I’ve been planning two more big DIY renovations for our home: the laundry room and the second floor bathroom. The laundry room in the basement is dull, and the bathroom is having issues that are forcing the renovation more than aesthetics alone. I’ve chosen the appliances and fixtures, and everything so far is black, white, or brass. Even the flooring is white (or “biscuit” in the case of the bathroom, but close enough). Neutrals. A classic foundation. I can do anything I like with the wall colors!
What do I like?
The moody, somber hues that suggest mysteries and the passage of time. The paint colors that pick up names from secluded forests or old world travel destinations. Or that, if you’re not a fan, pick up less charming monikers like “baby poop green.” I lovingly refer to these as “the ugly colors” but of course they’re not. They’re muted. Shaded. Rich. Moody. Nuanced.
• I list sources for everything in the Shop Our House section, including the specific paint colors and wallpapers in our home.
I love pink (quelle surprise!). But I’ve used it in the front entryway, library, dining room, bedroom, hallway, office, and guest room. Might it be time to choose another color for the next few rooms? The house has likely reached its pink quota.
The living room’s black walls and the many, many doors I’ve painted black still thrill me. The brown antelope runner on the stairs is perfection.
The bathroom is off of the hallway with pink wallpaper. The sink and toilet will be white, and the outside of our existing claw foot tub can be painted (likely black, but not finalized). These are some of the options I’ve been thinking of for wall colors.
It’s the same palette I’m looking at for the laundry room, though the ceilings are shorter (significantly) and there’s much less natural light. I shared a sneak peek of both design plans on my Instagram Stories and everybody sent messages voting for pink, but I think it’s time for me to consider that maybe just maybe other colors exist that I can decorate with. Moss, mushroom, ochre, olive… they’re calling.
Nicole
April 10, 2018 at 12:12 pmKhaki green, 100%. It’s great with pink, it’s moody and sophisticated, it’s historical, it actually goes well with the patterns you have already. It’s perfect
Shelly Mathes
April 10, 2018 at 1:40 pmYes, enough Pink, time for something different. I love Green but I also love Black, to me Black is timeless. Good luck.
Amelia
April 10, 2018 at 2:05 pmYes to all the greens and ochres.
Sarah
April 10, 2018 at 2:19 pmI love the khaki green, but I really am drawn to the darkest color in your mock-ups which looks like a dark navy. The fun of a hall bath is that it’s not a lot of surface so you can go pretty bold without it being too much.
jenn aka the picky girl
April 10, 2018 at 2:46 pmAgh! This is so exciting to me because I’m putting finishing touches on a half-bath install on a space that has sat empty for a long time (old butler’s pantry). Ancient bead board walls, so we installed plumbing, redid the tile floor, but it looks so much like some of these photos!
I painted the lower half of the walls black and went with a magnolia wallpaper above with black trim except baseboards. Everything else is brass and white, and I love it. But I’m totally going to pull in some baby puke green to make it more interesting. :)
Can’t wait to see what you do!
Linda Moore
April 10, 2018 at 2:51 pmI am drawn to the darkest color also. A navy would be great and that really works with pink.
Caroline
April 10, 2018 at 3:00 pmI like either the first, darkest green you’ve chosen or the darkest color (navy-blackish?). LOVE your house!
c2
April 10, 2018 at 5:20 pmImmediately I wanted to explore the bathroom with the stormy thunderous hue on your mock-ups (#6?). It seems so genuinely lepidopteral (that’s the word I’m using, standing by for an English majors tongue-lashing) for a house rich in history. I agree, for resting the pink tones, and giving the house some new stories to tell. Excited where you’re headed………..(;
Tina
April 11, 2018 at 6:55 amOooh! I vote for 1) green, 2) navy/black, 3) the darker gray, or 4) mustard. I know gray is going on year 10-11 of popularity and everywhere, but it does look great in this mock-up.
Peggi
April 11, 2018 at 7:02 amI was on Team Olive for the guest room, so I’m going with it again! Although I usually detest yellows, the more muted ochre-y shade is oddly compelling… Three cheers for the ugly colors!
Jeanne
April 11, 2018 at 12:00 pmMy vote is the darkest one…navy/black…a perfect backdrop for the color/drama of bold art in the room.
Haley
April 11, 2018 at 1:14 pmI’m super into that mustard version in the bottom right. Maybe not the best color to surround yourself with if you are putting on make-up in the space but it looks great with the butterflies.
Lyndsey
April 11, 2018 at 3:56 pmThe dark Navy one is hands down the one I’d go with. (The one to its right would be my runner up.)
Rebecca Long Pyper
April 11, 2018 at 4:06 pmI share your affinity for the ugly colors. If you haven’t checked out BM Mustard Olive, you should.
Ally
April 11, 2018 at 11:42 pmThe darkest one!
Kayla aka I Am Kilo Bravo
April 12, 2018 at 8:32 amHooray for ‘ugly color’ love! I always joke that I love all things ‘ugly’. I don’t think you can go wrong with any of these choices, but I would eliminate the lighter grays and pink first. Agree with the other comments, the two greens and muted navy are strong contenders. Good luck!!!
Holly
April 12, 2018 at 8:47 amIs this where your family will be getting ready in the morning? I grew up in a house with an avacado bathroom and the color cast a strange light on my reflection. I strongly urge you to consider the colors which are most flattering to your coloring. Perhaps the pink or navy? Or perhaps that lovely medium blue in the bird’s wing just over the O in the clip of the rainbow room wallpaper.
Making it Lovely
April 12, 2018 at 10:27 amI get ready at the sink in my closet, and I did choose a creamy linen white for that reason! This is the bathroom the kids use mostly.
Emily
April 12, 2018 at 9:57 amI think green would love *amazing* with the pink and the black, but I’d play with the shade of green a little more. Maybe a green with a little more “smokiness” to it?
Noni
April 13, 2018 at 12:11 pmI’m on Team Dark Color. I’ve had my eye on Narragansett Green (Benjamin Moore) for a while now and I think I’m going to go for it. It’s so deep and inky. And blue when it’s not green.
Blythe
April 14, 2018 at 2:57 pmI love Narraganset Green! My friend painted her apartment that color and I love how it changes between blue/green/black depending on the time of day .
Sandra
April 13, 2018 at 1:45 pmIf nobody is putting on makeup in there, then I like the green. The warm gray looks nice in the mockups but a little too contemporary (and common) for a home like yours, but that would be my choice if makeup is being put on.
goosefairy
April 16, 2018 at 9:28 amOne of the (many) things I appreciate about your design style is your use of colors. Nothing you do looks like anything else out there. I am so mightily tired of all those spaces that look alike. One of the things I think you should consider for your bathroom is, you probably want to stay away from anything in the brown range, especially anything that smacks of baby poop brown. Personally, I love the green but it’s not my house. You do you. You’ve done brilliantly so far!
Kelly Mahan
April 18, 2018 at 4:15 pmI agree, the “ugly” colors need more representation. There aren’t enough interior tones like these ones.
JenniferN
April 21, 2018 at 11:03 pmSurprising myself by liking the ochre in this room.
Sarah Belcher
April 24, 2018 at 5:07 amI’m really feeling the greens!