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Dark grey feature wall?

7 years ago

Can't decide whether to paint the whole living room light grey or go for a dark grey feature wall?

I have a white/black fireplace and a white unit on the wall I would be painting dark. Then other walls would be a light grey/white?

Just looking for any ideas/suggestions!

Featured Answer

Coco Nuts

7 years ago

last modified: 7 years ago

I have a dark feature wall in my living room and I like how cosy it makes the room feel.

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Comments (20)

PRO
Renaissance Interiors, Hartley Wintney
7 years ago
I would suggest painting the room light grey with a dark grey feature wall. You will make far more of a statement this way. You need a balance of light and dark to give your room life. This will also give you versatility within the room for furniture placement... light against dark, dark against light, light against light, dark against dark, pop of colour against dark etc
minnie101
7 years ago
Hi. I remember your room from when you posted before. Is the picture rail still in place? which way does the room face in terms of light?
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Thanks so much everyone for taking the time to respond. Much appreciated. So I'm kind of stuck with the chaise as it is but could move it to another room (at the cost of moving the problem elsewhere). It's not actually mine so I don't really want to go to the expense of reupholstering it. The chest also isn't mine, but I'll have them both for a few years yet. If I move the chaise I'd probably have to swap it for a deep red rocking chair I have in another room (see pic), which would again influence the colour scheme. The sofa would fit under the window but there's a radiator there so it's not really ideal. I'll look into moving the TV point though as that would allow me to have chaise / rocking chair and sofa on two walls together. I agree that the blinds are an issue so I think I'll try to get either a glass covering instead, or some white blinds. I may even paint the windows white too if I'm brave enough. For the walls, I liked your mock up Carolins and the suggestions to use a light grey. That's what I was already considering. Still can't decide whether to have a dark grey feature wall, but it's tempting. I agree with the accent colour suggestions - I really like pink or yellow with grey. Carolins - where are those yellow toned cushions from? Definitely a big mirror too. Hmm decision time!
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Lou Ella
Original Author
7 years ago
Yes it is, I was planning on just painting the colour all the way up to the coving including the picture rail.

Just now it is a white picture rail with white paint above it.

My fireplace and unit are white now x
PRO
Normanton Designs
7 years ago
Although it's a matter of personal taste different coloured 'feature' walls can look a bit out of date. My suggestion would be to paint the whole room in one colour.

Where I would place my attention is getting the colour of the woodwork and ceiling correct to compliment the walls. Although woodwork and ceilings often look white I would suggest that it is very rarely correct to use brilliant white in a house (maybe if it's uber modern and in a sunny climate). Instead look for off whites that tone with your wall colour. A good rule of thumb is 'the lower the darker' e.g woodwork slightly darker off white, ceiling slightly lighter.

Hope this helps.
minnie101
7 years ago
If you mean the built in unit has been painted white then I'd go a lightish grey all over. Just been flicking through previous posts and I think the room faces north (?) so would look for a warm grey. I thought you'd mentioned painting it F&B blackened previously which I would avoid as it has a blue undertone so could look rather cold. F&B elephants breath or skimming stone can work in north facing rooms but you'd need to test them as they don't work for all
Lou Ella
Original Author
7 years ago
Yes the room is north facing, sun comes in at the first half of the day.

We used farrow and ball blackened in our front porch as we have a bit of blue in our stained glass and it works really well.

I tried a patch of blackened on the living room wall yesterday and you're right it looks to blue and cold! Also tried dulux polished pebble and again it looks cold!

I will have a try at the little greene paints, off to get more testers!

Thanks
minnie101
7 years ago
Good luck! Their dash of soot or Rubine ashes might be worth looking at
Lou Ella
Original Author
7 years ago
Normanton designs, thanks for your comment.

I'm never sure what to do with skirting boards etc...this is our fireplace now which is a chalk white....

What would u suggest with the woodwork?
PRO
Normanton Designs
7 years ago
Hi Lou,

I suggest that you need to focus on the wall colour first as the colour of the woodwork should tie into your scheme.

Once you have decided your wall colour then I would suggest painting up several sheets of a4 with colours that you think might work for the skirting and looking at them next to the colour you have picked for the wall. What you are looking for is both the toning and the temperature (colour) of the combination.

If you are really stuck for a starting point then the websites for a lot of the 'designer' paint companies, F&B etc, have schemes below each of their colours, almost all of which contain an off white. However, every room has different light so I would advise you use your own judgement at the end as the same paint scheme can look completely different in different spaces.

As for the fireplace/skirting combination having the skirting a shade darker will help to make the fireplace stand out. Beneficial as it should be the focus of the room.

Happy painting.
Lou Ella
Original Author
7 years ago
So I couldn't get any little greene paint testers so I tried Farrow and Ball Cornforth White and Purbeck Stone.

Cornforth white looks lovely, warm grey shade! Definitely not a blue undertone like the others I've tried.

Purbeck stone is also warm grey which is slightly darker than Cornforth white.

Decisions decisions!
minnie101
7 years ago
Have you got large testers on all walls? I'd see how they change in the different lights. Cornforth can be a little chilly although it's a lovely grey. If these don't work have a look at shaded white. The colour online is nothing like the colour chart if you happen to have one!
Lou Ella
Original Author
7 years ago
Checked and my room is actually east facing. Do you think elephants breath on the fireplace wall and strong white elsewhere would work?

Thanks!
rona7770
7 years ago
Yes I think it will my front room is in the process of being painted in same colours will send pic mine faces north east
rona7770
7 years ago
Here it is
rav1234
7 years ago
Rona7770 Love the colour looks great
Lou Ella
Original Author
7 years ago
I went with strong white and Cornforth white.

I'm hoping it works...will see tomorrow!

Thanks for all your advice
Lou Ella
Original Author
7 years ago
It needs another coat but it looks pretty gorgeous already
Lou Ella
Original Author
7 years ago
Which mirror goes better do you think?
Lou Ella
Original Author
7 years ago
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