Natwerk Designs

Need help decorating!?

My husband and I just bought our first house and are in the middle of remodeling it. I have NO decorating sense. I wish I did, I always watch HGtv and love what they do. I was hoping someone could tell me what they think are good paint colors for the following rooms: There are five bedrooms: master, baby's (we dont have one yet so I was thinking like yellow or green?), guest 1 and 2 and my hubby's office. The living room, kitchen, and bonus family room. We're 22 (well technically I'll be 23 next week :) lol) so I'd like something modern. Thanks so much!!! Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!!! oh yeah, the kitchen is kind of small. What colors make a room look bigger. I need new cabinets, counter tops and appliances! I have no idea what colors to pick!!!

Public Comments

1. Don't feel a necessity to paint every room a different color I like it when the home flows by continuing base colors throughout the home, for instance Use a neutral color like Glidden - Dapper Tan in the living room and a number of the guest rooms and office Reflecting on that color - select some bold accent walls to enhance that color based upon your architecture. Like a deep copper or anything complimentary to the base I would though suggest a green for the master bedroom, that compliments the base I just read your additional The kitchen is a large project and should have a very cohesive plan You really would want a good design before you begin, as with everything you are listing ie cabinets, counter, appliances, you might as well add floors, backsplashes, faucets, fixtures, sink, electrical and lighting because once you start any less than that will end up looking piecemeal Once you commit to a redesign of your kitchen, you can explore making the kitchen larger and thats where the fun begins, the idea is to open up the kitchen ( if its not already ) with an island or breakfast bar etc etc by removing walls or creating pony walls This though will add more value to your home
2. I would keep it simple for your first attempt by painting the rooms a soft, off-white or very pale beige. Pick up paint chips at the hardware store. Remember--they will look louder and darker on the wall than in the chip (which is tiny). Put your efforts into room accents which can easily be changed later as your tastes change. For the kitchen, choose something pale. Again--remember before you buy that whatever color you pick, you will be living with for a long time! Imagine having to look at it first thing in the morning, or with company over, or when you're exhausted and ready for bed. Is it a color you can truly live with? Keep it simple! You can always embellish later.
3. Most kitchen appliances today are offered in many colors & finishes,Using the silver or basic black or white seems to work for any color scheme(popular colors for kitchens,..yellow,green,or black & white)...When two rooms connect,(without a wall in between)I find it more pleasing to the eye to connect them with one or more colors in each of the rooms...Like the living room,family room and or kitchen...Pick one basic color you wouldn't mind in each of the rooms..Lighter colors,such as pastels make a room seem larger,and mirrors,if possible,to fool the eye into thinking there is more space to the room... Master bedroom......medium to light blue withpastel yellow or peach as accents on trim baby,.....yes peach,green or yellow work best,lighter shades #1 bdrm.,......wallpaper one of the walls with a pattern you like then pull a color from that paper for the other 3 walls.. #2 bdrm.,....egg shell white,with blue shades for trims Office,.....use a shade of color that is his fav. color,if thats not wise then I'd go for a neutral color such as beige, off white or gray
4. For the master and guest rooms i would choose a warm beige... navajo white from sherwin williams is the color i chose for our bedroom... for the baby's room...i would choose a light sage green.... we are building a house and the baby's room will be light green on the top half of the wall and the bottom half we are going to put that beadboard stuff- it is like wood with lines in it- painted white... i always think of yellow as a kitchen color...for the guest rooms i would go with another warm beige color probably navajo white... the kitchen it depends on what color your appliances, counters and cabinets are... at the corian website you can pick out the cabinet color, counter color and paint color... this could help give you an idea of what you would like... i tend to prefer neutral colors for the most part... i know a lady her family room is a deep red/burgundy and it is beautiful... also a sage green is nice and it is still somewhat neutral and goes with lots of things, but it is less boring than cream or brown...our living room is painted with ralph lauren suede paint in this light brown color... it turned out really nice... it is neutral but is more interesting than cream, especially since it has the suede texture... i would not do wallpaper if you ever want to change it (and you will) it is a pain to take down... if anything do a wallpaper border but even it is annoying to take down!
5. My favorite site for paint color is Sherwin Williams. They have the best online color visualizer b/c the "painted" rooms look the most realistic + they offer suggestions for coordinating colors at the bottom of the page: http://sherlink.sherwin.com/swapp/color_visualizer/index.jsp My theory is that you can get a cohesive color flow plan for your home by painting the adjoining room the accent or trim color of the previous room. So for example, if you start with the color "lattice" for your front room, then paint the adjacent room "autumnal," and the next room room "edgy gold" and so forth... Take a look at the link & have fun with it. You can literally waste hours.
6. the Behr website has lots of info - on what colors to make a room look bigger / brighter ect - and they have an explore color thing - that will help you match colors ect - and see what they look like together in a room - I use it all the time - either way have fun with it - its only paint, if at first you dont like it, see if it grows on you - and remember give it a month - you will have a little cash to repaint it byt then incase you dont like the way it comes out!
7. For cohesiveness, or 'flow', use same floor colors throughout home - like champagne beige or light gray carpet, laminate. 1] living room, - pick your fav color [ say peach ] 2] kitchen - cook's fav color! The add a few accents in peach [ LR ] and green [ FR ]. Choose stainless steel appliances if replacing them [ reflect more light ]; med wood tones for cabinetry [ goes with more colors ]; a light counter with specks of neutral darks [ beige with tan, gray, brown and black in it ]; and a light to medium neutral floor [ light to med tan or gray ] . 3] family room - husb fav color [ say green ] 4] master bedroom - should be mix of both - say yours is peach, his is green; get peach walls and green bedding or vice versa 5] nursery - yellow or green are good neutrals - then when time comes, you can just add bedding, curtains 6] office - his first color for walls [ say green ], second for curtains, rug, chair, accessories [ say blue ] 7] baths - I usually paint masterbath same color as master bedroom, or the reverse of colors [ peach with green accessories or vice versa ]; and upstairs hall bath to match guest or kid room. Downstairs I match to living room or hall. 8] guest rooms - paint one your second fav color, and second whatever color you like and haven't used. You could use one as an exercise room, or a craft/project room. 9] halls/entry - could be ivory or off white, with bits of color from downstairs rooms; upstairs with bits of color from bedrooms.