Wall Paint Help! Small, dark carpeted, bedroom

KatiKapral

My husband and I are just about to move into our first house on Monday! The previous owners have painted the bedroom a brown color and brushed it on in a way that makes it look textured; I hate it. The room has dark brown carpeting and I wanted to paint the walls a light color that would make it look larger. I'm wondering... 

Can I do an accent wall with a small room? Or will that make it look even smaller?

My idea is to paint it a light, neutral color (suggestions welcome!) on three walls and then paint a pale yellow or blue accent wall where the headboard (also a dark brown) will go against. The wall color depends on the bedspread we choose; we still have the one for our wedding so I've been given permission to update it with something I like! (If you have any suggestions for this as well, that would be fantastic!) I'm thinking blue or yellow because they're not extremely feminine. My husband isn't picky at all, but I want him to enjoy the room.

Thank you for taking the time to read this! Any and all suggestions are welcomed. 

MommyLiberty5013

Just a pointer, if the walls have a textured paint on them, you might need to sand them down before priming and painting so the texture does not poke through the finished product.

I agree that a lighter color is probably best. I would do three walls in a lighter shade and the bed accent wall in the same color chip as the other three walls, but 1-2 shades darker. It will create the same effect, but not be a color overload. Just MHO.

Also, you might want to buy your bedding first - it is always easier to match paint to fabric than fabric to paint.

Sue-n-Kevin

I agree with everything the above poster said. And it IS easier to match a paintcolor to fabric than vice versa, so get bedding you like first, picking up the dark brown carpet color.

If I were you I'd bring home tons of paint cards from the home improvement store in colors you like, then see what looks good with the carpet color. Depending on whether the dark brown carpet has more yellows or greys or different tones, you want the wall color to have similar undertones.

I also agree you don't want a shockingly different accent wall. Shoot for something in a darker tone than the lighter color on the other 3 walls. Starkly different accent walls work better in large rooms.

 

gymbugmj2k

Definitely bring home lots of paint chips and samples.  we have a light sage green in our small-ish bedroom and it works well.  If you do go for color, go for something a little less saturated, so its not so BOLD and in your face.  that will help mute the color and keep the room feeling open.

Personally, I like beige/ivory/cream paint - it reads neutral and light like white would, but it definitely adds warmth instead of feeling so stark.  We used a cream color throughout the rest of the house.

 

one tip i happened to come across online was for people to use cardboard or posterboard, paint it, and then hold it up to the wall --- sort of a larger paint chip

mstracener

Try painting a soft grey on, and using a pale robins egg blue as an accent. Both are super soothing colors, but light enough that they'll help give your room a softer, bright glow. I recommend flat or eggshell paint for the bedroom as well, it softens the light.