re my previous comment -- your color could be French blue, ochre, magenta, whatever you like.

I agree with bellesum that Mega Greige is too dark. It looks lovely in the photos, but I certainly would be unhappy with a whole house painted that dark a color and would take the measures I mentioned earlier to correct it. I was interested in what bellesum had to say about the light reflectance values because that's something I've never used but would love to know where they were found.

Carolyn, SW and BM do provide the LRV for paint colors online. ICI Dulux or Glidden goes by a paint code system that works the same internationally. It includes the LRV, chroma (intensity) and the color family. I believe professional architects specify color that way. With the technical information, I think it helps to make a more educated guess within a fan deck. I noticed that colors above LRV 80 would show up almost white. The muted colors that show up on photos but do not dominate a room tend to be around LRV 60-70. BM revere pewter at LRV 52 would look good in very well lit rooms but I suspect it would look darker in less bright north facing rooms. Also, with the color family information, you have a better guess as to whether a grey paint would throw green or blue or red in different lighting. These are just my non-professional observations.

I would not use a interior paint color below a LRV of 50 (or even 60) for a general color. For one thing, it has an impact on energy consumption as walls absorb more than 50% of the light. It may be quite gloomy in the winter.

Fascinating, bellesum. I very much appreciate that information. Many thanks.

When you are through with the rest of your renovations, re-evaluate the paint. I love it, but right now the orange tones of the cabinets and wood floor create the green undertone. Once you make your changes, and I think you are on the right track for those color choices, you will be much happier with your paint color. It can't hurt to experiment with light bulbs in the interim.
In short, don't think you've made a mistake with your paint.

I like your wall colors too ! Having your cabinets painted white will make a huge difference in the kitchen. I agree with a previous poster about removing the fan above the table and adding a chandelier. Maybe a rug? Also, your curtains in the living room look the same color as the walls. You could add some color there or go with a white.
I wouldn't add any more furniture that is dark, the couch and entertainment center are enough. Very pretty house !

Love the color as well! I also think if you some pops of color with accessories it will brighten it up, as all your furniture and cabinetry is very dark. There are some great ideas in the Houzz idea books on how to best compliment the color grieved. We are building new soon and will be going with something similar to this. Maybe try accenting with some celery green accessories and even a not-so-mustard yellow?

@bellesum. Thank you for the information on light reflective values.

To relieve your color phobia, go to a fabric, upholstry, quilt store and find a fabric that you like which contains one of the colors you can't change in your decor -- then use the other colors in the fabric as the best candidates ...lighten or darken them to give you some variation ...but pull them out for the remaining upholstry, rugs, accents ... that let's you capitalize on the color selection experience of the (fabric) designer, and sinc you like the fabric, you'll likely like the other colors. [Twas a hint to me from an interior designer, and it' works for me]

Hi Amber, what do you think of the suggestions so far?

I would repaint (when you are able) start with one room, then move on to next. Try BM Edgecomb Gray....it's not a true gray, it's more of a pale mushroom color....so so versatile...looks great with dark woods, warm woods, even pale woods. It's the kind of color that you don't really notice....your eye goes to art, furniture, the fin and beautiful things in the room....not the walls. And, isn't that the point of it all in the first place?

New curtains, something that pops. I really like the paint color. But you should add items with color. Nix the browns and blacks.

Thank you everyone for the wonderful suggestions! I was actually shocked when I saw all the comments on my post. I love the idea of adding teal blue and lemon to bring some color into this room. I am thinking more like a Tiffany blue...any thoughts?

I am considering every single suggestion above. I am going to think about having some rooms in the house repainted. It sounds like the opinions on the paint color are split - some like it and some don't. I will say that the walls photograph very well when there is a lot of natural light in the house, but the walls are very dark and have a different tone in person. I am considering having the foyer and other spaces repainted, but it will take time. My foyer and some other rooms have cathedral ceilings, so I will have to hire a pro. I have seen a few suggestions above for a lighter/brighter gray, and I will definitely be looking into the light reflective quality next time. I wish I had known about this before....so very helpful!!

I love the suggestions about new curtains in the family room and also the sliding door in the kitchen. I love the curtains posted above from Crate and Barrel. Are there any other suggestions for curtains? Could I use this pattern for both the family room and sliding door curtains, or should they be different or be more colorful? I am going to start looking for artwork to replace the mirror above the fireplace, and I am also going to take down the shelves and photographs over the couch. Any suggestions for this wall? Can I hang my shelves and photographs somewhere else that would work better....like a hallway? I have a lot of smaller family photos that I definitely want on display somewhere, but I'm not sure where it will work.

I am also going to look for pillows and throws to add color. You can't tell from the picture, but my entertainment center has glass doors and shelves to display items. What kinds of items can I get for the entertainment center? How much color is too much? I am really horrible at this, so any suggestions or specific items you could post would be great. I am looking for things that are affordable. I have a LOT to buy so it will have to be in small doses.

Thank you again for the suggestions. I look forward to sprucing up these rooms, but I am nervous because I feel like I have a vision but I'm not good at deciding what to buy and my decorating never seems to turn out the way I want it to.

Just reading through the comments again.....the "yellow" color around the fireplace is actually marble so I don't think this could be changed easily or inexpensively :( The brown couches do recline so it would be hard to put a table behind them, but I might try moving the console table from the kitchen and put it behind the sofa to see how it looks. I cannot wait to move these couches to the basement! It won't happen soon enough for me. I am going to look for something lighter (closer to white or off-white) and I love the suggestion for getting a chair in a pattern.

I will be getting a rug for the breakfast table (and a new table in fact) and I will be removing the ceiling fan in the kitchen once we are ready to remodel. I also want to change or remove the collage over the console table in the kitchen. It was a Pinterest thing that just didn't work out. Any suggestions for this wall?

I really like your draperies and would definitely not spend money on new ones unless the ones you have are in bad condition. They look custom and expensive and just right for the room.

Regarding family photos, they look good hung in a hallway or stairway area, or even in a powder room where a captive audience can enjoy them. Hang them with about 2" space between each one.

One really quick and easy help would be to put small white lights aiming up on top of the cabinets (with the light bulb not visible of course).

Paint color is fine! I do suggest you stop adding any more black/dark furniture.

Just a suggestion….the back of your sofa is not attractive. Consider a console table to hide the workings.

Lovely home and beautiful color! It's very elegant.

Dare I suggest that you don't do anything else or spend on anything else until you redo your cabinets and counters ( and floors, but those will for sure look great with the walls)? You might be throwing good money out if what you do now or buy now doesn't go with your new cabinet color/ finish and counters. You don't want to have to then match the cabinets or counters to the items you'll be buying now because you'll feel bad that you already have them.

If it were me, I would wait, live with it, edit the room and move things around, bring in items in different colours from other rooms to test out first and do the cabinets and counters first. You don't buy towels first and then redo the bathroom.

Don't forget to have a cabinet door sample made first, in the color and finish you want, and see how it looks in your kitchen, during the day and at night. As we all know, mostly through
bad experiences , a minuscule sample is basically worthless.

Good luck!

Calling in a professional interior designer in your area would also be a good move. There's nothing like on the scene advice.

I would probably get an antique white chandelier in the kitchen to go with your future antique white cabinets.

I think I would 'color block' a few of your walls and add the lighter gray on them. You can do this a little at a time and maybe hubby won't mind a couple of gallons of paint if you can DIY.

Tape off some of the larger walls with large rectangles to paint the lighter gray color inside the rectangles. This will give your eye the break from all the dark walls. You can leave the two paint colors meeting each other .... or ... You can border the large light gray color blocks with adding a simple 3" band of white between the two colors. I will try to study what walls that I think will work for you ... : )

Something like this:


Walls to add light 'color block' walls. Whatever size you want, but should be the same size in the same room.
1. Fireplace wall corner
2. Left wall (shelves) perpendicular to the TV unit
3. Maybe the clock wall

Adding an accent color other than neutrals will bring life and interest to the room. Drapes, pillows, rug and accessories.

I love your rooms and you don't need to change furniture. Maybe you can add a contrast color band of fabric to the drapes on each side of the panels. No need to buy drapes again.

If you add with a mirror in a silver metallic frame or paint out one that you have, I think it will work with what you've started. If you need any furniture pieces I would go white or silver metallic finish or mirrored or glass tables if you still need these items.

In the kitchen, I think colorful drapes, maybe a semi-sheer woven in a print, more light weight fabric, if budget allows. A colorful rug under the breakfast table that will dictate your drape color.

Something like this but not pinch pleat heading

You could DIY spray paint antique white on the breakfast table top and pedestal. Would be a nice contrast as is now, and when you redo the cabinets and the dark floors with a rug under it.

While I like the looks of a nice rug under a dining table, I prefer to leave the floor bare if it's a breakfast table. I admit that's because being a practical creature, and having clients to see, I just don't want to spend the time cleaning under the breakfast table. But there's also the element that I like the look of the floor! In fact, I like your breakfast table as it is and think you don't need to change it unless you want a bigger one.

When you get your new dark floors, I think you would like a contrast from the floor to the breakfast set. It will look all dark. If you choose to not want a rug, then I would either lighten the chairs in antique white or the entire set. The dark dining set will blend into the floors too much MO

If you get dark wood floors and use your current dinette set, then I think you might want a rug to break the visual weight and loss of contrast from the floor to the dining furniture.

I love your wall color. At night it probably would look very dramatic.

I like your dinette set. Very well proportioned for area allowing you to have other pieces of interest. I REALLY like your chairs...now carp diem and get some red or yellow seat cushions. Baby steps to embrace colour and gain confidence to try a whole new approach! You're going to do great. Its empty looking now but you have the bones and it's allllll you! We all change our minds. We all have had that "coulda shoulda" moment but it's an experience to learn about the trades but also about yourselves. I don't suscribe however to struggling to like something you don't like gut feeling from the get go. I can't see buying all knids of furniture, lighting, pillows, accessories to TRY th change that gut feeling. Its a lot cheaper to repaint in phases and adjust and assess as you go. All the beautiful things cost LOTS of money..they are pretty but you will be the ones LIVING every day there and paying the bills. Listen your your inner voice and follow...enjoy. you will find your way with this, your new beautiful new home just waiting for YOUR PERSONAL touchs. Try your bold colour accessories if you want to but have been "afraid to". You can always take things back to store if you don't like what you see. It's your home. Its lovely. We all seem to like the colour snd think you will as you work with it. At some point, you oughta know if it's "you" or not. I'll be following to see what changes happen as you "journey" along. I have confidence in you two!

Once the couches are gone, I'd bring color into the room via whatever seating you bring in. The color of the walls aren't bad. I think some posters aren't reading what you said about the kitchen cabinets that will be repainted. Then, the color there will be beautiful! You have a pretty home.

I think your paint color is already nice though I agree with having the fan over the breakfast table replaced with a chandelier.

Amber, so I worked up some pictures for you to look at. It is a way for you to be able to test out my services for free. If you like what you see, and would like to see more of my ideas or some of your own digitally painted on your walls, then you have to move to the paid options. It is $29.99 for the next 7 pictures, then $24.99 for any groups of 7 pictures after that. I would be happy to help you explore other options if you would like. There are many things that you could do that would look great with these rooms. It is a very nice place!

If you find my service helpful, please let your friends know about it. I am starting to use this as a living, so word of mouth is HUGE!

Thanks again for letting me help with these four pictures!
randall \o/
Whatcolor.org

bellesum, I suggest you contribute an article on choosing paint. The info on LRV is very interesting indeed, and Houzz people could really use any info connected with choosing paint colors. I don't agree personally that one must choose paint of a certain value, for me it's a matter of taste, but I do believe you have a lot to offer the Houzz community with this info and your own opinion on it.

Choosing paint values are one of the most important decisions for a room from the color palette that is preferred. These need to be considered when choosing paint values. One's taste is based on the reasons stated. The value has a great deal of impact for these reasons:
- the feeling that affects our senses - like - soft and subtle, bold and dramatic, calming and peaceful, energetic and lively, fun and funky, airy and light, cozy and warm (there may be more)
- brightness regarding natural light and other lighting in the room
- working with contrast in conjunction with other elements in the room including accessories and furnishings and artwork

Here's an article by Lori Sawaya that I referred to.
http://thelandofcolor.com/lrv-light-reflectance-value-of-paint-colors/

Thanks for the link, bellesum! Appreciate it and I can tell you've found your stride using color data points to create and customize benchmarks for choosing colors - great job, that's how it's done, that's what they're for.

Looks like you've gotten some really good insight, Amber. Just want to say I'm so sorry the color didn't work out for you - hate it when that happens. But I have to say from my seat here in the peanut gallery, it looks rather fabulous. Might not be what you wanted and expected but I wonder if given some time and additional, homey elements that you'll grow to love it. I seriously see the potential for this to turn out really well!

I hate to sound like a broken record here, but the color is fine. I think you guys can add a few recessed lights in your kitchen for additional lighting and bright colored window coverings if you choose curtains or wood blinds either will work fine. Like some of the other comments, I think once you all get the floors and kitchen done it will look amazing!

The photos DO look great, but how would you like to have that color EVERYWHERE in the house...dark closets, dark hallways, etc.? That's the problem Amber is living with so I can very well understand her dilemma.

I too like the color. You could add crown molding which will help brighten and complete the look and pull it all together.

The color is good. If you don't like it everywhere, try painting one of the rooms a lighter shade; this often takes away the monotone look.

You are using a lot of neutrals (gray, white, black, brown) and it sounds like you are planning even more. The curtains in one of the rooms practically matches the wall color. Try making some of the rooms pop with accent colors. To warm it up use fall-types oranges and reds; cool it out a bit with bright aquas. Use cheap throw pillows to find colors and patterns you like. You could also go with a stencil pattern on one of the walls to add interest.

Personally I love the color, as well as the rest of the color palate throughout your house. I feel everything will come together once you change the cabinetry, flooring, and like others stated - add crown molding. Changing the color should be your last resort once your done with the upgrades and still not happy with the color. But I have a feeling you wouldn't have to ;-) Keep us posted!!

Color is very nice from what I see!

I think if u make the walls the same color of the ceiling will a lot nicer and brighter :-)

I love the color of the kitchen but would rid the brown drapes and get an airy white voile panel, etc., and if using the fan - change to a white to pickup the color of your door and countertops. Dining set seems a tad small for the room so might want to add the table insert if you've one

ceiling molding would also make a big difference and highlight even more the color of your kitchen

Love the color - very in and it will look great with your planned changes. Pops of color will add interest and depth. Adding color with art work, throw pillows and inexpensive area rugs is a safe way to experiment.

Old post.

Amber, your home is stunning. That being said, I always caution my clients not to go below an LRV of 45-50, if they are concerned the result will be too dark. Your painter really should have offered to put a sampling of your paint choices on the wall before he painted the entire room. So you shouldn't blame yourself completely.

Many painters will also come back and re-paint a room for a fraction of the original price if they know the customer is not happy with the color. And assuming that your painter didn't even offer you the option of seeing a sample on the wall, that's the very least he could do.

See if you can negotiate with him. You may wish to check out the colors SW Anew Gray or SW Agreeable Gray which are the lighter shades of Mega Greige on the same palette.

You can purchase a small amount of each color to try on the wall yourself ahead of time, if you should decide to have the wall re-painted.

The color looks best where it is accented with white - if you added more molding, it would read better. Fix the lighting - add more layers to the lighting AND change the bulbs. More reflective surfaces would help - I see your big mirror, but you have a lot of dark brown and not enough softness - you could use you could use more color and more delicate contrast in the room - curtains, an area rug, etc. Lighter colored furniture would help also - and maybe something softer than leather, unless you really love it. Soft-looking furniture would add visual comfort and would contrast to the hard dark frames.

Just purchased a home where the entire house is mega griege , its so difficult to decide what to do