All White open floor plan... HELP!?

Question

Hi everyone, My husband and I just bought our first home in September and we fell in love with it the first time we seen it. It's a 6 bedroom 2400 sq ft, with an open floor plan combining Kitchen, Dining, and Living. I have plans to change a few things, but the first thing I'd like to change is all the white. The walls are white and the kitchen cabinets are white. The floors are hardwood, and the trim is a stained 4" pine.
I've looked at TONS of design pics and just can't figure out what to do, and what the best colors are. All the colors I like they are shown with white trim, I like the wood trim. If there's someone out there that has a little time on their hands and have a knick for this kind of thing, I'd really appreciate the help. I plan on redoing the whole house eventually, and I don't see myself getting very far if I can't even pick paint colors... :) I have pics of before and after moving in, if that would [e-mail]
any advice would be great.. thanks!!

Answer 1

Is there a favorite object, accessory, or art work that is in the room? That can be an awesome starting point. You an take the colors from a piece of art and use those colors. You know that those colors in the art work or object already coordinate, so use those.

Color choice is really based upon you and how you feel about a particular color. Look at some basic colors and see how you react to them. For example, if blue catches your eye more then red, then concentrate on the blues. Now look at the different shades of blue, from dark to light. See how the different shades make you feel.

What ever shade of color you choose, then go for the same shade with different colors to help the colors flow from room to room. Example: If you picked a lighter blue for one room, then have the rest of the rooms that flow into each other in lighter colors whether they are lighter shades of greens or yellows.

I hope this helps.



An addition to my answer:

Another person below mentioned about not using a favorite object as a starting point.
I disagree with her.
As far as color choice you should go with whatever color you feel comfortable with. But make sure you are smart about making sure colors go together. (With that, you can consult a decorator or by going to a paint store such as Benjamin Moore to make sure the colors you pick do coordinate together.)

People will tell you to go with this color or go with that color. But to tell you the truth, it is your space and you need to live there. Just because someone loves red does not mean that you have to love red.

Useing a favorite object or painting or even the fabric in a chair is something that you already love. So why not use the colors from that and build off of that.

In a room, you need at least 3 colors.
You need a main color. That is the color that you would use the most in that room such as the wall color.
Then the second color. That would be your window treatments, fabrics on your chairs, etc.
Then the 3rd color would be the accent color. That would be your accents in the rooms - vases, lamps, etc.

Because it is an open floor plan, in the kitchen, in the kitchen, you can pick which one would be the main color, then maybe in the living room you can reverse it using the same 3 colors.

I have used the favorite item idea for years and my clients love the final result when they are done.

Remember, it's your space and don't let anyone force what they like on you.

Answer 2

Great! Keep the wood trim; It won't need to be repainted 5 yrs down the road.

The "best" colors are the ones YoU like.

Like the first responder said, go with a couple of colors you like. That's the thing about paint - you can always paint over it. If you're having trouble choosing and you've looked at a lot of pictures, perhaps go to the paintstore and let their pre-selected color choices work for you. With literally thousands of shades to choose from, take their cue, and select a combination of shades that the manufacturer's designers have put together. They'll have plenty of combinations that don't include using white on the trim.

Let's say you find one or two 3-color schemes that you like at the paintstore: think about doing something different. Don't necessarily paint all the walls in one room or one section of the house the same color. Especially, since you have an open floor plan. Or, paint the ceiling something other than white. If you've got 3 main walls defining the Dining, Living & Kitchen, maybe paint each wall a different colors. I don't mean red, white & blue. Be sure to select colors that a true professional has declared "work" together.

Or, if you have an arched [or some other kind of focal passageway,] door way, paint just the "jamb" a different color than either color used on opposing sides of the opening.

Some of the paint manufacturer's [BenjaminMoore, for sure] have websites [& $10 CDs] that allow you to use a digital photo [of a room in your house, for example] and then "paint" it. It's an excellent way to "envision" what a color will look like on the wall. The Better Homes & Garden [bh&g] site offers this capability, too.

Always remember, tho, CoLoR is a weird thing. No matter what it looks like at the paint store. No matter what it looks like outside. Only matter is what it actually looks like when painted on the surface; how it interacts [reflects/refracts light] with everything around it, is whether or not you'll like what color it turns out to be.

Answer 3

I wish I new how much light you are getting in the house. With open concept you should be fine. Your colour tastes are going to have to be your own. But I would like to make some suggestions. First don't waste time painting one or two walls then have to re-paint it again. You will need to match some of it up to your furniture you have. Second don't go off a picture you like because that is why you like it, it's a picture not your home. Use a part of colour from your picture that you like that can be your PUNCH colour. which is just your accent you only use very little of it and it is usually fairly bold. Colbolt Blue, Deep Red etc.
You would only use it like in the shade of a table lamp or a couple of throw pillows (don't overuse a punch colour).
I suggest if you are painting Benjamin Moore is the best.
2 suggestions for room colours because you are open concept. make at least 2 wall one colour and the rest a different colour but keep 2 the same.
Check out: 2 walls Benjamin Moore :Sundried Tomatoe with the other wall in Benjamini Moore : Sombraro These 2 colours look awesome together.
another is BM: Mountain Moss and Sage they also go well
I have done many open concepts and these are just two of the colour schemes that are popular right now especially the Sundried and Sombraro.
Good Luck and have fun with your decorating and you will do just fine. You love it more when you put your heart and soul into it.

Answer 4

it really depends on the color of the hardwood floors and the color of the stain on the pine. if the floors and trim are quite dark, i think a smokey sage green would work great for the walls. if the stained pine has got some orangey overtones in it like pine often does, then id suggest a cinnamon or terra cotta or burnt sienna. kitchen cabinets would look better in a dark chocolate brown or black and would match either the sage green or the cinnamon.

for a good sagey green check out Ralph Lauren "cameroon green" or Glidden "morning haze"

Answer 5

Go to your clothes closet, what colors are most predominate besides black. Bet it's golds and yellows. Do you know how to "shadow" rag on a charcoal or brown tint to the kitchen cabinets , you just rag it on a wipe off until you have a shadow effect, less is better. You could use gold in the open area, maybe stencil on a couple Terra cot ta chair rails or box outlines, you know that stops the on and on of color. Can you see it yet?

Answer 6

Just do some tests on one wall..find 2 or 3 colors that you like and think might work...and start painting. Remember you can paint over it if you dont like it.

Answer 7

First congratulations on your new home. What colors do you like? I like neutral colors and I too hate all white walls (lol). Below are a few links to help you along the way. These are only suggestions so hopefully you like them. Click links to view photos

Kitchen photos

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/interiors/1048kitchen1.jpg

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/interiors/laureldining.jpg

dining rooms

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/interiors/994dining.jpg

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/interiors/780dining.jpg

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/interiors/1008dining.jpg

Family room

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/interiors/1008great.jpg

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/interiors/964great1.jpg

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/interiors/384great1.jpg

Bedrooms

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/interiors/5005bedroom.jpg

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/interiors/933-1master.jpg

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/interiors/867master.jpg

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/interiors/864master.jpg

http://www.dongardner.com/images/plans/interiors/452master.jpg