I have a small master bedroom, 14 X 14, with a trey ceiling. My bedroom furniture is walnut colored. The paint/carpet is basically "builders beige". I'm looking to repaint & re-recarpet, I'm a single guy, so looking for a nice color scheme. Colors to make the room appear larger then it is. I have no color sense, so any suggestions would be nice. I'm a DIY, so any savings from doing it myself, I plow back into better quality stuff.
I don't know what a "trey" ceiling is, but I get the gist of the rest of the room. It is a small room, and a dark carpet will make the space look larger if you have lighter colored walls. However, a dark carpet shows everything--footprints, lint, dust, pet hair. Instead of carpeting you could lay a laminate wood floor in cherry or another darker color, which would be easier to keep clean and serve the same "enlarging" purpose. Also, keep the furniture to a minimum. If you can install drawers in the closet, you could do without a dresser. Keep the window treatment to a minimum--bamboo blinds, mini-blinds, no cornice and no drapery will open things up a bit. Good luck with your re-decorating, and let us know how it turns out!
No color sense doesn't mean you can't choose something you like, though, not what we all think is a great scheme. I still would stick to fairly neutral wall colors and add color with the comforter/throw/blankets, whatever you use for the bed. a few pictures to add color is also a great option. Use a color wheel to "match" or coordinate a scheme.
Okay Tim, tell us what the last thing you liked was, and we'll work with it. We'll make some suggestions and you can go with what makes you comfortable.
It's your room....did you like the way it looked? If so, then go with it. Use the color/colors you like and that make you feel comfortable in the room. Never ask friends how they like a color scheme or decorating idea. If they don't like the color or style they will say it looks awful, never thinking that the proper answer would be ...."Well, I don't care for that color/style myself, but as long as you like it my opinion doesn't really matter." Even if it was something like purple and puce, if you like it then it's really none of their business. Browse through the color samples at Lowe's or HD to find sample cards of colors you really like. Different light shades of one color will give the room a larger feel because they blend together to fool the eye into seeing more space than there is. Too many different colors on the walls and ceiling chopup what the eye is seeing and makes the space looked cramped and it's really uncomfortable to look at. But, hey, if that's the look you want, my opinion really doesn't matter. Use the lighter shade on the ceiling and a little darker on the walls. I too like the idea of laminate floors, carpet closes in a room and makes it feel smaller. Neutrals can also be grey, black, beige, ivory, white and silver...neutral colors serve as a background for other colors without interfering with other colors, basically they are colors 'that go with' everything. If you have a favorite color that isn't neutral, there are many shades of every color you can think of that would work it you want them. Go to a bed linen store or fabric store....find throw pillows or bolts of fabrics in colors that you really like. Put them all on the counter and group them in different combinations until you find the grouping you really like. In a bed linen store you can also find sheets, bedspreads, curtains and rugs in those colors. At a fabric store, ask for a sample strip of the fabrics, it's usually a sliver less than 2 inches wide and free or you can buy as little as 1/8th of a yard for very little money. Then take the fabric with you to find the linens and even the neutral or non neutral paint you like.
Tim, I was going to say the same as Toni, DID YOU like it? "Who cares what they think"!, but obviously you did care. I agree in going to Lowe's they have a great set of color combo's to work with. generally the largest color on them is the one you use the most of...IF you want. the smaller color samples on the card are the accent colors. You don't have to use the paint as the accents. It can be as pillows, sheets, pictures, etc. Good luck!
You should go with cool colors they brighten up a room and make it airy. Neutral to cool colors should look good. they are safe options, so if you dunno what to choose stick with a simple low profile color. Let me know what you decide on!
Yes I agree that light colors will make a small room look bigger... since you furniture is beige... maybe a sage green would be nice? green, brown, and beige go well together and are still pretty masculine
As a guy, this is the sort of look I would do for my bedroom with blue-ish grey scheme and walnut furniture. ( photo / image / picture from dytecture's Garden )
Choosing paint colors should be about what you like. Even if other people didn't like your last room, you're the one who lived there! If you're worried about picking something others won't like you could always stick to neutrals. moderator's note: removed website link, see point 1.1 of usage rules
Hey Tim, I'm glad I found this discussion... Because I JUST painted my hall this weekend, and the color really didn't 'turn out the way I thought it would. But I'm glad I finally got around to doing it... I've lived here for almost 2 years and I still haven't gotten around to decorating. Anyways, I think I"m going to change the wall color... =P WHen I told my girlfriend that I hated the color, she just shrugged and said, "That's the great thing about painting walls- you can just paint it again." =) Don't be afraid to go with what you like! There are many colors to choose from, and it can be daunting... but once you get started, you'll have an even better idea of what you like. Good luck!
