Colour schemes for living room

[SpecialHandsMummy]

We have just moved into a house and want to redecorate the living room. But apart from wanting to lift the carpet and sand/stain the wooden floors, I have no idea about colour schemes and looking for ideas. The room itself is a good size (16 foot by 13 foot), is south facing, with an 8 foot wide window. So, it has plenty of light. Any suggestions?

I love grey. It looks v elegant if you get a warm one.

What colour were you thinking of staining the floor?

I have stone by homebase, slightly darker than dulux natrual hessian its a warm colour, without being to overpowering.

What colour is your sofa or are you starting entirely from scratch? (My dream...) I love grey too, we have polished pebble in the living room and it is beautiful. Although I am wondering whether the grey trend will be completely naff very soon...

Also what style house? Old, modern, high ceilings, shelving etc etc...

Oh I hope grey doesn't become naff. I am addicted to it and my house is slowly turning grey.

According to interior design magazines pastels are the new thing. So pastel mint greens and coral pink colours.

I'm a bit nervous when it comes to colour but if you're not it seems to look very fresh and modern.

Can you use grey in a room if you have brown leather sofa? I love idea of grey but can't afford to change sofa and I feel those colours would be a bit crap together?

They'll be fine together as long as you add other colour elsewhere; autumnal colours, apricots, deep blush pink, burnt orange etc in the cushions/rug/pictures would look great and tie it all together really well. Spring greens also really pop against the grey.

I'd not use a blue grey with a brown sofa but a warmer grey would look fine. Or try elephant's breath or dusted cappuccino which are brownish greys.

You have to start with what you are keeping, so clearly the carpet is going, what colour is your sofa? What colour are you staining the floor?

Paint is the last thing to choose because it is available in hundreds of colours whereas that cushion you think is gorgeous is just one particular shade of whatever.

Have a look at Pinterest or Houz for inspiration on what colours go with what. In Pinterest just put in living rooms into the search or a particular colour so grey living rooms if that is something you like.

Also think about what rooms you can see your living room from. It is just worth considering when you might see a colour clash when say you are in the hall and the colour for the hall is a weird combination with the lounge.

If you stand in the hall and see 3 rooms, hopefully the colours won't jar.