Dumb painting question

&d&m&y

OK, after nearly two years in this house, I am ready to paint some rooms. I've been paralyzed by the thought of picking the wrong colors, but I'm totally sick of the beige, beige walls everywhere.

So I have my colors in mind, but my question is: How do you know when it'll look good to paint more than one color in a room, like an accent wall or something? I know the blue I want to use for the master bath, but on the Behr website, it shows these complementary colors that look really good with it, but I don't know how to incoporate them. I don't think it would look good to paint the doors or wood trim between the wall and the floor, but then again, maybe it would. Does painted wood look OK even if it's not white? So do I do one wall in one of these other colors? Is there like some kind of formula for knowing if that will look OK, like room size or something? Or should I just stick to the main color I like and try to find hints of the other colors in accent pieces like towels and accessories?

Can you see why we've had a beige house for so long??

Please help!!

Rooette

Personally, I only like stained or white painted wood. However, it is your house, you get to see it everyday. If you paint the bathroom blue, can you add towels, rugs, flowers/ art in the colors recommended on the Behr website? That way, nothing is permanant except for the wall color, and you can change out towels and all of that as you get tired of them. I'm in the same boat right now, painting the bathroom Apple Green by Valspar at Lowes, and struggling to incorporate other colors. Oh, I also don't mess with accent walls. In a small bathroom, it would probably feel like the walls are closing in on you. I'd stick with one wall color and add 2-3 other colors in art and stuff.

marie0507

I don't think there's a tried and true formula, and often it really does depend on the room and its size, features, etc. All of the things you mentioned are possible and could look great in the right context (or kind of funky if it's not the right context...)

You can always repaint if it doesn't turn out the way you'd like it to, but if you're nervous about going for it, I'd suggest incorporating accessories that are the accent color. For example, if your accent color is yellow, hang yellow towels, get a yellow shower curtain, etc.

Good luck!

brainstorm102

For something small like a bathroom, I'd probably stick with one wall color and add accents elsewhere. In a larger room, like a living room, an accent wall would be great. BUT , that said you can always get a small amount of the accent color and paint the wall ~ then if you don't like it, paint over it with the blue. Try not to overwhelm yourself with what-if's.

There isn't a perfect formula for painting. When I picked most of our wall colors for our house, I did pretty well ~ except for the kitchen. After painting just one wall, I realized the color was just too much and  I decided to paint it an entirely different color. Thankfully paint is pretty inexpensive as far as re-decorating goes.

Something that is helpful is taking your paint swatches and hold them up to your current furniture, curtains/drapes, carpet, etc. and see if they look complimentary or clash. If everything you already own is neutral, then you should be fine.

As far as painted wood trim , we only have white or natural in our house. Other colors should be fine, just make sure to use a good brush (so it doesn't show all the bristle marks as you paint. I think darker colors would shows the bristle lines more noticeably.

GeminiKMP-C

Also, you can buy "Auditions" of any color at Lowe's for 3.98/can.  I did that with our laundry room, after painting it electric green by accident.  Instead of screwing up again, I spent 8 bucks and found the moss green I really wanted:)

shannanicole

I don't have any good suggestions besides don't paint your woodwork.

&d&m&y

Thanks for all the tips! I did end up getting just the blue I originally liked for the bathroom. We already have some white and green accent colors in the towels and accessories, so that should be good.

Now I just need to get up the nerve to actually put it on the walls!