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dena45

Oatmeal sofa, pale grey walls, red pillow??? Help!

7 years ago
last modified: 7 years ago

We recently moved into a newly constructed house with SW First Star colored walls. Our sofa looked off white in our older home, but now has a yellow cast against the pale grey walls. It is only 1 year old and I would like to keep it. Does it clash with the walls? Should I change the pillows? Change the rug? Also, I love a clean look but the upper cabinets in the kitchen look bare without decor. I tried placing a few things up there but they just don't seem to go (the dark one is for sizing purposes). I would love some advice. We have only been in the house for 2 weeks so there is a lot to get done and I am at a loss! Thanks for the help! Oh and the lamp shade still has wrapping because I'm not sure I'm keeping it haha.



Comments (30)

  • 7 years ago

    I'm no true expert in color theory, but at first glance it looks like your new digs are leaning cool and the set up you brought from past place is warm so its not relating or looks off to you.


    New place is so nice!!!! Congrats!! Your furniture, main pieces are neutral enough. Im sure some tweaks with pillows and the likes will be great. Maybe remove all the pillows and play around with some colors next the couch to see what works. The red might in end be fine. But like I say i'm probably not the best advice you'll get here, just might be an easy low cost place to start..

    Dena Concienne thanked dallisondawson
  • 7 years ago

    very nice place! looks very calm and serene. i would try a larger rug to bring some warmth and color through that. once you find the rug you like, then you can get pillows that have colors from the rug. your current rug has a nice blue /purple (?) so try adding blue / purple throw pillows as well. I think a rectangular shaped pillow in between the two large square ones would look really nice on the sofas

    Dena Concienne thanked St561 W
  • 7 years ago

    Too many pillows on the sofas. Edit. But the red could still work. Larger rug, or layer what you have over a sisal or similar.

    Dena Concienne thanked Gcubed
  • 7 years ago

    It looks nice.

    Dena Concienne thanked emmarene9
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    The darker your toss pillows, the lighter the sofa will appear 86 the red ones.





    Dena Concienne thanked BeverlyFLADeziner
  • 7 years ago

    My first reaction was that the whole space would be so much more interesting with sassy, classy, large pendants over the kitchen island. Like maybe carriage lights. And then keep the kitchen streamlined and minimize clutter on the counter & above the cabinets. I’d go a very simple look for the kitchen. I agree that a colorful rug picking up the reddish color of the pillows would add some zing. I would replace the table lamp with something more substantial & colorful. Finally to me the space is just crying for a nice, tall green plant — maybe at the end of the kitchen, or both ends. That would add some warmth, life & texture. A palm or fiddleleaf fig would work. Pretty, pretty space — have fun. Try lots of stuff — & keep the receipt so you can take back what doesn’t work.

    Dena Concienne thanked Sonja Suitor
  • 7 years ago

    I think you need a large, coordinating rug in the eating area off to the left. Yellow and gray work well together. Love the blue more than the red. Nice space, congrats! And some great pendants over the island will let you ditch the lamp too.

    Dena Concienne thanked ShadyWillowFarm
  • 7 years ago

    I think it looks great - a beautiful space. Have you considered a lime green for cushions? I think it depends if you like the look of a pop of color or if you prefer a more integrated mellow look. Purely personal taste! I agree with the other commentator who suggested removing the red pillows and experimenting with fabric colors to see what you gravitate to. In my opinion, you could try navy/French blue, pewter, lime green, cream, white, silver or gold. Good luck!

    Dena Concienne thanked Sarah Devaney
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    I like the red/white pillows [instead of solid red] and nice to warm the appetite too [with rug not so much]. Bev's blue pillows were right on. :)

    And idea for striking at least larger lighting, wonderful.


    Country Cottage Coffee Table Red Antique · More Info


    Country Cottage Coffee Table Blue Antique · More Info


    https://www.houzz.com/products/country-cottage-42l-coffee-table-red-antique-prvw-vr~94882036

    Dena Concienne thanked everdebz
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Rotate pillows as you choose from these:

    Nourison Celestial Sealife Area Rug, 7'10"x10'6" · More Info

    https://www.houzz.com/products/society6-arizona-throw-pillow-indoor-cover-16x16-pillow-insert-prvw-vr~118533876

    Arizona Couch Throw Pillow - Cover (16 x 16 ) with pillow insert - Indoor Pillo · More Info


    https://www.houzz.com/products/nourison-celestial-modern-abstract-area-rug-sealife-710x106-prvw-vr~48205461

    Dena Concienne thanked everdebz
  • 7 years ago

    Following..dark pillows look so much better!

    Dena Concienne thanked csevene
  • 7 years ago

    Rug has blue? this type behind sofa, but for what idk.... helps ease the yes perfection of white... [?]

    Soho Console Table, Blue · More Info

    https://www.houzz.com/products/soho-console-table-blue-prvw-vr~60580839

    Dena Concienne thanked everdebz
  • 7 years ago

    Or this 'weathered' which might go well with weathered counter stools, Idk if there's even room, but could have plants on it, if seen by anyone behind sofa...

    ACME Gorden Console Table in Weathered Oak and Antique Silver · More Info

    https://www.houzz.com/products/gorden-console-table-weathered-oak-and-antique-silver-60-prvw-vr~86741044

    Dena Concienne thanked everdebz
  • 7 years ago
    last modified: 7 years ago

    Different if you don't want white table, or wood stain / stools that are 'light warm' too? No white in the pillow, but those 2 colors are pretty garden not too old-fashioned I guess....

    Camden Cocktail Table by American Drew · More Info


    Floral Garden Pillow Cover Bright Turquoise Blue Hand Embroidered Wool 18x18" · More Info


    https://www.houzz.com/products/camden-cocktail-table-by-american-drew-buttermilk-prvw-vr~90592037

    Dena Concienne thanked everdebz
  • 7 years ago

    Please keep some red so that beautiful KA mixer pops. I'm usually a blue girl but I do like your red. Silly me, not a pro.

    Dena Concienne thanked lizziesma
  • PRO
    7 years ago

    Awesome Beverly. I love it. It needed contrast and you nailed it. Puppy stays because his/her contrast works! Lol. Just kidding there. Adorable dog.

    Dena Concienne thanked Flo Mangan
  • 7 years ago

    I kept adding photos above... hope you can see them once for my thoughts. ;-)

    Dena Concienne thanked everdebz
  • 7 years ago

    Will you have counter/bar stools at the island? They might provide another color coordination opportunity (or complication), and they might break up the expansive white backdrop a bit.


    I want your dog.

    Dena Concienne thanked petula67
  • 7 years ago

    Add some pillows with a darker print. A coffee table and a floral arrangement to add color.

    Dena Concienne thanked HU-547122330
  • 7 years ago

    Wow! You guys have some great ideas!!!! I LOVE the dark blue pillows! We are experimenting with bar stools and haven't put any decor in the kitchen. We won't do a coffee table because of grandbabies.....want them to move freely and not bonk their heads. Love the sofa table idea and plan on doing something like that as well. Definitely changing the drop lights but this is what came with the house. LOVE all these ideas! Thank you all so very much, soooo helpful!


  • PRO
    7 years ago

    You can get a kid friendly coffee table and have a great spot for playing. Even a large ottoman with a tray and a few accessories. Then when grands come wisk the tray away and enjoy!!

    Dena Concienne thanked Flo Mangan
  • 7 years ago

    Following...

  • 7 years ago

    I think once you start to add decor, things will start coming together. My first thoughts were - move furniture/sofa a bit further from counter, add counter stools, I love plants, maybe 2-3 in kitchen, and coffee table with a large tray on top with books, flowers whatever you like and/or need. I do feel a coffee table is important to make the room feel complete. What about a round or square or rectangle ottoman type coffee table (soft for grandkids) I’m not sure if fabric in a solid or print or leather would be best, with castors or wheels that can be moved easily when grandkids are visiting and it would then add seating if needed.
    Congrats on your new lovely home. Btw it’s hard to tell if there’s already enough room for counter stools without moving furniture but I feel like there should be a comfortable space between sofa & stools. I also wonder if your grandkids could possibly try to climb up stools and knock one down on top of them, if the stools were lightweight.
    Pls share photos when your done :)

    Dena Concienne thanked Janet B
  • 7 years ago

    Oops forgot to mention one other possibility, I’m not sure if there’s enough space behind your stove, between the back of stove & wall, but I’m wondering what it would look like if you just leaned a nice sized cutting board or something to that effect behind the stove to break up the large white area above your stove? Maybe white alone would be better, just an idea.

    Dena Concienne thanked Janet B
  • 7 years ago

    We have plenty of space for bar stools and a sofa table with lots of walking room leftover so I am trying out different stools to see what I like....backs, no backs, etc. Maybe I will try out a soft coffee table. My kids always used that space for dancing and such when they were little and so we never got one, but I could push it to the side for seating like you suggested. I like the idea of something in the large white space above the cooktop if I can get something thin enough since there is such a small space between cooktop and wall, like 2". Thank you so much for your wonderful ideas.


  • 7 years ago

    I would take off all the pillows and add a wonderful wool blanket in natural colors as well ...to keep it all serene looking and add a glass coffee table ...can see the rest of the living dining - open area ...but , start slow ..and enjoy your lovely new house !

    Dena Concienne thanked skunst2017
  • 7 years ago

    Houzzers are suggesting a larger, perhaps more colorful, rug in the living room. I agree. I would move the current rug to the dining area. If it is large enough that you can use/move the chairs without having to jump the edge of the rug, it will add some color in that area and you can then find a larger rug for the living room space.
    The kitchen is a bit stark. I would consider a backsplash with some color: washable contemporary wallpaper, tile or even semigloss paint may enliven the area.
    Art will also add more personality to the whole open plan space.

    Dena Concienne thanked felizlady
  • 7 years ago

    I’m not a professional decorator but it seems like the blue fixes the white kitchen/sofa color problem better than the red (at least on my monitor). The sofa table ideas will also pull the two together, as will stools and pendants. Great ideas here. Your house is lovely!

    Dena Concienne thanked RedRyder
  • 7 years ago

    At first glance of your photo, the blue from the carpet needs to be pulled in.

    Dena Concienne thanked Gloria H.
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