We have a small (935 sq ft) 2BR/2BA condo in Florida. We’ve had it rented for awhile, but since we aren’t going to be renting it going forward, I’d like to make it more “mine” in terms of style. It’s VERY beige/tan/neutral. While I’d love to gut it and redo the whole thing, we don’t want to sink that much money into it. The quality is good - nice cabinetry, plantation shutters, etc., but it’s boring. I feel like the most cost effective way to change this is to paint. I’d like to just paint walls, not the trim or shutters. The cabinets and trim are a creamy white. The kitchen and eat-in area are separated from the living area. The counters are some sort of light tan, non-descript solid surface material, and the floor tile is a darker sort of tan. Tile is everywhere except the two bedrooms which are carpeting. The only curtains we have are in front of sliding glass doors, and they are … tan! We’ll be replacing carpeting, and the furniture. Can replace drapes as well. There is currently a four inch lip in the kitchen rather than a backsplash, I’d like to cut that off and put in a true backsplash all the way to the bottom of the counters. There’s not much space there, so the scale should probably be smallish. So, other than tan floors and beige countertops, I can go in any direction. I am leaning toward adding in navy and/or light blue. Maybe light blue in the kitchen with a navy accent wall in the living space. The current sofa is also tan (lol). Sorry, I’m rambling. Just looking for thoughts on favorite blue paint colors and any other ideas to introduce color (rug). Dh is an adamant pillow-hater. We plan to do a gallery wall in the living room which will add more color. I like “coastal” style, but not too kitschy or Red Lobster-y. I’m trying to be more minimalist in my style as well.
I love navy but am not sure if you are thinking of using it on walls or backsplash. I painted a wall unit navy and absolutely love it. The walls in that very large room were the palest, palest gray-blue. Pale.
Also painted a small bathroom navy that was otherwise all white, and like how that looks.
Two blue & one greenish color I live are Smoke and Pale Smoke (in the blues) and Sea Glass in the greenish. All Benjamin Moore.
I like the top 3 blues. I could see using one of those as glass backslash, and then pillows. But if I used that color for walls, have to determine if too much with same color backsplash.
I would start with white and colorful (think blues and Caribbean pastels) window treatments, throw pillows, wall art and throw rugs. Then I would add an accent wall if I still wanted more color. But it if’s a small place, I’d keep it light, breezy and simple, like a beach cottage.
I was thinking the navy just on the one wall in the living room - the art gallery wall.
Thanks for the ideas! I have to say a lot of those are more greenish/aqua than I think I would like. I’m not very green. kind of like BM blue heather, I think. I want a more chambray-ish color. Or maybe cut it with white.
My issue is that the walls are currently too creamy/yellow for me right now, and I sorta feel like painting before buying new drapes, accessories, rugs, etc., would be easier.
Gotta get dh on board with pillows. He always throws them on the floor! I’m not very tall, so I like having a pillow begin my back.
I wouldn’t use navy in a tiny space. How about Sherwin-Williams Rainwashed and Window Pane for light blues that go well with creamy trim? If those are too greenish-blue for you, take a look at Wonderous Blue and Rhythmic Blue, as well as SW Wishful Blue. I’d also look at one shade whiter and one shade creamier than your trim for colors to use in fabrics, and keep it all as light as possible.
Find a great piece of artwork that fits with your new condo, and lifestyle, and play off the colors. Most paint companies can match nearly anything now.
Here’s some blues colors I’ve used after looking at literally hundreds - a range of hues. One thing though is in my lengthy paint color search, I discovered how much color can vary from room to room with light quality, room size, directional exposure, etc. Just moving the large format samples around my house, they looked so different in different rooms.
These are all Benjamin Moore colors:
Iceberg
November Skies
Oxford Gray
Other contenders:
Bachelor Blue
New Hope Gray
Summer Shower
Smoke
Yarmouth Blue
FYI, my post #7 should have said more beachy not more beauty.
NO! to navy and other dark colors. Too heavy and depressing. A much lighter blue will still offer more contrast than white or light beiges.
We are retired moved to Florida (inland Tampa- where people would evacuate To in case of a hurricane) and chose blues, beiges (tans, creams…) and greens that we liked for our house. Think beachy. Paint some walls in nice lighter colors, but not too pale so as to be washed out. Don’t worry about a backsplash- we never had more than the 3" up from the counter ones.
Also- scrap the curtains idea. Think minimalist- go with honeycomb shades on public spaces where they are up or down and horizontal blinds (cordless to not ruin the view) on bedrooms and bathrooms where angling them up/down can offer both light and privacy. Oh- you already have those plantation shutters that always cover some of the windows (not a fan).
Think light and airy. There are many colors to choose from in the brands found at places that sell paint. Avoid the formality of any drapes.
The whole idea is to feel like you are on vacation. The lack of clutter is so much more restful to the eyes and leaves the focus on people and outdoors.
I could list my favorite colors but that is so individual. Using some green breaks up the monotony of blues and beiges. So many possibilities.
@wis75 We have plantation shutters on all windows except the sliding glass doors where the drapes are. We have to have something to cover those for privacy and to keep out strong morning sun as those face east. I’m open to changing those, but I’m not sure what to use instead of drapes. Not a fan of vertical blinds.
Hate the idea of replacing the shutters. They are so expensive! And there is no view from the kitchen and second bedroom - just the parking lot. The master and living room have intracoastal views.
@doschicos — I still own many of the pint samples of several of the colors you mentioned. I painted the boys’ bathroom in Smoke and a bedroom in pale smoke but diluted a bit more.
@Hoggirl – I liked the artwork suggestion above as a jumping off point. Also, I assume that most paint stores offer this service, but if I did not like the colors on the charts, I played around and mixed up my own colors using the base white to cut them. The paint store matched the color on the poster board sample I had mocked up.
I agree with you on vertical blinds; they are totally horrible. The idea for white canvas drapes with grommet tops sounds like it would be a good solution, particularly with the need to block that strong morning sun.
