Replacing grey with beige/browns?

[Noppert180]

When we bought our house in 2018 it already had grey (goose down) walls and a grey carpet so I just went with it and fell for the 2020 trap of EVERYTHING GREY. I am now fully over the misery.
I want to go for a mid beige/brown walls and I’ve just bought dulux malt chocolate but I’m not sure - what do you think?

sand the paint down if it is natural wood and then do wood varnish.

I’ve just put Leyland Fresh Dough which is a warm white with pink undertones in a hallway with a lot of unstained wood panelling (which is staying as it is).

it looks really good.

I cannot stand brown walls though. As a 1970s child I have a deep deep aversion.

I would agree that you need a neutral or another colour rather than brown all over.. To find it, what works for me is to find one thing that I love, and definitely want in the room, and then use that to build a palette . I’ve just done a bedroom. I knew I wanted pink, it’s a north facing room with a horrible outlook onto a brick wall, needed warmth. I knew I wanted a slightly deco vibe because that suits our 30s house. but first I chose a blind for the window, mainly blue but with some pink
and green. I built the whole room around that.
Look at your room, is it bright or dark, which way does it face, how do you want to feel when you are in there, what do you like?
I like your fire surround and the mirror. I think earth toned neutrals would work with those. I might want it to feel a bit boho, relaxed. I might think about some natural textures like jute and rattan, a couple of big plants. I would look at Art U.K , buy a £15.00 print that had an atmosphere and colours I like, get some carpet samples, maybe look at interior magazines for inspiration. Then I would start thinking about the wall colour because it is much easier when you know what it needs to work with.

If you’re thinking of a chocolate brown sofa, I’d go for an olive green type colour on the walls. It’d go with the woodwork and once you’ve changed the carpet and sofa it could be really warm and cozy.

I've never liked grey and always gone for warmer colours - my favourite is Joa's White from Farrow and Ball in modern emulsion. It's warm, biscuity, easy to live with and the modern emulsion resists wear and tear without looking at all shiny. Some might say it is too expensive (and I know decorators are often critical of it) but it has been twelve or so years since we decorated our hallway in it and whilst the woodwork is chipped and needs re-doing, the walls are still in really good shape.

If you don't want to fork out for F&B, then go for the paint second on the left - easy to live with, goes with most things, a bit of warmth but neutral enough and get yourself some nice new cushions with chocolate brown. Decide for yourself whether you want to go matt or silk. As I said, F&B modern emulsion doens't look that silky on the wall but has all the benefits of a silk emulsion.

I deviated a couple of years ago and tried Stirabout by F&B - a porridgey beige/grey. I was pressed for time, doing the decorating myself and so when it first went on I was horrified to see that it looked quite grey. It dried up quite well though but given the option, I would change it for the warmer tones of Joa's White in a heartbeat.

Good luck!

Grey is just another neutral (like magnolia or beige) that can be layered.

Like any paint colour it looks different in every room, light, time of the day.

Our rooms have very pale grey walks but layered with dusky blues and greens, & olive. Rattan rugs with black edges, loads of plants and large black and white prints, comfy sofas and retro furniture. Looks fab.

I absolutely hear you. As a child of the 1970's I remember my best friend painting the living chocolate brown and then a few weeks later it being re-painted with something more liveable.

I used Cashmere on the walls, with white woodwork. Accent colours teal and pink. Of course I like it! It was magnolia with dark brown woodwork. Big change.

Look at Dulux Summer Linen or Natural Hessian. Although it would be best to wait to choose the paint until you’ve got the new flooring and sofa if possible? I would also be tempted to paint the woodwork white at the same time if you can!

Dulux Bleached Lichen is a greige. Farrow and Ball elephants breath as well.