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...and I'm still not happy! For Xmas I got 2 new barstools that are upholstered in "peacock" (teal). They sit at a pass-thru to the kitchen which is (now) chocolate brown. The former boyfriend insisted I paint the living/dining room "mint" to go w/the chairs. Unfortunately his idea of mint and mine are different. First color looked like robin's egg blue (Valspar Sparkling Lake), second was too light (Valspar Sparkling Sage) and now the third is too green (Valspar Lyndhurst Shady Green). I'm seriously considering going with a warm beige and painting the wall where the chairs and the arched pass-thru are some sort of blue-green, but I'm afraid I'll be bored (the original wall color was a medium sage-y green-Ace Greenbriar). The room is rectangular, has french doors and a window to the east and gets morning sun only. Colors tend to change
dramatically as the day goes on. Can anyone help me decide on a color scheme? I'm seriously driving myself crazy and I'm going broke buying paint =( Many thanks!!

Side note: I would like to add pops of color with pillows, art, etc. in lime green and maybe a tiny bit of orange.

Photos would be helpful, makeit.

Sounds like you have some good ideas. If you go with a neutral base, your various colors will stand out. And, you can change them easily as your taste/style changes over time. In addition, the neutrals may help with the changing natural light throughout the day.

Instead of painting the arched pass-through in a blue-green, I would probably go neutral there also but paint some version of the teal (from your chairs) on an opposite accent wall to repeat that color around the room. Would also add a teal throw or at least one other accessory.

Sounds like a nice, pleasant room! It's all JMHO and best of luck -

Thank you for your suggestions. I'm attaching a photo.Please disregard the paint chips and general disarray--it's a work in progress! The rug is being replaced with a zebra print in brown tones.

Looks and sounds like you're off to a great start, makeit! Is your style contemporary?

Can't see the kitchen's chocolate too well but it appears to possibly be a dark taupe? Might be nice to select a lighter, brownish (instead of grey) taupe for your liv/dr, moving down the paint chip.

WRT the teal wall - same recommendation (previous post). Am hoping you have an opposite wall from the pass-through w/no windows or doors to set-up as a focal wall.

IMHO a couple of orange accessories in your kitchen and an updated, contemporary light would make a huge difference, too.

Can see what you mean about the previous color - mint's tough. And, many people associate it with toothpaste, unfortunately.

If you have a chance to post more pics, moving around the room - that'd be great.

It's all JMHO and best of luck!

Here are a couple more pics. One is the opposite side of the room (french doors), the other shows an open entry to a hallway.

The colors are a little off. The kitchen paint is darker than it looks, slightly darker than milk chocolate (Valspar Gypsy Leather). The new backsplash is varying tones of cream and beige-y taupe and we scattered sea green glass tiles in place of some of the squares.

I live in AZ and I'm not a fan of the heavy Mexican furniture, but I'm stuck with a couple of pieces. Can't afford to replace right now. My goal is to update to a more modern decor but I have to do it in stages.

Sorry, apparently can't add more than one photo at a time.

North wall w/opening to hallway

Very nice spaces!

So, it appears you have a long, narrow room. And the 4th wall contains the window? Feels a little small in the photos.

To enlarge the space, I'd keep the paint on the monochromatic side. Assuming the taupe in your backsplash coordinates well with the kitchen's chocolate, I would carry a tile sample to the paint store and ask them to match it. If it's too dark, they can find something in that paint chip on the lighter side.

Will need to consider the hallway color, floor tile and any other finishes, too. Did you paint the hallway, BTW? It'd be good to carry a paint chip of it along plus the floor tile, etc.

Don't see an obvious focal wall and again, would go monochromatic. Would definitely repeat the chocolate from the kitchen, however. For example, you might consider painting the post/area above the f/p (up to the crown) in taupe but paint the mantel with the Valspar chocolate (or a color match of it). That way, the f/p is enhanced as the focal point of the room.

I know what you mean about the SW style. Looks like you're changing it out, however. To make the dining chairs slightly less rustic, you might either make or have made some chocolate cushions in some type of crushed velveteen or similar fabric to your barstools. BTW, what material is the bar? Same as your kitchen counter?

You can bring in your other colors through accessories, as previously discussed. Don't know what your mirror's reflecting from over the couch. Is it necessary? Might be cool to remove those items and replace them with a long, narrow canvas, including all your colors to bring the spaces together. If you're interested, there are easy ways to DIY that.

Any plans to replace the lr rug? That's another place to possibly bring in your colors and unify the spaces.

After you do the paint and accessories, I believe you'd get the most bang for your buck by upgrading the lighting.

Looks like you're on your way! Definitely agree with you about eliminating the mint. Let us all know how it goes - hopefully with follow-up photos!

It's all JMHO, best of luck to you.

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

Oops...I erased my browsing history and it's taken me a couple days to find this again. Thank you so much for your suggestions. I will post photos when I've finally gotten the colors right.

I do plan to replace the rug in the lvg rm, along with the pillows, throw, and now, since you mentioned it, the wall decor above the sofa. I'd love some new furniture, but all in due time.

The first "rule" of decorating is "build from the carpet", wall color comes last.

Upload a photo of your living room to the Microsoft accessory: the program Paint. Use the coloring tools to paint the room (much cheaper and easier). I have done this several times using our wool rug colors to decide on the colors on the wall. Save each paint design you try.

Finally, place the pics of the chair you have and put it in each saved room to see which colors YOU prefer.

I've made slip covers for our pillow so they can change throughout the year.

My husband is very thankful that I do it this way instead of painting and repainting.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: trish212,

Just so you know, makeit, one of the main reasons I suggested repeating the chocolate was the brown/chocolate zebra print rug you mentioned, assuming that was your inspiration piece and that you'd already coordinated it with your kitchen.

In general, we do try to begin with the rug, fabrics or other inspiration item(s). Always much easier to match the paint last then the other way around -

Good Luck!