topic Re: decorating question in Home

decorating question

151949 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 02:35:13 GMT

My new house is ALL neutral colors. Ivory walls ,porcelain tile dark wood color floors, ecru carpet with tufts of grey and beige in bedrooms , coffee color kitchen cabinets, BR counters are white quartz and kitchen counters are cream , brown in many shades, and also various shades of grey. So my question is - would you decorate with a lot of color or decorate in neutrals as well.When I watch decorating shows on HGTV I do not find the rooms they frequently do in almost all white to be attractive.

We are planning to take our oxblood color furniture but we can use it in DH's den if I want to go all neutral in the living room.

So what's your pick? neutral or color?

And - there is a door from our living room into our bedroom - should I decorate the bedroom in the same colors as the LR or make have it's own color story?When anyone sits in the LR they will be able to see right into the bedroom.

And - there is a cobe ceiling in the living room - it will have crown molding all around it - inside & out.The crown will be white. I was thinking of painting the ceiling in the cobe area a med gray then paint the sides a shade or two lighter grey - do you think that would look nice? I thought it would make it more of a feature and show the crown molding better.

Re: decorating question

Katcat1 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 02:40:28 GMT

@151949 You may get tired of the different shades on gray in the ceiling and I would prefer to leave it white. For the walls Benajim Moore has a beautiful white/gray shade called China White. I painted my living room and dining room in this color when I was maried and had a townhouse. It has a hint of gray in it and if you place white flowers in a vase next to it, it is totally beautiful. I like neutrals. If you want to add color in your living room or family room use throw pillows that would compliment what is already in existence.

Re: decorating question

KitTkat — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 03:00:03 GMT

I like color, personally. The good thing with neutrals is that it goes with a lot. You can add almost any color and get it to blend. Obviously it's your house to make into a beautiful home, so whatever is going to make you happy, but, adding some favorite colors might help the whole room less bland.

Re: decorating question

ECBG — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 03:08:57 GMT

Decorate in colors you find you love. You may want to look on Pinterest or google image for inspiration. Usually, redecorating goes on a 10 year rotation.

It is highly suggested that adjacent rooms flow into one another. You can carry the colors from one room to another by the use of accesories so every room doesn't look alike. On the color wheel, colors that touch each other are a match. When looking at a color wheel, think of all of the brights and darks like a paint chip. You can use all of those.

Yellow-green to yellow.

The color that is in every room of my house is red. I have a red couch in the great room, burgandy curtains in the dining room, red apples in the kitchen, a navy, cream, and red paisley quilt in the bedroom (although you would call the room navy and cream) and so on.

Re: decorating question

Kitlynn — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 03:06:46 GMT

I think picking one or two colors that you just love and makes you feel good to use as an accent color will warm it up and make it feel welcoming. To much neutrual can be sterile. I would do the bedroom in the color you want and wouldn't worry about tying it into the living room. They are two completely different areas. I would do the ceiling in the living room white and gray on the walls. If you do a darker ceiling it will bring the height down.

Re: decorating question

sidsmom — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 03:09:29 GMT

These are 2 good apps to help color swatch....

especially the ColorSmart app. HTH

Re: decorating question

GCR18 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 03:15:04 GMT

I prefer to decorate with neutrals and add a pop of color with pillows and curtains. They are easy enough to change out to give the room a different feel. I would use a complementary color in the bedroom, something that worked together. I prefer a white ceiling. If you like gray, go gray. It's only paint, so you can have it changed out.

Re: decorating question

Loveac — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 03:41:40 GMT

151949, we are in the same boat. I'm having a home built down the Jersey shore. I decided to go with neutrals throughout my house. I plan to add splashes of color thru accessories. Like u, i can see into the master bedroom from the living room. Not sure yet about paint colors. I will have dark wood floors and have picked out mostly ivory and cream colors. I like a warm look. Maybe we should keep each other posted about our decisions.

Re: decorating question

Kachina624 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 03:43:28 GMT

I think you can go overboard with neutrals. They are boring and reflect the owner's personalities as boring also. I dont know where all the gray suddenly came from but to me it looks institutional, like a government office building.

I'd use a lot of color in accessories, maybe a colorful area rug in the LR. Lots of colorful pillows and artwork. Please close the bedroom door when you have visitors.

Re: decorating question

ccassaday — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 03:50:51 GMT

I would find a pop of color and use it throughout the house. Our house is gray and white. There is some expresso stain throughout. My mom bought a navy rug and is going to pop it with red accents.

Re: decorating question

homedecor1 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 04:01:38 GMT

@151949

Your new home sounds beautiful and love that you chose "neutral" color pallet. Once you move your furniture, etc. in you'll be able to see what "colors" will blend. I like neutrals because you can add pops of color through accent pieces, etc.

I'm in the final phase of our home remodel. Today, I selected the flooring, paint, lighting. I stayed completely neutral on my paint choice but I need a accent wall in kitchen. (Right nowIt's a very light yellow - SW icey lemonade) I'd like to change it but my kitchen/den area is combined and I've decorated it around the French country decor & definitely needed a "pop of color" because it's a galley style with bay window eating area.

I've been going to a lot of model home open houses for the new developments being built in our area for ideas (next part is our bathroom updates) -- seems new designer colors are different variations of "grey" even the kitchens have white cabinets with accent cabinets of grey. But, then again these houses are huge! I don't know whose buying them but they are selling faster than they can build them!

🤞🏻🤞🏻your home sells fast. My friends just moved from Grand Paradiso to Island Walk (Venice). They built a coach home a year ago & hated it...so they moved into a single family home. I love that area: nice close beaches & lots of great stores to shop!

Re: decorating question

BirkiLady — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 07:03:17 GMT

@151949You seem to enjoy neutrals, but feel HGTV is telling you to do something else. Is this the reason for your question? Forget HGTV! Why don't you live with what makes you happy? If neutrals make you happy, live in a neutral home. If you like color add it with the window treatments, some original artwork, wool area rugs, and different textiles for added interest. A pretty wing back chair (or two) with a small/medium print or floral on the front and a solid on the back would add more color to your room. Would be lovely with your antiques. Think out of the box with buying your furniture and have it custom made for your new home. Such a chair could match drapes in LR & BR (if both windows face the same direction & are visable from the street) and/or the bedspread in the adjoining bedroom. Hope the bedroom has french doors for beauty; and agree they should be closed. Personally, I wouldn't mess with throw pillows ever for color. Far too many lovely ways to add color and texture without the same tired look.

Re: decorating question

NickNack — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 11:27:18 GMT

I love cove ceilings but think you'd be sorry if you painted it a medium gray. If you want gray, I'd go with the lightest shade from the swatch. I would also keep the door to your bedroom closed when you have company.

As far as colors or neutrals I would go with what you really love. I would put the oxblood furniture in your husband's den though, regardless of which way you go.

Re: decorating question

Gabidog — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 12:13:22 GMT

I love neutral backgrounds so I can add accent colors with florals, pillows, artwork. You mention oxblood furniture and I assume this is leather upholstery. Drape a neutral throw and add a few faux fur toss pillows and perhaps bring in a nice faux palm tree into the room for warmth. Your bedroom door should remain closed from the living room so you can do any accent in there you like. Too many HGTV shows have too much color, too much furniture, too many patterns. They used to have Sarah Richardson programs about decorating and not so much about demo and drainage issues and bad roof leaks. She offered some amazing designs. Fixer upper show seems to show designs with a lot of neutrals so maybe watch that for some ideas.

Re: decorating question

151949 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 14:10:27 GMT

Thanks everyone for your responses.

Re: decorating question

Regal Bee — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 15:31:47 GMT

@151949 Your home sounds lovely. I love neutral surfaces.

Having all neutrals allows you to be creative with your colors and also to change out things when you desire. Add color in pillows, decorative accents and smaller less expensive items.

Color can 'lock you in' with your creativity. Be careful with it.

Re: decorating question

CAMOGIRL — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 15:51:04 GMT

Just do not go too dark on the gray for the ceiling - perhaps a very pale gray to a pale gray - keep that height up there! - accented with the white. Or, just do all white and let the ceiling shape speak for itself.

For the bedroom, seeing you can see it from the living room - I would keep the color schemes similar - complimentary to each other - but nothing matchy matchy of course, they are two separate rooms.

I like to decorate with color. But, if one wants to brighten and lighten - use whites in decorative pieces and accents. Let’s say like a couch - I would never have a white one -of any shade is white - but I would do whites in the pillows and a few nice fluffy throws or in the pictures hanging on the walls and in the accents around the room.

Happy decorating 😀!

Re: decorating question

151949 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 16:48:36 GMT

@BirkiLady The other way around - i love color but feel the trend currently is white or neutrals.And seeing as how the builder's decorators chose a specifically neutral color theme I'm assuming that is how they intend you will go with it.

I'm not at all interested in trends, so that doesn't impress me at all , but I'm concerned that with everyting in this neutral tone my oxblood color furniture will look out of place.

Re: decorating question

151949 — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 16:59:09 GMT

@Loveac Our new home is also mostly ivory ( all the walls are ivory) and beiges to browns but the kitchen island is right in the middle of the house and there is a lot of grey in the granite. The pattern is not small but instead large swirls if greys and browns to beige, & creamy white. The window sills are large and are grey & white carrera marble too, so there is enough grey that I can use that color.

If I decide to put my oxblood furniture in the living room, then I'd like to get a grey rug and paint the cobe ceiling with some grey - I agree a lighter shade will be good.

Re: decorating question

Mominohio — Sat, 03 Feb 2018 17:14:02 GMT

These days, I prefer a neutral back drop for a home, in the walls, flooring, counters, and woods of cabinets, trim etc.

As others have stated, it allows for change over time, of the upholstered pieces and accent pieces and doesn't lock you in to any one area of color.

I like to accent color seasonally. Some people like to choose an accent color for some period of time (years), then completely change to another, or add something new to what they have.

That is easiest to do with true neutrals for the backdrop.

I have come to like grey in home decor in some circumstances, but I still don't think it mixes well with the brown family lighter shades that are considered neutrals. I think grey and white together are rich and a beautiful crisp look.

As others seem to be expressing, I'd be very concerned with a bedroom that is so visible from the living room. We have an upstairs, where all the bedrooms are, but with a split level home, and only five steps up to that level from the living room, one of our bedrooms is quite visible shortly after people walk into the main area of the living room.

It drives me nuts. I don't like seeing bedrooms from the formal living room, but it is what it is. I also hate closed doors, so that wouldn't be an option for me to just close the door when company was coming.

That bedroom that is seen from the living room in my home is given extra attention in the colors, style of decor, tidiness, arrangement of the furniture because of it's location and being viewed from the main area of the house.

Keep us posted as to what you decide and have fun doing it.