Help! My Grey Walls Look Baby Blue!

One of my girlfriends wrote me that very question just a few days ago. Her grey walls looked more like a 70’s baby blue tux than the lux grey she had been aiming for. Its something a lot of us struggle with. We get the paint chips home, they look like grey, they feel like grey, but the moment they get on the walls they act like baby blue. What is up with that?

The problem lies in the undertones. I’ve tested a few of these blue hues out and the daylight, the evening light, and even your lamps will play tricks on your eyes. Even a brown patterned curtain can throw off the intended color in a room.

So here is what I suggest:

The non-baby blue greys — Choose Brown Under

tones

and skip the tears

I quickly pulled up a color chart with Behr. They are great about grouping colors in families. A color like Seagull gray is going to be warm and grayish. I would avoid even the one on the bottom right because that has a lot of blue.

Behr Crisp Linen.png — Crisp Linen Walls

Marquee by Behr has a great room generator where you can upload a photo and test out colors in your room.

We think a room is a lot more than just color, though. Our approach is what takes a space from being a room to a home you’d actually want to live in.

Here’s how we would make this a home this family would actually want to live in:

#1 Life: We consider the people who will fill the space. That great sectional is the perfect starting point for a family room because it is inviting and screams, “family, come hang out together here!” I imagine loads of laughter, deep conversations, and cuddling here!

#2 Perspective: I know this family and they really value time spent together. This is usually when we talk through what we love about a space, like that gorgeous window light streaming in and enough space to fit such a great piece of furniture! We use the people of the room to drive all the remaining decisions.

#3 Color: This room is meant for happiness and warmth, which is likely why my friend is struggling with her blue walls. They are beautiful, but they don’t reflect the warmth she was hoping to achieve for family movie nights and game nights! So, by choosing that warm Crisp Linen color, we instantly warm up the room. Accessories follow later, but color is very important because it drives the atmosphere of the space. We start with the emotion first and follow with the stuff.

#4 Purpose: Design must follow purpose because without it we end up with spaces that never feel like home. So, understanding how the room will be used is vitally important. The sectional and a great coffee table are fantastic starting points for a space meant for family and entertaining. (The coffee table could be considered a bit small if it were used for board games but we will assume it’s ok for now.) Right now the coffee table is empty… so is it a footstool or is it waiting for objects? We think this is the perfect spot to add life and interest so everyone wants to gather here. We also consider budget. This family has two older kids with activities that get expensive and college looming. Choosing Quality, budget friendly items is KEY.

#5 Objects: Finally! Now we get to talk about the stuff! Most people start here before they have considered all the above, which is why we often find ourselves wasting money and creating spaces that don’t quite feel right. Objects follow purpose. That coffee table would be a great place to set some inspirational books and even a plant to liven it up. A throw to get cozy with (or two!) along with some more pattern and texture through pillows makes the space feel inviting, interesting, and relaxing. A beautiful art piece brings a youthful sense of wonder and adventure, two things this family is known for.