I want to repaint my living room!!!

Hello my living room has been white for years. I have a blue variegated carpet and the furniture is maroon. I was thinking about making an accent wall also, but what colors do you suggest? I have been racking my brain for some time now. Please help!!

I started taking courses in interior design, but quit to be a mom. I have done my whole house, and helped family members with theirs. I have found that neutral colors are best. Can you do a beige base color with some accent/art pieces in those colors? You could always do one wall in wallpaper, or a different color. Also, add drapes for a little texture. You could do them boldly if you go with a lighter, more neutral wall color. That way if you need new furniture later on, you dont have to paint again!
Also, take your time, go through magazines and cut out what you like.

I have gotten paint samples, and taped them to the walls for weeks before deciding for sure.

Good luck! Have fun!

Hi there, Patricia!

In 2006 I renovated my entire house...from flooring to walls to the outside paint and look of my home. It was quite a job - basically moving out to get it done, then move back in.
I went around to a lot of "model" homes to look at the latest in design and decor and looked through tons of magazines, and went through the flea market and some art stores, searching for "my style." What it all boiled down to, was looking within to what made me feel good and what did I want to look at every day. I also gave thought to "what if I decide to move or sell this house in a couple of years, what would make it sell faster than someone else's home?" (Go to the paint section of Lowe's and Home Depot and look through all the color choices.)
That brought me to painting in 3 different shades of a neutral, yet modern, color...in different ways of accenting those colors. I then added different paintings and accents - like pillows and knick-knacks - to "spice up" what I had painted and to give my furnishings a new look. (You can find some amazing deals at the flea market and Dockside Imports and Pier 1 Imports!) Go with a look that makes you feel good and is warm and inviting to your family and friends. When you are done, it should say "This is Patricia and Family."
You might also want to go to the library or Books-a-million or Barnes and Noble and look through some feng shui books. You'd be amazed and the energy you can generate from having your home and surroundings "balanced" to feel right...this has been proven many, many times, too.
Good luck!!
Mary Ann
P.S. If you want to have someone else paint for you, I've got the name and number of the best home painter I've ever worked with!! He's honest, fair and friendly...along with being a perfectionist!!

A beautiful color would be a redish brown accent wall and a very much lighter version of that color for the rest of the walls. Don't be afraid to experience with colors either.Go to Home Depot or where-ever and pick up swatches. With the blue carpet .....and the marroon furniture a redish brown ( not too red...more brown....) would look great.
Good Luck and have fun!

a medium taupe would be nice!

I think a beige with pinkish tones might look nice. If you go to www.behr.com and look for the color "Sweet Breeze" (number 710-A), I think that might work :-)

Good luck!

Hi Patricia,

WOWZERS, it sounds like you have your hands FULL! I am studying Interior Design and have tons of experience with residential decorating. If you would like to meet I could help you in your designs for a small fee to get my business started. It's hard to say what color without seeing the space, but I would suggest going pretty neutral like tan to not combat the existing colors you already have! Feel free to email me if you would like to chat! [email protected] Thanks, Christy

Hello Patricia! I have degrees in Interior Design and Architecture and have practiced Design for 9 years. Don't be afraid to paint some fun into your room. It is only paint after all and can always be painted over if you don't like it. I would suggest a gold town to keep your room warm since it is a space that should invoke coziness and cuddling. Of course I am assuming that the blue is more of a navy. If it borders on a teal (blue/green) color than I would suggest a lighter shade of yellow to soften the maroon. You could use a darker beige (be sure to stay in the brown tones not pinky beige)and give the room a more nautical feel. You could bring in pillows that have all three colors in them to tie the room together. Have fun with the color, you only live once!

Tans/beige/browns will go very nicely and even green-like olive type greens. I have a great room (living/dining combo) w/ a brick colored couch with tan carpet, royal blue accents around the dining area, "chocolate" walls - it's actually called belgian semisweet I think, with a deep red accent color on my plant shelf. They all look really good together and I get lots of compliments. I went to home depot and brought back tons of color swatches and just hold them up to everything. You can do it yourself!! :) It's fun!!

If it was me,I would take a good photo of my living room that catches the color of your carpet and furniture since you have two dominate contrasting colors. Then download the picture and print it before you go to a home improvement store. You will also need to know the dimensions of your room and the measurements of the wall you would like to accent. There are so many choices in wallpaper that would make a nice compliment to your room. My den is paneled with a golden shade wood except for one wall that is sheet rock. I have an area carpet of native design that has, cream,mauve,and a darker sort of tourquoise shade in it. My furniture is patterned with greys, mauve, cream and light blue. I found a mottled wall paper with the same muted colors of mauve, beige and blues. It looks great. I would hold your picture up to paint samples to see what compliments the 2 colors.An off white with a mauve tinge or bluish tinge might look well with your color sceem or maybe a lt beige. I would chose as nuetral a color as possible and then look for some wall paper that has bolder colors to comliment your carpet and sofa. Pale grey though it sounds yucky would also go well with your colors. With these muted wall colors you can change your drapes and accent pillows at any time for a new look. Good luck.

Patricia,

I am a Home Interiors Decorating Consultant.

The largest items that you have in the room are bold colors, maroon and blue, I would recommend a neutral color. I looked at my color wheel for a complementary color for the blue carpet and variations of tan are its complimentary color and since that is the largest area in the room I think that would work well with both colors. If you were looking for a more dramatic effect, consider some type of marbling treatment with two shades of tan on the wall or painting your base boards an off white or lighter color tan.

In addition, consider adding neutral pillows and accessories to the room to tie it all together.

If you would like to check out some accessories, here is my website,y ou can shop via the web, and I can ship throughout the United States.

www.homeinteriors.com/carleecolonneso

Good Luck!!!

if you want to go for the southwest look, your almost there, make your accent wall like a real light orange color.......

Hi Patricia!

Give me a call. I'm an interior design consultant/faux painter. If you live locally (Wesley Chapel, Fl) I can come by and take a look. There is no way to give you an answer to your problem without seeing in person. You can send a photo if you are too far away. It's safe to say without looking that you need something neutral on your walls, such as an off white but maybe we can get into a color if I had some visuals. 813-431-5113 or e-mail [email protected]. Marie S.

I would use a neutral color. khaki would be a nice choice. For your accent wall you can use a darker shade of khaki on the color chart.

I would love to thank all of the responses that i got, they were all very helpful. I went with the color cider toddy for the main color and burnt clay for the accent color. I think it turned out very nice i get a lot of compliments on the colors. Thank you all very much. Now the next project is my bathrooms!!!