What about a black wall here?

[IHeartKingThistle]

About to completely remodel our large-ish lounge/diner. Style is eclectic-whimsy-retro-colourful with lots of white, wood and pops of colour.

Wood effect floor with this fabulous rug which we already have. Walls will be soft-ish white.

The TV/fireplace wall has been my sticking point. DH wants the TV on the wall, I want lots of storage and I definitely don't want the TV to be the focal point when you walk into the room. It's a very wide wall. So my new brainwave is to have low storage built up to and around the fire (which will be frameless hole-in-the-wall style) so there's a sort of ledge the whole way across the wall. I want to paint the storage the same off white as the walls and the wall above the ledge (which the TV will be on, though not directly above the fire) a soft black. Hope that made sense! In my head this will look fab with the floor and the rug, and make the TV look less obvious.

Is it just one of my flights of whimsy though, or could it work?

[IHeartKingThistle]

Bump?

[IHeartKingThistle]

Oh it's sort of an oaky colour wood floor, not a dark colour.

[MorelloKiss]

I have a chalky black wall in my hall, the one that is super high as it is the full height from ground to the top of the stairs. It is really lovely and I have a vintage mirror hung on it and some ornate moulded picture frames painted the same colour as the wall running as you go up the stairs.

Everyone was really sceptical when I told them I was going to paint the hall black, but I get lots of compliments now.

What is the worst that can happen...just repaint if it isn't as nice as you hope!

[MorelloKiss]

Actually thinking about it I also have black in one of the main living rooms, a dramatic type of family room, with a wall that has huge 60s style black and white horizontal stripes in the alcoves and black chimney breasts (double room, so 2 breasts, 4 huge alcoves). It looks fab.

[IHeartKingThistle]

Your black walls sound fab!

[JazzAnnNonMouse]

Sounds great - do it and if you hate it just buy a vat of white and repaint!

[OnePlanOnHouzz]

Why not try a strip of black the same width of the tv only - that will, in effect, disguise the tv and be I keeping with the stripe effect of your fab rug !!

[IHeartKingThistle]

I have another question! OK so the TV wall is going to be black, the rest of the walls inc. the built in storage will be off white. Opposite the TV wall we are having a whole wall of built in bookcases - yay! The shelves will be off white but I like the idea of putting a colour on the wall behind them so you just get a flash of colour. Shall I pick out a colour from the rug? (Link is in the OP). Which one? We also have an armchair in a sort of muted teal - could match that? Any ideas?

[IHeartKingThistle]

No-one cares, huh?

[Lagoonablue]

Sorry I paint everything pale off white. No help at all!

[impty]

Can you do a range of colours from the rug? So looking at the rug (love it btw) red, green and then maybe the mustard yellow?

[IHeartKingThistle]

Any of them would work I suppose. I'm not mad on red and black together so a red wall and a black wall might hurt my brain!

I think it's between the green and the yellow at the moment. But yes, maybe both????!!

[betterwhenthesunshines]

We have a ledge thing all the way round the wall. There was a horrible 30s fireplace in a lovely Edwardian house and at the time we didn't have the money to re-line the chimney and put a replacement fire in. So we built a wide ledge with cupboards under and a big open area at the fireplace for large books. Originally there were 3 baskets for toddler toys, but we are past that stage now!

I like it - it's a low level and good for TV (less dominant) and lamps etc. We are currently redecorating that room and I will paint the whole wall and storage all the same colour.

I wonder if the black will be a bit too harsh and just in that alcove will actually highlight the TV - could you at least do both alcoves? Or even thw whole wall? I recently used Little Greene Attic II which is a very very dark soft grey, but warm in tone, not blue-ish. My dad helped me paint (under protest at the colour!) but it looks amazing, especially with a burnt orange lampshade infront of it and has encouraged me to be much braver with colour choice. I think it will work well. Remember anything paired with black is going to look much much lighter so your off-white may need to be a bit deeper if you want it to look off.

Test the colours first on lining paper.

[IHeartKingThistle]

That's great advice about the white looking whiter - this is so difficult! Will check out that colour, thanks. There are no alcoves - the plan is to paint the whole wall from the ledge up iyswim.

[yomellamoHelly]

Maybe line the wall before you paint it. Will take many coats to change colour again. Think it's a good idea though.

[fruitloop84]

I think it sounds good. I would pick or a selection of colours from the rug and have a different one at the back of each shelf section I think.

[fedupandfifty]

Yes, I think it would work. I would go for the whole wall. It would create a contrast and minimise thevlook of the telly (if that'svthe look you want...I agree with not putting a telly on the wall too. A bit cliched, now, and a man thing.

I must admit, though, that, instead of white, i would go for another colour, perhaps taken from the rug. Not red, though, with the black. A bit "tart's knickers" imho.

Perhaps a soft grey or taupe? Brilliant with bright colours.

[IHeartKingThistle]

Yes! Tarts knickers!

I'm now thinking the off white needs to be deeper too - I'm just worried about it jarring with the floor, which is quite warm in colour.

Builders starting in a week! Argh!

[IHeartKingThistle]

And the brick fireplace is GOING!