Well, we now have a freshly painted white living room and, to be honest… I’m not sure what I think about it. Indecisive? Usually, I’m not. But, for some reason our living room paint color is a hard one for me. Before I share all the pictures of how it looks now, let me show you the two other colors we’ve had in the space.
The first color we used in the space was Grey Husky. I actually loved that color and used it in a few different rooms (our travel hallway which I’m still working on still has it as does the hallway bathroom).
As my style has evolved, I’ve changed things (as you can see from these images of our living room) and paint has been one of them.
Earlier this year, or maybe late last year, I painted the living room “Classic Gray” by Sherwin Williams. It had been recommended to me from quite a few different people.
I liked it in some lighting and on some walls but on others, it pulled a yellow/cream, which I hated. Then, as we tweaked the space with a new couch and less color… I felt like it pulled even more yellow.
I’ve pinned a ton of rooms on my Living Room Board Pinterest board and about 90% of them have white walls. The other 10% have dark, blue/gray/black walls. Luke loves the light and airy feel of the walls that we currently have in our house that are white and has said that his preference would be white walls. So, I decided to see if I could make the white work in the living room.
I went with my go-to white (Ultra White by Valspar).
To be honest, I’m not overwhelmed by how it looks. I’m actually quite annoyed. The trim (that’s installed, ignore the missing pieces) and the crown molding all look dingy. I painted the trim in this room pretty early on in the house renovation so I’m guessing it’s not my current trim color (which is more of a stark white).
I started demo on the corner cabinet. Do you see it below?
I’m excited to really get started in making that fit my style.
The round mirror is new and, although I really love it, I’m not sure I love it where it’s at. It reflects the whole entryway which seems to make the living room feel overwhelming. I haven’t told the hubby that yet though and he’s not going to be thrilled with my observation. That sucker was hard to get on the wall!
Baseboards are still missing in spots but I did change out all the electrical outlets this week. It felt great to get that done and it looks so much better now. If you have dingy, yellow electrical outlets (or even one’s that have been painted over), an easy+cheap DIY is to change the outlets out. I think the whole room took me about an hour and cost under $10.
So, the white living room paint… what are your thoughts?
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I like the white 🙂 I think the trim is throwing you off…is the rest of the trim in the house Valspar UltraWhite? I’ve been doing white walls & trim quite a few spaces in my house and i like it when they match. Your house is beautiful and I’ve enjoyed reading your posts. Thanks for sharing!
I agree! I definitely think the trim is the problem. I think I need to repaint the trim to really give the room a chance.
Well, I’m not loving it, but I’m certainly not a decorator. To me the ceiling paint and the wall paint clash.
The ceiling is asbestos filled popcorn which is so expensive to change but I agree that something is totally off!!
Can you paint the ceiling? Really, finish up other details like addressing the ceiling color and trim, then accessorize, try adding a table under the mirror to ground it? And color on the walls around it, try adding back in some of the gallery pieces on both ends. Just some thoughts… you will get there.
The ceiling has asbestos in the popcorn so it’s a no-no to paint. Eventually, I’d love to have it taken care of professionally but it’s expensive. We did that in our kitchen, dining, eat-in and it drastically changed the space! But, budget doesn’t allow for that right now. I like the idea of a table under the mirror… I might try that before taking the mirror down. Thanks so much for your ideas.
Hmmm, such a tough space. I’m feeling ya though, all the other spaces you have painted white have looked amazing, but this one just doesn’t have the same wow. Do you think maybe it’s the size? just makes it too much white? Or maybe it is just the other elements (ceiling/trim) throwing it off. I think the white walls do make the ceiling stand out more, which is a bummer – but that could just be the photos too, generally when I’m actually in a space I’m not staring at the ceiling 🙂
You’ll get there, you always do. I’m actually super impressed you were willing to paint a space three times!
I don’t think the ceiling is as distracting in real-life but I don’t think it’s going together either… if that makes sense! I’m driving myself crazy with painting this room and it’s huge so it takes freaking forever!! I think I’ll paint the trim for sure… at least one coat of brighter white to just see.
I like the white. I do agree about repainting the baseboards and feel that may be throwing you off. Have you ever considered a type of woven wall hanging to replace the mirror? I think it would bring more texture and warmth to the walls, but just a thought… I know whatever you do will look great!
Yes, repainting the trim is a must especially after everyone seems to agree that it needs to be done. I actually had been wanting that mirror for over a year so I’m totally bummed that I’m not loving it in the space. I really like the idea of a woven art piece and have been looking at a few of them that are framed but $$$$. Maybe the trim painting will help and I’ll get closer to figuring out what works and what doesn’t.
Ashley, I love the room. It looks so much bigger with the white on the walls. I think the trim change out will make you like it better just because it needs to be done, anyway. Also I’m wondering if reversing the leather sofa and The New Sofa so that the leather is beside the blue might make a difference. I think the light sofa under the window is getting a little lost. and maybe add some neutral pillows to the blue sofa to tie in with the rest of the neutrals in the room. It is so lovely as it is though, I just like rearranging furniture, even if it is not my own
Hey Alyson! I really wish the leather sofa could be where the blue sofa is in the room but it’s too big. We had the leather in front of the window (which I loved for everyday purposes) and do think it tied the blue in better but I didn’t love the gray one in front of the mirror. I do think you are onto something though… I think the trim painting is first on the list, followed by the sofa switch and then deciding on the mirror.
I really liked the first paint color…sorry! You said you like dark walls…what if you painted the wall with the mirror a dark color and left the others white? I hate when I paint a room and the color is off. Don’t worry you’ll get it to where you love it I’m sure.
I’ve been wondering if a feature wall could be done in this space. I wasn’t sure if the space setup would make it work or just make it look weird. Now, you totally have me thinking!
A dark Navy wall on the mirror wall would tie into the dining room wallpaper nicely 🙂
That’s a great idea! What ever color the stripe is in the wallpaper, paint that wall. The mirror would pop,
It’s like a dark charcoal. That’s a good idea!
I do love navy!
I always love everything that you do! I am really liking the white in the space. I do have a suggestion as I came across a similar problem in my own house. I had very light paint on three walls in a room and a dark brown accent wall. The rug I had in there was almost the same one that you have now and I switched to a jute rug and it dramatically changed the feel in the room. I feel like it grounded everything. Maybe try changing your rug? Even if you layer a lighter rug over the jute it would make a difference! You’ll get it just right, I’m sure of it!
Good idea! I’ve been thinking about taking that rug to the playroom space anyways but I’ll switch it out sooner rather than later to try it. Thanks for the idea Kathleen!
I also love all things white. I painted my living room white and hated it (I tried hard to love it for about a week). White is hard to pull off. I realized all the white pics I pinned had tons of natural light and we’re probably lit for photos. I ditched the white and went for a dark navy, which made me so much happier and it felt super cozy. I now use a very light gray as the “white” in my home palette.
This room has a huge window but it does face North with lots of tree coverage. The one natural light source may be what I’m not liking here. I’ve been itching for dark paint but haven’t pulled the trigger…. yet!
looking good and nice and bright! i am always a fan of white walls!
I have been so far but I’m just not sure in this space!!
Such a beautiful room with beautiful pieces in it! Other than giving a fresh coat of paint, I think a different color rug would be good! A beautiful antique Persian rug would be stunning of course.. I know they are crazy expensive but I’ve been watching eBay for a year now and have seen a lot of large Persian rugs (9×12 and 10×13) going for under $500 lately! So maybe you could get lucky 🙂 we have your same white Moroccan shag rug in our son’s room and love it for playing on so I think it’d be great in your playroom (I saw your previous response to a commenter:)). And I’m excited to see what you do with the corner cabinet, so fun! Good luck!
A Persian Rug has been on my list!! I need a 10×14 so finding one in my price range has been challenging. Gosh that cabinet, well… I’ve made a small bit of progress so that’s good but I still need to firm up my plan for it. Thanks so much for popping over.
I agree with you – sorry, but it’s falling flat like it just needs a color to bring it all together. Maybe SW Colonnade Gray? It’s light enough for your hubby but enough color to tie everything together and your wood furniture and sofas will look awesome against it!!!
It is falling flat! I’ll look into that SW gray color. Thanks for the suggestion!
I’m always a fan of bright white walls and think it’s the best color you’ve used so far in here. But I do think that maybe a dark accent wall where the mirror is could help break things up a bit? The mirror definitely feels a little odd there. Can you move everything over so the couch is against the wall and that weird gap behind it is gone? Assuming you’ve tried that already and maybe it made the whole space unbalanced? But I feel like that’s where the weirdness is. If the couch were against the wall, I think it would be easier to decorate above it!
I’ve been on the fence about whether that wall could be an accent color. I think that the reason I hesitate is because the large built-in china cabinet is on the same wall in the dining room. I thought it might be a lot within the same area… but maybe not. The room is big… like 20 feet or something so that couch can’t go to the wall because the other side of the room would be empty. It’s like almost big enough to do two sitting areas but not quite (if that makes sense). Decisions, decisions! Thanks for all the suggestions.
You are off to an amazing start! I too have a living room that I am challenged by. I love the mirror but maybe not in that spot. Maybe a row of bookcases (ikea billy?) along the wall where the mirror currently is might work or a gallery wall like you had there previously. Love the idea of a persian rug too. Looking forward to see what you do.
I agree on the mirror in that spot and am bummed about it! I’d been wanting it forever for that wall so it’s annoying that I don’t like it now that I have it. Persian rug definitely needs to happen… just have to save up for it. Thanks so much for your input!
I like the white! I agree with other suggestions to change out the rug for something more colorful! White is hard because it is so stark and takes time to get used to…at least in my own home!! Live with it for awhile and see what you think maybe!
Yes yes yes! White has taken me a bit to get used to in my other two rooms too so maybe, I’ll like it in here eventually. Maybe a good rug change will change things up!
Love the switch up!!! Makes your room much brighter and bigger!
Thanks Stephanie! It’s getting there for sure.
What about painting the trim black?
I don’t think my hubs would be on board with that. It would definitely stand out though!
What about bulking up your ceiling trim with molding, to make it look larger? I understand the ceiling problem. We have the same problem here in our house . Also changing out the rug for one with more pattern, maybe… your home is beautiful. Enjoy the process
It’s pretty chunky in real life by the ceiling. I’m not sure if I’d like more up there. The ceilings aren’t tall so I feel like it might make the ceiling look shorter?! Maybe that’s just crazy talk though. That popcorn is so nasty! Yes yes yes to a rug change. Just have to save some money!
You painted this room 3 times?! Wow, wow, wow! 🙂 White walls are harder to pull off than people think. How about adding some wall trim (in a simple modern way)? I think it will add great dimension to the walls. That may be what’s causing you to feel like the white is falling flat. On a side note… your living room is huge (3 sofas!). 🙂
I like white walls. It looks nice. Thanks for sharing this post.
Thanks! I’m still not sure what I think about them but we will live with them a bit before painting over.
Love the living room!
How comfortable is your West Elm Everett Sofa?
It’s not a lounge type sofa but it’s comfortable. I don’t think I’d want it as our main tv watching sofa though. Hope that helps.