Scheme 1: Fun and Fresh Living Room
When planning to make over this living room , designer Elaine Griffin wanted something sophisticated yet durable enough to handle four boys. The result is this fun and fresh look that features a color scheme of vibrant green, watermelon red, blue, and tan. "This is a rich green with yellow undertones," Griffin says. "It's a great neutral and goes with everything." In a room with bold walls , keep other colors less intense. In this living room, sofa upholstery and window treatments are neutral, but the accents are bright.
Try Tan Trim
To set off the bold wall color , designer Elaine Griffin chose a light tan for the trim and ceiling. "The era of bright white trim and ceiling is over," Griffin says. "You only need white trim with ivory walls ." Instead, she recommends tan, beige, ivory, or a soft gray. The home's foyer, which can be seen from the doorway, is wrapped in easy-clean mocha-color vinyl grass cloth.
Bold Accents
The boys' homework station adds a modern flair to the traditional room. Desks lacquered in dark watermelon add a punch of color , and the sleek pieces conserve space. Clear acrylic chairs are fun yet keep the focus on the desks. A daybed upholstered in neutrals separates living space from work space. French blue and yellow accent pillows add more color. "You can't go wrong with a fun yellow throw pillow in any room," designer Elaine Griffin says.
Message Center
The homework station includes a message center on the fireplace wall. Magnetic metal strips in the same watermelon color as the desks connect the spaces and add color to the area. Each boy has his own corkboard and metal strip to keep his work organized.
Scheme 1 Product Guide
Walls: Green Jalapeno 6005-6C; Valspar from Lowe'sTrim and Ceiling: Softer Tan SW 6141, Sherwin-WilliamsWindow Treatments: Pinch Pleat Drapery, theshadestore.comSofas: Manchester sofas, balladdesigns.comDaybed: New Canaan Daybed, balladdesigns.comDesks: Strut Tables in Watermelon, bludot.comFoyer Walls: Anguilla Weave grass cloth wallpaper in Mocha, thibautdesign.com
Color Scheme 2: Luxurious Living Room
Griffin considered red walls for the living room . A red wall color creates a sophisticated and elegant living room. "We didn't see red for a long time, but it's coming back," designer Elaine Griffin says. With four boys in and out of the room, Griffin didn't want the look to be too sophisticated, so she would have kept the accent colors fresh and modern.
Darker Trim
With red walls , the trim and ceiling color can be a little darker than it was in the green scheme. A rich tan complements the sophisticated wall color.
Fresh Color Choices
Griffin would have used blue accents to tone down the drama of red walls . To keep the same green, red, blue, and tan color scheme , blue and green accent pillows would add fun pops of color to the neutral sofas and daybed.
Connect the Spaces
Using the same blue hue on the metal strips and desks would connect the message center to the homework station.
Color Scheme 2 Guide
Walls: Raspberry Truffle 2080-10, Benjamin MooreTrim and Ceiling: Macadamia 6142, Sherwin-WilliamsBlue: Roadster Blue 4006-6B, Valspar
Color Scheme 3: Classic Living Room
"Blue is the perfect backdrop for everything," designer Elaine Griffin says. To keep the wall color trendy, she considered a dramatic blue with green undertones.
Complement the Walls
Light tan for the trim and ceiling would keep the room fresh.
Bright Workstation
Dark yellow desks would add a playful feel to the homework station and room. "Rooms always look good with a citrus color as an accent," designer Elaine Griffin says.
Functional Workstation
Yellow would keep the homework station youthful -- just how a space for four boys should be.
Color Scheme 3 Guide
Walls: Hotel St. Francis Spirit Blue 5010-10, ValsparTrim and Ceiling: Softer Tan SW6141, Sherwin-WilliamsYellow: Stuart Gold HC-10; Benjamin Moore
Color Scheme 4: Neutral Living Room
If bold wall colors are too daring, play it safe with neutral walls and bold, easily changeable accents. Griffin contemplated painting the walls a rich tan color to keep the neutral color fresh and trendy.
Choose Lighter Trim
With light walls , choose a lighter color for the trim and ceiling. Griffin considered a light tan that's just a few shades darker than white.
Be Bold with Accents
The same accents that worked with the green walls would work with the neutral walls. The watermelon desks could add a bold punch to the room without being too daring. Blue and yellow accent pillows would maintain the green, red, blue, and tan color scheme .
Bold Work Area
Red accents in the message center and homework station would add a fresh pop of color to a largely neutral living room .
Color Scheme 4 Guide
Walls: Relaxed Khaki 6149, Sherwin-WilliamsTrim and Ceiling: Softer Tan SW6141, Sherwin-Williams
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