Living room colours - help please!

2 years ago

Hi all,
I'm having a real dilemma with what colour/s to paint my living room accent wall. We started painting it but I decided even before it had been completely finished that I wasn't keen on the combination of colours. I would love to know what you think and what advice you have, as my husband is colour blind and therefore can't really help!
The other three walls of the room are in Dulux Timeless (a very light grey). I wanted some darker grey on the feature wall to tie in with our sofa (this is F&B Plummett) and we thought navy (F&B Stiffkey Blue) on the chimney would make it more interesting and work well with our yellow armchairs, but I'm not convinced. It all looks a bit gloomy to me. I think I'd like it more if the chimney was in a lighter colour, but I don't think that would make the fireplace and beam look as good... We'll be changing the blind once all the rest is done, so don't need to consider that.
Honest opinions needed please! What would you do?

Featured Answer

Sonia

2 years ago

Timeless is more of a cream than a grey, but a really nice neutral. Looking at your room I think you have one colour too many. I would continue the navy into the two alcoves over the grey and it should (I hope!) sit better with the Timeless.

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Comments (15)

Lucy S
Original Author
2 years ago
Lucy S
Original Author
2 years ago
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Ah, can't be sure, but it looks a lot like F&B Pitch Blue. Keep in mind that colours that you see online will most probably look very different in your home, because the light will be different. Also, photos are almost always manipulated, and all screens will give a slightly different image, so even if they mention which paint they've used, it might look different in real life. Best thing is to try a couple of colours out in your room, not smaller than A4 size really, to get a good idea of how it will look. Good luck
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It depends on what else you have in the room, the sofa colours etc. It looks to be a really nice room with some lovely features. Personally, I wouldn't paint it all a blue or a dark colour as East facing rooms can be gloomy on an afternoon. Have a look on instagram, there is a total shift away from dark interiors towards more neutral warmer ones. Not that this matters, but perhaps a year of lockdown has made a difference to what people want to live with.
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cavgirl
2 years ago
I think maybe the issue is that the grey in the alcoves is a similar intensity to the blue chimney breast, which confuses the eye a little. The easiest thing to do might be to paint the alcoves a slightly deeper shade of the wall colour, but still keep it light. That way the lovely blue with the stove etc would have the focus it deserves.

Alternatively, replace the clock on the chimney breast will something bolder. You’ve a lot going on on the shelves on either side, and that clock (is it a clock) is almost disappearing. Personally I’d also be tempted to reduce things on the the top shelf, maybe use it for small paperbacks or smaller ornaments. It’s a lovely room!
minnie101
2 years ago
I think I’d try something in the elephants breath family like DoVe Tale, Charleston Gray, London Clay etc.i think I’d limit it to the 2 wall colours though as you’ve also got white on the woodwork and ceilings. You also have the shelves so the fire should still remain the feature or just go dark in the alcoves to hide the tv.
Sarah U-S
2 years ago
I think the issue is that you have two “feature” colours that are battling each other. What colour are the other walls and the woodwork?

I like the blue - so if it was me, I would ditch the grey and paint the alcoves white (or whatever colour the shelves are).

Also - what colour are the sides of the chimney breast? I would paint them blue to match the front of the chimney.
Rachael P
2 years ago
I agree with some of the above. I love the colour of the chimney breast and would be tempted to continue that into the alcoves or keep alcoves lighter to make the more navy tone pop
Juliet Docherty
2 years ago
Timeless reads as a white but it does feel a little cool in rooms that aren't particularly light. The carpet and sofa look to me like the Skimming Stone, Elephant's Breath, Charleston Grey, London Clay colours may have been a good fit (as Minnie suggested). I also agree that alcoves dark, the rest light.
Lucy S
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you so much for all your suggestions! Really appreciate it. I completely agree the issue is too many colours and the competing grey/blue accents. We're going to keep the blue and now just have to decide whether to put it across the alcoves too or to lighten them up a bit instead. I think either option would help a lot. The pics above are lovely and make me think maybe I should be bold and go for blue across all of it! Also agree the clock needs to be changed - husband seems very attached to it so this might be a challenge!
David camera
2 years ago
It think it's a beautiful room but personally I will prefer the green light to be at the front wall, where the mirror is.
Mad About the house
2 years ago
Lovely room, the blue works well on the chimney breast as its very vibrant and fresh looking, i think the other two walls would look great painted in the same colour.
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The Living House
2 years ago
You have chosen lovely colours for your room, just too many of them. Have you considered painting the alcoves in the dark blue and also the shelves inside them too? When you paint the walls and shelves you will find the items placed here pop against the dark background really well.
Sophie O
2 years ago
Love the blue! Love the idea above of also painting the alcoves AND the shelves the blue - that would look very sleek. Alternatively if that is too dark I'd stick with a neutral white for the alcoves, and consider how the balance of the room may evolve over time (ie potentially competing colours coming from the chairs and yellow blinds).

Also agree some artwork (or a mirror?) above the amazing fireplace would look fab!
tamp75
2 years ago
I agree with painting the alcoves too as it will help to ‘hide’ the tv. We had a similar issue with our snug (with a v similar fireplace) where we painted one wall in Stiffkey blue & couldn’t find a neutral to go with it. We did paint the other walls an off white but a few months later ended up painting the whole room in Stiffkey blue.
Vicky Pow
2 years ago
Hi Lucy did you decide what to do with your alcoves? I second the suggestions to make them dark, we’ve just done our chimney and alcoves dark green and love the moody feel. Agree that it makes the tv disappear too!
We’re going to pick a mirror up today and possibly put the floating shelf back on

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Lucy SOriginal Author

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