how to paint my livingroom walls and shelves

last month

I just got my bedroom and bathroom painted, and I love the bedroom so much that I want to get the rest of my place painted too. My living room and hallways are currently an off white that's a little yellow, kind of close to the way BM Lemon Ice or BM Ancient Ivory look. there is built in shelving and top to the cabinets that is currently a dark gray-blue, close to BM Ebony Slate.

Right now I want to paint my walls a pale green/sage colour, possibly BM Par Four or Thornton Sage. My question is what to do with the shelves and the counter top, which are now a dark gray-blue, which I don't think will look right. I could go with a dark gray again, this time with a greenish hue (maybe BM Flint or Stonecutter). Or I could go with a deeper greeny sage colour, which will offer less contrast, but still set those components apart from the walls. Maybe BM Rolling Hills or Mistletoe.

(this assumes the colours on my monitor will match the colours in the store.)

Thoughts? Suggestions?

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (7)

rob333 (zone 7b)
last month
Classic French Grey?
faftris
last month
I would look at the graduated paint chip at the paint store and go with a deeper shade of the wall color. Just my taste. I am sure what you pick will be excellent!
Related Professionals
Elkton Interior Designers & Decorators · Akron Interior Designers & Decorators · Sioux Falls Interior Designers & Decorators · Phoenix Interior Designers & Decorators · Montgomery Bathroom Remodelers · Spring Bathroom Remodelers · Savannah Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Covington Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Lima Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Chambersburg Interior Designers & Decorators · Marquette Interior Designers & Decorators · Boise Interior Designers & Decorators · Macon Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Oshkosh Kitchen & Bathroom Designers · Harrisonburg Furniture & Accessories
Toronto Veterinarian
Original Author
last month
I just realized I didn't upload the photo I took of the room! Sorry!
PRO
oncape
last month
last modified: last month
Why spend money to replace countertop and shelving? I would keep the both as is (great) and use this green to compliment both.

Change the pillows so that walls, counter, shelving and sofa color all work together.

Etsy:
OutsidePlaying
last month
last modified: last month
Is the countertop painted or is it stone? Maybe i am the only one confused.

If it is painted, i think your current scheme of the dark paint in the shelves and countertop looks very nice.

I have tried to use a paint chip in the past to choose a light sage green and it is near impossible. Be sure to get a sample first and try it on your wall in your lighting before you decide. Some i just ’knew’ would work turned out to look like mint toothpaste on my wall. Thankfully i didn’t buy a whole gallon. There are several that work really well in the lighter sage family tho and I believe once you find the right one, you should do exactly as faftris suggested and look at the graduated darker colors of the one you choose for the wall.

Don’t forget, sage generally has a bit of black in the mix. Here is a screen shot from the BM website if you just look for Light Sage. Dusty Miller looks nice and might be a starting point for light walls.
palisades_
last month
My home office is painted with light comforting green and furnished with dark cherry furniture. I especially like it when sunlight filters through the windows. The color is easy on the eyes, and the room looks bright and fresh. The camera shows a shade lighter than it actually is.
Toronto Veterinarian
Original Author
last month
" Is the countertop painted or is it stone? "

It is painted, in the same colour as the shelves.

I definitely agree with getting a sample - right now I have 3 that I've painted on to small dollar store canvases to see, and I can tell one is already too minty. (I tried painting a piece of cardboard once, but it didn't absorb evenly, so I splurged the big 50 cents for a 4x6 small canvas. I've also painted my walls directly with the samples, and the painter was not pleased because he had to even out the layers. I promised him I wouldn't do that again.)