Natural Calico - Paint Ideas for Living Room

iandv

Hi

We are thinking of painting our living room in natural calico (it's just plain magnolia at the moment) but would like some advice/guidance from any experts here on a possible complimentary colour to natural calico that could be used on one wall which is what the fireplace is on

Many Thanks

missesther

Have you tried the Dulux website? It does a great job of showing contrasting and complimentary colours for each of their paint samples. My parents have Natural Calico by them and use a dark red to contrast. Looks stunning.

nickj_2

you could go for something like a mid chocolate brownish colour - something like cookie dough would be good https://www.dulux.co.uk/servlet/SiteAdvancedSearchHandler

Leif

Unfortunately the Dulux colours on the web site look nothing like the real thing, in part because most monitors are not calibrated, and in part because they do not use proper colour profiles. You can buy sampler pots of Dulux paint, so why not buy yourself a basktful of samplers, and get a piece of plasterboard, and then apply a coat of primer, to seal the board, then a couple of coats of each sampler to see how they go together? Dark red looks nice with Natural Calico, I have NC walls, and curtains with some dark red in them. I imagine because NC is so bland, you would want a strong colour to contrast with it. My neighbour has cream walls, and a feature wall which is a wallpaper with large dark red flowers on a cream background, it is very nice.

missesther

Leif wrote: »

My neighbour has cream walls, and a feature wall which is a wallpaper with large dark red flowers on a cream background, it is very nice.

Exactly, like my parents. You don't live near them by any chance, do you?

pandora205

I'm about to have my whole house repainted and have chosen Natural Calico for my bedroom (after lots of experimenting with sample pots). I have neutral colours for duvet, pale buttermilk curtains and pine/gold for furniture.

I'm basically a magnolia lover so this is adventurous for me! In my home the lounge/dining room and stairs will be repainted magnolia. Rather than have a contrasting wall, I have bold plain colours for furnishings and change them for summer and winter. My winter theme has burgundy taffeta curtains and a traditional Turkish rug (the sofas are ivory leather and floor oak); the summer has gold chenille curtains and a bright blue rug. The pictures are changed to reflect the seasons too - Trees and dark neutrals in winter, seascapes for summer. Cushion covers tone in with the themes too.

It's generally easier than repainting when I fancy a change. Oh, the other essential is lighting, lots of it and dimmable if possible, as this makes a huge difference to the atmosphere.

Leif

missesther wrote: »

Exactly, like my parents. You don't live near them by any chance, do you?

He lives on his own, his wife having died a few years ago, and he has two daughters, so I don't think so. I never knew it, but he told me that feature walls were popular in the 50's, so it's not a new fangled idea.

jellie

pandora205 wrote: »

Rather than have a contrasting wall, I have bold plain colours for furnishings and change them for summer and winter.

pandora205 wrote: »

The pictures are changed to reflect the seasons too - Trees and dark neutrals in winter, seascapes for summer. Cushion covers tone in with the themes too.

I do this too - most of the people I know think I'm barking mad. I think it's perfectly normal, and it stops me getting bored. It also means I don't have to decorate very often, as things are always changing and my room never gets tired.

My winter colour is red, summer is duck egg blue. Changeover day is when the clocks go forward/back.

missesther

I love that idea of changing things according to season - except that it would always be on a green note as I love green and have to stop myself decorating my whole house with different shades of it.

Leif - definitely not my parents Good to know others have such good taste also though

vivatifosi

I don't know about calico but thought I'd mention that my local Wilkos has a half price sale on Dulux paints at the moment, may be worth checking if you haven't bought yet. They mostly have silk but some matt. They have a lot of magnolia.

Eenymeeny

I've used Natural Calico with Dulux Overtly Olive on the 'big wall' of my staircase. Teamed with a lot of white and oak and patterned curtains. I like it...
Another one who likes to change with the seasons here. I normally change to lighter curtains but I'm hanging on to the thick ones at the moment!
(I find that green is a good basic, you can add warm or cooler colours according to the season)