HELP!! What have we done??? Pic attached

[QuietThyme]

DH and I live in military housing and had the bright idea that painting our hallway would be a great idea!

There was some good logic behind it. We moved in when it was newly built in 2017 and the walls just had a matt white base coat on them. With two young kids, the walls have become, let’s just say, less white!

We bought some matt but wipeable sage green paint but it looks awful now it’s done. This pic doesn’t show the severity but it’s much darker than we hoped/expected. We have some things to put on the walls which might help but I’m really upset about it. I think it doesn’t help that every other wall in the house is plain white 😩

DH would definitely throttle me if I say I want to change the colour so that’s not an option.

Any ideas on how I can improve this?

It’s a really lovely colour.

I like the colour but the carpet makes it look awful. Some coving would help to finish it.

I like the colour, but the hallway needs softened up with coving to take away the squareness and a softer/warmer light.

Coving would be nice, but would be too much of an alteration when you don't own the house. You do need to create some upwards movement of the eye, though, as everything's still all squashed down visually.

White radiator cover with a trailing plant and a nice saucer/bowl/tray to take random things in like keys, change or a useful but pretty thing, like a clock and a smaller lamp.

Maybe a larger, rectangular mirror above it - one with a nice frame in another brown/bronze/coppery/natural tone to echo the piano's colour, not too chunky. That would bounce any light coming down the stairs into the hallway.

And a standard lamp (bronze would tone perfectly, as your plant stand proves) where the plant is now, bringing the plant forwards to the bottom of the stairs.

Finish off with a runner to protect the carpet - red or dark brown to ground the space.

It's all rather lovely, you just need those extra little bits to make it less of a long green tube and more a room in its own right.

Better?

I think it looks nice tbh.

I like it ,but I do love green walls as a rule anyway!

A large white lampshade plus mirrors will really bring it together.

Honestly OP I think it’s lovely 🥰

Will you have to paint it back to original colour when you march out!?

A jazzy rug?
www.wayfair.co.uk/rugs/pdp/world-menagerie-bowe-high-pile-moroccan-diamond-cream-rug-bunr1386.html

I like it

I love it! Makes the space very warm. Pics on walls to break it up, new rug and maybe a lamp? Job done!

Big mirror or picture, or several, to cover some of it up and dilute the overall effect.

We’re in the process of having our hall, stairs and landing done in a similar colour, though possibly a little bit lighter. I was slightly apprehensive at first, but it’s dried and settled now and looks lovely, I can’t wait until the woodwork is done and the decorations are up!

Looks amazing

This colour is so popular. We have it in our kitchen diner. I love it.

I think it looks lovely.

I would put yellow bits with it

I haven't read the full thread but....

A runner would be good, as would the mirror/pics etc. But the light you have doesn't diffuse enough. It hangs and doesn't brighten. Can you choose a funkier, brighter ceiling light/shade? I think that is key.xx

Your update post does look better, however I would use the shelf for plants And white objects and do a gallery wall above and around it instead. And don’t be afraid to put up more than one mirror (you can put one or two in amongst the gallery wall)

People have already mentioned what I would advise. Mirrors, white shelves, style it up with plants and white ornaments (could also cover some books in white paper), a couple of lamps, picture gallery using white frames/white space in the pictures... you could get a cheap faux fur white sheepskin for the hallway floor (then won't matter if you need to replace now and again)...

Attached a some pics for inspiration.

It's better than magnolia woodchip with the 'interesting' army curtains. An at least the carpet is the nicest of the military housing shades. So look on the bright side!

I think it looks quite homely (after ten years of MQs)

I like it and would like it quite a bit darker !

I think it will be fine once you put some pictures and a mirror in.

It's the carpet that's the issue IMO..... who puts carpet in hallways anyway?

Rip it out and put some laminate in.

It looks great, you just need to add some warmth to it, give it some life. Why not change the lampshade, something which will reflect the light and diffuse it. Put up some of those white art frames on the piano and put down a runner (complimenting the wall colour) on the floor. Happy furnishing...

I think it's nice.

I really like it. Looks super smart.

I like it, I would put a shelve over the radiator (Etsy have some nice ones) and put a nice candle and plant on.

A large mirror/mirrors on the wall would also brighten it up.