Each week we share one of the many communications between Your Decorating Hotline and our readers.  Most often we receive requests for help, as is the case today, but we would be happy to share a project, a decorating success or a decorating “oopsie!”.  Why not write to tell us about yours?

Please note: as of this week Your Decorating Hotline no longer offers free individual decorating advice by email.  We will be happy to help you with your decorating issues through a personal consultation. For details click here.

Today we spotlight a Reader who wrote to us over a month ago because she is moving into a brand new space and needed help primarily with color ideas.

The Dilemma

“Hi: My name is Lillian and I was so glad to find this website that would actually help me get design tips and ideas.   I’m in the process of getting a new home and I’m not sure how I want to design my space. I have a vision for it and I know the things I want, problem is I don’t know how to put it all together.

I’m buying a small house 4 bedroom, 2 bath,  everything is smaller than I wanted it to be but I’ll have to work with it.  I’ve attached pictures of the living room entrance (picture 1) - a picture from the door way to the opposite wall which is orange right now.   Picture 2 is from that orange wall towards the door and a little bit to the dining area.

Things I would like to see are gray walls.  I was thinking maybe the orange wall can be gray, but not sure what would I do with the current yellow walls, not sure what would look good with gray.  I want a sectional and I know it’s a tight and small place for it, but it’s something I really want and I want a red sectional (bold huh?).  I was thinking maybe have the sectional face the current orange wall and having a table behind the sectional so people who are coming in won’t see the back of the sofa. Thing is I’m not sure if the sectional will even fit. The TV will go on orange wall.

Colors I’d like to see are gray, red, white, and  silver.  Hope you can help (I’m married and we are a young couple who like modern things). Maybe? What do you think?  I need help!”   -Lillian

YDH Solution

Hi Lillian:

You’re on the right track with your design direction.  The grey, white, silver color scheme with a red sofa would work well.  The tall angled ceiling and great wall cut-outs lend themselves to the contemporary style you desire.

For more inspiration about what to do with your grey room, take a look at the following posts that appeared previously on Your Decorating Hotline:

Colors to use with grey:  http://yourdecoratinghotline.com/what-color-to-use-with-gray/

Exploring Black, White & Grey :  http://yourdecoratinghotline.com/exploring-color-black-white-gray/

Grey and Brown together:  http://yourdecoratinghotline.com/gray-and-brown/

As you explore these previous articles you will see that grey is a wonderful neutral and can be paired with most any color.  Just remember to test your grey paint on your walls to make sure it looks good all around the clock as the lighting changes.  Be sure also that the undertones of the red on the sofa and the grey for the walls are the same.  It will look more cohesive if both are warm undertones or both are blue undertones.

Putting a table behind the sofa and accessorizing it attractively is a great idea and it will give people a lovely view as they enter instead of just looking at the back of the sofa.  Since you want silver in the room, consider a chrome and glass table as it will add the silver sparkle and contemporary style you crave.

You may also want to consider putting one or two small ottomans or stools under the sofa table.  That way, even if the new red sectional fills most of the room, you can bring in those small pieces for overflow seating when you have guests, yet not have the room overcrowded with seating that goes unused most of the time.

Have fun with your project.  Send photos when it’s done – I’d love to see what you’ve come up with.

P.S. If color gives you trouble, turn to Your Decorating Hotline’s new e-book, How to Successfully Use Color in Home Decorating.  For less than it costs to buy a can of paint you’ll gain a resource that you’ll turn to time and time again when confronted with a color dilemma.  Learn more by clicking here.

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