It’s not hard to use bright colours in a traditional space. Use a pillow or piece of furniture for inspiration. The contrast of the green/blue against the heat of the coral under-toned orange; really create a fresh summer look. You can then leave the walls a nice calming neutral, especially in the cream family.
For this look try:
1. HC-138 “Covington Blue” by Benjamin Moore.
2. 2170-30 “Autumn Cover” by Benjamin Moore.
3. OC-10 “White Sand” by Benjamin Moore.
Did you grow up believing that ceilings had to be white — or, at the very least, a paler version of the wall color.
Dark ceilings, even black ones…can hide a multitude of sins, call attention to something you want to emphasize or instill a touch of drama.
Here are some reasons to consider painting your ceiling black.
To add drama. Take away the furnishings and finishes in this room, and you’ve got a pretty humble plasterboard box. The black ceiling adds architectural interest where none existed and makes the space feel far more interesting.
To draw attention to a view. Sure, this view would be beautiful even if the ceiling were white. But notice how the black surface draws your eyes toward the vista, kind of like a red carpet unfurling in front of you?
To define an area. It can be hard distinguishing one space from another within an open floor plan. A black ceiling can do the trick, without the hassle of room dividers or area rugs.
To conceal a mess. It can be tough to hide all the ductwork in a basement ceiling. Covering it with drywall can rob you of precious headroom (not to mention money). An inexpensive solution is to paint the whole thing black. It won’t eliminate the problem entirely, but it’ll make the mechanics far less prominent without lowering the ceiling’s height.
To make a ceiling look taller. Sounds like a contradiction, right? But when you can’t see the boundaries of a room, it can appear bigger. This is especially true if you paint the tops of the walls black as well.
To emphasize trim. Got some awesome millwork? Make it pop by painting the surrounding surfaces black.
To echo other elements in the room. If there’s a lot of black elsewhere in the room, a black ceiling can tie things together and create a unified look.
To make a ceiling look lower. High ceilings always sound good. But in reality, they can make a space feel cold and imposing. Black paint will make the ceiling feel lower without sacrificing space.
Because the walls are black. If you’re going to take the plunge and paint your walls black, do you really want to wimp out on the ceiling? The bedroom here is dramatic and supremely sexy, but it wouldn’t have worked half as well without the black ceiling.
The same holds true for this bath. Since bathrooms are self-contained spaces, and people don’t usually spend a great deal of time in them, they’re an excellent place to try something a little bit daring.
Because the rest of the room is black and white. Chaplin, houndstooth, The New Yorker — some things just look better in black and white. In this case the black ceiling is a nice echo of the black floor, and the stringent motif makes the few touches of color pop.
A bold backdrop painted in Gray 2121-10 conveys a sense of warmth and luxuery in this beautiful living room.
It could be a spare bedroom, a den, a feature wall in living room, the landing area of your staircase or built under a window.
You too can find a place to keep your books that are lying around the house, check out these fabulous home libraries that are bursting with inspiration. We have attached some Benjamin Moore colours so you can duplicate a similar look for your home.
HC-166 Kendall Charcoal makes this home library rich, deep and luxurious. Especially when paired with white acessories.
Is it a small room? By painting the built-ins shelves the same as the walls, it really does open up the space. This light blue room above is painted in 2053-50 Passion Blue by Benjamin Moore.
Formal living rooms aren’t always used very often but this room is instantly more useful while acting as a home library as well. For a similar look paint walls, shelves and mouldings in AF-100 Pashmina by Benjamin Moore.
This den doubles as a library with built in desks for kids to do homework. We love this look and for a similar look use HC-180 Stonington Gray by Benjamin Moore.
This isn’t just a great view, it is now a functional corner with lot’s of storage for books. Trim and built-in’s are painted in CC-40 Cloud White by Benjamin Moore.
A little cozy landing area in the hallway can easily be transformed into a library with a shelves and a bench to read on. For a similar look try OC-117 Simply White by Benjamin Moore.
You may have a room or condo with very high ceilings and little floor space, this is perfect for high built-ins like the photo above with a sliding ladder. For similar look try HC-105 Rockport Gray by Benjamin Moore.
This armoire above is perfect for the homeowner on the go, who know they will be moving but still wants a library space without investing in built-ins. For a similar look try HC-154 Hale Navy by Benjamin Moore.
Even if it’s just one feature wall in a living with built-ins, it’s still a library. This room was painted in OC-66 Snow White by Benjamin Moore.
This colour is bold, calming and one that promotes creativity. Designer Meg Quasim of Design Your Joy put a Styleboard to show you how to use this blue, check it out here.
Thinking this look may work in your home?
Come into our store and grab a tester pot in Benjamin Moore’s CC-874 Delphin today.
Drawing from Scandinavian design and a love of rich colors and warm wood, this couple creates a beautiful space with unique style. (via: Apartment Therapy)
This surprising attic is great for storage and a guest room (walls: Gray Owl 2137-60)
Gray Owl 2137-60 finishes off this living room look.
A dash of drama with Gravel Gray 2127- 30 in the dining room.
