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Hallways/stairs colour- Help!

6 years ago

Hello colour experts,

We are about to paint our hallways and stairs (2 flights and 2 1/2 hallways- see pics below).

I’d like to inject some colour but don’t want to darken an already dark space... was thinking of 2 tone (I’m a bit reluctant to reinstate the dado rail in our Edwardian house but I’d like a 2 tone line)...

I’m basically a greens and blues person... and fairly traditional...

I’ve been thinking a darkish blue or a taupe with a whiteish colour on top and white ceilings... we’ve got lots of wood on floors and doors... what do you think?

I also think bannister uprights white and tops varnished but what about stairs and skirtings? All the same colour as the wall or white too?

Any help much appreciated...

Featured Answer

louisesnichol
Original Author

6 years ago

Quick update... we went for Dulux Sea Urchin and dusted moss in the end but a brighter, lighter toned blue. It’s brighter than I expected it to be (bit of a shock initially!) but looks lovely in the sun and has jollyed up our hallway and stairs no end. I also like how it works with the wood. Colour happy, thank you so much for your advice- turns out I’m more into bright than F&B muted colours... and love the contrast with the original bannisters and hand rails.

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Comments (14)

louisesnichol
Original Author
6 years ago
These are some ideas...
louisesnichol
Original Author
6 years ago
Dulux colour match says Tuscan blue 2... would that suit with all the wood? And what’s a good ‘white’ to go with wood and blue/green?
Thanks!
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I have a hall way very similar to yours, when we moved in it was painted white. I presume the previous owner wanted to improve light levels. It had the reverse effect! It made the space seem gloomier which may be related to the front of the house being north facing, what direction does your house face as this may influence paint choices. I love colour but go neutral in a space like a hall way as it links all the rooms in the house and in Victorian houses is very difficult to decorate, ceiling heights etc. We used Farrow and Balls London stone as it remained a true neutral,,many other beige/greige had pink/ purple tones which showed in artificial light. I agree with the other comments about stripping the doors particularly if you do decide on white, it will provide contrast and warmth. You could paint a darker colour beneath the dado rail. I would suggest careful placement of mirrors to maximise/ steal light from other rooms. Also pictures with glass bring light to the area too. You could mount pictures on the stair case in line with the treads. I agree with the earlier comment about mounts and frames. I would go for a runner to show off your lovely stair case. Does the door to your kitchen/diner have a glass panel (s) in it, if not I would suggest adding one or two depending on the type of original door you have that will pull light in from that room. Good lighting will help too, it all depends on your personal preference, you could have pendants downstairs and spotlights upstairs. Good luck with it and hope you enjoy the process
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louisesnichol
Original Author
6 years ago
Anyone guess this colour?
A S
6 years ago
Farrow and ball, inaychra blue maybe??
rachelmidlands
6 years ago
Yep, definitely inchyra blue. https://www.houzz.co.uk/discussions/paint-colour-dsvw-vd~4689711
Juliet Docherty
6 years ago
Inchyra Blue is lovely but is very dark. You said you don't want to darken the space, Inchyra Blue would darken it a lot. Think about the tone you want and then decide on a colour, rather than the other way round. You could do lighter walls and darker woodwork.
PRO
SUN STUDIO.London - Glassworks and Prints
6 years ago
last modified: 6 years ago
Hi Louise,

Would you like to have backlit stairs? Recently, we have done something like this.

Let me know if you are interested so I can send you a free quote :)
louisesnichol
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks for the colour confirmation. It is pretty dark. Colourhappy-can i be dense and ask what you mean by tone?
louisesnichol
Original Author
6 years ago
I’m reluctant to paint the bannisters anything but white and varnish as that’s what they’ve always been and I like the smoothness of hundreds of hands touching them (it’s my grandmothers house and the house my mother was born in...) but am keen to paint the stairs. The bottom stairs currently have FB light blue on them which is nice but I was hoping to go a little darker without darkening too much- maybe Oval Room blue?
And my other question is about skirting boards- I’d be inclined to do them white but would that look strange on the stairs if I have painted stairs, white skirtings and then painted walls up to dado height?
Thanks again for help... painting really is the hardest bit...!
Juliet Docherty
6 years ago
Hello Louise, tone is how dark or light something is. There is the colour, there is the tone (how dark or light) then there is the 'brightness or dullness'. For example Pitch Blue is dark but quite bright, Inchyra Blue is dark and dull, Cromarty is light but dull etc etc. Anyway, Oval Room Blue does look lovely and works really well with wood.
louisesnichol
Original Author
6 years ago
Thanks- that’s very helpful! And makes a lot of sense. I do want a bit of brightness...
I quite like these dulux paints- sea urchin looks like a good middle ground between not too bright not too dull. Would you pair with a FB cabbage white or a more muted pinky white?
Juliet Docherty
6 years ago
You're welcome. The Sea Urchin does look nice, and seems to go well with Dusted Moss. I would avoid putting it with anything pinkish though.
louisesnichol
Original Author
6 years ago
Thank you colour happy. Invaluable advice as always. ☺️

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