Dark on light or light on dark?

[Gentleness]

We are at loooong last getting sorted with living room storage - 3 wide Billy bookcases with the middle one missing it's lower shelves to be an alcove for my son's table and ride-on toys.

I was pretty sure we were going for oak effect against an off white wall - not perfect with dark wood floorboards and kind-of mahogany colour / dark cherry piano and sideboard, but the black-brown just seemed too stark. And white on white too cold.

Then I had one of those moments, you know, sitting on the loo, lightbulb idea...

What about getting white bookcases, but paint the wall a dark coffee/grey neutral? We go for off white walls usually as our pics and general decor is eclectic and colourful, so neutral sets it off best. Gut on a bookcase wall, I reckon a change might be manageable...

What do you think?

Not gut. But. [rolleyes]

I'd stick with your Billys in that dark colour that Ikea do. I painted my walls dark grey-black (admittedly a conservatory, so very light anyway) and was pleasantly surprised by the effect of lots of woods together against the grey. Think coffee shades would look ok too. If it gets too much, factor in some ivory/ cream accessories or perhaps some red. Think off white wouod be a bit bland.

I would go for white, I think dark furniture can look a bit coffin-like. I also think white is a better background for storing colouful toys etc.
But yes why not paint the walls a darker colour, think this woudl look good with your dark floor and piano too.
I have started using F&B Charleston Grey match emulsion and it looks very good with dark wood.

I like the idea of painting a wall rather than the dark shelves, but I think either would work really. We actually painted our billy shelves (and added a bit of skirting and moulding so they looked sort of built-in, and less ikea-y). They came out better than I expected and wasn't too hard to do with a small roller.

Wow Sparky they look great!
Re the moulding at the top, how was it fixed?

I painted our walls and then had lots of white shelving built in (did it myself - preen) - looks really good. I don't like wood effect products- white looks fresher and more modern.

Thanks! I was very proud of them. It was a few years back, but if i remember correctly, just carpenter's glue and little skinny nails.