Help! Painting open floor plan

I have no idea what colors to use. I saw a few posting about this , which helped now i know to stay in the same color (different shades). Which room would u put the darker shade on. When u walk in my front door straight ahead of u is the kitchen and to the left is the living room with the dining room right in front. open floor plan can see all rooms.
NEW HOME..HAVE NO CLUE WHAT TO DO. PLEASE HELP.

THANKS
Valerie

 

I don't normally like to advise on color because my color choices may not be yours, but I can share what we've worked with and what we feel has looked great. If you have an open floor plan where you can see each room, it's probably best to stay in the same color family throughout the area. Depending on how many stopping points you have may help determine how many colors you use. As you probably know, color is all about light and the way light reflects. You might want to stay with lighter shades in areas that have less natural light and go a little darker where it is brighter. I've always liked warm colors like browns, tans, beiges, creams, and golds. Is your woodwork painted or stained? Is there carpeting or hardwood floors. Most of the above colors work well with both. In my area some of the local paint stores have color consultants who work there and they can advise you if you need additional help. Good Luck!

 

Open floor plans seem to be problematic for homeowners. It is not clear if you have an open floor plan. You say you walk in and the kitchen is straight ahead and LR on one side and DR on the other. Are you standing in a foyer or hallway where you can see into all three rooms? If so, then the colors of the rooms can be different but complementary of each other. Or, you can paint LR & DR the same and kitchen different. If you have chair rail in diningroom then that another opportunity to work with two colors in one room. For instance, LR can be a creamy color. In DR, you may want sage green below chair rail and cream above. Then in kitchen you might want a dusty gold. The three areas can be united with a singular color like rusty red for accessories and accents.

Color schemes are easily inspired by area rugs and upholstery colors. Pick the lighter color in the design for wall color and a bolder color for accessories and accents.

In open floor plans where LR, DR, and kitchen are all open to each other, the 'shared wall' is painted one color. Then, the other walls can be painted differently to define the areas. Colors must be complementary.

Today's popular colors include sagey green, dusty golds and teals, rusty reds, lots of creamy and caramely colors. They all work well together, so it's easy to come up with a good color scheme.

 

Livingroom

Diningroom



thanks for comments. the openings to each room are about 6' to 8' wide. The kitchen opens onto the diningroom and livingroom while the diningroom and livingroom also open onto each other. The diningroom and livingroom each have hardwooden floors. the kitchen has oak finish cabinets and a light color ceramic tile floor. I added pics hope it works.

 

Have you selected your colors, started to paint? Wondering what colors you picked and how you like it...

 

Your floor plan is not a true open floor plan. The three rooms have large openings between and are visible and open to each other. When entering the home and the eyes pan the view, the wall colors can be different but should be complementary.

Again, if you have the area rug for the living and/or dining rooms, you can select one of the more neutral or background colors for your wall color. Perhaps upholstered furniture like sofa offers a color or colors that can inspire you for wall color, accessories, and accents. Many prefer to purchase more neutral colors for furnishings. This allows them to change their color scheme from time to time without having to be committed to any particular color or colors.

Both Sherwin Williams (www.sherwinwilliams.com) and Behr (www.behr.com) have interactive paint sites where you can experiment with wall colors in different rooms. They have 'inspiration' rooms to inspire color schemes. For instance, at Behr you can click on a room and move your cursur over a color and the paint name and number will pop up. You have the opportunity to explore color and to experiment with different colors in different rooms. There are also project ideas. And, there is a wealth of info on how to work with paint colors.

Keep in mind that paint color will vary from computer screen and from paint chips collected from the local paint stores. Too, paint will appear differently in the home under different lighting. It is best to purchase paint samples of the paint you like. Take them home and paint on white poster board or in patches on walls. Study at different times of the day under natural light as the sun moves across the home. Study in the evening under artificial light. Paint color varies under different lighting due to the way the light refracts on the paint.

You have a blank slate in your home and an opportunity to personalize it with color. To get you started with an inspirational home, take a tour of the HGTV Dream Home at www.hgtv.com and click Dream Home for a virtual tour room by room of this beautiful home.

 

thanks for all the advice . decided on the sage and tan colors still alittle undecided on kitchen. waiting for the new countertops before i make that choice. thanks again.