NEED HELP WITH DECORATING MY CONDO PLEASE - REALLY BAD AT THIS

9 years ago

Hello Houzzers!
Ok so just bought a new condo and am really struggling with this interior decorating thing. I like clean modern designs.
I attached the image of the style I like off pinterest (modern look). I like the white, navy blue, grey, stainless steel, wood/canvas color look.
What I need help with is the color of my accent walls (where you currently see the flower wallpaper in the image below). I am having the wallpaper removed and having those walls painted to be accent walls.
I was thinking about painting those accent walls it a dark navy blue. My concern is that during the day when the room is bright it will look good but at night I am really concerned that it will look too dark. Is this a common problem with dark paints? Also I think partially my issue is currently my lighting is bad. Will the navy blue look ok if I had better lighting. Below are my questions:
1) What color should my accent walls be? Will a Navy blue be too dark at night?
2) I am exchanging my couch for more of a true grey and plan on having a lighter solid color rug. Does this sound ok?
3) What is the best way to improve lighting, I definitely need lamps and more lights but also have been going with soft white lights
4) Will the style of my kitchen match the look I am going for?

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Lars/J. Robert Scott

9 years ago

last modified: 9 years ago

The accent wall does not have to be the one where the wallpaper is/was. The wall in your first photo shows a lot of light coming in where the wallpaper is, and if you paint that a dark color, it will look even darker. Your inspiration photo shows the accent wall behind the sofa, and so you may want to consider that wall. The drawback with that is that you will not get light reflection from behind the sofa. If you have a TV opposite your sofa, then a dark wall behind the sofa will be very helpful, as you will get less glare/reflection from the wall that way.

It is always helpful to do a color rendering before you paint. If you do not draw, you can use photos and change the colors in Photoshop, but you will need to have the furniture in the photos, one way or another.

Your kitchen will look fine with what you have chosen. Blue is a complementary color to the wood.

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Comments (6)

kelleg69
9 years ago
I will be interested to see what others say. I think you could do a navy wall, but not sure I would do that high one. I have blue rooms. They are done in BM Newburyport Blue. I love the color. One possible good color is SW Naval. There are lots of Pinterest boards and Houzz entries on good blue colors. I would change your can lights to LED. They are brighter. Get them in 2700K. It is a warmer LED light color, but still clean and bright. Maybe do a better fixture where that one is. With several bulbs. I like your inspiration pictures.
cawaps
9 years ago
I'm not normally a fan of accent walls, but looking at where your wallpaper is, I think I like the idea in your space. Including the high walls.
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User
9 years ago
Having those walls painted deep navy or a dark grey will either be dramatically sophisticated or really ugly. And I can't make up my mind which it will be.

I'd paint it deep indigo and live with it for a whole and see how it works.

But I'm tacky enough to put transparent glow-in-the-dark painted stars on it for a night sky.
lizzierobin
9 years ago
First of all, congrats on your new place! Very nice layout. I think the navy where the wall paper is, would look great. The other walls looks like they are painted a light beige/tan. Your ideal look is definitely white instead of that color. White maybe be the trickiest color as there are so many shades of white. You'd want to use a crisp white that doesn't have any undertones. With just the accent walls being navy, I don't think you'll need to worry about it being too dark at night. It looks like you have a fair number of canned lights that will help. I can't tell what the colors of the sheers are, but white sheers would pop on navy walls, and will help break up the navy. The clean flat front of the kitchen cabinets look modern, so you are good there. Your local paint store might have a color expert that take look at your place and give color recommendations according to what you're trying to achieve. Please keep us posted, would love to see how your place turns out.
User
9 years ago
What a nice space you'll have! I would not paint those walls an accent color, particularly not a dark color, as that will give your space a very choppy look. I'd paint it all the same light neutral and let it fill with sunshine.