I am about to move into a new apartment in the North End of Boston and I get to paint the apartment however I wish. As you can see, the previous tenants really exercised their creativity! The hard wood floorboards in the living room have been individually painted alternating shades of green. I like the funky look of the floor, but I don’t know what color to paint the walls. Any suggestions? I should also mention that the room gets lots of natural light, so I don’t want a color that will look too washed out. Thanks, Alaina

Whoa! That's quite a floor. We'd recommend a white that's soft and neutral. It looks like you've got nice white trim to work with so definitely keep it simple and let that floor be the focus. Check out this post on the best whites. Anyone else?

Comments (64)
I'd second the white, or the palest of pale pale greys.
I would paint the walls the palest green on the floor, or the middle green.
Pale sky blue would be cute.
Plain white !
I like the idea of white best, but if you decide to go for gray, see if Comet Dust (by Valspar) will work with the green. It's a very light gray with no brownish undertones.
just get orange
orange and green
and big flowers on the wall
you live only once
I was thinking if you painted it an extremely pale green the entire shell of the room would be a fresh, nature-inspired neutral. Your furnishings should not compete with the color. Keep them white, soft beige, taupe. You could use some really strong black and white graphic print pillows and b&w photos on the wall. (Accessories from the previous post!) Have fun and send results!
Definitely go with white. It will make the floor pop in a good way. Anything else will just make it look busy and tacky.
White.
Yeah, I'd say white white, same color as the trim. Then, I don't know what you have for furnishings, but I'd be inclined to do something like a white slipcovered sofa, maybe oak or other rich honey colored wood pieces, and lots of accents (pillows, throws, a rug, pictures/art, etc.) in bright greens, reds, yellows, etc. I wouldn't do grey in there--I think the floor says fun/folksy/quirky/cheerful, not the modern/soothing/sophisticated feeling of grey.
Soft white with a touch of green in it. Or a deep brown.
It sort of depends on your furniture. I would not try to match the colors on the floor perfectly unless you have very very modern, simple, monotone furnishings. Otherwise it might look too busy.
White or ...nah just white.
i'd go for white too ... the beige that's there now is too conventional for such an awesome floor!
perhaps you could enlist a friend who knows Photoshop to sample a few colors on the walls for you. i do it ALL THE TIME to test out paint colors, arrange photos, etc.
White again.
White walls, same as trim, and pale blue ceiling - it'd feel like you're outside!
I can't look long enough....my eyes..but you are in the BEST place: NORTH END!!!! congrat's!!!....
White, white, white. I have the Flor tiles in the same kind of combo of green and I regretted trying to match the walls to the lightest color. White would have felt the freshest.
Yes--homebody's idea is perfect. White is right for the walls but a pale blue on the ceiling would balance out the floor and add interest.
Egglplant!.... or white :)
I'm not actually crazy about the floor - and I like a painted hardword floor just fine. It looks well done and everything, just not my taste. Repaint the floor and pick whatever wall color you like?
Sherwin Williams 7009 Pearly White or Sherwin Williams 7011 Natural Choice. They look brigh,fresh and cool during the day. Little bit of glow at night.
sky blue ceiling is a great idea. I love it :)
I'd also do white walls... even though I love color. You can dress it up with accessories, bedding, artwork, etc. Show us when you're done!
white would be hot.
White w/khaki green undertones might be nice. Not a strong color. Ralph Lauren paint has some great "whites" like this - Architectural Cream (UL55) is one. Many are in the Urban Loft color line.
The floors are the dominant element in the room - painting the walls green or blue will take that away and make it feel like you're living in a ball of moss.
Don't paint the walls white either - that will make the floors look out of place.
I really don't have a problem with the color of the walls just as they are - they're the same tone as the floors, but allow the floors to stand out.
Love the floor idea!! As someone said already, white walls or if you feel more daring, the palest or middle tone green you have on your floor. It looks like a room that needs no furniture whatsoever. Beautiful floor!
i just want your floor. and your landlord. not allowed to paint doodle. bah.
I think the white would be great. But honestly, bring your furniture in first and see if the current color would work. White might be too white you know?
Laura
http://www.grafxnerd.net
White was the first thing that came to mind for me, too. I think you have your answer!
Another vote for white. I think that would look lovely and take advantage of the light.
I second the white, or off white. Especially if you want to direct the focus to the floor. Same with the decor, very paired down neutrals with a few blue-green-yellow artwork/elements that pop. The wall color now in my opinion is awful.
Leave the trim white or at least a cream. For the walls, a lighter shade of what's already up would look good - along with white or the palest green from the floor. If you do a green, white or cream furnishings would look best in this room since it has enough color already.
White! Or a light grey. Ceiling can be more colorful
I think you should do a coral color that your comfortable with.
The floor reminds me of the abstract Polder sofa. I would try to finish up the abstracted landscape by painting the walls a pale blue, and using a capiz swag lamp.
I second Sherwin Williams Pearly White. It's a nice off-white in a warm tone, which would go great with the green. I think light green would be too monochromatic and make people and things in the room look greenish.
I'm thinking "grass and sky" - but a very, very pale blue. Ben Moore makes a nice one that I believe is called blue lagoon - the faintest gray/blue. Gorgeous and soothing - I used to have it in a bedroom.
white - let the floor be the focus.
Paint White and buy some nice textured rugs-STAT
white. or pink.
eggplant... or aubergine, if you will
Sheesh. That's a bit nutty, but could look fresh and fun if the walls were white. (I can't believe the previous tenants chose BEIGE.)
November Rain.
Are those walls paneling? It looks like it, but it might be my monitor.
Though I think white walls would be gorgeous, if it is old paneling, I would probably avoid white- for some reason I feel as though white-painted paneling looks a bit contrived (the shadows of panel lines are starkest on a white wall, and end up emphasizing what you were intending to cover up... ugh).
That beige, boring as it may be, seems to melt nicely into your couch- could make for a nice, uncluttered visual aesthetic, and if my monitor is correct, does a lovely job of disguising the old walls.
*I'd* repaint the floors but if you like them, I'd consider leaving the taupe or painting white, but adding a simple graphic on the wall in one of the green shades. Maybe the lightest or middle green... Use mainly white and/or black furniture, with green (from the same family of greens) and white accents.
white or pale grey. no color, you have enough color on the floor for the whole room. cool idea for wood floors though!
Copper.
If you get light in there, copper walls would look great and say "I'm not afraid of the floor."
Very light lavender is the color wheel compliment to the lightest green on the floor (consult a color wheel). It would soothe and lighten the space, and then you can accessorize with brighter, saturated colors. It will be like living in an old-fashioned flower garden.
I think white is the way to go. This floor is so awesome!
Thanks for all the great suggestions everybody! I really like the idea of a very pale grey...my couch is a taupey-grey colour so that could tie the whole room together nicely. I am afraid that a very bright white might look too stark with the floors once I get all the furniture in. What are people’s thoughts about the trim? There is some very nice molding around the doors that I would like to highlight, but I think it might be safer to paint the walls and trip the same colour.
white white white white white for everything but the floor. once you have all your stuff loaded in i don't think it will look stark at all.
I like the idea of orange, but a muted / pale version. Call it a light terracotta, maybe. Basically, the complement of the lightest green shade.
Paint the walls pale grey (perhaps with a bit of warmth) and trim bright white. That floor is kind of interesting but I feel like you'd get sick of after a while.
Good luck! I have seen far more difficult features to conceal.
I love some of these suggestions: white or pale blue or green. If it were me, I'd be searching for the perfect brown - mushroomy and not terribly dark. Browns are so difficult! You wouldn't want it to turn out pinkish at all (kind of like it is now. . . ).
No matter what color you chose, leave the trim. I think that a floor as exciting as yours needs a frame. White trim makes your colors look more crisp and purposeful. If you are going to leave the floor, you can't play it down! I think it is beautiful.
white, as-is, or a similar color to the palest color on the floor
I would probably go a white, that's the safest.
But I really like the idea of a pale cool colour. So pale it may as WELL be white, but just the teeniest hint of pale blue or green. If it's grey, make sure it's not a harsh, cold grey. That'd ruin the happy of the floor!
A creamy white.
Or maybe the lightest of the greens. It could be too much tho.
White, not because it's "safe", but because it would look dramatic with those floors. Very crisp and clean and refreshing -- not stark at all. Especially not once your apparently neutral furniture is in the room, plus any paintings, posters or mirrors.
Tie it all together with accessories, either in identical shades of green or in complementary colors. I actually think carrying the green motif into a few accessories might look really sharp. Or, since the room is bright anyhow, decorate with plants.
I vote yellow. :D
I think your biggest (most expensive) problem is that your couch (just visible in the second picture) REALLY doesn't go with that floor. And no shade of grey on the walls is going to tie it in. Sorry. (Unless... could that be the previous tenant's couch?)
If you are going a light grey for the walls, paint the trim a creamy white. It'll look really fresh.
i would say a very pale cool gray
a warm white...
I'd get a really big rug too!!!