How awful is this colour?

[RachyB86]

We have just spent a small fortune having the majority of our home decorated for the first time ever, it’s still ongoing. It has been a huge upheaval and I am fed up of living around the decorator, it is actually making me quite depressed as we are now 4 weeks in…however - I hate this colour paint!! I adore the emerald and gold wallpaper, but the colour is just so drab. Should I book a repaint?! If so - what colour?! (In case it’s not clear, I am not good with this stuff, I thought this would look nice but clearly I got it wrong 😩) everyone is telling me to live with it because I am finding the whole decorating process so stressful they think I’m crazy to voluntarily go through it again, partner included even though he doesn’t like the colour either.

YABU - it’s not that bad, just live with it

YANBU - yes it’s awful, change it (please give a suggested colour too!)

Wallpaper: Boutique Marquise Emerald Geometric
Paint: Dulux Natural Wicker

I’d be going dark with that wallpaper.

Magnolia is awful. We had our new build covered in it. It is now a crisp white. Much lighter and brighter.

I only like walls to be white or a proper colour so I wouldn't chose that. And try 3 months of doing your own house renovations :)

I’m sorry I agree with the majority, it really doesn’t work. The paper could be lovely, but you’d need to pick a dark colour like emerald green or teal to go with it. That colour looks like the stuff you get in poorly maintained rentals,or budget hotels.

I mean it just looks like bog standard Magnolia, so it’s not offensive. But it doesn’t go with the wallpaper AT ALL. I would get a paint to match the wallpaper, but then it will all be very very dark for a hall.

Try Natural Calico Dulux as a neutral colour, we like it as it tones in with both warm and cool tones.

Actually the paper looks ok against the white ceiling so you could just paint white.

OP, when choosing a complementary colour, take a look at a colour wheel.
Contrast is opposite, and complementary is adjacent. In your example, as others have said, a lovely sage green is complementary, as is apple green, but a soft pink would give a nice oomph!

I thought exactly the same! 😀

I'm so glad I'm not the only one thinking this 😬

Sorry OP but it screams dull/boring magnolia to me. I think you need something more vibrant!

I'd try the dulux visualiser app. It's really good and saved me from a few paint disasters!

I'm not keen because I probably wouldn't choose a dark wallpaper. But look at the suggestions for a different paint shade. Agree the paint is too yellow.

Something green I'd say if that really is emerald paper. It does look black in the photos.

The problem with cream/yellow-ey shades is that they can look drab and dirty if you don't get it right, like nicotine-stained walls. You'd be better of going with an off white - personally I wouldn't go dark in a hallway/landing area, especially as it doesn't look like it has much natural light.

I feel your pain though, painting the hall/stairs/landing is a bugger of a job - I'd be tempted to live with it for now and hang some nice artwork to brighten it up.

More wallpaper instead?

The good news is that the paper looks like it's been put up really well - you see so many people posting bad jobs if things like that on here so looks like you have found a good decorator.

Paint is too yellowy I think but after a while you get used to whatever you have so don't feel you must change it if you can't face the disruption or expense.

Its the colour offices, schools, doctors etc are painted.
It is yellow toned and clashes with the.blue. you need something 'cleaner'.

I know you didn’t ask but the proportions of the mirror are very odd.

So much empty space below it and the gray/silver frame clashes.

I think it's fine and you will get used to it

We did similar with a carpet in lockdown, could only buy an offcut off the facebook page of the local carpet store as it wasn't an essential purchase ... it's such a similar colour and looked HORRIFIC until suddenly it looked fine. Bed in the room , cabinets and decor etc

Put your pictures and vases back out and see how it goes

Its gonna cost another X hundred to change

Before repainting could you try changing your lightbulbs to change the lighting and see if that helps. Its going to be costly to redo.

Agree the paint is too yellow and doesn’t sit right with the paper. I’m no fan of either to be honest but it’s just personal taste!
You could try changing your lightbulbs to a whiter bulb - that might change the way it looks quite dramatically! I think aswell you have a white floor but the tones in the wallpaper and paint are warm tones. If you had say a hessian carpet floor it would blend better even with the yellow but it’s the mixing of cool and warm tones for me. Xx

I think it looks smart and bright. I wouldn't stress unless you are planning on selling any time soon.

You need a colour that will bring out the green and gold a gorgeous dusky pink will do that.

I'm afraid I don't like the colour of the walls at all and the patterned wallpaper is hideous. I agree with suggestions that a pale sage would be a nice colour, maybe with a much darker tone for the patterned wall. If the woodwork and preparation has already been done, it wouldn't take very long to cover everything with a couple of coats of emulsion.