Help with living room colour scheme

9 years ago

I'm not very good at imagining a finished room so need some help with my tiny living room please! I'm liking yellow and grey as a colour scheme (maybe with purple accents?). It's quite a small room, about 11' x 14'. West facing and fairly bright especially in the afternoon. The overall feel I want for the room is warm, cheery, pretty, and inviting. I also don't want anything too boring but equally I'm scared to go for anything too bold.

It's a blank canvas at the moment, the only thing staying is a sofa (which is bright red leather, but I will be completely covering it in a natural/beigey throw).

I like these 2 yellow wallpapers for a feature wall (top right is G P & J Baker Ryecote Damask, bottom left is Cole & Son Tivoli) - I think the Cole & Son is my favourite. It's a mustard yellow with grey. I want the other 3 walls to be grey, maybe one of the 2 samples in my picture (top left is Laura Ashley Cobblestone, bottom right is Laura Ashley Twine, which is more greige) - or should I colour match the grey of the wallpaper?

I'm also considering the Ikea Hemnes furniture in grey-brown - do you think the colours will go together? Would also like an ottoman and rug - what colours would you go for? Thanks if anyone can help!

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Karolina Barnes

9 years ago

Hi, I think the colour scheme you've chosen is great. Mustard yellow goes really well with greys and soft neutrals. Personally I prefer the Cole & Son wallpaper which will look better with the Cobblestone because you will be balancing out the warmth coming from the mustard yellow with the cooler tone of the Cobblestone. I would also introduce another accent colour to the scheme like soft lilac, purple, aubergine, pink, fuchsia or dark navy. Teal and deep rich red would go well in there too. When you approach colour scheme you can choose between 5 - 6 colours in the whole room and 4-5 colours on a pattern. So don't be afraid to experiment with different colours. In regards to your ottoman and rug, I'd go for ottoman in contrasting solid colour (e.g. glazed linen or textured velvet) which will give you a pop. This can be a completely new colour introduced into the room - not the yellow, beige or grey which you already have there. It can be a colour which you will pick from the rug. I think rug is always a great starting point. I'm currently working with a client where the rug was starting point and we built the scheme around that. I'd go for stripes or geometric pattern to break up the wallpaper pattern a bit. Also rugs which look like abstract painting in various colour shades and tones would go really well into your scheme. When you work with patterns you need to consider the scale. So in your case the Cole & Son wallpaper is the largest pattern in the room and so don't pick anything which will fight with it for attention. You have the big one so you need to go smaller on everything else - cushions, rug, curtains. Scale it down gradually - big, medium, small. Hope this helps and good luck!

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Comments (23)

hortonhearsawho2013
9 years ago
love the wallpaper & colours! I'm thinking the 'greige' for walls. I'd get the room decorated before buying a rug or ottoman as youll get a better idea of how its all pulling together. Love the hemnes range too - I think it'll look gorgeous!
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Thanks a lot to all of you for your input and advice! @KK1000 As you pointed out, there are some smaller pieces of furniture that does not really belong there - the two very old chairs and cabinet before the sofa (they simply ended up there) and make the room more crowded. The ceiling lights were a low budget option during last renovation. Thank you for the suggestions for replacemnt. It's something I will consider in a future (when budget and time allows). @Jonathan You hit the nail on the head - the room is indeed an obstacle course. I didn't had the courage to consider a layout change yet, but as you mentioned it inspired me to get the measurements of the room and furniture once I will visit my parents again. Actually that's the part which is for me much easier than choosing the colours and materials. There's no other room where we could move the sofa, but I can have a look whether it could be split in some way so we could change the configuration. When it comes to dark colours, I can appreaciate them, but I am afraid it is nothing for my parents. But F&B Bone and gentle dusky pink sound good to me. Thanks for your input and even making a plan! @rachelmidlands Those examples are really great! As I wrote also to Jonathan, I will now consider changing the room layout - thanks for pointing it out. Your idea to get colour inspiration from those rugs really makes sense. Pale dusky blueish grey with accents of dusky pink against light walls is a suggestion that could work for everyone in the family. May I ask you where are your examples from? I just would like to get more info about the wall paint used on those pictures (I know I have to test it in situ, but anyway). Thanks!
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mishmashe
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks both! I was definitely thinking of using purple/aubergine as an accent colour, that would work well. I am a little scared of going for that wallpaper to be honest as it's so bold (not to mention an expensive mistake if I don't like it) but I'm just hoping it will turn out like it looks it my head!

Regarding the rug, I was thinking something like this - do you think that would work? I've also attached pictures of other things that I think might work with the room, would be grateful for any opinions or other suggestions (I'm in the UK).
mishmashe
Original Author
9 years ago
Lamps
mishmashe
Original Author
9 years ago
Another rug
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Karolina Barnes
9 years ago
Hi, yes I like your last rug - the grey geometric one. That would go really well in your scheme. And that purple cushion also is great. I wouldn't go for the other cushion because the pattern is too big. Also I wouldn't go for the yellow flower lamp. Don't try to match it too much. Many people do the same mistake and get lighting which is has the same colour and theme like the dominating colour in the room - in your case the wallpaper. But it doesn't work. Go rather for neutral one like your table lamp or perhaps a lamp with purple shade or base - but not both if you know what I mean. Don't be afraid of using the wallpaper. If you like it go for it. It's a great way to express your personality. I know Cole & Son is not cheap but it's quality and luxurious item. And if you don't like, yes you'll be wasting your money, but it's not the end of the world. If you're struggling to imagine the room, I'm happy to do a quick drawing for you at no cost. You can contact me via my profile. I would need some info about your room and the products you're thinking about getting so I can put them all in the drawing.
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Hampstead Design Hub
9 years ago
Hi darling! You've made a great choice of colors-grey and yellow look great together. I would go for Cole & Son too. It's a beautiful pattern. For walls I would go for grey like on wallpaper. With Dulux you can find a perfect color. Take a sample of your wallpaper with you to the nearest Homebase and they will find you a perfect match. Your idea about purple as a third color is right. Those three colors look really nice together. You also can use any shade of green and your room will look bright, fresh and inviting. You can use white jalousie for windows-they will make space contemporary and light, you can find them in IKEA. If your room is not big use a neutral carpet. Please have a look at some color pallets and maybe they will help you with your decisions. (www.design-seeds.com). Wish you very best of luck!
mishmashe
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks for all the advice! I'm beginning to get a feel for the room now. I had to google "jalousie", and is it right that they are wooden venetian blinds/shutters? Because I would have loved to get white shutters but can't stretch my budget to cover them, so have already ordered some white wooden venetian blinds instead to get a similar look.

As for the paint colour of the other walls - should I go for warm or cool grey? Very confused about that. I think the grey in the wallpaper is a warm grey, it looks to me to have a slight pinkish/brownish tone. Is it okay to mix warm and cool greys within one room, or not?
lislondon
9 years ago
If the room is small, use less dark colours and not wall paper everywhere, or the room will close in on you! If you have a chimney breast, make that the feature! However, before that, is a sofa/settee going to be in this room? You should work from the colours of your main piece of furniture in the room to get the balance right. I have decorated one of the bedrooms in my B&B in Provence in a light grey colour with white ceilings. The floor is red old 18th century tiles (so did not want to touch these). I have charcoal grey throws on the 2 single beds and 1 day bed, with a red/pinkish patterned smaller throw at the end of the beds + lots of red/pinkish cushions on the beds and on the old Spanish bench I also have in this room. Good luck on whatever you decide...wishing you a Happy Christmas... :)
JC
9 years ago
Hi Mishmashe. I have always loved that cole and son wallpaper - great choice. The cobblestone looks a bit cold to me. Any pics of the room you can upload?
soozmacrae
9 years ago
Love your choices. If you can sell your red sofas and get something more suited. Throws will just annoy you in the end and may spoil your look.
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Karolina Barnes
9 years ago
Hi, I would still go for the cooler Cobblestone. You need to balance it all out - warm and cold. I would introduce warmer tones on cushions, curtains, throws, rug and accessories. I wouldn't be afraid of going for the cooler tone because the wallpaper would make the space inviting and warm anyway. I think the Venetians blinds will look great. I would also suggest curtains as a secondary window treatment. They can be just panels, not necessarily fully drawing ones. That way you save on fabric. It's nice to have cooler walls with warmer curtains. Many designers do that in their designs. Hope this helps. Good luck!
mishmashe
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
I would love to get a new sofa but that unfortunately won't be possible for quite a while, so the cream throw will have to do for now. I don't have good pictures of the room at the moment (it is just filled with furiture and furnishings that will be going anyway), but I promise I'll upload some in the new year when we've painted/wallpapered/got the basic furniture in.

The furniture I'm leaning towards at the moment is the Ikea Hemnes in grey-brown (pic attached), I was thinking the colour of the wood would be nice with the decor?

Also now thinking that the Cobblestone paint is darker than I'd like, but I'm loving Dulux Egyptian Cotton - what do you think of the tester patches in these pics? I believe it's a warm grey, but doesn't look TOO warm, it's still very much grey rather than beige in this room and seems to go well with the wallpaper and sofa colour?

Karolina I agree with you about the curtains, they'll add another layer to the room but I will probably leave that till last so I can keep on eye my budget. I'll be back in the new year with more pictures and more questions about soft furnishings/accessories, no doubt! ;) Merry Christmas everyone.
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Hampstead Design Hub
9 years ago
Hi there! I like how wallpaper and grey look like together on those pictures. I can share with you the easy and very helpful way to chose the right colour for the walls. I do this for our clients when it comes for final decision about the colour. I paint A3 boards with colour samples-you can move the boards around the room and see how it reflects the light. Sometimes, the same shade of grey would look different, depending on surroundings. It can help you with the right choice!
JC
9 years ago
Agree totally with checking the colour in different places. I do the same but use leftover pieces of lining paper. useful if you don't want to start painting big patches on the wall before you are ready too
mishmashe
Original Author
9 years ago
last modified: 9 years ago
Thanks guys - some really helpful suggestions coming in! And I hope everyone's had a good Christmas. :)

After talking with hubby some more, we've had a slight change of plan and decided not to go with the statement yellow wallpaper. We will still be going with the same colour scheme (mustard & grey with purple accents), but we will be painting the whole room in one colour (light grey or greige) and adding the mustard and purple with the soft furnishings and artwork.

Now I'm a little stumped... having trouble imagining where the colours should come in exactly. I will list the items that will be in the room:

- 1 sofa (ivory)
- Gallery wall above sofa (family photos)
- Sideboard which will have the TV on, and tall glass-door cabinet (both Ikea Hemnes grey-brown, which to me looks light brown)
- 2 small tables either side of the sofa with lamps on
- Large area rug
- Hubby's desk and some floating wall shelves above that
- Possibly a coffee table or ottoman
- Some art (not much, it's a small room) and flowers/other greenery

Now that the wallpaper is gone, the first thing I can think of that could bring in a large amount of yellow is the rug... or is it best to keep the rug a neutral colour too? Could anybody post examples of any rugs/artwork/accessories/lamps/side tables that you like and might go with my colour scheme? I am also posting some pictures of rooms that inspire me. Really struggling to envision this room! Thanks :-)
PRO
Hampstead Design Hub
9 years ago
Hi guys! I hope you enjoined the festive season and had a lovely Christmas and New Year! It is good that you both came to the final decision about your place! Go for yellow rug, few cushions, art and picture frames above the sofa. All products below are from IKEA. I am sure that in the and of the day you will have a nice and cozy room!
Trina Dycer
9 years ago
Instead of looking for another sofa why don't you consider changing the colour to a sot cream or grey
mishmashe
Original Author
9 years ago
Trina I am not looking to get a new sofa, I have just covered with a cream throw which goes much better with the colour scheme.

Hampstead design club - thanks for your suggestions, I saw that rug in Ikea and it is unfortunately too small but the kind of thing I was thinking of. I am looking at these at the moment - do you think any of them are a definite no for any reason, or are they all much of a muchness? I'm leaning towards the last one just because it seems to be less in-your-face yellow!
hortonhearsawho2013
9 years ago
I think the last one could look a little too retro? The others look a lot classier and 'sunnier' (personal opinion tho!) Can you get some samples of the wallpaper that you liked and wrap around three canvases and use as artwork? Cheap way of using the wallpaper that you love without spending a fortune!
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Hampstead Design Hub
9 years ago
Hello! I like the rug but maybe not for a living room. You can check www.fringesrugs.com. These guys have a large selection of rugs of different sizes and prices. Personally, I like the vintage style carpet below. I think it has right colours and nice patterns, unless Vintage is not your cup of tea!))
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Karolina Barnes
9 years ago
Hi, I think the last rug (you uploaded) would be very nice especially if you are not going ahead with the wallpaper. It would sort of stay within the similar theme and the colour palette. It would ground it all together. You can build everything else around it. Regarding the size I always recommend to be consistent, either have all furniture on, half way off or off completely. So measure your space so you search for the right size from the start. Good luck!
shelbyattwood
8 years ago
Hi there, how did you get on with your living room? I am thinking of a grey and yellow/ochre theme for my living room and wondered what you ended up doing in your house? :)