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Help! Which paint colour for dark hallway?

(32 Posts)
Tartlet Sat 26-Oct-19 14:52:04

Apologies if this has been done to death already, but I’d really appreciate any suggestions for a paint colour for our rather dark hall stairs and landing.

The decorator arrives on Monday and although I’m surrounded by tester pots and harlequin walls, I’m no nearer settling on a wall colour. He’ll be starting on the banisters first (painting them white instead of the yucky rather orange shade the original light oak colour has morphed into over the years) so I have a couple of days grace.

Many of the neutrals I’ve tried have pinky or lilac undertones which I don’t want and I don’t want grey but greige might be a possibility. The really dark gloomy days are making it impossible to tell what colours are really like.

I’m tempted by the F&B Joas White but would have to fork out for the proper stuff because I’ve had two tester copies done and they are not a good match.

I don’t really want anything too pale because I know from past experience that it ends up just looking wishy washy in what is quite a big space.

Another option might be to embrace the darkness by going fir a darker colour and, although I’ve not yet bought a tester, I like the look of Dulux caramel latte from photos I’ve seen anyway.

I don’t live near many places which sell the very small testers so have been having to pay £4-5 each for one if the trade size testers and the cost is getting ridiculous.

Does anyone have any suggestions please?

Newquay Tue 29-Oct-19 04:36:17

May I suggest you don’t paint the hand rails-let them be the natural wood instead-paint wears off on handrails and soon looks tatty IMHO and experience

Franbern Mon 18-Nov-19 18:51:45

Early last year, I was getting ready to put my terrace house on the market/ Looking on rightmove, I noticed that most houses on the market had their hallways/stairs/landing painted white and this gave a very good impression when people first came into the house. No windows on that area, decorator did it all, ceilings, woodwork, walls in white and it looked fresh, bright and marvellous. Bought white light shades for top and bottom of stairs in Dunelm, and that finished it off. Just the rail on the stairs was in wood.

notanan2 Mon 18-Nov-19 19:13:35

I think small rooms look smaller in whites & neutrals and going dark in small dark spaces can have an "infinity" effect that actually makes them look larger!

Patsy70 Thu 05-Dec-19 18:07:29

Just looking through some old threads and saw this one. Are you pleased with your choice and the result, Tartlet?

Greeneyedgirl Thu 05-Dec-19 18:14:51

Glad you're sorted Tartlet. I would opt for F&B every time, and although it seems counter intuinitive I would go dark rather than pale, with as big a mirror as you can manage. Plus pictures. Although you can colour match to get same shades as F&B in my experience the paint doesn't react in different light the same. We have F&B in our lounge and colour subtly changes throughout the day. Happy decorating!

Hetty58 Thu 05-Dec-19 18:20:16

I embraced the dark hallway with a rich shade of 'Roasted Red' and loved it. All the rooms seemed lighter, brighter and airier by contrast. I've now changed it to sage green and cream - but only because I will be selling up soon. (Personally, I find it very bland and boring.)