/french country feel with the yellow walls and floral cabbage rose valances.

 

[iwannabeminnie]

I was thinking a warm khaki color also. It seems to be a toss up between that and a soft yellow. Good luck and let us know how it turns out!









I BELIEVE IN THE TAG FAIRY!

 

[Jenzebelle]

Benjamin Moore does a color called "abbington putty". It's a very light green, but actually appears to be a cream color with subtle flecks of yellow and green in it.
My parents just did their great room that color and it really tied in the blues and greens in the rest of the downstairs (they have a really open floor plan which is a huge pain when it comes to decorating)

 

[Bunchkin]

Originally posted by Lucky4me


I love the shabby chic/cottage look but I have trouble capturing it. It always ends up looking like Early American garage sale.

I just wanted to say that this gave me a good chuckle!!!
Too funny!!!!!!! LOL!!!!!!

Good luck with the painting!!!

We are doing a lot of painting here and it's so hard to pick colors!!!!!

 

[denisem]

Geez, can't remember the brand, but we bought "Ostrich Feather" at Home Depot and have used it in two homes.

It's also an ivory/putty color that works well with cool tones like greys, green, blue.

Another trick of mine is to look at wallpapers or fabrics in my basic color scheme and try match the neutral-background color for paint (even if I'm not using that particular wallpaper/fabric).

Denise <--- will never forget "Ossstrich Feather!" 'cos DH always says says it ala the "Chicken Lady" from Kids in the Hall

 

[Lucky4me]

Thank you! You have come through again. You guys are great!

I never even thought about yellow, but it sounds beautiful. I'm going to look at paint today. I think it's narrowed down to the yellow, that brown/bisque color and the khaki. (which is green I know. I do have a thing for green)

I'd love to post pics but I don't know how to use a digital. Maybe I'll get dd to take a few before and afters.


Thanks again everyone!