DECORATING HELP PLEASE ???

[BABYLOU1008]

Hoping someone can offer me some advice

My livingroom is quite long and narrow, but it is very dark and doesnt get a lot of natural light in. My previous colour schemes were beige, coffee, browns etc which i felt made it darker.I have a cream leather suite and beige coloured carpet which i cannot really afford to replace.

I put magnolia paint above and below the thick dado rail and had planned to add a bright colour like red in the form of rug, cushion covers throws etc. I had also planned to paint the dado rail a shade of red to break up the magnolia but now the walls are done i am having a bit of a panic and I am now not too sure.

Please can anyone offer any advice? any help will be gratefully received

[fresh]

Don't paint the dado red! Stick to red accessories and paint it the same colour as the rest of your woodwork ie skirtings/doors. That way you can change the accessories when you want a new colour scheme.

[7to25]

Agree with the above!
paint the dado in with the walls or in the "woodwork" colour. Red is a mistake.

[soonbesailing]

Def don't paint the dado red it will just look like a really odd stripe running around the middle of your room.

[ellangirl]

Big mirror can help reflect light around.
Maybe not red with cream-I find it too harsh personally but that's just my opinion. What about duck egg and caramels?
Make sure window coverings are not blocking light I.e. big heavy curtains.
Make sure you have good lighting- lamps etc.

[Camelsshouldnteatcrisps]

I've just put nice greens in a dark room, not bright bright greens but nice light an airy greens. It has made a huge change, really brightened things up and reflected light well. The walls are a kind of cream.

A larger mirror is next on the list... I would agree about being careful with red, it's not my colour of choice for brightening up a room because all of the red items can sort of stand out rather than blend with the rest of the room.

[AgnesBligg]

I agree with above poster that duck egg/ pale blues will chime well with magnolia. Lime greens nice also. NO to painted dado rail, it won't help brighten the room seriously.

[BABYLOU1008]

Thanks for all the advice.

I love duck egg/teal etc but already have it in bathrooms and my bedroom - i think adding it to livingroom might be overkill.

i think i may get a light wood stain and sand down all my woodwork and go with that instead of the paint on the wood.

if anyone could suggest any other colours - not a fan of green - which would possibly look better than the red then i am open to suggestions. would a burnt orange be a better option?

[Dollydowser]

I have pale orange painted walls in my lounge. I have been known to go in to turn off the lights, only to find the lights weren't on, it gives a lovely natural sunlight feel to the room.