Choosing paint colour

SaintJudy

Soot2006 said:

I painted a darkish room with Dulux "Perfectly Taupe" ... it has a warm lilac undertone (I found this out via all the complaints of it in reviews - sounded perfect to me) and has really warmed up the room which used to be a pale blue. I then used online resources to get the best curtains to complement the walls and I am delighted! The room used to feel quite cold and dark, and smaller too. Now it's super welcoming. It was the first time I *REALLY* made an effort for colour choice, and now I'm all about that!

When I first saw it on Rightmove and then came to view my flat I really liked that walls were a very gentle lilac colour. When I moved in the previous owner left me the leftover paint and I was surprised to see it was called 'Perfectly Taupe', I honestly thought it was lilac! It's a lovely colour but I've redone the living room now. I was happy enough to live with it for a while but ultimately wanted to put my own stamp on the place

Rosa_Damascena

I quite like Sulking Room Rose 295 with white trims - but then I like to give north facing rooms a bit of drama!

greensalad

I am personally a big fan of making small rooms look small. Especially in a bedroom. There are rooms which deserves to look light and airy (living rooms, kitchens) but in my opinion there is no use battling a small room trying to make it look bigger. Paint it in a mid or dark tone and make it feel like a cozy cave! 

For a bedroom I would go for a restful colour so a deep blue or dark red. Something like Russian Turquoise or Sunset Rose. Bold colours with a dusty, relaxing hue which also pair well with light and bright plain bedding. 

stevoh

Rosa_Damascena said:

I quite like Sulking Room Rose 295 with white trims - but then I like to give north facing rooms a bit of drama!

That’s a nice one and I think they reference it on the farrow and ball site for north facing rooms. We had the walls skimmed and when it was drying it went to a colour not a million miles away from that. It made the room feel really small, but otherwise it’s a nice option 

stevoh

greensalad said:

I am personally a big fan of making small rooms look small. Especially in a bedroom. There are rooms which deserves to look light and airy (living rooms, kitchens) but in my opinion there is no use battling a small room trying to make it look bigger. Paint it in a mid or dark tone and make it feel like a cozy cave! 

For a bedroom I would go for a restful colour so a deep blue or dark red. Something like Russian Turquoise or Sunset Rose. Bold colours with a dusty, relaxing hue which also pair well with light and bright plain bedding. 

Would you thinking apply more to a house with a single small bedroom? We only live in a 2 bed flat so want the place to feel as spacious as possible (especially when we come to sell it)

Bendy_House

Soot2006 said:

I painted a darkish room with Dulux "Perfectly Taupe" ... it has a warm lilac undertone (I found this out via all the complaints of it in reviews - sounded perfect to me) and has really warmed up the room which used to be a pale blue. I then used online resources to get the best curtains to complement the walls and I am delighted! The room used to feel quite cold and dark, and smaller too. Now it's super welcoming. It was the first time I *REALLY* made an effort for colour choice, and now I'm all about that!

Hi Soot. May I ask what colour the curtains were? Thanks.

Rosa_Damascena

If it's a small room you don't want to "shrink" why not try Light & Fluffy? My mum picked the colour for my bedroom (south facing) and hers (north facing). It looks darker than the sample suggests but looks good with Brilliant White trims.

I gave her the task of choosing colours for my refurb as I painted my previous conservatory a vivid green to offer a garden feel and she had plenty to say about it. Mainly sentences including the word "claustrophobia".

greensalad

stevoh said:

greensalad said:

I am personally a big fan of making small rooms look small. Especially in a bedroom. There are rooms which deserves to look light and airy (living rooms, kitchens) but in my opinion there is no use battling a small room trying to make it look bigger. Paint it in a mid or dark tone and make it feel like a cozy cave! 

For a bedroom I would go for a restful colour so a deep blue or dark red. Something like Russian Turquoise or Sunset Rose. Bold colours with a dusty, relaxing hue which also pair well with light and bright plain bedding. 

Would you thinking apply more to a house with a single small bedroom? We only live in a 2 bed flat so want the place to feel as spacious as possible (especially when we come to sell it)

I guess I just think if it’s not a spacious room no amount of paint is going to invent square metres. 

If you are worried about selling just paint it all over white when you list it. I couldn’t imagine living somewhere not how I want it just because of a possible future sale that might not even happen any time soon. Paint is one of the easiest things to change and white paint is cheap.

badger09

Soot2006 said:

I painted a darkish room with Dulux "Perfectly Taupe" ... it has a warm lilac undertone (I found this out via all the complaints of it in reviews - sounded perfect to me) and has really warmed up the room which used to be a pale blue. I then used online resources to get the best curtains to complement the walls and I am delighted! The room used to feel quite cold and dark, and smaller too. Now it's super welcoming. It was the first time I *REALLY* made an effort for colour choice, and now I'm all about that!

I’ve used something very similar Dulux Mellow Mocha in a north facing study in our last home. Neutral but not bland, warm, & very easy to choose curtains, bedding etc to tone or contrast.

We’ve inherited Dulux Soft Truffle in our south facing kitchen diner. It’s very similar in tone but ‘deeper’ so would work if you wanted a bit more ‘oomph’. 

Good luck