Sorry, to be clear are you asking what color to paint the mantle or the walls around the mantle?

Your decision about what to paint the fireplace surround & the walls surrounding the fireplace are determined by the style you want to establish for the room and any existing rugs or furnishings you plan to use in the room.

Here are some examples.

@sabrina the walls around the mantle. Sorry that was unclear.

Got it. Though I very much like Beverly's suggestions. Having everything--both the mantle and the walls-- all one color is really beautiful. With a navy sofa, I might go for a taupe or even a green.

It seems a timid and odd choice to paint just the walls around the fireplace but not the fireplace or the rest of the room for that matter. Say more about why just a tiny touch of color in the room? I'd go all white and get fantastic artwork for above the mantle, or commit to a different color in the room entirely. Afterall, if you are going to be changing the room in the foreseeable future, why not go all out and have some fun with color now?

@beverly I really like some of those options!

@Sabrina, I hadn’t really thought about painting the mantle to match the walls, but I do like it in Beverly’s photos suggestions.

@kendrah, there’s lots of colour in my furnishings and artwork. What you see as timid, I see as more cohesive. Yes, I may need to repaint this smaller area in the future, but that’s a lot less work than the whole room!

If there is a lot of color in your furnishings and artwork don’t make things busy by adding a ‘feature’ wall. That’s a tired hgtv conceit that works in 5% of houses where it’s tried. Consistency always works.

Yes, whether some of the folks who frequent this forum are aware of it or not - or personally like it or not - accent walls have a place in design that goes beyond the latest “HGTV” trends, etc.

And for highlighting architectural features, such as a fireplace, the use of color is certainly a viable design option.

Have you considered a blue?

@freedomplace1 I stared thinking about blues until I walked past this artwork in our hall. I think it had all the colour elements I’m looking for, so if I can pull out one of the greens, I might try that first.

Here are a few you can try, Tarai. Samplize.com .

Am not a big fan of accent walls in most situations with the exception of very modern style. So, will advise you to paint the wall of the fireplace the same color as the rest of the walls in the room. If your furnishing and artwork are very colorful as you said would suggest you let the walls be the background. Do like you plan of having cabinetry on both sides of the fireplace eventually.

Here is some inspiration for you, Tarai. In a couple of these, the sofa is backed up to the fireplace - which you would probably not do - but it’s just to show some of the design elements from another vantage point. I based these on your info that you have a navy sofa, a white side chair, plus blue and white rug. And also taking into consideration your art; although unfortunately not your exact art in these and btw I love your art. So the idea is - without seeing your actual furniture and knowing your overall style - these are just some general views for inspiration, and maybe some ideas. Keep in mind, some of these have glass coffee tables - and I NEVER recommend glass for people who have children and/or teens in the space. And if glass is used, always tempered glass. (Just have to say all that, because you never know. )

Pulling paint color from your art makes so much sense to me… there are unlimmitted possibilities to color to choose from.

This is one way to build a room.

Here are the colors pulled from this print. It's what my computer matched to the print.

Here are rugs that have those colors.

Here are sofas that are similar in color.

@norwood yes the goal is to have cabinets and shelves beside the fireplace at a later date.

@freedomplace1 wow! I love all of those!! Is there anyway to figure out what green colour was used?

@BeverlyFLADeziner thanks! I didn’t know there was a way to generate a palette from an image, but those are great.

I’m glad you like the visuals, Tarai. I put them together with AI, using various word prompts. As far as the paint colors: In some of them, I just used ”dark green” for the accent wall color. In some, I specified BM Vintage Vogue. I did a bunch of them, and just posted the ones I thought were the best for this. Also, I don’t know how accurate this particular AI is in translating specific paint color requests. I will say that of the ones I posted, these three look to be the closest to BM Vintage Vogue - at least they appear to be on my device.

So much of it depends on lighting, in terms of how any paint color appears and how it translates to your particular space.

@freedomplace1 so cool you did this with AI! I picked up a swatch for Vintage Vogue today :) we’ll see if this will work in my room.

Thank you. I think AI is my official new SO. 😂

And YAY!! I love Vintage Vogue! I hope it looks great in your space. :)

Also freedomplace1, where did you find the fabulous bird art? Great job pulling those rooms together

Awesome inspiration, Freedom! I really like how blue sofas look with green walls …

I love Vintage Vogue, too. I have this room with it saved on IG … just posting to show it in various lighting —

Please post updates with what you decide, Tarai. :)

Thank you, Jilly! :)✨

And I agree, the blue and green combo is very rich. All of the Vintage Vogue shots you posted are great! 👌🏼

I’m glad you posted the room with the sconces flanking the fireplace, because I had been thinking of suggesting that Tarai could do that on her fireplace feature wall; the lighting could be used at times in the day, too. A lot of indoor spaces don’t have a lot of natural light. Oftentimes these ”daylight” shots are actually done with a ton of artificial camera lighting. Electricity is a good thing. :) Battery operated sconces are available, also.

Thank you so much, @Heather Brookes! :)

I put the visuals together using various word prompts with AI. For the art, I think I mostly just used the words ”exotic bird art” .

I do not have a problem with an accent wall but we need a lot more info as to what the rest of the sapce looks like . I really dislike shelving filled with mostly stuff that does not need display . I do however like a lower cabinet on either side of a FP with art above or even the TV above one if you must have tV and FP in the same space .I need to see the rest of the space and IMO an accent wall is decided after all the other elemnets are in place . Yes I often use my art to make choices about wall color and the odd accent wall. I do not start with the accent wall.

Painting is finished and I’m so happy with the end result. The room feels lighter and brighter, but the dark green on the fireplace wall allows the fireplace to blend in more and emphasizes the artwork.

Thanks everyone, especially @freedomplace1, for the encouragement.

One more with the fireplace on :)

Looks stunning, Tarai!!✨✨✨

Amazing... I love the way you did it just on the surround and wall area above; really emphasizes the architecture of the fireplace and room. And I love the green you chose! Perfect.

It really is an incredible backdrop for your beautiful art. I ❤️ birds. And I love the white and green polka dots! And the bird lamp! So brilliant... It’s all in the details... :)

I am so glad to help, but I really don’t think you needed my help, Tarai! You knew what you wanted and you went for it! This is exciting. :)

Tarai - what paint color did you use for the walls around your fireplace?

Looks great, I love the colour

@dani_m08 after MUCH trial and error I settled on BM Webster Green. I have always had trouble with green paint as the swatch never seems to match the wall colour once it is painted. I always get a test pot (or several!) before committing to the full wall.

@home interiors, if you scroll up, you’ll see I have that Audubon print in the hallway ;) a mirror won’t work here because the reflection would be my kitchen, and I like this print.
I think when I get the bookcases installed and organized, it’ll look more complete.

The Audubon print is huge; it would literally (not figuratively) fit in this space.

Yes, it’s close to 55” tall. It is hung on hinges to hide a ‘nook’ that was previously used by the former owners for a sculpture. Now it’s a good spot for hiding Xmas presents 🙃

Not entirely sure what we’ll do for the bookcases. Definitely lower cabinets and some shelves; I like the idea of tying in the green too.

Art doesn’t have to “match” a space unless one is decorating a hotel room - and even then, depends on which hotel.

How is the art “not working in this particular setting“ ? Especially when this particular setting happens to be your home? And you happen to like this art?

That is what goes on here 24/7. Judgments regarding people’s art choices. Who likes or doesn't like any given art and/or where they think the art should go. When people allow random strangers on the internet - or anyone anywhere for that matter - to dictate what art they hang in their homes - it’s over.

@home we’re quite proud of that solution (re nook).
I definitely appreciate all the advice and I agree it’s helpful to have different eyes. Some advice will work and some won’t, and it often depends on our own individual preferences. I might try that piece on a different wall when we do more for this room, but for now it’ll likely stay put - it makes me smile when I think about my former career doing research on birds (including a few of the species it depicts).

@freedom thanks for your comments too. Sometimes design and decor can be so discouraging for me when I get a lot of ideas completely contrasting what I was considering. I’ve appreciated your thoughtful and helpful suggestions thoughout.

@home love that piece! Yes, I like the look of connecting the green on the bookcases. Although, my initial sticking with just the fireplace wall and surround was based on another image I liked too.
We’ll be doing the kitchen (at the other end of this room) at the same time and I also want to make sure those make sense together too.

You’re welcome, Tarai. It has been my pleasure!

You have great instincts and I think you can trust them. You have great taste and a great eye. Not to mention, it is your home.

You said that you like the current bird art against the dark green backdrop and I agree it looks great. And just overall, imo, art is a non-negotiable - unless someone specifically asks for input - which of course, you did not.

HIWE - if looking at your absurd posts ruffled my feathers, I would really have no feathers left.