I have this madras quilt in my little boy's room on his antique distressed black bed along with a light, birch dresser.

Amy F
by Amy F
I'm at a loss for a paint color. I don't want to do green. I'm contemplating the lightest blue out there or maybe even gray? I'm desparate for suggestions! Thank you so much!
  20 answers
  • 3po3 3po3 on Nov 23, 2011
    Why not green? There are some great greens out there, and it would really match the quilt and dinosaur theme. If you don't want to go green, how about drawing out one of the tans or light browns in the quilt. I recommend taking one of the throw pillows into a Sherwin-Williams store and matching it against the color swatches. You can also use the S-W color visualizer - http://www.sherwin-williams.com/pro/paint_colors/paint_color_samples/color_visualizer/ - but keep in mind that most monitors aren't calibrated perfectly, so it's best to use that as a starting point, then check the color in person in store. Good luck, and cheers.
  • Steve has some great suggestions. The black bed would be beautiful up against one of the medium tones of brown. If you don't like being surrounded by green, consider just using it as an accent wall. Usually, it would be the wall that the head board is against.
  • Ashley F Ashley F on Nov 23, 2011
    Honestly I would go neutral and use the taupe. Looks really good with Black too.
  • Danielle V Danielle V on Nov 23, 2011
    I agree with Steve..a nice warm brown shade would really make the green pop....
  • Amy F Amy F on Nov 23, 2011
    Thanks so much, everyone! I hadn't thought of using a warm brown. I guess because I think of that for other, more adult areas, never kids. I have a hard time picturing a finished product, but you've given me a lot to think about! Thank you!
  • Ashley F Ashley F on Nov 24, 2011
    You know Benjamin Moore Paint has colors for Pottery Barn Kids. The colors that jump out to me are the Elephant Grey 2109-50, Chelsea Gray HC-168 or the Bleeker Beige HC-80. Good luck!~!
  • I would vote for gray. I love all the SW grey's to name a few Dovetail and Dorian gray you could also go for Mega Greige if you want a hint of beige.All these will go very well with the colors of the bedding.
  • Nora Nora on Nov 25, 2011
    I'd take the pillowcases to a color expert at local paint store--Sherwin Williams should be great if you have one near you, but don't count on finding an expert in someplace like Lowe's or Home Depot. Ask him/her to determine the color pattern already established in the fabric using a color wheel. For instance, the color scheme used in the bedding may be triadic, analogous, analogous with complementary accents, etc. Then decide together which paint colors would fit the existing scheme and choose the one that's most pleasing to you. Keep in mind, as you choose, the colors of the flooring, furniture and anything else that's permanent in the room. Bring a drawer with you; it'll help you choose the wall color that doesn't "exclude" the furniture. Trust me on this: your best wall color choice will not necessarily be the color that you find most pleasing on its own, but the one that is most inclusive and "respectful" of the colors that are already there. You'll find that the harmony created with your choice of colors is most important in the end.
  • Jan Britt Interiors Jan Britt Interiors on Nov 25, 2011
    Great advice!
  • Joyce S Joyce S on Nov 25, 2011
    I would go the taupes or warm sand color to brighten it up. All the other colors can be used as acents and the black is a grounding color
  • Natalie W Natalie W on Nov 26, 2011
    I think brown will look nice, but at the same time, very grown up for a little boy. light gray blues or stone blues would coordinate with his bedding nicely and you can also add other pieces with this color in it to help pull it into the color scheme a bit more. or even a lighter shade of green, but if you are set against it don't do what you think you won't like ..... because chances are already strong against it, even if it does work color-wise.
  • Patsy W Patsy W on Nov 27, 2011
    I vote for the taupe color!
  • Caitlin M Caitlin M on Nov 27, 2011
    I love the bedding! Some great options. My first thought was a greyish blue, but now I am leaning towards a sandy beige/khaki color, with light blues, darker browns as accents in trim, curtains, rugs (not sure what the existing flooring is) and wall decor. If you can find/have some furniture (i.e. kids sized table/chairs) and paint them with the accent colors, adding a distresses look with contrasting blues and browns could also liven up the room. Although you have already said no to green, a portion of wall area at your child's level, would be fun with green chalkboard paint! However, I must point out I am not a designer, just someone that that loves paint, colors, and kids :)
  • Amy F Amy F on Nov 29, 2011
    Thanks again! I took all of your color suggestions, and the sham, to Sher. Wms., and B. Moore and after all of that I've decided to go with Sh. Wms. "Misty". It really worked with everything in the bedding, but isn't too grown up of a color and pulls out the little bit of blue while still complimenting the green. Thanks for getting me started. Paint is overwhelming to me. :)
  • Nora Nora on Nov 30, 2011
    Good job, Amy :) Paint is "overwhelming" to a lot of people. With so many colors, shades, tints from which to choose the best bet is (usually) a careful, patient analysis of the entire space. Very time consuming at times and if a person doesn't understand that up front s/he can quickly become frustrated and "overwhelmed." Will you show us pics of the completed room?
  • Donna McCrummen Donna McCrummen on Nov 30, 2011
    At Terry Haus' suggestion I tried Latte by Restoration Hardware. Gorgeous. Give it a try.
  • Rule4 Building Group Rule4 Building Group on Nov 30, 2011
    I also second Benjamin Moore Grays with a blue tone - Wedgewood Gray and James River Gray are my personal favorites. Good luck!
  • Kristen B Kristen B on Nov 30, 2011
    Gray. We have three room painted the same Gray color -Sparrow by Behr and in each room it looks different. Blue/Gray I hated it going up - looked like Bondo, but once on, it makes all of the other colors pop.
  • Hudson Designs Hudson Designs on Nov 30, 2011
    gray/blue sponge would be nice.
  • Joyce Joyce on Aug 18, 2015
    Tan or putty color