IKEA catalogue page 88...

deejaybee

Can see that most replies are negative ( but constructive, thanks ) about the potential colour, so I am going to step back and have a rethink. :T

Definitely want the room to look "striking" though, whatever that means

Back to looking at houzz etc :cool:

[Deleted User]

Bit late to the thread, but here are my thoughts.

We have had purple, red, blue and pink walls before now. I am not talking pale shades, but bright, bright colours. The pink was a hot pink dining room.

It takes more coats to get a decent finish with darker colours. Any imperfections in the plaster show up more. If you scratch, or mark the paint then it shows up clearly. Also, when re-painting in a new colour you are going to need several coats to cover the darker colour. Our fountain pen, ink blue bathroom was great, but not when it took five coats of paint to finally cover the colour. This was with very, good quality paint too. The changing light during the day will change the look of the room dramatically. Our purple living room was amazing in the evening but a bit odd in bright sunlight.

Bold colours look great, but they are hard work to maintain.

pollypenny

Dark blue and dark brown! :eek:

Maybe grey sofas , but think again.

pinkteapot

Agree with pollypenny - could look great with light grey or cream sofas, but dark blue and dark brown? Yikes!

Why don't you start by painting one wall in that colour? I know feature walls are a bit 90s but you can still do it. Then, if you like it, you can paint the rest. If you don't, it's only one wall to try and cover!

More pics of dark blue lounges:

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=navy+blue+room+paint&rlz=1C1EODB_enGB522GB522&es_sm=93&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=VeJxU77UMsmr7AbLxYD4Cw&ved=0CAgQ_AUoAQ&biw=1920&bih=995#q=navy+blue+lounge+decor&tbm=isch&imgdii=_

Looks good if you have huge windows, or lots and lots of pictures on the wall (so not too much of the colour is visible). You will notice a lack of dark brown sofas in these images.

deejaybee

Lol you are right pinkteapot - distinct lack of brown sofas in the pics

Oh well back to the drawing board, thanks for all the feedback folks :T

I need a design guru who will say " right with this size room, this daylight direction, this existing furniture, you need X Y and Z "

Whats the tel no for 30 minute makeover ?

andrewf75

would generally always go for light coloured walls, but dark "feature walls" can look good

AnnieO1234

Lining paper can be a godsend, paint your dark colour over it and when it comes time to change the colour just get the paper off the wall.

Have you thought of a feature wall in the colour you desire? Rather than the entire room? I agree with PPs that it could look very dark and cold. Yellows and golds seem to lend a nice balance with dark blue but to be honest the only houses I've ever seen it in recently (post changing rooms mid nineties) have been owned by goths, or people that haven't updated in decades.

Xx

londonlydia

My bedroom is dark blue, and I love it. The trick is to use it with light floor coverings and furniture. If you do that, you can make the space actually look larger. Now before people say that's rubbish, dark colours make things look smaller, try putting something light on a dark background. The light object looks closer. Dark blue is very in fashion right now due to the coastal trend, so the interior mags are full of it and its a focus colour of all the leading interior shops (next home, John lewis, asda home etc).

I do agree that most people expect to see light colours when buying though. Magnolia is a bit old fashioned/ twee now though, so if you want a light colour go for white, pale grey, pale pistachio or more earthy colours.

pimento

andrewf75 wrote: »

would generally always go for light coloured walls, but dark "feature walls" can look good

Yes, I agree. My front room is painted Dulux buttermilk. One long wall is painted a shade or two darker, a kind of ochre colour. You wouldn't immediately realise that one wall is slightly darker but it does give some definition. I then have two red leather setees and a red patterned rug. (I rather like red.)

If I ever fancy a change, it would be easy to do it without re-painting the walls.

londonlydia

Here you go, quick pic of bedroom (taken at night). Very similar colour I think...