When You Have The Wrong White - - this is the post I did to show you my problem right after I painted.
My sofa is a cut velvet pattern. The velvet is white, but the back ground is an off white or pale beige. Overall the sofa reads white until you put the wrong white with it.
Once the walls were painted Reliable White the sofa looked yellow or beige. Reliable white does not have a gray tone, but next to my sofa it does, so this is totally the wrong color for this sofa wall.
I originally had the walls painted a soft camel color, so I went back to the paint store and had them mix that same camel color a little lighter and painted just this one wall that the sofa was one. See, now my sofa looks like it's true color - white.
Since we have all the furniture being pulled out of here so the new floors can go down, I thought this was a great time to show you the sofa wall again. You can see in the mirror reflection that the entrance wall is also this camel color. (I am painting that white now that the room is empty, but the sofa wall with stay)
If your white furniture isn't reading white, then maybe it's the wrong wall color. No one ever notices that this one wall is not white, they just notice a white room with white furniture.
Make sure you test all your paint samples against all your furniture and if you want white, maybe you just need to paint things a color that will read white even if it isn't.
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Tricky lady! I have a bag I carry with me when I'm looking for paint samples with pieces of fabric from the furniture to help me. Once we last painted the room then my carpet color looked really off but the master plan is to replace it so I have to live with it. It is a tricky deal to get it all right isn't it! Can't wait to see your new flooring and how it affects the look of the room! We want to go with wood in the living room but it's so darn expensive I don't' know if we can afford it. Perhaps I'll be more inspired when I see how yours came out!
ReplyDeleteThe right wall color makes such a difference. Love the sofa with the right white.
ReplyDeleteSuch a fabulous solution Marty! I am loving your palm pillows with the pink and now I get to make my own! Thank you SO very much for the wonderful box of fabric. It truly brightened my day!
ReplyDeleteGreat job Marty! I will pay closer attention...
ReplyDeleteIt's trial and error, Marty...
ReplyDeleteBrenda
First off I want to say I love your style and the way you mix pillows. Have you ever considered taking down the mirror? It is a beautiful mirror but it seems to overpower the space. It makes your furniture look dwarf and it's the first element I notice due to the massive size. I would either opt for a smaller mirror, or a piece of artwork. Maybe even a nice metal piece.These are just my opinions and observations. Again, love your style!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marty, for the tips. I have a similar problem in my living room. I want to paint the living room white but I have a beige sofa. Now what? But I LOVE your creative answer and considering it here also. Have a great weekend. Linda @Crafts a la mode
ReplyDeleteWhat a great solution Marty! Color selection is challenging for me and unfortunately I have to see it on the wall to know if it works in a room or with existing furnishings. Have done lots of repainting over the years. Your sofa is wonderfully white against your new wall color. :)
ReplyDeleteYou are so smart and thanks for this post. I did this in my den. I keep trying to add colorful pillows and throws on the furniture to distract from the color difference but not much I can do. Definitely get paint samples. ;)
ReplyDeleteJane
Paint is the bane of my decorating existence! I hate picking it out. I am always so filled with anxiety that it won't be the right shade! And I know that it's not as expensive as other decorating decisions if you want to correct a mistake, but it's also not that easy moving all the furniture, prepping the room, and then crossing your fingers and praying that this time you really picked out the right color. Your solution was brilliant. Thank you for the tip. I also love that entire room. It feels very welcoming!
ReplyDeleteGreat tip Marty. My problem is our sofa, it is the wrong shade in my book.
ReplyDeleteWhen we built this house I chose "on the rocks" by SW for the living areas and I love it, I knew going in it might be a problem with the sofa.
I suppose in time the sofa will have to go.
Thank you for sharing this great tip and insights in decorating with us at TOHOT.
Jemma
Oh youhave no idea how sensitive to this exact thing I am. I painted the great room, the foyer, two hallways, the loft all SW Cottage White - was going to go all white. I had those fabulous white and tan oxford cloth pinstriped pieces I loved...........and oh boy were they yellow looking next to that white. It is a neutral wonderful white but with my furnishings it had a lavender and pink undertone, which is really doesn't - and only in the shadows not when well lit. Ugh.
ReplyDeleteI couldn't go through having that all painted again - it costs sooooo much - and plus we got low VHC or whatever it's called - so I just bought new furniture, haha. I wanted two love seats versus a love seat and large sofa anyway - and went with neutral green tones and just love its earthy look now.
One of these days I hope to post - the entire room is redone now - but having company a lot and just no time it seems. And when I have a little bit of time its gloomy outside - so soon I hope to share this wonderful new space. Hugs.
I am glad you solved your problem! Looks great, Marty! ♥