I should also mention that I almost went with BM Pale Oak but it looks so cold in this room so am questioning this decision - could be because it’s against the yellow

Try matching paint to a color in the stone around the firebox. It is really difficult with the four very different shades of wood. Is the railing upstairs to code? It looks to be from an era that often isn't.

@decoenthusiaste - thank you! That’s a good idea as we need something to anchor on. The railing isn’t up to code, no. Something we’ll have to replace eventually.

IMO lightin brightens a space much more than paint color . BTW you never test paint on the wall over another color. Get some poster boards 3 max 3 colors of paint you think might work paint 2 coats on the boards and move around in the spaces you want tp paint in all times of the day.I think this color maybe cut up to 25% would be great in that space . I do agree the different colored woods make this harder and honestly that dark wall of FP and shelving is eating light .

I have two north facing bedrooms that I chose BM Soft Chamois for. Seashell is a little brighter. DH liked that one better. I'm not surprised Pale Oak looks dead in a north facing room.

@Patricia Colwell Consulting - by cut up to 25% you mean you can ask for just a quarter of the color be put in the paint when mixing to make it lighter? Sorry if that's a dumb question, didn't know it was possible!

Thanks @kandrewspa - love both of those, think the hints of green in them could go well in hopefully toning down this wood.

I feel the current color makes the room look too "sunny". I'd find something to balance out with the browns as there are too many warm colors right now.

There are several different wood shades here -- it would be nice to keep just two: the dark wood and the flooring, and then maybe paint the orange railing and ceiling wood white? Is that a possibility? Probably not, just a thought.

For the pale oak, try scrolling down on your photo until the yellow is out of the picture -- it actually looks better.

Personally, I think trying to find a neutral that will go with these 3 shades plus the gray of the fireplace stone is just not going to work. I would instead focus on picking a true color, like a BM Woodlawn Blue or the Healing Aloe proposed above.

This is BM Buckland Blue with Harbor Haze above it:

But if you're willing to paint 14-16+ feet up, you could also paint the railing and ceiling panels white, nd the white instead of orange there will really make a difference.

How about if you painted the wood panelling surrounding the fireplace the same white as your wainscoting? Then you wouldn't have so may different colours of wood and you'd be able to choose the wall colour that complements your furniture (not shown). You can also paint the railing in a charcoal colour to compliment your walls if you opt for the pale gray colour. You can also spray paint your fireplace doors in black (use heat resistant paint such as for BBQ's).

Thanks @lisedv for the mock-up here - I was considering painting the railings white but love the charcoal idea that didn't cross my mind! We've been debating painting the built-ins, I think that'll be a more expensive undertaking but seems like we need to just generally get rid of all of this wood. Also love the tip on spray painting the fireplace doors!

@Emily L - Yeah it does seem like too much to try to coordinate - we are planning on painting the rails but I think you're right, we should consider doing the ceiling as well. Thanks for your input!

I would paint over the faux cherry built in in a second. You have white trim elsewhere, match that. The red ‘cherry’ looks terrible with the other orange wood and is really formal for the architecture of the space.

@HALLETT & Co. I hear you, if the built in was faux I would have painted it a long time ago but I for some reason feel guilty painting it since it's solid cherry. I couldn't place my finger on why it seemed so mismatched but you hit it on the head in that it just is way too formal for the architecture of the space/house overall.

The ceiling could look amazing if painted white!

I agree with others, the one thing that is not working with everything else you have is the cherry built in.

Have you considered having it removed rather than just painting it?

Just paint it! You don’t like it, most strangers here don’t like it, paint it! It will still be there. The horrible red stain obscures it’s cherryness anyhow. Your house, do what you want. (Which extends to keeping it obviously if that’s what you prefer!)