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Open plan kitchen/dining area

by Maria
(Kerry, Ireland)

Hi I have just rented a house with an open plan kitchen/dining area, I was wondering what colour scheme would work best to pop some colour into the room, should I separate it into two areas or keep all the same.

I was thinking red/green theme but I can't decide. I am allowed to paint the room.

Any suggestions would be very helpful. Thanks

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Open plan kitchen/dining area

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Sep 12, 2011
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Color help...
by: Charlotte

Hello Maria

Your new home looks lovely - and it's great news that you can paint it.

It's often good to live with a new home for a while first, just to get a feel for which colors you feel would work well there after you've got used to the space yourself...

The existing fixtures look quite neutral, so that's a good start, and it means you should be able to choose from most colors.

Are there different colors in the kitchen area, too? ...or is this similarly neutral?

Whether you choose to go with 1 or 2 areas depends on if you'd like the space to feel like one unified space, or 2 separate ones...

As the 2 are inevitably linked, you will need to choose 2 color which work well together...

If you decide to go with red and green, these do work together, as they are opposite each other on the color wheel (called 'complementary colors')...

...but in this case you should take care not to use the 2 in equal intensities and in equal amounts, else the effect is too over-powering.

An alternative could be to try 2 'harmonising' shades of green (close to each other on the color wheel) in each of the 2 spaces, and use the red as an accent in each.

Red is great used in small amounts, as an accent color, as it is a very strong and bright color. Used in large amounts red can be overwhelming, and can also make small rooms feel darker and smaller...

Having said that, it is a good color for dining spaces, as it is a sociable color, and is said to stimulate the appetite, and is a really good color for dining areas used mostly in the evenings, too, as it is so dramatic.

Why not try a few tester pots out to see what works for you in the space. But remember that your finished wall or room will always appear about 1 or 2 shades darker than the patch you paint on the wall, so if in any doubt, go for the same color just a couple of shades lighter, to get the effect you want.

I hope those ideas helped.

Do come back and ask if you'd like any further help with choosing your color scheme, or any further interior design queries you have.

You might also find the section on decorating with color...

...and the main section on How to Design of interest.

Good luck with your decorating, and I hope you'll be very happy in your new home.

Best wishes

Charlotte :o)

Kitchen Decorating Tips

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Open plan kitchen/dining area

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Open plan kitchen/dining area