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Property/DIY

Help me find a rich colour for my living room!

20 replies

Falcon1 · 28/10/2017 09:49

Edwardian house, lovely period features. Largish north-facing living room which is currently a bland cream. I'd love a rich blue colour with copper accessories for a cosy, sophisticated feel, but can't find the colour I'm after.

I thought about Farrow and Ball's Inchyra Blue but having tested it, it seems more green than blue. Can anyone help?

Also, would you recommend doing the skirting and picture rail in the same colour as the walls, or something lighter? Worried it might look a tad oppressive with a dark colour.

Any suggestions very welcome!

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wowfudge · 28/10/2017 10:15

White with a deep or rich colour really makes it pop. Off whites can look grubby ime. If you use the same colour as the walls, you'll lose impact. Dulux have a good range of blues. Crown Regal Blue is a true, non-greeny blue.

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fufulina · 28/10/2017 10:17

We have just done our north facing sitting room in Stiffkey blue - including the ceiling and radiators. Other woodwork is white. I have a sneaking suspicion I have just done the equivalent of an avocado bathroom suite but I totally love it. It is gorgeous.

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Zoll · 28/10/2017 10:21
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whiskyowl · 28/10/2017 10:22

BIL has just decorated his Edwardian front room with Brassica by F&B. Looks smashing.

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Caspiana · 28/10/2017 10:25

I love Drawing Room blue and am trying to be brave enough to use it in one of our rooms!

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fufulina · 28/10/2017 10:26

Be brave! Doing the ceiling as well is the difference.

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Falcon1 · 28/10/2017 11:37

Thanks for all the replies.

Wowfudge - yes, I'm concerned about off whites looking a bit grubby, but my sister (who works as a buyer for show homes) reckoned that white would 'cheapen' a darker colour and would be a bit jarring. I see her point. She suggested shaded white with Inchyra Blue but the decorator I had round to quote was like 'hmmm, well it's your house....'

Fufulina - I really like Stiffkey Blue but was worried it might be too dark? Also, not sure I'm brave enough to do the ceiling as well! I can imagine it's really cosy in the evening but what's it like as a room in the daytime?

Zoll - I really like that sitting room but think that colour might be a bit bright, if you know what i mean. I'll have to get a sample and try it out.

Whiskeyowl - I like Drawing Room Blue too - don't know why I didn't consider it actually! Another sample to try.

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MovingOnUpMovingOnOut · 28/10/2017 11:41

I was going to say drawing room blue too.

Paint the ceiling white.

Woodwork and skirting are up to you - either the same colour as the walls or white.

If you don't like the woodwork it's not loads to repaint.

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ffauxlivia · 28/10/2017 11:48

Google Van Deusen blue - it's lovely! We want it for one feature wall in our living room. Would look good with coppers

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Falcon1 · 28/10/2017 11:55

Can Deusen blue is gorgeous! Slightly more modern looking than what I'm after though.

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fufulina · 28/10/2017 12:00

It is dark at night - but surprisingly not dark in the day. Weird.

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ElsieMc · 28/10/2017 15:37

Little Greene Bone China Blue. You can get darker or lighter versions. I know someone who did their living room and loved it in a period property. Perhaps a bit of a cop out from the stronger colour you want, but it looks great against white woodwork.

We did our large porch/front door in a seventies vicarage in the lighter shade. I didn't think it would work, but we have had loads of comments on it. We used the lighter shade and people always ask if it is blue or grey.

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emsyj37 · 28/10/2017 18:08

Dulux Denim Drift?

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feve17 · 29/10/2017 11:21

What about Basalt from Little Greene? www.littlegreene.com/paint/colour/deep-colour-paint/basalt

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FactsAreNotMean · 29/10/2017 11:56

I'd definitely go with white woodwork; we've just painted our fairly dark hallway a rich purple and the contrast against pure white woodwork really works well. It wouldn't work nearly so well with an off white IME.

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LesLavandes · 29/10/2017 12:01

You don’t have to use a ‘brilliant white’ paint. There is a standard ‘white. We lived in a Georgian house and had dark blue wallpaper, white ceiling and white woodwork and shutters. It was south west facing so got the sun. The decor worked very well

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IHeartKingThistle · 29/10/2017 12:04

I recently use Dulux Teal Tension (if I'm honest, as a last resort) and I'm gobsmacked by how rich and lovely it is. Really dark teal, more blue than green, and white and colour 'pop' against it beautifully.

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IHeartKingThistle · 29/10/2017 12:04

used, sorry!

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Falcon1 · 29/10/2017 13:53

That's interesting, no one seems to be advocating darker woodwork then.

Not sure about the Dulux colours - not quite the dark rich colour I'm after.

Not sure I'm brave enough for Basalt!

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starshipenterprise5 · 17/10/2018 12:30

What did you go for??! Having the same dilemma. Trying Fired Earth Storm next..

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