Ladies, I need your ideas

Margies3 · #1 01-23-2009, 10:48 AM

We are having our living room painted next week. We have new light brown carpet. Our furniture, which I don't have the money to replace right now, is forest green.

So here are my questions:

1) We've never had anything but plain white walls. This is not an especially huge room, but I'm seriously considering getting a very light version of the forest green color for the walls. What do you think? Will it make it look too small? Or maybe a light tan???

2) Here's the biggie!! I hate the drapes we have right now. They're old, old, old! I am so ready for a change! We have a large picture window on one wall and a smaller regular size window on the other wall. Do you know any sites that have good drapes at decent prices? Do you have any great ideas for drapes? Would you go for the green color or for the brown?

I'd sure appreciate any input or suggestions any of you might have.

Pressing-On · #2 01-23-2009, 11:05 AM

Margie,
I wouldn't go with the green. It will stifle you. You could do an accent wall, if it is a green you really want to use.

You could also do a wainscoating effect having the top portion a light color and the bottom something darker - a lighter tan. I have a really light tan - I believe it's called Swan's Wing.

That allows me to make changes in the room without having to repaint. You may run into problems later if you purchase new furniture and drapes.

I think Ross Dress For Less is a great place to find name brand curtains that have been passed from places like JCPenny because of being discontinued, etc. I always check there first.

Having been a seamstress since 9th grade, I am finding that it is becoming considerably harder to find excellent fabric in your local fabric stores. They don't offer quality anymore and it's cheaper to purchase curtains than it is to make them.

If you happen to run across an excellent, elegant pattern in a tablecloth (63x108) they make very beautiful drapes. You have to buy the same length in a cream or white linen/cotton for the backing which gives it body.

You could also wallpaper the bottom half of the room. You'll probably find some excellent rolls on sale at Lowe's or Home Depot right now. It really doesn't use that much. You can then purchase an inexpensive pre-made chair rail, paint it and put that up. Instant room. Well, almost instant.

ForeverBlessed · #3 01-23-2009, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margies3

We are having our living room painted next week. We have new light brown carpet. Our furniture, which I don't have the money to replace right now, is forest green.

So here are my questions:

1) We've never had anything but plain white walls. This is not an especially huge room, but I'm seriously considering getting a very light version of the forest green color for the walls. What do you think? Will it make it look too small? Or maybe a light tan???

2) Here's the biggie!! I hate the drapes we have right now. They're old, old, old! I am so ready for a change! We have a large picture window on one wall and a smaller regular size window on the other wall. Do you know any sites that have good drapes at decent prices? Do you have any great ideas for drapes? Would you go for the green color or for the brown?

I'd sure appreciate any input or suggestions any of you might have.

I would go with a lt brown/taupe color on the walls... but watch that you don't lean yellow... you have to be careful with those brown shades... I have a lt brown color that tends to run towards olive green, but it works because there is olive green in my couch... my carpet is also a very light brown.

There isn't a white wall in my house.. it is the house of many colors.. lol White mouldings and colorful walls.

If the room is small, go with lighter shades..but if the ceilings are high and room larger, you can get away with darker colors.

As far as drapes... I can't help you there... I don't like window coverings.. lol I have three windows in my living room... two of them large 60 inches plus and none of them have anything up to them... I like it open. House sits up about 3.5 feet above street level, so I am not concerned with everyone looking in.

I do like tab curtains though... and they aren't expensive... and I've seen some really pretty decorative rods...

Good luck on your decorating.... sound like fun.

Tina · #4 01-23-2009, 12:30 PM

The walls in my house have been an Antique Ivory forever, and I was so sick of looking at the ivory. I just recently painted the living room with a Balsam Beige paint, and the trimwork will be glossy white when I finish painting it. I love the new colors.

I think you won't be disappointed with the look if you choose a light tan or beige color for the walls.

Esther · #5 01-23-2009, 03:42 PM

If the rooms are small stay away from dark colors.

If you want to make your room look larger you can paint two walls touching the same color and the other two another color.

You can also do as PO suggested and paint one wall green if you really want to bring green into the room.

If it is a room you want to relax in then you need to use nature's colors.

Sherri · #6 01-23-2009, 03:45 PM

My sister's walls are all painted a cocoa color, and believe it or not, it is beautiful with everything!!! Several people looked at the house before they bought it and they didn't want the "brown" walls, but when it has furniture in it, it is absolutely gorgeous and now everyone loves it! Brown is so neutral and goes with everything.

Margies3 · #7 01-23-2009, 03:54 PM

I sincerely appreciate all the good input!! Thank you all so much! I'm really glad now that I didn't run right out this afternoon to buy paint before I waited to see what you all had to say.

You know, it's funny. I'm very artistic. (I say that humbly, by the way. LOL) But interior decorating has never been my strong point. As far as I'm concerned, function is so much more important than beauty. I really have to force myself when it comes to making our house look like a showplace. That's just not my strong point.

Pressing-On · #8 01-23-2009, 03:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margies3

I sincerely appreciate all the good input!! Thank you all so much! I'm really glad now that I didn't run right out this afternoon to buy paint before I waited to see what you all had to say.

You know, it's funny. I'm very artistic. (I say that humbly, by the way. LOL) But interior decorating has never been my strong point. As far as I'm concerned, function is so much more important than beauty. I really have to force myself when it comes to making our house look like a showplace. That's just not my strong point.

Margie,
I am a terrible photographer!!!!!

LadyChocolate · #9 01-23-2009, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Margies3

We are having our living room painted next week. We have new light brown carpet. Our furniture, which I don't have the money to replace right now, is forest green.

So here are my questions:

1) We've never had anything but plain white walls. This is not an especially huge room, but I'm seriously considering getting a very light version of the forest green color for the walls. What do you think? Will it make it look too small? Or maybe a light tan???

2) Here's the biggie!! I hate the drapes we have right now. They're old, old, old! I am so ready for a change! We have a large picture window on one wall and a smaller regular size window on the other wall. Do you know any sites that have good drapes at decent prices? Do you have any great ideas for drapes? Would you go for the green color or for the brown?

I'd sure appreciate any input or suggestions any of you might have.

A tan wall would look nice.... Color blocking is always nice too! As far as your drapes go, Burlington Coat Factory is really good with decent prices with drapes... I just bought mine really inexpensive.... If you have a Burlington close by, it would be worth it to check them out....

Pressing-On · #10 01-23-2009, 04:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LadyChocolate

A tan wall would look nice.... Color blocking is always nice too! As far as your drapes go, Burlington Coat Factory is really good with decent prices with drapes... I just bought mine really inexpensive.... If you have a Burlington close by, it would be worth it to check them out....

I need to run by there!!! I want to re-do my living room. Forgot about Burlington! Thanks Lady Chocolate!!