Help! What exactly isn't working with this decor? (Pics attached)

[Acey68]

I'm in the middle of decorating my new flat and I've just had my hallway done and I used a pic I saw online for inspo (attached along with mine) but I don't love it and I can't quite work out why or what I need to change.
My thoughts are...
Is the dark grey dado just too dark in a real life setting? Should I paint it back to white?
The blue carpet will be changed to a neutral hard floor- could this be why I'm being thrown off?
Are the walls too cream? I used Dulux timeless which lots of people rave about on here and describe as a not creamy white but to me it looks very cream! Should I paint the top PBW to match the woodwork?

Any feedback appreciated :)

Carpet is wrong.
You also need to add the mirror and shelf!

i would paid the radiator the same shade as wall

or a nicer radiator

Op it's fine.Buy a black framed mirror round from dunelm for £30,change the carpet and a little shelf for a plant and it will look lovely.Agree some copper would look nice too.

I paid less than £100 to have mine replaced but the plumber was here to do another job so just added it onto his bill.

I think the top colour needs to be more pink too.

Paint the radiator the same colour as the wall behind it. Take the colour below the dado rail over it - it chops up the wall and is there any need for that? Maybe even use that colour for the woodwork rather than white? it's not a huge space and at the moment it's all chopped up into different colours. At the moment, the paint on the top half looks a bit greeny, but that might be the blue carpet. Once you have a new floor and some zingy accessories as well, it will be great.

You just can’t pick paint colours on the basis of what someone else says is nice in their house. Paint colour will be affected by light, the size of the room, proximity to other colours etc. Literally the only way to do it properly is to put large sample blocks up on each of the walls. The colour will vary dramatically (to someone who notices colour) from one wall to the next.

I think it's a simple matter of new carpet, radiator cover )or paint like wall) and pictures or similar. Maybe a mirror.

It's the radiator and plastic light switch. Can they be upgraded? A cast iron look alike would look good there, or if no budget can you paint it the same colour as the wall? Make the carpet cream or sand colour, and a copper light switch would match beautifully. That white cupboard thing in the first pic, what's that?

I think it's the panelling that adds the sophistication to the old style daydo rail...

It will probably be easier to get a nice radiator cover than replace the radiator. Easily painted and it will add some interest if you pick the right design.

In the inspiration photo the black dado rail only works because it is pulled from the black frame of the mirror. Your room doesn’t have that reference point and that makes it look like instead it’s just 1980s dated

Your top wall looks green

Carpet is not right and the Timeless is too pale. The original picture shows a pinky white at the top.

"It will probably be easier to get a nice radiator cover than replace the radiator."

That's a great idea

These are nice
www.screenwithenvy.co.uk/collections/radiator-covers
But be warned, they are a bastard to put together and you need to make sure you can access the valve

Radiator covers are only about £30 for a basic one, and will give you a shelf to put nice accessories on that will pull the whole lot together.

But others are right about your two colours not matching. Can you go to B and Q and get some match pots today?

If I can reassure you at all I’ve just this week redecorated with timeless and another colour as a feature wall

I left refitting the floor till the end and as soon as the floor colour changed it all came together and the timeless looked perfect

Decorative accents completed it

I used grey brown vinyl plank flooring and the whole family love the look, at the moment your blue carpet is draining all the light from the room in your place I wouldn’t go too dark on the floor to reduce the corridor effect

Is it a period property? I’d rip out the carpet and sand the floor boards, or maybe even paint them. It’s an awkward shape/ space, so I’d have one or at most 2 colours there, that’s including the woodwork. Could you postpone the decorator while you have a re think. Hope you love it all in the end.

I’d paint the radiator the same colour as the wall. Yes, there might be some loss of heat ( doubt it ) anyway it’s massive so hopefully enough warmth for the space.

Basically, it’s not a great space to begin with. It’s a dark narrow hallway with doors, a sloping ceiling and a radiator. With the best will in the world it is never going to be an amazing space. I’d just paint it white and add a few pictures and/or plants for interest.

The problem with all these interior inspo things is that the room is always great to begin with, or they only show a small section. In the real world we’re contending with very compromised spaces.

@Acey68 I am going to go against the trend here - I would paint the radiator to match the colour below the dado rail. You can get radiator paint and get it matched. I think it is the big radiator which is making to look a bit institutional. Painting it will be much cheaper than a radiator cover & will blend in

I did radiator covers once before and much less heat - but not a bad thing as a sort of narrow side board for keys , lamps etc. But to me that radiator is the thing which needs fixing whichever way & then either a lovely big mirror or similar. I have painted hall and bedroom radiators and they look fine and blend in and last .

Will leave floor to others.

All best