Too bold for small space?

6 years ago

I've got my first small flat. But I am trying to make use of a small space. I built this design online but is it too much for the room. It is the same measurement and dimension.

Should I just stick to white walls ?

The picture is the way the old owner did it. Which is boring. And I am bold !!

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6 years ago

I do like the blue and applaud bold! However, I agree that it should be toned down to less of an area, and i'm not sure the two tone kitchen works in a small space, better to keep that one colour too. I think you can get away with the blue at both ends of the lounge area.

May be a grey kitchen with the white and the blue would look good? Or go for white kitchen with a coloured splashback? You can do a lot of funky things with those these days!

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Comments (18)

Daisy England
6 years ago
Not a colour I'd have for a small space. I'd be tempted to go with a light colour and add accents to give it the colour it needs.
Angela Gilham
6 years ago
I agree with Daisy that the cobalt blue could be a bit overwhelming in a small flat. I'd go with a nearly white (not the magnolia that's on the walls at the moment, which should die the death of a thousand fiery suns), and keep the cobalt for either an accent wall or a statement piece of furniture. There was a droolworthy blue velvet sofa in the advice section last week, I'll see if I can dig it out.
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Right, so to begin with I would completely get ride of the curtains covering your selves and have sliding doors installed. The reason I say sliding doors is to help maximise your space. I would also have the walls repainted or even covered in a bold printed wallpaper - this'll help add life and character to the small space. Check out Cole & Son for some fab paper or Farrow and Ball for amazing paint. In terms of the cloakroom area, I wouldn't change much as the space is already quite tight. I would simply advise you to continue the colour/paper from the restroom throughout. Depending on your budget, I would advise you to have a smaller sink and a back to wall wc installed which will also help maximise space. Hope you find this info useful and good luck!
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Angela Gilham
6 years ago
Discussion about blue velvet sofas...

https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/blue-velvet-sofa-dsvw-vd~4623294
minnie101
6 years ago
I find the blue a little overwhelming. I like the colour for art, cabinets etc and you can also use paint to zone spaces. If you flick through to the last pic of this houzz tour it has some examples as not always easy to find pics online. Can you also see the tv from the sofa? It's hard without dimensions but it looks quite far away

https://www.houzz.co.uk/magazine/my-houzz-a-rented-home-gets-a-pale-and-pretty-scandi-makeover-stsetivw-vs~85183098
honeypoppet
6 years ago
Hi Ari

I don't see why you shouldn't go for something bolder if that's what you like! However I would tend towards a more muted tone, and even darker probably than the cobalt. See below some variations...

Hope this helps!
PRO
Bisque Radiators
6 years ago
We love bold! We offer a colour matching service for some radiators to go perfectly in your new design follow the link to see our range https://www.bisque.co.uk/
Lissett radiator · More Info
Ari Mac
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks guys
Ari Mac
Original Author
6 years ago
Really like the idea above !! Thank you. Really appreciate it
Jonathan
6 years ago
Personally I find the colour too bright and I think blue and orange is too much but I don't think nearly white will suit you since your instinct was to go bold.
I would prefer to see a deep and classy colour such as Hague Blue by Farrow and Ball. I think that deep colours help frame blocks of light colours and think you should get pale curtains on a wide pole, pale kitchen cabinets with pale splash backs. I think you should then litter the walls with pictures in white frames to break up the blue.
You could add an accent of orange but use it with restraint- find a picture that has a little in it, add an orange glass vase and find some sofa cushions with a little orange and I think it will all work.
Lastly corner sofas are notorious for overfilling small spaces. Perhaps a standard sofa and footstool will give you more flexibility
PRO
Akiva Projects Ltd
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Hello!

I'm Gabriela, a designer from Akiva Projects.

First of all, I'd like to say that It's really exciting and refreshing to see that you're not afraid of colours - which is rare.

There's this design "rule" which says that the perfect colour balance into a room would be 60/30/10 - 60% of a primary colour, 30% of a secondary colour and 10% of an accent colour. What doesn't mean that your primary colour cannot be this beautiful turquoise that you like, just that you need two more to give balance. Maybe some black and white, what do you think?

I really think that this could add value to your project.
PRO
Black Qubd
6 years ago
WE LOVE BOLD COLOURS! However i would say keep a feature wall and make the rest a pale colour, this will add the feel of a bigger space! We can help you with any bold decor pieces you may need! x
tezz4
6 years ago
I love colour and statements to project my personality. I live in my space and l need to love it. So really if you love this blue just follow your heart - the most that can happen is that you love love love it or it might tire you after some time and you can repaint.

I have just repainted over a dark grey which l loved at first but drove me bananas after three years - depressed even!! Now it's all gone and l feel uplifted.

Don't be chicken, try it!

But do heed the experts above as l do believe you must follow some design rules to have it looking cohesive and stylish.
headers13
6 years ago
The good thing about paint is that you can re-paint it ! Bold but entirely up to your choice. Personally I would do one wall & see how you feel.
rachelmidlands
6 years ago
Oh, I love this colour blue. We recently did the office this blue and it goes so well with natural wood and white. Since you've got a multi purpose room I think I would try the blue in the kitchen area/wall first as it seems to have some wood tones to really show it off. Keep the other walls a white-ish tone to stop it feeling too dark then add more colour with the art, cushions and accessories. But, like the previous comments, go with what you love, if it you don't like it you can always repaint it.
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Rise Art
6 years ago
I agree with the idea of a more muted tone than that original dark blue. Stick to your idea of a bold colour though! Mint perhaps? Or a mixture of that original blue plus white, as Man About the House has suggested.

You could go bold with artworks that pick up the colour(s) you choose, and these would help break up the solid colour of the walls! I think you'd love Fintan Whelan's paintings... especially if you stick to blue.
rachelmidlands
6 years ago
An image just popped up on my home page, thought it might inspire you. Here's a link:
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mayfly182
6 years ago
I love the blue and think you could pull it off. I think you should aim to make most of the 'extras' white with a little black - eg curtains/blinds in white, pictures maybe try and stick with stuff with plenty of white space and have all the mounts white and the frames either white or thin black frames. I don't know what the splodgy thing on the wall in your design is but I think that's the one thing which doesn't go with the room. I really like the other colours you've chosen for the sofa / chair / cushions but maybe skip the patterned cushions. Clean lines and blocks of colour tend to work best with very strong colours - when you start mixing pattern and bright colours it can quite quickly become overwhelming.

Ideally perhaps the kitchen could also be white with a black or grey worktop. You can paint the kitchen white but it's a fair bit of work.

If you decide it's too much of the wall colour, I would consider making a wide horizontal band around the room rather than feature walls. It will look more unusual and I think better than feature walls would. I would paint from 1/4 of the way up the wall to 1/4 of the way down from the top, so half the wall.

Too bold for small space?

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