   I like a good, bright white room, sure, but it’s not for everyone. It’s like how some people can pull off really wild, crazy disheveled, sun-blown hair, and look cool while others look like they just finished the walk of shame, in 1987 – it really depends on all the other styling elements.But there is this misconception flying out there, seemingly promoted by people exactly like me, that painting all rooms white will make them feel bigger, brighter and just generally more beautiful. For some it does, but if the room has very little natural light then it just looks DEAD. In photographs we can make any room look really bright, like the sun is just flooding them with light, (and we do) but it’s often VERY much not the case. White paint thrives in really bright rooms (like my living room and bedroom) but without that light bouncing around it, nothing happens.Click through to what neutral colors you should paint your dark rooms …It was hard to find white rooms online that weren’t clearly shot cheated to look brighter, but we found a few, relatively depressing/flat ones: Those rooms would have looked WILDLY more alive and inviting if they were painted a medium tone – a neutral that has some pigment in it.

Stick to white in rooms like these, below, that have a lot of sun light, otherwise, folk, you gotta consider a neutral color. I’ve had to break the news to clients so many times – white is just not right for you and your room. It’s like breaking the news that the kitty they rescued from the pound belongs to another family. They show me their pin board with blown out white rooms, airy curtains flapping in the breeze, sunlight pouring in (and us California designer/bloggers are not helping the situation), with the look of eager hope on their faces. But their walls are heavy, their windows are small, and they face south … with an awning. Their room will never look like that and moreover will look just so sad if we don’t add some sort of tone to the walls to help give it some dimension, depth and texture. It’s disappointment followed by ‘so what do we do now??;A neutral paint color is the answer.But first, how do you know if you room has enough natural light to be painted white?

Ask yourself – do you need to turn on lights during the day in that room? If so, then consider a neutral/medium toned color. I’m in my family room/kitchen right now (its 7am) and I have to turn on lights but around 10am the sun comes around and it gets bright in here and then in the afternoon its pretty bright, often where we have to close the shade. So don’t judge it by just one time of day (and obviously not at night, duh). But if your room never gets enough light to read without a lamp, then white isn’t for you or it. You’ll be happier you went with a gray or taupe or blue.I’m not saying paint it a dark color. If it’s a smaller sized room then yes, be careful, a darker paint color will make it feel smaller (and cozier) so generally unless you want a small cozy room I’m suggesting a medium toned neutral. Not dark, just not white. If you are wondering if the rule applies to bright rooms – not being dark, it doesn’t. Bright rooms can pull off any color – light, medium or black, its dark rooms that are trickier and just can’t go WHITE.

So here are some neutral tones that I have found work really well in darker rooms – colors that have some movement in them to help move and bounce the light around  – so it actually looks like it does something. swish curtain track local stockistsBefore you go ordering gallons of those paint colors PLEASE sample them on your wall. blue fresh living thermal pencil pleat curtainsI’ve used November Rain now 3 times and it’s always been beautiful, but your particular room and light might pull the brown out of it whereas my old living room pulled the blue out it. malta rod pocket 84-inch curtain panelAt this point I’ve painted hundreds of rooms, with a 75% success rate, and i’m a designer. bark bamboo curtains with grommets

So please swatch them on paper or directly on the walls and yes MULTIPLE walls because light reflects color around differently on different walls. Then watch it for 24 hours to make sure that you like how it is both in the morning and in the evening.jcpenney curved shower curtain rodUnless you don’t have the patience to do that, like me 1/2 the time, and you are willing to waste time/money by just going balls out and painting the room, to then be like well, whoops… that looks kinda green … blackout curtains guildfordThose neutrals above are just an off-the-top-of-my-head collection, so if you have a favorite neutral please leave in the comments so the world can be full of appropriately painted toned walls, and the myth that ‘every wall should be white’ can be finally dispelled.target xhilaration curtain rod

White walls = good if lots of natural light and bad if not.See design mistake #1 (the generic sofa) and #2 (the too small rug). Being both sizable and elegant, this sofa is a true must-have for any interior, with the stunning wood structure for maximum durability and the charming leather upholstery, featuring a rich look, especially with the brown color. This is made in traditional style sofa is very elegant and chic class. Beautifully upholstered with leather decorated with studs and beautiful wooden legs makes a big impression. Excellent dosalonu or guest room. This kind of product is a very reliable and durable chandelier designed for use on ceiling. It provides the appropriate level of light at night and it decorates indoors at day. This product is made of solid steel.: Maxwell Leather Sofas (Perfect arm rest heigh for laying your head down. Long enough to lay down. Oh-so Comfortable to sleep on. Be inspired by this light and bright Edwardian home in southwest London |

25 Beautiful Home | Library with taupe built-in shelves and a cognac colored leather sofa Sofa - love that it's leather (great for the dogs), the color, the shape, and the little sparkle of the silvery nailheads. I would love to design around this sofa..Grey is suppose to be the new Nude. This is a high quality sectional sofa filled with soft material for extra comfort and relaxation. This element is supported on a solid frame. The size of this piece of furniture (92.5"w x 65.5"d x 34.5"h) allows for accommodating many adult users. FRIDAY - 5/18/12 - Hudson Sofa// Love everything about this space. The design, the colors, the windows! Full Size Sofa Beds Queen Size Sleeper Sofas Curved Leather Sectional Sofa New House Photos from I love the paint color and trim!! Arianna Leather Sofa Macy's about $1000. Comes dark brown or taupe/grey 84". Color/flourish design + style: April 2012 living rooms - black leather 3 cushion sofa white black ikat pillows jute rug oatmeal linen wingback chairs stone fireplace black lumbar pillows industrial coffee table

voyageurs47: Family/TV Room brown leather couch with nailhead trim, brown/gray or gray/brown wall ... Sofa Pics Photo: This Photo was uploaded by door1_2009. Find other Sofa Pics pictures and photos or upload your own with Photobucket free image and vide Color palette for basement - taupe walls, blue paisley accent chair, white media cabinet blue velvet ottoman with white piping, brown leather sectional sofa HGTV's Fixer Upper: Living Room - Magnolia Homes Like the look...wall color looks great with the dark stained trim. Maybe add beams in the living room??? Sherwin Williams Paint Color. "Sherwin Williams Ethereal Mood SW 7639". The reddish brown couch against the green/gray wall- Sophisticated!Living Room | | Ethan Allen :: Transparency in Supply Chains :: Made (mostly) in the USA :: Ethan Allen manufactures and/or assembles approximately 70% (as of December, 2011) of its products in its own North American plants. Black leather sofa or base pilled high with oversized fluffy pillows and down mattress tops, covered in various shades of neutrals from graphite to taupe to ecru, ecru fringed blanket, love the textures

See more images from Lauren Liess: A Must-See Modern Home Renovation on Love this couch and the charcoal accents. Love the vintage French furniture with the contemporary leather banquette seating. wood windows texture staircase neutrals modern mix metal luxe living room leftovers leather lamp gear floor dining concrete color chair art accessory Japanese Trash masculine design tastethis Cove Taupe Italian Leather Reclining Sofa, Loveseat and Recliner Chair Sherwin Williams Mindful Gray Design Ideas, China Doll has been a staple favorite of mine since I worked for a custom home builder in VA. This gray based taupe is classic! Pictures, Remodel, and Decor - page 10 Dana's DIY Modern Casual Home — House Tour | Wesley Hall Chair and Ottoman. In stock in taupe leather at Front Door Fabrics Love this room and the wall treatment with horizontal wood panels. Love the idea of the table turned into a bar behind the couch. Churchill~ leather-can swivel or recline- perfect for a study or office room

Pretty doors and beams. Love the taupe paint color for the doors inside. Nice deep porch out there too. Amazing living room design with taupe gray grasscloth wallpaper, gray velvet, tufted, sofa, polished nickel ginger jar, vintage, trunk, black leather rectangular ottoman and white lamps. Sage green and taupe living room | Living room decorating | | Brown leather couch decor-looking at ways to lighten up a living room with dark leather seating-I like the grey with the brown. Brown leather sofa with white coffee table. I don't love this room but want to do something similar, since we have a brown leather sofa but I want to switch to a modern shabby chic without buying a new sofa or slipcover. Collins Leather Right-Arm Sofa Chaise Sectional With Nailheads Lush white shag rug over dark hardwood flooring supports this white leather furniture set, including twin rectangle ottomans with cushion tops.Try Benjamin Moore's Quincy Tan, Greenbrier Beige or Bleeker Beige - Livingroom color