HELP!! need colour advice

DD1 has a 'feature wall' in the dining area of her house, it is steel grey. I did think ooh? But it looks most effective covered in family photos in white frames ( many of them old black and white photos)

For some super ideas in colour co-ordination have a look at these light strings (I'm not connected with this business in any way)

www.cableandcotton.co.uk

It's worth thinking about what other things will be in the space after it's decorated. If you have lots of colourful ornaments or painting/prints then you might want to have something understated and neutral/plain so that the focus is on the items being displayed.

A hallway can look a bit bare in a pale colour scheme which would look great in a living room. And medium dark walls and light woodwork can be a bit stark...Stark contrasts show off architectural features mind. So you have to decide what features you want to highlight.

My preference in hallways is for a less pale wall, but as books, photos etc soak up light - if you have a wonderful photo montage you might want to stay on the lighter side. Wall art looks great if there is a strong contrast between the pictures and walls. Very pale is conventional - although a deep colour also works, it's a question of personal taste.

It's also worth thinking about how often you want to redecorate. There are fashions in interior decor as with all things. Some colour schemes date very quickly - do you remember the red/white kitchens of the 80's?

I love the colour contrasting chairs and sofas look. It makes a room very cosy and welcoming. I'd be careful about being too matchy matchy with the cushions though. A bold print on a bold plain fabric might be a bit hot. You could think about contrasting textures, velvet against leather, silky against damask. Think about shapes and sizes as well. If you have lots of cushions all the same size and fabric it might look a bit corporate.

Tegan. My suite has loose covers. I'm going to have a whole new set made.
I haven't got a price yet. I have to go up in the loft to get the spare set and take that to the upholsterer and ask a price.
Like some of you here, it was an expensive suite and is so comfortable.
I couldn't go back to fitted. I love the fact that I can just throw them in the washing m/c.
I am going to someone I have used before for the boat and the Motohome and they did a good job.
I will let you know when I get a price.

I was going to ask the same tegan. Ours is good but rather old-fashioned now

That's a good idea, petra. Are you having cushion covers made in the patterned fabric to 'bring' the sofa and chairs together? I've got an incredibly well made three piece which is out of date; are loose covers expensive?

eggshell it will be :D

Cream & white, classic. I'm getting some ideas.
I'm doing something different ( for me, anyway ) with my suite. I'm having new loose covers made. But instead of it all being the same, I'm having a bold print on the settee and the armchairs in a plain bold colour to compliment the settee.

Someone up there said they didn't like cream with white but I think it works quite well sometimes.

It is not unknown. for us to change our minds about a colour while the decorator is still here and once he came back after a weekend to find his lovely pristine wall daubed with match pots!

I think I've mentioned that for one room we used 14 match pots. It's ok though as we give the evidence to DD1 to use at school for arty type things!!

Not at all odd. Sounds like the perfect background for your artwork.

Forever wiping GDs' dirty fingerprints off eggshell paintwork. Normally just soapy water with a non scratch sponge. Anything worse I use Cif and paintwork looks good as new.

Sounds!

Not odd at all, soj ds lovely and very stylish and artistic.

You might think I'm odd. But every wall in my flat is white. Doors are ' barley'
I love this look as I like big mirrors and rug wall hangings. I have a lot of big bold pictures and I love masks, which I have collected on my travels.

I am also a big fan of Johnstone's paint, particularly their acrilyc matt emulsion, which you can wipe over time and time again without any apparent change to the surface.

Thankyoy specki. Am usinf a tab, cant type on this! And lookkng after DGD2 today

Margaretm74 just the usual rub down with sandpaper and foll
ow with a soda crystals wash. Sorry im using smartphone keypad.

Sorry, PC disconnected and trying to use tablet

Thankyou for the info specki

I will pass the info on to DH re eggshell.

DN always uses Johnstones paint.

We have noticed that, whereas gloss used to stay white for years, it now goes 'yellow' very quickly. Chemist friend says that EU regulations forbid the use of at least one of the components in it.

The original eggshell paint used to be as hardwearing as gloss and almost as easy to clean - where you just use a damp soapy cloth on gloss, you need perhaps a little bicarbonate of soda to remove scuffs on eggshell. However, the tree huggers have decreed that old fashioned eggshell is not environmentally friendly enough and so the paint companies in response are offering water based acrylic eggshell paint..its not as good as the old spirit based eggshell, although it has a similar look. why do they have to change things?.. there are other chemicals in the new paints which no doubt they will ultimately find bad for the environment!

You can also use a matt varnish on vulnerable areas , say around door handles etc. I painted a cupboard in my kitchen 10 years ago with eggshell and it still looks exactly the same as the day it went on.

If you go to a 'trade' decorator supplier (as opposed to the DIY sheds) you will get some very good advice .. my son, who is a professional decorator, City & Guilds qualified, loves to use Johnstones paint. The finish of matt paint is far classier and attractive - gloss or satin finish paints multiply all the lumps and bumps on the surface. your builder chappy may be able to go to a Dulux Decorator Centre in your area.

We thought of eggshell specki, is it as hardwearing and easy to clean as gloss? Also, we always use matt, rather than than silk finish. Was only being 'flip' about the study by the way, mostly walls will be covered in shelves/furniture! Need to do it in a rush as there are boxes everywhere.

We need to do hall stairs and landing next so will have a think about eggshell - is it waterbased and how much preparation do you have to do before you cover gloss? Bearing in mind there are 13 doors in the h/s/l including cupboards?

Eggshell is so much easier to work with too.

Hi me again! Just a little more advice. Gloss paint is really meant for outdoor woodwork. If you want to be really chic you should use eggshell on woodwork and matt emulsion on walls and celings. Trust me. Xx

Fantastic advice specki and all thanks so much. Have lots to consider now as Bob the Builder is coming on Monday next. He thinks I am crazy now anyway so he won't be a bit surprised at whatever I choose. He went through a whole list of what I would need gloss wise and emulsion wise several times. Then I realised that I hadn't written anything down so he had to start all over again. I looked a little stressed when he left. Hope he comes back.

Going to paint the study in magnolia. With white gloss. Which is for people who can't make up their minds.

Can't believe how much stuff has come out of there today, now in boxes. Now to decorate and decide what should go back.

Flowerofthewest your first consideration should be the ambient light in your hall. Forgive me if this sounds patronising - I don't mean it to be - but its not just a case of thinking about what "goes with what". You have already a neutral coloured carpet - sounds like mid/light brown - perfect and practical for its location. Any colour will work with this neutral.

So the important thing is to find the orientation of your house - is it on a north/south or east/west axis? If the natural light that comes into your hall is from the north or east, you need to consider a colour range from the warm side of the colour spectrum - this ranges from warm creams yellows through apricots/peachy shades and right through to oranges and reds (although I'm not advocating those!) Conversely if the natural light is from the south or west, you should use colours from the cooler side of the colour spectrum i.e. cool greys/acidy yellows, soft greens and blues (be careful with blue but F & B do a wonderful soft pale blue called 'Borrowed Light' which is very versatile).

Try to look at a colour wheel (google it) and you will understand where I'm coming from. The paint companies often have their colours shown as a colour wheel.

The next thing to consider is the shape of the hall and staircase - would you like to make it look wider? If so, choose a lighter tint of your chosen colour. The decision as to whether to paint your glazed door or leave it natural wood is down to you but I always think they look better painted in the same colour as the skirting and ceiling - usually an off white/cream.
However if you use a cool colour on the walls i.e. blue or grey or green, the natural wood colour is a nice contrast.

Hope this helps.