Hello AT,
I'm in a color conundrum. I painted the wall behind the head of my bed an amazing green - moss, but on the yellow side, almost chartreuse.
I'm stuck on what to do with that adjacent white wall (the rest are exposed brick). I fear keeping the green may be too intense, but don't know what else to try. A pale honey/gold? Something more cream? I would have loved to go gunmetal gray, but I have blond wood trim that I can't paint.
Thanks! Lesley
Dear Lesley,
Very good question. Pure white can often be very off putting next to a luscious color. Let us suggest two solutions:
1. Take your green and just dial it down the color spectrum so that you are putting a lighter green on the opposing wall. This will give it a pleasing two-tone effect that will not overwhelm.
2. Go with an off-white that reads as white but actually has a little color (green) in it so that there is not as much contrast. This is a softer approach. Again, to find this color take the color strip of your original color and go all the way down to the lightest shade on the card, which is usually an off-white.
Anyone else??
Related Links:
• How To: Choose a Wall Color & Not Screw It Up
• AT's Fall Colors Contest (Check out the entries for color ideas.)
• Good Questions: What Colors Go Well With Brick
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Greige.
view hejiranyc's profile
how about a the same green but a shader or two lighter (gradually mix it with white til you have the right shade)
view analog's profile
I'm with analog... two or three clicks up on the same paint swatch.
Keep in mind that adding a tint of that color to an adjacent wall will slightly increase the intensity and effect of both colors.
view patrick (the other one)'s profile
The two pillows on the bed are showing you the way.
view barbara's profile
Lesley, can you share the name of the paint you used? It's quite nice.
view Jenny in DC's profile
Hi Jenny,
It's Behr, color is "Spring Moss." I definitely chose it on a whim (hence not having a plan for the rest of the room) but I just love it!
view LesleyM's profile
How about leaving it white, and decorate it with wall art?
There are many great desings by French company.
http://www.miraentuinterior.com
http://domestic.fr
http://store.dvider.com
Maybe you could use some moss green wall art to match your adjacent wall!!
view Nohea Kaikamahine's profile
The two fuzzy pillows are your answer.
The green is similar to what's on the wall, the other pillow is a little darker than what I'd go for but in that same color family though, perhaps a notch or two lighter for the other walls or go as Maxwell suggested, the same color, but a notch or two down the tonal scale to have a color on color effect for the other wall(s).
Good luck.
view ciddyguy's profile
How about using fabric w/that color in it?
view Sleek's profile
I worked with the Behr Explore Color system (very easy to use) and choose some colors to coordinate with Spring Moss. The great thing is you can download your picture, put the colors on that wall, and see what they will look like together.
The few I tried were Feather Gold, Mustard Seed, and Sweet Corn, variations on a coordinating yellow. These others are lighter shades of that same green; California Dreaming and Sea Kelp. Good luck!
http://www.behr.com/behrx/workbook/index.jsp
view Lisa from VA/lsaspacey's profile
a very dark anthracite grey would look great.
view aad's profile
The flash of green on that wall is doing double-duty by filling in as a "headboard" as well.
If you paint the adjacent wall you may detract from that effect depending on the colour you add to the scheme.
I lean towards the suggestions of keeping it white, or a toned down neutral.
Nice color.
view paulmuscat's profile
You really have 2 colors to contend with: the chartreuse and the red brick. You need to tie these together. It's good that the "green" has more yellow in it. That's a warm tone as is the brick. So, stick with warm tones. The room will look nice and cozy. You've got a complementary color scheme going on with the red & green.
I like the idea of going a couple of tints lighter. But just adding white may not work. You often wind up with something like "pastel-mint green". When I'm not designing, I paint, so I know a lot about mixing paint. Take your paint back to Behr and ask them to mix you a sample of something 2 notches lighter in value. You can even ask them to warm it up if it looks too cool or minty.
Good luck!
view DesignHole's profile
A deep medium tone of grey.
view ehy2k's profile
i say be brave and go with black. seriously.
it'll make that greet wall totally stand out, as well as your bedspread...see, look at the black pillows and see how well it works with those colors. i think painting that other wall a soft color would make the room look too light. a dark solid color would really ground the room.
view goodnightdean's profile
I was also going to say grey (see your pillows!)
It's very dramatic and would make the green pop, AND, would work with your brick very nicely. The dark color will also make that corner feel very cozy!
Check out a similar grey I used in my BR (Ralf Lauren - artist's grey): http://www.flickr.com/photos/7269867@N07/450741155/in/set-72157594579497639/
Good luck!
view Dre in Bklyn's profile
For those of you suggesting grey:
Further down that wall, i have a sliding door closet and, above, a sliding door storage space. Both have a honey colored laquer.
Would you have any reservations about doing grey next to all that brown?? That's what's really holding me back from considering that idea.
view LesleyM's profile
Terracotta, aqua, teal or a twilight blue. Commit to full color!
view Lady J's profile
I see a green wall, red brick is usually orange and that means you could use purple on the white wall.
view Kurt's profile
Leave it white and invest in some better bedding.
view st@cy's profile
I have a similar situation, but selected rich colors:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37032338@N00/2044524313/
view Kenneth's profile
If you want to see more of my place:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/37032338@N00/
view Kenneth's profile