wall paint colors to tone down a terra cotta floor

last year

hello houzz-mates!

our new house has a finished basement with a terra cotta tile floor (listing photos attached; not our furnishings). eventually we hope to replace the floor, but for now we're trying to make it work. ceilings are low and white, and there is an open kitchenette with light wood cabinets in the visual mix (see photo). there's not a lot of natural light. we're open to painting the walls, baseboard, trim, doors; probably not the ceiling and not the cabinets.

the current green paint color gives me a southwestern vibe against the terra cotta, which i want to avoid. we'd like to create a more subdued, cozy and contemporary mood. we plan to use this room as entertaining space. there will be a bar, art on the walls, and probably a couple area rugs. the room you see through the windowed door will be our den/music studio where we'll hang out and jam with friends. i'm thinking the wall color in the terra cotta room could extend into the music room.

the furnishings we'll probably bring in lean towards a neutral, woodsy palette: mostly browns, with olive, brick, and olive accents, dark wood tones, a few mid-century and vintage lamps/accessories.

upstairs is a very bright, modern color scheme (mood board attached). obviously, it's not on the same floor, but i like it when a palette/decor feels cohesive as you move through the house.

i would love your suggestions for a new paint color--or do you think this color will work? also welcome any suggestions to make the kitchen fit in a bit more visually.

many thanks!

mark

Featured Answer

PRO

BeverlyFLADeziner

last year

These neutral color work nicely with the terra cotta flooring.

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Comments (13)

PRO
Lori Sawaya
last year
a neutral, woodsy palette: mostly browns, with olive, brick, and olive accents, dark wood tones

Those elements will inform the paint color. For example, Dry Sage shows up looking more olive than Nantucket which is more neutral, has more grayness. If you want to go in the brown direction, the value of the dark wood tones matters; do you want to go a little lighter than or darker than. Example of a woodsy, near neutral palette:
Mark Houghtaling thanked Lori Sawaya
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la_la Girl
last year
If it were me, I would want less contrast between the walls and ceiling (I feel like that hard line between the two shortens the space) I would go with a warm white for the walls and ceiling
Mark Houghtaling thanked la_la Girl
PRO
steveetheridge
last year
Will suggest a softer and very pale moss green to act as a foil for the terra cotta tile.
Mark Houghtaling thanked steveetheridge
Jennifer Hogan
last year
Looking at photos with different colors can help determine the personality you want the room to portray white and olive tones were suggested. Blues and soft peach can also work.
Mark Houghtaling thanked Jennifer Hogan
Delete This
last year
last modified: last year
Well the trick is finding a color scheme that INCLUDES terracotta. Your #3 image above does not. Trying to ignore it and pretend it doesnt exist will make it stick out more, not less. Oranges/terra cotta is quite fashionable these days, so you shouldnt have trouble finding something you like. Google images for terra cotta + whatever other color you might want. Have seen some which combine terra cotta + light gray-blues which were stunning. Love the pics above which combine terra cotta (a natural earthy material) with wood tones.
Mark Houghtaling thanked Delete This
thinkdesignlive
last year
Any green colors will make the terracotta color more vibrant/noticeable. Stick with Beverley’s palette or warm whites like SW Shoji white. Then, your terracotta will be more neutral leaning. I like the gray blue tone of the House Beautiful shot above as well. The stools in that shot lean in to the terracotta color which makes the floor look intentional and cohesive.
Mark Houghtaling thanked thinkdesignlive
tracefloyd
last year
@la_la Girl is correct. The same color for walls and ceiling (and trim) will really open up the space. A warm white like Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee is not too stark. Flat for walls and ceiling, semi-gloss for trim.
PRO
Sabrina Alfin Interiors
last year
Basements tend to be dark and dreary, so I'd keep the paint colors light. Benjamin Moore's Simply White, Sailcloth, or White Dove would all be great options.
apple_pie_order
last year
Page through the new brown, beige and terracotta Restoration Hardware catalog for inspiration. You will need large thick rugs in the music area to prevent reverberation and echoing from the hard surfaces.
PRO
User
last year
last modified: last year
skmom
last year
You will probably want to stay away from blue or green walls. While I think it looks great, they are kind of opposites on the color wheel from orange, which is what the floor kind of is and what you’re wanting to tone down. I really like the dark greys that Beverly posted, or a nice wam white would also look nice I think. (But those dark greys are amazing with it and I wouldn’t have thought of that, so cool!)
Michael McDougall
last month
I’d actually go with with a rich dark terracotta.. i had a combo of vivid white in some rooms and terracotta in others. I have pale terracotta tiles throughout my house. Navy works well too.