skip to main content

Paint Design Dilemma Living Rooms

A jiggle and a zhoosh... Living room colour and layout dilemma

Angela Postlethwaite

2 years ago

Hello, I am looking for some advice regarding paint colours and the layout of my living room.

As the pictures show, the lounge is currently painted in a pale grey with darker grey walls at either end of the room. I cannot bear the grey any longer and wish to create a warm but light space.

Initially we thought about painting the whole room pure white, but I think that may be a little stark. The room is south facing but there is limited light, so the opposite end of the room can be dark.

Some colour inspiration as well as placement if more than one colour is to be used would be very welcome.

Consideration also needs to be given to the opening to the kitchen and the colour needs to flow. The colour now is a grey/brown with mauve hue... I’ve not liked it since the moment it was done so am looking to change this also. Having the gloss kitchen with black sparkle floor i feel limits the options. I'd like to paint this white but am unsure if that will show the age of the cupboards if they have yellowed slightly? Unfortunately, a new kitchen isn't within budget.

The other dilemma I have is the layout of the room - am I maximising its potential or can fresh eyes see a benefit to having a different configuration?

I very much appreciate you taking the time to read my post and am grateful for any advice you may be able to give.

Featured Answer

Sonia

2 years ago

How about a dirty pink such as Setting Plaster or Calamine by Farrow & Ball?

First pic is Setting Plaster and second is Calamine.

Comments (12)

Angela Postlethwaite
Original Author
2 years ago
Thank you for taking the time to post.
They are beautiful colours! 😊
Related Discussions
Help with my living room
Q
Comments (791)
I've been thinking of you,Fragle - I remember those sleepless nights when the babies first came home and everyone was sleep deprived but life-as -always still had to go on, esp for Mommy. So happy for you that you have a 'good' baby, I love the name too:-)
...See More
Wood & tile floor transition
Q
Comments (7)
With the shape of the room and where you want to place the furniture there really isn’t a good place for a floor change. If you are dead set against wood flooring in the kitchen but like the look why not install wood look porcelain tiles. This might just be the answer you are looking for. They come in many different shades, colors and styles. Beautiful!
...See More
need help for my rectangular living room
Q
Comments (7)
Hi Emmeline. Have measured as best I could. The room is 9ft wide and 18ft long going right up to the bay window sill.Imagine you are standing in the doorway. The door opens inwards and to the left. The space between the open door frame and the wall perpendicular i.e. facing the bay window is approx 2ft. On that perpendicular wall are cubes for art work, a tv and a flat chrome edged gas fire. The fire is 1ft of the ground.. The cube unit is 2ft off the ground as is the tv. So not much space to play around with there. Still standing in the doorway on the wall to your right is a longish radiator. At a slight diaganonal opposite you is a window. Height from floor is 2ft6in. Length of window is 3ft Distance ofrom fire place wall to window is 8ft4in. . Distance from end of window to alcove wall of bay window is 3ft2in. There are two small alcove wall each 2ft6in in length. The bay window is a square shape rather than curved. The length is 4ft. Depth 3ft. Height 2ft.6in.from floor. We moved house recently so the furniture does not really fit the space. I would like to keep the sofa if possible. It is a standard shape with rounded arms and very comfortable. It is a 2 and 1/2 seater approx 5ft 8in long and 3ft high. In an ideal world I'd like 1920s 30s or mid century scandanavian. But would also like to keep the sofa. The only thing I can think of doing is put the sofa facing the fire and take it from there. What about a window seat which would also provide storage? If the sofa faces the fire what do I do with the rest of the room? Chair angled at small window... ottoman??? As for colours the room is painted chalk white. When you come in the front door ( 1930s with coloured glass) there is a curved polished plaster wall in burnt umber. So am thinking moss green, mustard i.e autumn colours a la Orla Kiely??? Many thanks
...See More
Win a design consultation at The permanent tsb Ideal Home Show!
Q
Comments (74)
Hello Houzz Ireland, We are currently renovating a 1960's build - so as you know, there is a lot of decisions to be made!! So it would be nice to get some gems of advice from the experts to help us through this daunting task. Areas where we would really like some inspiration for - small bathroom downstairs. I would really like to do something fun with this room and although small, I think it could work really well with some funky wallpaper or possibly tiles?! I'm just not sure what to do with it. Also - pulling a whole house together?! Where do we start? We have the bigger pieces of furniture but how do I know what nest of tables goes best with a suite? Or what accessories will bring a room together? I'm due a second baby in 2 weeks time so any help at this stage would be so amazing - to guide me on the right interior design path for our new house. Thanks, Laurie
...See More
Samantha Judge
2 years ago
I think something a little warmer (eg Purbeck Stone) would work well in here. Also a repositioning of furniture and pictures is all that is needed. Defining corners or dividing areas with a plant also works well
It’s a great room. I wish you luck 😊
Samantha Judge
2 years ago
Re furniture: try turning the sofa round so that it can sit away from the wall. Same with the wing backs- pull them away from the wall and towards each other more…..or even facing each other.
Change the storage bins in the low white unit and maybe paint that with your new wall colour too
Katrina B
2 years ago
Fine Sand along with White Sands from Homebase are lovely colours. I’ve used them both together in a west facing hallway so it’s brighter in the day as the only light is from a half moon glass on the door. I split the colours via a dado rail so Fine Sand at the top and White Sands at the bottom. Also used Fine Sand as a feature wall in a south facing bedroom with contemporary cream walls, the furniture is cream and antique brass.
Sophie
2 years ago
What a great space!

What about putting the dining table where the sofa currently is? Personally it would do my head in having to walk the length of the room to get from the kitchen to the table! The garden end then becomes a full width living area with the telly against either of the side walls.

In terms of colour, even just changing out some accessories could lift it e.g table cloth, paint the dining chairs and bar stools etc. Mind you, if the table moves to the other end the grey could still work with a monochrome kitchen/dining and then warmer colours for the living/family end of the room.
Sputnik
2 years ago
I agree, think pink! Not baby or bubblegum but plaster and even attar of roses. The warmth will subdue the monochrome elements while still appearing 'neutral'.
Barbara Smith
2 years ago
Think it would look nice if you had your sitting area where the dining table is now. Leave the grey walls they look really nice. Just change your accessories to a burnt orange/mustard/navy or pink any other colour than grey
HU-502480722
2 years ago
Firstly, you have a lovely space Angela. I had a similar dilemma with a north west facing living and dining room when i tired of off white everywhere. Ended up getting some great free advice from a designer in my local branch of J Lewis. Turned out some dark green paint and a few new cushions did just the trick. Love my spaces now. Good luck with your transformation.
Teena
2 years ago
Angela, your home is beautiful and has loads of potential. Why not pay a Designer a small amount to re-design or stage your home? I’m not sure where you live but Eye to Eye Interiors has an impeccable eye for color and she will also re-design using what you have.

My 2 cents, If you want to keep your metal stools at the kitchen window for seating, they pick up the surrounding color of the dining room and offer a great Segway into the kitchen where a light grey with a green hue (for the kitchen) would flow.
lolalola73
2 years ago
I think you’ve got a great space but it sounds as though it’s never quite worked for you or made you feel comfortable. You’re right to try & rethink it in that case. It looks like your tv is on a stand so you can try to reconfigure things on a trial basis relatively easily.

I would start with that first before touching the painting & changing colours. It looks as though the tv area is the darkest part of the room. I would make that the dining area & open up the long area at the back as the living room. The wingback chairs facing into the room is the wrong orientation. They should face each other with shelving & books close by to create a little comfy reading area. If the metal stools look too stark when the back area has the sofas placed there you could switch to fabric-backed stools to soften it.

I feel white would work in the kitchen - there are so many whites you can find one that matches the cupboards. The rest of the room could be tied together with pinks, greens & grey.
mrdanconnolly36
2 years ago
hi
i can see what you mean. our new extention created a dark end to a pretty bright North West facing room, i dubbed it the Josef Fritzel wing.
For me the issue is not the colour of your walls, it's the natural light distribution. Its a long dark tunnel at bottom end. What about adding a glass door and glass insert above the door frame at the dark end of the room.
Graded tones of any colour would work better being lighter at the darkest end of the room then working back from that.
We replaced all our internal doors with full length glass ones, ans got builders to increase even more by adding glass above door frames up to ceilings in 3 door ways. I estimate this added 15% more light into the room, and also adding a pkeasing dimention, in that as the sun moves around the house, it casts its light in key areas thru' the day.
Perhaps explore the possibility of a light well tube thingy in the ceiling that casts natural pools of light into the darker areas ( always better than artificial). Plants that favour shade and some low energy LED practical lights rather than in the ceiling might add some life to it as well.
One the light issue is sorted, the colours can be thought thru'

Sign Up to Comment

Sponsored

Reload the page to not see this specific ad anymore

More Discussions

basement level renovation would love ideas please

8

reconfiguring floor plan layout and would love help please

2

Interior Material Clash?

0

Interior Design Classes April to June 2024

0

Authentic Feng Shui Workshop

0

Ireland

Tailor my experience with cookies

Houzz uses cookies and similar technologies to personalise my experience, serve me relevant content, and improve Houzz products and services. By clicking ‘Accept’ I agree to this, as further described in the Houzz Cookie Policy. I can reject non-essential cookies by clicking ‘Manage Preferences’.