apartment therapy changing the world, one room at a time

Do the walls have to be such a neutral look?? To me the colors you've chosen are neutral. If you are willing to branch out, I can give you a lot of ideas.

I would consider playing up the oranges and blues that are in the print above your couch. Also, if keeping your walls quite neutral, maybe the fireplace could be a bit brighter than the green you suggested? Maybe even orange! I think that would draw the yellow table into the scheme since it is visible from the LR.

Good luck!

Yes, I am willing to branch out. Anything and everything would be helpful. I'm having a hard time incorporating colors.

Not really a suggestion but... I love it just the way it is :)

First off: Why is the TV in front of the fireplace?

You need a more appropriate furniture arrangement - and a more colorful rug in the center of the living room. You also need a mirror or some artwork above the fireplace - and about half the number of items on the mantle.

The curtains are also too short and low - either replace them or sew a band of a contrasting color on the bottom and rehang them closer to the ceiling. And some pillows on the sofa and decorative items on the coffee table would be a big help - perhaps you could bring some of the yellow from the dinette into the living room?

Take care of these basic things and you may find that you don't need to paint after all...

I see what you mean MelissaLA. I think your furnishings and accessories are great, but instead of trying to add color by accessorizing (like the dining table), I think you should play with bigger amounts of colors. For instance, you could paint one focus wall a bright, cheery color. That way, it wont overwhelm the room or the stuff you already have in it. I would try a sort of kelly green, or a warm pumpkin-y color. Maybe even a bright red that would complement the artwork you have hanging over the couch. Or, since you have hardwood floors, you could add a large, brightly colored rug in the living room. Maybe bring in the yellow from the dining room!

I don't think those paint colors you picked out are going to do anything to "liven" up your place.

I actually think you could re-think your accessories...maybe try patterned curtains, or rug(s) and I would try to add a pop of the yellow from the dining room to the living room...maybe in the form of a toss pillow or vase or something.

The paint colors you've chosen all have a greyish cast to them. Consider the main sources of natural light to your apt...are you NORTH/EAST facing? The light is going to be a lot cooler. If you're wanting neutrals...look for something with a yellow-base to warm things up.

I agree with BEPSF...from what I can see it looks like your furniture is placed along the perimeter of the living room. I'd center the sofa to face the fireplace and maybe move the chair into the corner next to the window where the curtains are. A rug should anchor the sofa area. You could add a colorful sofa table behind the sofa.

The scale of the objects on your mantel is too small, too. And, for the evenings, I'd add more lamps on sidetables to give the place a warm glow.

In short, if your paint job is still in good condition you might be happier spending some money on things like a rug and lamps and new longer curtains.

Thanks for all the suggestions!

A lot of these - mirror, lamps, rugs - I've been slowly trying to make happen but money is slowing me down.

The paint job is bad in some spots/clashes with kitchen tile so that's why I was thinking of painting the whole place. But, maybe I should scale back and paint some walls brighter complementary colors.

JenPDX - the windows face south and west so it gets a ton of light in the afternoon/evening.

I agree with AndreaU use the orange color from the painting. It would bring the cool colors like the yellow tables into play to brighten it all up :)

Painting the walls a neutral is fine with me. I would buy a colorful rug, though in order to bring in color! And maybe a few colorful pillows? How about another painting over the fireplace?

How about using the periwinkle blue in the print for the wall behind the fireplace and leaving the fireplace color as is. It would be nice and light and work with the yellow table and perk up the other nuetrals you have.

I would definitely play up the orange. Do orange/rust curtains (the curtains are bringing the room down), bright throw pillows and an area rug. I wouldn't paint....

Don't go with the blue. That won't liven anything up!

I would change the lampshade to a brighter colour. I would also raise the curtain rod, get longer curtains and run them ceiling to floor, or center the curtains between the floor and ceiling. throw pillows are an easy way to bring in a colour and experiment.
I would move the tv to the side of the fireplace, even if it is a non working fireplace, it looks weird with the tv as the focus. Play up the fireplace - fake logs? candles? hang a small colourful mobile in it?
Hang something over the fireplace - a mirror? art? Textiles? The fireplace is large in scale, and needs something large above to balance it, it looks bare. Tall candlesticks/lamp might help up there also....
Can you cluster the seat/couch coffee table closer to make the area more intimate feeling? Perhaps orient the coffee table at a right angle to where it is now, and put the chair between it and the door? Maybe with an area rug to define the area also?

Keep in mind the time of day that you receive most natural light. You said that it's mostly afternoon/evening light. Afternoon light tends to have a warmer tone to it which will most likely effect your paint choices. Try to view your paint chips in the room throughout the day to see how they work.

I also agree with Bepsf's comments. I would definitely move the TV and fix the curtains, I think that will make a massive difference.

Hmm...Definitely move the tv from the fireplace. I like the idea of painting the wall behind the fireplace and possibly painting the fireplace white, or a contrasting color to the wall.

I also agree with Bepsf, especially about blocking the mantel with a tv...not good. mirror over mantel or big photo or whatever would be nice too.
-the curtains are very down and dragging on the floor' looking. Are they purple? no!!!! ;) If it were me, I would replace them with blinds.
-You have a lot of color here and there, but they jar with each other. For instance, nice looking bright yellow chairs, and then dark green/red cactus plant on top and dark drab rug below. If it were a bright vase flower and nice circulor colorful (matching) rug underneath instead, that would accent the chairs and bring life to the kitchen (just 1 idea).
-It looks like you have nice pieces (furniture and decor), but that none were meant to go with each other. This can be a cool way to design an apartment, but here it doesnt work (the way I see it, the razor-straight lines of the coffee table and sofa demure look of the lamp and tv/stand do not really work well with the modern curvy-lines painting. I like the painting as a central piece to the room. You could start there, and work from that. Even the lamp base goes with it -- the shade does not. Maybe you can find a modern roundish shade for it... You could also add a couple curvy pillows for the couch (in a color that matches something).
-lighting is an issue. This could have been just how you decided to take the photo. But there should be some sort of direction to the lighting. Right now there is no control -- the light comes in from outside, and there's nothing within the room to offset it. Besides the lamp, what other lighting do you have for the rooms? It's hard to tell from the photos.
Good luck!!!

The curtains are too low, but I think they're also too dark. If you need curtains for privacy reasons, you might like to try a layered treatment - mount a shade first, up at the top of the wall, then flank it with long curtain panels on a rod, also mounted at the top of the wall. White curtains over a white shade would keep it light and airy - or add a splash of color with sheer orange curtains. Check out some of the inexpensive panels at Ikea.

Anno Inez Curtain Panel $14.99 each.
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/60083318

Arita Curtain $14.99/2 pack
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/30109193

ENJE Roller Blind $24.99 32 x 98"
http://www.ikea.com/us/en/catalog/products/50130650

Color block the area above the fireplace - tape off vertical lines the same width as the sides of the fireplace and blast up some orange or pull a blue from the print above the sofa. The fireplace in its current color would then pop out and become more of a prominent feature.

It not that there's too much on the mantel, it's just that it appears cluttered in comparison to the lack of accessories elsewhere in the room and there is very little variation in the height of the items on the mantle. Throw pillows are inexpensive accessories and are also a way to introduce more color. Why not place a low stack of books and one of the plants from the fireplace mantle on your coffee table?

Play around with the furniture arrangement until you are happy with the placement. There's no rule that says the sofa must be placed on the longest wall. Once you've found an arrangement that works for you,further define your seating area with an area rug. Some may be against blue, but the right colour of blue will work beautifully with both oranges and yellows.

To truly liven up your space, color is key and you have a wonderful start with both the wall print and your dining set. It's pure hues like those that really add a sense of energy. While the colors you selected initially are attractive, they are quite safe and sedate.

Good Luck!

Start with three things: a rug under the coffee table, pillows on the sofa and a marrior above the fireplace.

If you dont know what color to choose for your rug/pillows, choose your favorite color from the big painting and go with that one for both items! good luck!

Nah, all you need is a bright chinese red trunk!

I'm kidding. Great suggestions so far. Have fun!

have you checked out these color combinations?


Over 200 color combinations from myperfetcolor, Benjamin Moore and Pottery Barn.

http://www.myperfectcolor.com/SearchResults.asp

Check out Pottery Barn spring 2008

http://www.myperfectcolor.com/Benjamin-Moore-Pottery-Barn-Paint-Colors-Spring-2008-MPC-s/3408.htm

You can get a sample for any of thes colors which i think is very important to see how it will look. good luck