"I think it looks a little dull." Oh DO you, DH?? Do you REALLY! ffs

[SagaNorensLeatherTrousers]

Goddamnit.

So, DH and I have just bought a fixer-upper mid-terrace that needs a lot of TLC.

Since Day 1, DH has said he's stepping back when it comes to decorating. Ha bloody ha! They always say that, don't they?

So I have put a lot, and I mean A LOT of thought into colour schemes. Something warm, inviting, will not box in our tiny lounge, incorporates his style, my style, furniture we can't yet afford to replace, the dark wooden floors I really, really want (and persuaded him to save up for instead of the 1970's cheapo carpet he had in mind ), etc. etc.

I've spent hours on Pinterest, Houzz, and home decor blogs trying to get inspiration and insight into what we could paint our walls to turn it into the living room from which dreams are made.

I finally narrowed it down to some lovely, wispy grey Dulux colours and picked up the strips today to excitedly show DH.

His verdict? Dull.

Dull. Dull. Dull.

So, 'What did you have in mind, then?' I ask through gritted teeth. He doesn't "really know."

I explain going bold will shrink the room. Going neutral (beige, cream, taupe) is not us.

He agrees.

I show him Pinterest boards with my inspiration rooms pinned on. Bold pops of colour, floor pillows, walls with grey that look lush and fill me with glee.

Oh Christ I can't even be bothered to finish this rant. Basically he's back-peddled but the word DULL is ringing in my ears.

Back to the drawing board. Has anyone looked at grey paints lately and seen something with a blueish hue to it? I'm thinking if I can find a jazzed up grey it might conjure up a little enthusiasm on DH's behalf.

Your post at 11.05 with the green pic. I moved into a house almost entirely done in this. In the dead of winter in normally light filled rooms it made us suicidal.

Yeah that's the wrong green.

Why don't you like sage? I think it's a lovely restful colour without being drab. I'm probably going to go for Dulux Celtic Forest in the recesses when I come to repaint the living room. It's too expensive for the whole room (large open living room and dining room).

I do like Cooking Apple green as well.

I don't know, I think it's because my Shabby Chic Mother has sage in her bedroom. Just a personal quirk, nothing wrong with it per se.

I don't mind a spruced up sage or a sage with a twist.

I'm falling in love with Cooking Apple Green.

Cooking Apple Green is quite sagey, anyway. But it's sage with a twist, because in certain lights it gets almost a lime tinge, it seems.

Just to give another point of view. Our downstairs is painted in a very pale blue. Quite bright, not baby blue, more like the sky IYSWIM. Wooden floors. It's a smalll house and IMO it looks great. We didn't choose that colour as we rent but it has a nice neutral yet modern look. And makes it look quite bright.

A bit like this

It's a dulux colour (I know as there used to be a jar of it in the utility room).

That is lovely, MissHC. I think I need to step back and think.

Sorry haven't read whole thread but our house has a palette of mainly blue grey colours (with two exceptions!). We have used Johnstones matched F&B in the following and in order of how much I love them:

Borrowed light - beautiful pale blue grey
Blackened
Skylight

Exceptions are kitchen which is greeny grey burford grey units, Wimborne white walls and railings feature wall. All lush. Oh and playroom which is cooking apple green.

Back garden (which can be seen from most of downstairs) is also in the blue theme with Cuprinol blue paint - think it was cornflower smth or forget me not.

Blue grey is gorgeous and so calming, I would use it again without hesitation.

I chose all our decor and woe betide my DH if he called it dull!!!

That blue bedroom looks like Dulux's Cornflower white which is a lovely pale blue, its very cool so probably not good for north facing rooms.

I have had FB's cooking apple green which I loved but it is a proper sludgey green. A paler version would be F&B's Bone. I suspect this is probably too sludgey and not clean enough for you though.

Ooh interesting, MissS.

Borrowed Light is beautiful. Borrowed Light might be the one!

Borrowed light is STUNNING! We have it in our lounge where it looks classy, warm (yes) and airy and in our master bedroom (loft) where it looks airy, reflects all the sky/windows and is very calming. In our kids bedroom we have Craig and Rose Porcelain Blue which is a brighter, funkier take on Borrowed light and really suits the room (had big bay window, bunting and shutters). Love blue!

Am I missing something here? Of course grey is dull. By bleedin' definition it's dull. I don't see your problem op? Your dh isn't stopping you from using grey paint, he just thinks it's dull. Well, he's right, isn't he? A grey wall in isolation is incredibly dull.

Then, it stops being dull when you offset it with bright colours, or pure white, or natural wood...

It just comes down to personal taste - I find blues and greys to be cold, cheerless and, with a lot of greys, drab. Others will see calm and sophistication. I prefer warm colours which are cosy and make a room appealing and inviting, especially when artificially lit at night which is when, IMO, cold colours look dreadful.

grey is dull. i agree with him.

it's also very 'on trend' i think. 5 years ago you didn't have loads of people painting their walls grey.

Margot that sounds lovely (the warm colours looking nice when artificially lit bit). Do you have any examples of such colours?

A friend of mine recently did a room for a client with camel coloured walls pure white woodwork and darkish green velvet sofas it was beautiful really cosy but still stylish and classic looking but it felt really individual too

Ooh! I suppose I could fake the green velvet sofas for now by finding a green velvet throw or something. What
colour curtains, noddy?

It had shutters! No curtains sorry

Shutters!! Mind=blown

Sorry I got tied up - our living/dining room is Egyptian Sand which is very warm and probably an acquired taste. The room gets a lot of light with big bay at the front and huge window at the back. Through the day the colour can look anything from clotted cream to old gold, with sand and mustard inbetween.

I actually wanted more of a true sandy colour (or camel as NH mentioned), and in some lights it's too yellow. But it is lovely and cosy, although I know a lot of people would think it sounds hideous. We have a persian style rug, lots of bookshelves and books, houseplants, wooden blinds and dark red cushions and throws and it's really warm.

I fancy a change now so looking at the Celtic Forest now.

Margot...that sounds wonderful. And exactly what I want to achieve.

Tell him he's dull and leave it at that.

Chances are he hasn't a clue what he's talking about.

Thanks. You obviously like a broad spectrum of colours .

I do! I really, really do. It's the size of the room that made me think I need to keep it fairly neutral. I want warmth, cosiness. I want you to come in, put your feet up, throw a blanket round you and dive in to a good book while enjoying a fat mug of tea. I want the kids sprawled out on the floor, the dog in her bed, and everything to feel calm and restful. I just have no idea where to begin to achieve this.