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  Bedroom - bed, pillows, lamp, mirror | Interior Designer: Carla Aston

DIY FAQ: What Paint Color Should I Pair With My Warm, Beige Walls?

May 24, 2016 in Color, Decorating, Designing

I recently had a question come up about an older post.

It’s about combining gray and beige — oooooh, that’s a sticky combo. Many people have warm or even gold-toned walls and aren’t ready to paint the whole house but want to go gray. 

Here’s the reader’s question:

“Can I ask a question :) Currently my house is all painted a beige color - Chaparral from Dunn Edwards paint Co. We painted the whole house this color except for 3 accent walls in our great room, back in the early 2000's we painted it burgundy ( hey, that was the style then. We just bought a beautiful blue rug with geo shapes and finally my husband is letting me paint those ugly walls. Here is my delima. I want to paint them grey because in a year we are repainting my whole house grey. But for now will grey with Chaparral beige go? If so what do you recommend! I really appreciate it!!!! Love your blog!”

 Chaparral

This is the type of color on most of the walls in homes around here in The Woodlands. I’m very familiar with this warm color tone.

Here’s my response: 

I would go with a darker blue/gray color. That will give a contrast with all the warm walls you have, and it work well with your new rug. Then, when you go gray everywhere else, it will still work if you want to keep it. The grey/beige combo is really hard to pull off if they are the same value (lightness/darkness). You need to make the new accent wall color a darker color, imo.

I’ve got some examples, below of what I’m talking about. If you put a darker blue-grey with that sand color, the combination will appear purposeful, like the color scheme was intended. Color is greatly affected by what surrounds it; it’s all about its relationships to other colors in the space.

   Storm Cloud @ Sherwin Williams

Storm Cloud @ Sherwin Williams

I love this color from Sherwin Williams: Storm Cloud. I’ve used it several times, like on the base cabinets of this kitchen.

 Kitchen remodel | Interior Designer: Carla Aston

CLICK HERE to read more about the project pictured above

Do you see how that darker color makes a dramatic statement next to the oatmeal color and gives it a cooler look? It sort of has a “sand and sea” type of color scheme going on there. White trim looks good with it too.

Here’s another color I’ve used before: Benjamin Moore’s Brewster Gray. It’s a bit lighter and not as blue as the Storm Cloud color. I think it also makes a nice color combo.

   Brewster Gray @ Benjamin Moore

Brewster Gray @ Benjamin Moore

I’ve used it on the walls of a bedroom makeover project here:

 Bedroom - bed, pillows, lamp, mirror | Interior Designer: Carla Aston
 Bedroom dresser with lamps | Interior Designer: Carla Aston

CLICK HERE to read more about the project pictured above

When this reader paints the rest of her house gray, she can move forward with these accent wall colors in place and do a lighter version as her new overall color. 

Want to read more about color? This article explains a lot:

   MUST-READ: Everything Is Relative, Especially Color

MUST-READ: Everything Is Relative, Especially Color

  Click through  for my comprehensive guide to selecting paint colors and finishes.

Click through for my comprehensive guide to selecting paint colors and finishes.

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Tags: color, gray, beige, reader mail, Carla Aston, Carla Aston interior design, Carla Aston interior designer, interior design, interior designer
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Disclaimer / Comment Policy:

The advice and comments I offer here on the blog and in the comments section are free and are done for sharing and discussion. I am in no way taking responsibility for your decisions on your projects, I am simply offering up some advice from my distant and limited view of your situation in question. I try to answer as time permits but cannot get to all of them. If you want to hire me personally, there are ways to do that by clicking on my Services page.

Please note that if you load images in the comments section you are then giving your permission for me to use the image in a future blogpost, without reference to you, the owner of the photo. All comments are public and therefore can be republished.

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Thx / Carla