Good Questions: Which Walls to Paint?

Courtney has some questions about an upcoming project: Hi I have a question that maybe your readers can help me out with, I would love to paint the walls of our condo but because it is a rental I have run into one very large problem, the owner says we can paint, but not on the back of the kitchen cabinets that create the hallway and the living room.

(Note: Include a pic of your problem and your question gets posted first.
Email questions and pics with QUESTIONS in subject line to:
chicago(at)apartmenttherapy(dot)com)

So should I paint only half the hallway? Only three walls in the living room? Because the fireplace comes out from the wall should I use a different tone?

Please share your thoughts and ideas with Courtney in the comments below. Thanks!

Comments (6)

color photos would be more helpful. :-)

posted by kimg924 on October 9th 2008 at 10:14am
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I'd paint the entire living room, hallway and kitchen the same color - it will make the place appear larger, unified and more cohesive.

I would not paint the fireplace a different color, but I would paint the bedroom, bathroom and closet interior contrasting colors.

posted by bepsf on October 9th 2008 at 10:14am
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Maybe pin up a nice fabric? You could easily put it up or change it out as needed then. Pin it taut though, you don't want it to look like curtains!

posted by RedMaiko on October 9th 2008 at 10:17am
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Bummer about the cabinets! Do they at least look decent?

I would paint one side of the hall and the same wall in the living room--one long swath of accent color on all the "south" walls (i.e. the ones towards the bottom of the drawing/opposite the closet, fireplace and kitchen). Also like the fabric idea, but I wouldn't do both.

posted by rockypondgirl on October 9th 2008 at 10:28am
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If you are looking for punches of color, I'd pick the two walls flanking the fireplace, and the hallway walls opposite the red cabinet backs.

I'd make these two separate colors but the same value (darkness).

Or, in lieu of the hallway wall, the two sides of the entry and the wall facing you upon entry.

Paint everything else a lighter mellow neutral.

posted by patrick (the other one) on October 9th 2008 at 11:03am
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no matter how fug a color the back of the cabinets may be, you can find another color that will pop next to it and make it beautiful... it's a lovely game and certainly narrows the choices a little

posted by Philip_Littell on October 9th 2008 at 11:41am
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