So, I’m ready for some DIY in the living room. Our living room is very large…something like 20′ x 20′ (if not larger). But, it’s square shape with the open concept kitchen on one side and an entry way to the garage and another to the front hall makes it a bit awkward. Right now, it’s just plain boring. We painted it Sherwin Williams Ancient Marble which is one of my favorite colors, but I’m wondering if I need to go darker. We also used Sherwin Williams Svelte Sage (it’s the darkest color on the same paint sample strip as Ancient Marble). I know it would create a moodier room. The problem is we don’t get much natural light in the room in the first place even though it’s a western exposure. Then, I want to add one of the two mouldings to the room to make it more interesting. I love the one on the left (as you’re looking at it). But, since I’ll be doing the manual work while Nigel supervises, the other one is probably more doable. If we do that one, we’ll add moulding inside the rectangles for that extra depth. So, the question is…what do y’all think? Moodier or stay lighter? Moulding on the right or on the left? Let me know in the comments!
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Every month, Nancy of Nancy’s Fashion Style hosts a series with 5 other fashion bloggers called The Thrifty Six. One member of the group chooses a theme and then everyone creates a pre-loved outfit based on it. For September, Emma chose “Inspired by Gucci.” Take a look; perhaps these fashionistas can inspire you to buy second hand clothing!
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Don’t ask me Marsha, I have everything white! I like it very light. Have a great time this weekend!
Thanks, Nancy! I tried with our last house to keep it white. I really gave it a try, but I just couldn’t do it. I love the look of an all white house, but it’s just not me!
I’m so old-fashioned I have wallpaper, sorry, no advice from me.
Thanks, Cat! Oh, I love wallpaper! Our house up north, at one point, was covered (every square inch) in wallpaper! Then, I learned the cleaning up after removing wallpaper was awful. You have to get all that glue off because paint will show ever last little bit of it (don’t ask how I know)! But, I still love wallpaper…just not the peel and stick!
I love a moody room because it seems to have more personality. But it also means another painting job.
What color is your couch??
Have you seen those moldings that are already put together, and you just have to hang them? I was looking at them for our doors but haven’t pulled the trigger yet.
I love moody rooms, too, and thought I’d accomplished that in the primary bedroom. It’s not quite as dark as I thought it would be though. All of my soft furniture is neutral (I know…whoda thunk). The sofa is a greige leather. The wing chairs are paisley prints in shades of blues that verge on a greying green. The wooden furniture, though, is good old fashioned golden oak! I’d love to do some kind of built-in on the one wall to give the semblance of a fireplace, but I don’t think that’s in my skill set…yet! The other problem is the space between the wall and the door opening at one end isn’t that wide. I haven’t seen those. But, see, I’m stubborn, and I want to learn something new! So, I want to do this on my own so I can point to it and say, “I did that!”
Thanks, Jodie!
I vote moodier! But this is coming from the person who happily painted my kiddos room a very dark purple. Both of the moulding options are fun!
Hahaha!! Now, if you could get Jordan to paint that living room! I love the moody, but I’m also always battling the lack of natural light in the whole house. I’ve read that dark colors don’t necessarily translate to dark areas, but it seems counterintuitive to me. I may try AI to see what happens!
I love both of the inspiration photos so, knowing me, I would most likely go with the one that’s easiest or, in this case, the least work. Whatever you decide, I’m sure it will be stunning! Can’t wait to see what you come up with. I hope the retreat has gone well!
Thanks, Laura! The retreat went very well. I’m glad it’s over, but it was definitely what my spirit needed! I really like the more difficult one, but I will probably do the easier one. And, I also want to go really dark which is counterintuitive to what the room probably needs as it gets so little natural sunlight. But, if the color is wrong, it’s just more painting! And, I like to paint.
Okay! Very excited about your project! Moulding has become one of my favorite kinds of DIY!
Easiest version? Likely the picture frame one on the left would be easier, but I think if you’re doing the upper part of the wall, you might want some type of crown (if you don’t already have it) to finish it off…and I haven’t done crown yet, but it looks a little scary…esp with the mathing.
I have been learning a lot as I keep doing the type on the right. I just did a whole wall in my upstairs hallway and painted it black. I know my errors but I’m pretty happy with it!
Mine does have the insert trim on the inside but I see a lot of IG peeps that keep it simple and just do a simple board. Best lesson I learned so far: vertical boards first, I did it the other way on two of my walls…because it seemed more logical, so much for logic. Finish carpenters say vertical so I’m now following their lead. It does make smoothing the joins easier.
Color drenching the room including woodwork is definitely the designer-recommended thing these days, but I still love me a crisp white moulding. Debating that myself for the windows in our bath remodel. Still leaning toward the white….but either way is beautiful IMHO.
Good luck! I’m sure it will be beautiful!
Em, we are definitely sisters when it comes to DIY though I’m not nearly as adventurous as you are. I would be more than happy to be the brawn to your brains, though. I do like the more intricate moulding but will probably go with the other. We have done that a couple of times before so I know how to do it (yes, vertical first). But, this would be the first time for me installing it all by myself. I’d have Mike do the sawing so he’d have some ownership. I also want to do the inserts for added interest. Mike has the coolest little tool that cuts those wicked angles (well, guess who bought that) so that would be easier than usual. We don’t have crown moulding which is a problem to be solved. And, yes, yes, yes!!! to white moulding. Unfortunately, we were on a time crunch as well as a certain person who shall remain nameless demanded we stick to a budget. White moulding would have been 10s of thousands more and would have taken about three weeks more which we just didn’t have. I hate the brown wood trim, but it has a layer of lacquer on it so I can’t even paint it. We had all Craftsman style woodwork at the last house (we did it ourselves), and I loved that. This house just feels like someone’s condo we’re renting for the weekend. That’s why I want to add the moulding and make it seem more my own. And, I love the idea of color drenching, I just know as soon as I worked up my nerve to actually do it, the trend would swing the other way!
Hi – Our living room is also pretty dark; the light doesn’t come in very well. So from my experience, lighter is better when you don’t get as much natural light coming in. It makes the room look bigger, though, and maybe your big space needs to downplay that with a cozier, moodier feeling. Good luck! – Angie, http://www.yourtrueselfblog.com
Thanks, Angie! I’m trying to figure it out. Lighting and paint colors are so finicky! The other problem is our house is open concept (which I hate), and the kitchen has oak cabinets. We got the absolute lightest oak they could do without being that 80s limewash. But, I still think it makes that side of the “room” look even darker. I should just do it…it’s only a couple gallons of paint. All of our furniture is neutral so it should play nicely with just about anything.