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Moving into my own place soon and really want to paint a little bit to avoid the all-white drab. I was thinking painting an accent wall in the living room and then painting the bathroom. Not an experienced painter and don't want to make things more difficult on myself than they need to be by painting everything.

I really would like to do an oceany-blue or green in the bathroom, and I'm not sure what color to do in the living room. The carpet is sort of a cream color, you could almost just call it white. The furniture I am looking at for the living room is dark brown, the finish is called 'dark tobacco'.

Basically, I am looking for advice on what color sofa and wall paint would match this furniture, and wondering if it needs to complement the bathroom color as well.

Thanks!

I understand why you want to add colour to your environment. However, an accent wall needs to be done in a purposeful way and most of the time they are not. If you want to paint your main living space, paint all of the walls. Dark brown and ocean blue are a good combination of warm and cool, dark and light. If you haven't purchased any furniture or accessories you should do that first. Then you can select your paint colour to compliment those things.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: SusanBradfordKent,

Definitely agree with Susan, pb. You're starting with a blank canvas. Always tempting to paint first b/c you avoid moving and/or covering furniture.

Instead, purchase your furniture first. It's far easier to match/coordinate paint colors with furniture, a rug, fabrics and other accessories than the other way around.

Best of luck and congratulations on your new home!

Welcome. Assuming you have permission from the landlord to paint, I agree that shopping for furniture first is the way to go. I also recommend that you keep your high ticket pieces such as a sofa neutral for greater scheme flexibility down the line. Bring color in in minimal ways such as pillows, an area rug, window treatments, etc.. Pull a color from the inspirational print that best suits the room's lighting, it's size, evokes the feel you seek and is in contrast to any wall positioned pieces. The print could come via an occasional chair or area rug. Even artwork can inspire your room scheme. Pillows and a throw will bring color/pattern/textural interest to the sofa.

The bathroom need not necessary follow your scheme unless in the case of it being viewed from the living room. Again, scheme inspiration there can come via a print source such as window treatment, shower curtain, art.

High contrast makes a space look smaller by directing your attention to one specific area (as opposed to letting your eye smoothly glide through the entire space). Accent walls are great in larger open concept spaces to focus your attention and anchor a furniture vignette. If your space is large and needs some scaling down, go for it. Otherwise it just winds up being a trendy mistake.

quote:

Originally posted by Charles D:
High contrast makes a space look smaller by directing your attention to one specific area (as opposed to letting your eye smoothly glide through the entire space). Accent walls are great in larger open concept spaces to focus your attention and anchor a furniture vignette. If your space is large and needs some scaling down, go for it. Otherwise it just winds up being a trendy mistake.

My thoughts exactly!

Another decorative element for your walls is temporary re-positionable wallpaper: http://www.apartmenttherapy.co...d-stick-wallp-153453

No advice for the living room, but consider bath mats/rugs and towel colors before selecting paint. In other words, don't pick a wall color and then can't find any towels and accessories to match the paint. Much easier to match paint to your accessories, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by Strings:
No advice for the living room, but consider bath mats/rugs and towel colors before selecting paint. In other words, don't pick a wall color and then can't find any towels and accessories to match the paint. Much easier to match paint to your accessories, etc.

I think this is very good general advise for any decorating project. These days most paint stores can analyze wallpaper or fabric and custom mix colors for the same price as one of their standards.Since paint can be any cclor possible,(which is not the case with carpets or ready made drapes) picking your paint first is really a mistake.

Since this is your first place, I want to encourage you to find a color inspiration for your entire place - if you can find a print fabric that you love the colors - each room can be different but the whole place can flow.

For an example of what color print fabric inspiration can do for a place, maybe check out young house love. Sherry used a print napkin with bold colors to help guide the whole house. You can see her process at their website by looking at http://www.younghouselove.com/...-of-a-lovely-napkin/
and then their current house link to get a sense of how this has played out in their paint colors.

Ocean blue is a tranquil and gorgeous tone - heading there will definitely set a serene mood. Hope the extended discussion over at Young House Love about color and how to select neutrals to support your plan will help you.

ps i agree about accent walls. Painting isn't rocket science, it is all about preparation / taping / cutting in - patience to do the job right, in other words. Look online for good tutorial since it is your first time. You will be glad you painted the whole space - it makes it feel clean and new. Good Luck!

Welcome...and congrats on your new place!!!

I've read that green in a bath is not complimentary to the skin, but if you're a guy the point in prob mute

Also consider where your natural light comes from. From north window light, warm colors are better and cool colors are good with south window light. I don't remember about east/west.