Need help with choosing a colour for my living room
Stella Michael
9 years ago
I originally painted my walls white to provide an undercoat to the colour once I had decided how I was going to furnish the room. (they used to be a cold acid yellow)
I am fairly happy with my furnishings now but am a bit stuck on what colour to paint the walls. I love bright colours as you can see and several of my other rooms are painted in bold colours but because the furnishings are so bright I want a calmer balancing backdrop to this room but with some warmth and depth rather than magnolia-like ... but not too dark ... don't ask for much to I?
The first photo shows more or less how the room is now, the second one with the chair is with the old rug and fireplace not finished but wanted to include the chair, and paintings although they are in different places on the walls. There are no curtains/blinds yet which is fine, not sure if I will put any up, I like as much light as possible ... maybe something just to soften the lines.
I live in London but am Australian, maybe partly explaining the bold colours, they help offset the greyness of London a bit for me (relative to my home town of Sydney). The room gets the morning sun and is generally a bright enough room as it has 3 windows along the one wall as you can see.
Any ideas or specific colours most welcome! Thank you!
I am fairly happy with my furnishings now but am a bit stuck on what colour to paint the walls. I love bright colours as you can see and several of my other rooms are painted in bold colours but because the furnishings are so bright I want a calmer balancing backdrop to this room but with some warmth and depth rather than magnolia-like ... but not too dark ... don't ask for much to I?
The first photo shows more or less how the room is now, the second one with the chair is with the old rug and fireplace not finished but wanted to include the chair, and paintings although they are in different places on the walls. There are no curtains/blinds yet which is fine, not sure if I will put any up, I like as much light as possible ... maybe something just to soften the lines.
I live in London but am Australian, maybe partly explaining the bold colours, they help offset the greyness of London a bit for me (relative to my home town of Sydney). The room gets the morning sun and is generally a bright enough room as it has 3 windows along the one wall as you can see.
Any ideas or specific colours most welcome! Thank you!
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Comments (15)I think you could put the tv in the opposite corner on the other side of the window, then put the two chairs (if they'll fit) side by side on that wall (with the door) with the table in between. If these are a bit too snug, you could always angle them into the centre of the room. Then the sofa could go opposite the window at right angles to the door, but a little over towards the fireplace wall. This will give you clearly defined "square" sitting room area, which you can further delineate with a rug in your chosen accent colour and then add coordinating or matching cushions and throws. I would then move what I think is a glass cabinet (in the corner of the dining part of the room) to the left hand side of the radiator cabinet. I would then try to move the dining table more towards the kitchen and the now empty corner. For the dining table I would look at getting something like a table runner or a big bowl/vase/ornament with reflects your chosen accent colour which will visually join up the two areas. I would also be tempted to replace one of the pictures with a large mirror. And also perhaps think about getting different wall art....See More- PRO
Stella Michael
9 years ago - PRO
Stella Michael
9 years ago - PRO
Stella Michael
9 years agoHi Nicola, do you mean the purple sofa to the right in my photo? Surprisingly it's from Marks and Spencer, probably a couple of years old. Funnily enough I am looking to get a 4 seater now so wanting to sell it soon. Was going to get one to go with it when I saw the pink one had to have it so now want the other sofa to be a 4 seater. I have attached 2 photos, similar but the colour appears slightly differently if that helps, it's a lovely sofa, a modern twist on a classic idea.
As to colourful furniture ... I love colour and always keep an eye out for great pieces so despite advice about mood boards etc I just kept an eye out for things I loved and then slowly built up the room, taking into account the emerging colour theme as I went along. I found the chair first ... it's a light lime colour with dark raspberry trim which had a real zing and so things went from there. An0ther idea is to get some great artwork, go for something biggish that you love and then pick out the colours from that and build the room, I realised later I was doing this with the artwork in this room without realising it. The room, really came together when the rug went down so that could be another good place to start ... a colourful rug that you love and then pick out colours from there.
Remember that wall colours are the easiest to match so if you fall in love with something like a rich chocolate velvet sofa then I would buy it and change the wall colour as it doesn't really go with cool grey.
I trust that helps. I have also become an eBay fan ... it's a good place to see lots of different styles and colours but you have to look regulalry and be patient. A mixture of new/modern and vintage pieces helps give the room a a grounded but fresh look.
And finally buy things you love ... I rarely sit on the chair as I like to look at it so sit on the sofa and have it opposite. The mauve/purple sofa also doesn't "match" with the rest of the room which makes the room look a bit more relaxed and interesting.
As you can see I have lots to offer/say about colour and homes so will end there. Anything else please ask.
Heba Jamaa
8 years ago
Lynn Oxenford
8 years agoYou could try "Horizon " by Ben Moore , it's such a warn silvery gray. I used it in my craft/office room and in the grand room. As you can see, you can throw lots of color at it and everything pairs great. It's never flat of bold, on matter what you pair it with, it's
stays warm. Hope this helps, good luck with your project.
Stella Michael thanked Lynn Oxenford
Suneiah
8 years ago@stellahome I totally love everything about your room. Just stunning. I wish I wasn't in Aus so I could buy your purple couch. It is exactly what I am after for my b/room but can't find anything like it here. I know you want to offset the grey skies of London but something like the equivalent of Porters Paints Triple Led could work on one of the walls with there others all in white. You can see part of it in the attached pic (hopefully I actually attached it). S
Stella Michael thanked Suneiah
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Stella Michael
8 years agolast modified: 8 years ago 
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