Need wall color ideas for beige/butter cream couch ...? (open floor plan, fireplace, paint)

[Shriba]

It's a contemporary couch, sort of a yellowy beige, and the pillows are a crewel floral with a deep red background. The living room is super small and dark. I've got a matching beige on the wall, but the room is dark naturally, and the paint color on the walls now isn't helping. Should I go with a lighter version? I was thinking a really muted sage or blue/gray for a change, but they seem too light for the value/lightness of the couch-no contrast. I'm stumped here. The floor is oak, and we have a big fireplace faced with slate. Furniture is darker wood and we have white trim. Thank you!

[gold*dust1]

Originally Posted by Shriba

It's a contemporary couch, sort of a yellowy beige, and the pillows are a crewel floral with a deep red background. The living room is super small and dark. I've got a matching beige on the wall, but the room is dark naturally, and the paint color on the walls now isn't helping. Should I go with a lighter version? I was thinking a really muted sage or blue/gray for a change, but they seem too light for the value/lightness of the couch-no contrast. I'm stumped here. The floor is oak, and we have a big fireplace faced with slate. Furniture is darker wood and we have white trim. Thank you!

I have really light tan leather furniture with a light oak colored floor and kind of a soft wheat cream on the walls. It's an open floor plan and keeps everything looking light and airy. To open up a small dark room I would definitely go lighter.

[Élan vital]

I would vote for the sage or something like a mint green.
Blue doesn't belong anywhere in a house!!!!

[dziner]

Benjamin Moore HC-27 Monroe Bisque...goes with almost everything, changes with the light.

[art_teacher_mom]

I like the idea of a grey-green color. A slate blue-grey could be pretty, too. I've seen a lot of rust/blue/cream together lately in catalogs and design shows. If you're not absolutely married to those red floral pillows, it could open up your color palette.

[Shriba]

OK, no blue! The Benjamin Moore was what I was more what I was thinking, and I think I'll keep the green for the fabrics and throw rug. Thank you for the suggestions everyone!

[Peggy Anne]

Yes. a green. Cannibis green. light cannibis green.

[Shriba]

Sounds good, I think I'll stay with green, or a lighter butter cream and add the green in with accessories. I really do love the pillow covers, and the punch of red they provide. It's really a toned down red, so would go well with either green or butter cream. I'm definitely on a path - thank you all so much!

[Cattknap]

I would go with a shade darker than the couch and then accent with dark red, black and even a darker shade than the walls - black framed artwork that has beiges, creams, sages, gold and dark red. Add a few good lamps that will add lighting, an area rug with a black background, a glass & metal coffee table (the glass helps a room look larger).....a few low light green plants to warm up the room (my favorite low light plant is the ZZ plant - dramatic and so easy to grow).

What do the floor and windows look like - could you post a picture.

[Shriba]

Hi Cattknap,

My wall color is just a shade darker than the couch, but it's just too dark for the space, and my accents are deep red! I think I'll have to go a shade or two lighter for the walls, and I really like the red I have, so I'll add in maybe one other mid-tone color, like a soft green. I like the idea for glass tables and the low light green plants - thanks for the suggestion for the ZZ plant - easy to grow is good. : ) The floor is oak and the windows are large, starting at about 24" up from the floor, but don't let in a ton of light because we have a screened in patio. Eventually we'll enclose the patio, so that's staying, and one day I'll put in a skylight - for light and architectural interest. right now, I can't live with the dark feel we have! Thanks again for the great suggestions!