This is part of my living room. It needs to be repainted….
Oh no not this again.
What color is your living room? Should I paint one wall a color other than white?
Painting a Living Room
Comments
52 responses to “Painting a Living Room”
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Do you want to know the color of the paint we chose (from Castorama) for our living room?
Champagne! -
Our ‘salon’ is an vert almond I guess you might say with white trim for the French windows and molding. We like it.
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You should drench your walls in color — a beautiful setting for all the jewels you find at the brocante. Visit an art gallery and see some of the colors they choose for their walls.
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When we bought our house, it had fabric covered panels ALL OVER – a living night mare…. When uncovering, we found wall paintings, worthy of a museum, from 1934…. divine. Where we had the wooden panels (without paintings), we uncovered them and because they looked terrible with the glue and rests of fabric, we had them sanded and painted a light and luminous ‘off white’ (although our French painter never got the notion of what ‘blanc cassé’ meant…. we went through umpteen samples before he got my idea!) – which looks subtly divine BUT now we have ‘tons’ of pictures we cannot hang…. aaah – there is always something!
I know that the English love to paint one wall in a strong colour (if they stop at one wall) and sometimes it felt to my Swiss taste quite overwhelming but it makes such a bold statement that really it’s up to the owner’s feelings…. You can always paint it again…. lol!!!!
Generally, white is always good (broken white that is, and NOT glossy, and better even, sort of lime washed (don’t get me there with my trials in France to get that…) because then the canvas is all yours to play around with colours and fabrics in your room. Amen! -
My living room is chocolate brown! I picked a color out of the fireplace bricks! I love it!
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Love that mirror, how beautiful. I think a soft dove color would love great with your vintage decor. We used a very sole pale green to accent our bedroom and it looks warm and invited. I believe it is Benjamin Moore’s Nantucket breeze.
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A soft buttery yellow with white trim. It is neutral enough to go with each of the curtain and slipcover changes I do thoughout the year.
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My whole house is white and I’m not sick of it yet. My last house was chock block full of different colored walls. I like the cool relaxed feeling I get from white but I know whatever you do, it will be beautiful.
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We finished our living room walls with a “European dry brush technique”. It is layer upon layer of color with each layer showing through and each layer becoming more complex as colors overlay. We began with a bright burnt butter color and ended with a top wash of creamy white.
I can see John Saladino’s sensational grey in your beautiful living room. -
I have seen this photo (or a similar one) on your blog before. I absolutely love it. Such a great snapshot of lovely French decor. I am a big fan of neutrals. Soft greens, yellows, browns. You want the walls to highlight your special pieces not take away from them. Although, I have to admit I am a sucker for bright walls done right, which is rare. Can’t wait to see what you decide, I know it will be beautiful.
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My whole house is white and I would love an accent wall somewhere in the house. The man of the house is stuck in the 70’s, yeek, and I love to decorate, so it’s a constant battle.
I am so in love with your home, all the antiques and all of your special touches. Big Sigh.
Champagne is such a beautiful color. -
I love the color white ideas, always, but I also draw from the real colors of the world, the color of wet sand, a river rock, the color of lichen on a tree branch, I have been know to take those items into the paint store and have them matched, I am never disappointed as those are the colors of nature. It will be lovely what ever you do.
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My living room is tabacco yellow. Kind of a Tuscan golden yellow, but not mustard.
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My living room is Dusty Miller – a kind of greyish-green color. Our windows (6 in all) are trimmed in white and the fireplace wall (one long wall) is old fashioned wide panel wainscotting that is stained a pecan color. I like it!
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I would love to see some color in the wall reflected by the mirror. I love mirrors, and this one pictured is exquisite.
Our livingroom is a greyish green that changes its tone as the day wears into night. This is an old house and the windows distort color in the most intriguing ways. We have one mirror above the fireplace, which reflects the wooded world outside and another positioned so that it brings in the gardens in the back. I, however, avoid seeing my reflection whenever possible. hahaha -
Check out Annie Sloan’s Chalk Paint….it is fabulous!! You’re sure to find just the right color(s). She’s touring the USA in March; we are having a demo and book signing at our shop, Serendipity. Can’t wait!!
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I’m getting ready to paint my house and I would love to have some color, but I just don’t think I can stray from white! Good luck picking a color!
Theresa
aka:TOT -
I like white. If you sealing is relatively high maybe you can consider a beautiful cornice.
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Our living room is goldenrod/mustard color on three walls with a darker accent wall where ther are lots of windows. The ceiling is pale yellow. Everyone says the room makes them feel happy and cozy.
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If Deb would let me, I would paint at least one wall maroon or dark blue. I love deep colors on walls but she is a “white” kind of girl.
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I just painted my dining room a color called Fleur de Sel by Sherwin Williams. It’s the softest blue gray, very pretty. It goes so well with white, I think you’d love it. I didn’t want the paint color to be the first thing you notice in the room, this is it.
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you should paint zero walls white. that is why we have colors. go bold. depth is beautiful on walls! what kind of paint stores do you have in France? are they local? or do you have to travel to get to them? are contractors abundant like here in the states?
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Corey,
So happy you asked! Hese’s the scoop and what I think you should do… When you posted the La Madone image, as you know I went nutz! Not only did I book my flight, I booked our stay in that room. That was not enough for me. Before I arrived, I craved that color. I had a beautiful gray lavender paint mixed and painted my work room in that color. I LOVE IT! When I say the real color LIVE it was the same as I painted. Match that for your living room!!! I think it will be heaven on earth! Your and Nathalies looks are so close. But to answer your question, My living room is pale grey blue, I am changing it to gray. Much love to you and I am forever grateful for you!
xxx’s -
Grey! And if not that trust yourself. You home is stunning and peacefully relaxing.
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When I ran out of walls to paint I decided to change the colors. My husband suggested that I sign up for an art class. So, I did. ‘Oil painting for the Serious Beginner’ My walls are a flat grey with a high gloss white trim. I am blessed to live in an old San Francisco building with such character. A perfect canvas with so much trim and antique hardware.
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My walls are boring old white. If I were to repaint I’d choose a soft steel blue, something relaxing and dreamy.
I like it when one wall is darker than all the rest, it adds depth and interest to the room. -
My whole house is Urban Putty even the celings, with almost white trim. I think the paint should be the canvas to show off what you put in or on it. IF YOU WANT TO ADD COLOR I WOULD ACCENT THE CELING. I agree a beautiful dove grey or soft grey blue would really show off your beautiful treasures. I had a client paint their celing Ralph Lauren Red as an accent and they loved it so much it is still that color 10 years later. They still get compliment on it. I am sure whatever color you pick will be wonderful.
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When I see a picture of your house, whether in a magazine or on your blog, the walls always look gray to me! Must be the light.
I have the ceilings painted a pale robin’s egg blue in 3 rooms and I never tire of it. -
Our living room is a warm yellow with a cream ceiling and warm rust colored curtains with hints of orange. In this coastal, damp and at times foggy neighborhood, anything warm and cheerful brightens my day!
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My first thought was gray and I see I am not the only one to think that. My living room is a very pale golden wheat color with white ceiling and mahogany wood window trim. It is very warm. A friend recently painted one wall a gorgeous red, very pretty.
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My living room is soft celedone on one wall and the rest of the walls are a pale butter cream. Floor is wood with a large Persian rug in the center.
I like color but have decided to add color with rugs, pillows, and furniture and of course my quilts. -
Our living room is a very pale blue that almost looks white in some lights….but I’m changing it to go better with our linen natural colored drapes. But I haven’t the faintest idea what color to paint it….so I understand your quandary and hope you’re able to find your perfect color!
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Mine is white, with accents of grey and blue. so…I totally dig your style!
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My living room is a butter color, with light green french doors.
My bedroom is an Ecru color, like muslin fabric. It reminds me of old plaster.
~elaine~ -
Like Elaine, we painted the bedroom and bathroom in our previous house butter yellow, which we found made them sunny and cheerful.
However, for living rooms we take the lead from museums, and choose white (or slightly-tinged off-white) so the walls won’t clash with whatever artworks one might wish to display. -
white is always great but I usually choose mango or blue navy or magenta for one wall 🙂
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Hmm, does the fact that your cranberry toile is no longer on your brocante mean that you’re using it as a colour swatch? Or just the season for such colour?
I like a navy/grey for an accent wall. -
my living room is a very pale golden color. (kind of a buttery yellow with a bit more golden).It has off-white trim. A friend that’s a decorator picked it for me, but I love white. Everything can go on a white wall, but not every piece of upholstry looks good with white. I also love the idea of grey. (not a dark grey). I am a terrible decorator, but you are wonderful one, so I know whatever you pick will be lovely !
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Ah . . . . I tried that about a year ago – mistake! One wall was a darker green than the others. No one liked it. Now they are all the same soft green — very restful!
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When I was a “blonde” I used to have a lot of warm colors in my home. As my hair color became whiter and my wardrobe colors became cooler, I discovered that my home’s interior colors also followed suit. My living room walls are a lovely silvery-grey. If I were to paint a wall, I would paint it a deep, inky, blue-black to highlight a collection of black and white photos taken by my son.
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I painted two of our living room walls dark orange and two green/grey/brown (depends on the light) before I moved into my fiance’s house. I was trying to be sensitive to taking over his “bachelor pad” and decorate in a manly fashion. That sensitivity has passed, and I would really like to repaint – light grey I think, or maybe teal. But then I remember how enormous those walls were the first time, and decide the current state is not so bad after all!
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My living room is a creamy pink, the color inside a beautiful conch shell. Guess who loves it the best? Men!! Every man who has come into the house loves the creamy pink walls. Isn’t that funny?
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We’re a light buttery yellow here. I love it.
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my living room is painted a light buttery yellow and i do love it so…
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I did about 4 different shades in my Liv. Rm. Took a heck of a long time to do, made me a bit mad in the process, but the result has such beauty and depth…everyone seems to love it…would not want to do it again though..it took 3 weeks of daily labor to do it. Happy Thanksgivng Corey and Co…
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It needs painting? Err? I can’t see any plaster dropping off or paint peeling? The patina and peeling effect is part and parcel of a stone house in the Med. You should see where I am sitting right now – paint bubbling up everywhere and I did my study one wall white, two walls variations of deep and creamy gold (to match unmatchable cement tiles!). I would make it a spring time project and give yourself a nice break till it really needs painting! ugg, you’ve reminded me of all the walls I really need to do!
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There are a lot of butter coloured sitting rooms out there ! My sitting room is in a taupey shade called biscuit. I have one dark red wall. The curtains are in a deep red toile with a tea stained coloured base which pulls it together. I adore the greys but with the lack of beautiful Provencal light here the biscuity shades are a little kinder. I wouldn’t do the the red if I was starting now but Keith loves it, he needs a lift from all the neutrals. Your interior does not need a coloured wall in my view, perhaps just a touch more grey on one wall – yes that should do it ! My luv, Jx
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Love this picture, it must be a favorite focal point for you…also enjoyed reading others lovely L/R scenarios.
My ENTIRE house is painted in Khaki color with a sage green, it looks like taupe, suede, even a little chocolate sometimes, as it changes with the light, it accompanies deep reds and flows well with antiques and very wide glossy white moldings everywhere. I thought I would tire of it, but the high ceilings invite the stability. It has blended in with everything…a sort of risky dark, but neutral color! Cognac silky heavy curtains with panels of just a hint of robin egg lift the seriousness a bit. -
Still in love with your bathroom wall color. I painted my dining room ceiling a soft aqua. I was in love with these gorgeous oversized plates (Vietri’s Sorrento) and loved my neutral walls. The ceiling changes with the outside light and candlelight. Very subtle and magical. Good Luck!
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Alas, my living room remains unpainted. I chose the wrong color for the kitchen/dining area (too green) and it is connected to the living room, so it must be repainted before I can move on to the living area. Of course, hubby does not understand. I’m stuck! Two blogs devoted to color in home decor that I love are: colourmehappyblog.blogspot.com
and blog.bossycolor.com. -
I have a HUGE problem with blue and white — my kitchen and bedroom is butter yellow (which goes great with all my b/w china — and toile in the bedroom. My livingroom is a super light blue which again goes well with all the b/w. My TV room is a soft robins egg blue which goes with all my vintage florals in there.
Although I just bought a can of paint to redo the TV room since I got a new sofa and chair that my husband said I must get because he was tired of setting on antique chairs that were tiny/feminine. So the urge to paint the livingroom/diningroom is really taking me over and I want to do it before the tree/xmas decorations go up. Either a very light/creme yellow or the light blue on the ceiling with off white walls — can’t decide.
I LOVE newly painted walls!
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Hi Victoria,
I feel you pain when you wrote: “I got a new sofa and chair that my husband said I must get because he was tired of setting on antique chairs that were tiny/feminine. ”
Does that mean not-practical? I have that problem. I have plenty of chairs, but not a one is comfortable.
C -
This may sound dreary….but bear with me…a deep taupe…sort of a putty shade. We just purchased a home with this very shade already painted in the living room – deeper yet in the kitchen…. and my first inclination was to lighten it up with white. Not anymore. It’s a beautiful backdrop for furniture and silver. Try it and see.
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