Asked on Mar 27, 2014

Paint Color Choice

Shelstring
by Shelstring
I've refinished my dining room table twice and am not happy with the results...again. Also, I was given a hutch to go in the area after helping a friend with a project in her house, which I'm not fond of but has great potential. I'm thinking to paint them both. Please give me advise, I am at a loss on this one as to how to make all the space work together and look amazing. What would you do? You can also check out my post on my facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Shelstring/43227765551
Thanks for any tips!
  69 answers
  • Adrianne C Adrianne C on Mar 28, 2014
    You could paint the hutch, I've seen some nice ones on this site. I'd move the hutch to the larger wall though.
  • Chris aka monkey Chris aka monkey on Mar 28, 2014
    your floors are great and your dining table is gorgeous,,i would paint the china cabinet the same as table and make or buy some drapes for window in a pattern you like that has a pop of color and at your desk i would make a nice memo board by just covering the one you have and make or buy a bigger centerpiece for that wonderful table the room looks good but i think you just need a bit more color xx and adrianne is right move the cabinet to the wall you have black clock? i am not sure if it is a clock you could even spray it
  • Diana Diana on Mar 28, 2014
    I would paint the hutch and 2 brown chairs. You could paint the chairs a pop color and use them at the ends of the table. Good luck!
  • Michele Eures Michele Eures on Mar 28, 2014
    I agree with moving the hutch and painting. If you stay with the white, then paint, paper or adhere fabric to the back of the hutch to show off the white dinnerware you have. I would also bring down the white a little bit with some dark wax to age it. The two chairs should be painted, too, and could be in either the white or in a color that matches the color of the back of the hutch. You have a beautiful start, though, and great find with the hutch! Let us know what your final results are.
  • Vicki K Vicki K on Mar 28, 2014
    I would move the hutch too, and paint it light coral or light aqua or light turquoise (whichever you like) with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint with her clear wax applied first, then dark wax rubbed off a LOT. Then do the table base the same! Paint all the chairs ASCP mix of bright and off white, and the table top. Might re-think the wall color to a springier green or even a pale very light yellow. I think this would spark up your area a lot, you have good bones! So the hutch would match the table base, the chairs would match the table top (do a fab centerpiece), and the wall color would be a tad lighter and happier!! Good luck. I am a decorator.
  • I think the table looks good white, but the whole room is lacking color and pizzazz. The hutch does not need to match the table, you could paint it different color. If you do paint it white make sure you paint the inside a pop of color like aqua. White is timeless, so finding other ways to add color into the room. I agree that you can add a pop of color by picking a bold and colorful patterned curtains. Also a colorful table runner. Having the wood on the chair seats so much lighter than the top of the table makes it a little off. Restaining the chair seats or painting the seats a dark brown to mimic dark stain. The hutch will be amazing once painted. You have a good start already, I say keep the white, but add in color in other ways. Have fun with it!
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Mar 28, 2014
    When you look at the table...what exactly bothers you? I love the stain on the table. Because I love dark stain. The white in the table is a stark white, are you looking to soften the color? I am one of those people it takes time to pull everything together in a room. Some people can see it right away but for me it takes time and living with it awhile before I can do it. And I do it ine piece at a time. It is easy for everyone to give you idea's. It would be easier to know what you feel is wrong with it. My dining room I had a hard time with. For me it started with a new light fixture and the room no longer looked right. Everyone hated my new light fixture.i then put a new table and chairs, no one even seemed to notice. I then painted it a soft gray. But it wasn't until I added the side board and painted it to match the table that everyone started raving about the room. And the light. But I figured out one thing at a time. A customer recently bought my family room furniture, I wasn't in the market to sell it but she gave me more than I paid for it. And that room right now isn't pulled together. I am pretty slow. I just painted it before that and now I am re painting it. : )
  • Teresa Ascenzi Teresa Ascenzi on Mar 28, 2014
    paint legs of table and hutch espresso. Keep the wood stained table top as it is. Chairs, espresso legs and backrest, seats to match table top. Good luck!
  • My{DIY}Habits_Katie My{DIY}Habits_Katie on Mar 28, 2014
    That hutch is unreal....so cool! The style is so art deco, but I see from your kitchen that's not totally your style. Go with Annie Sloan paint and pop the inside of the hutch with a soft color...overall a more rustic look! Good luck
  • Rosie Velasquez Rosie Velasquez on Mar 28, 2014
    Paint both gray & add used different chairs & also a Rug under table
  • Bethany W. Bethany W. on Mar 28, 2014
    Yep - I agree. Paint the hutch white, then toned down with a darker wax, and paint the inside a pretty color to show off the white dishes.. Use the same wax on the white part of the table, then patterned seat cushions to go with the inside of the hutch. Oh, and some kind of curtains - the room needs a bit of softening. AND LET US SEE IT WHEN YOU'RE DONE! :-)
  • Dwade Dwade on Mar 28, 2014
    no white.....i agree with most of the others in bringing out the inside of the hutch....find a soft color ~ maybe something that matches the kitchen....also the chairs need to be changed up ~ too much going on with styles....but maybe if all same color will help tie them together ~ say the backs could be same color as the inside of the hutch....have lots to play with!
  • Susan Steele Susan Steele on Mar 28, 2014
    You need a colorful rug under the table. Take the leaves out of the table & have the chairs match
  • Sheila B Sheila B on Mar 28, 2014
    Could you make the table smaller until you need it that large? The whole room is off because the table is too big and the hutch is on the small wall which gives that side of the room all the weight! The hutch needs to be moved to the far back wall so there will be wall space on either side of it. Make the table smaller, add a rug to ground it and put 1 larger item in the middle of the table. Lose the two skinny candle holders? on the table! Most of all add a few pops of color!
    • See 1 previous
    • Tina Wallace Tina Wallace on Mar 28, 2014
      @Sheila B Agree
  • Lena Campbell Lena Campbell on Mar 28, 2014
    The chairs all need to be one color, since you've already started a tend with white you should continue the theme. The floor needs a rug under the table in whatever colors you intend to use as your accent. The rug will help break up the brown of the floor and table. Your windows also need some color. Choose colors that will compliment the rug. Your hutch needs relocated to a bigger wall and if that is not a choice remove the top because it is too heavy for the corner and center it on the window; also continue the white paint theme. You could use wax or a mixture of sanding and an underlying color to bring out the architecture on the cabinet and chairs. If you are able to move the hutch and you do paint it white, paint the back a contrasting color to make your white dishes pop.
  • Vicki T Vicki T on Mar 28, 2014
    chalk paint would make that hutch pop...you should consider it.
  • Vickie Heard Vickie Heard on Mar 28, 2014
    If you don't like the look of the medalian on the hutch, turn the doors around, add some trim, paint...for sure paint. And new hardware on the hutch.
  • Robin Smith Robin Smith on Mar 28, 2014
    Can you take the leaf out and just use the 4 chairs that go with it? Either that or maybe paint the chairs all one color, like a black, and leave the top of the table alone.
  • Cindy Oard Cindy Oard on Mar 28, 2014
    I think you should just get a rug amd see wat you think before you paint it. I think the problem is with it setting on the wood floor. It looks cold. A rug would warm up the feel of the room.
  • Rose Marie S Rose Marie S on Mar 28, 2014
    How about in a patina, I love this color cause you could do accents with it, for instance a little gold or perhaps a touch of black. IMO white shows to much scuff marks when cleaning, especially if you have pets and they rub against it. It wouldn't be a visible in a Patina finish JMO plus it would add some warmth to the room
  • Cathy Soukup Cathy Soukup on Mar 28, 2014
    Paint all the chairs and the china cabinet the same color. This will unify them - and I do like the white. You can then paint the table another color - a favorite, or pick up a color from an adjacent room. A print window covering on either side of the window would fiinish the room and add visual interest.
  • Pam W Pam W on Mar 28, 2014
    Leave the furniture alone. Focus on adding visual interest to the room. A white chair rail would look great, with a contrasting darker green color on the bottom.
  • Jane H Jane H on Mar 28, 2014
    Leave the mismatched chairs - but paint them each a different color - make sure one is the wall color- paint the hutch - white and use a dark wax or stain, out on and wipped off to make the medallion and other pretty trims pop- if you don't like the dark wax or stains over the white look - use gold or silver, a quick brush on and wipe off to make those special trims pop- paint the back of the hutch something like robin egg blue to make anything you put in it pop.
  • Marlene Walden Marlene Walden on Mar 28, 2014
    I like what you have done to the table it looks great! I would do all the chairs the same way. The hutch is beautiful but it would blend in a bit better if you painted the inside white and did only the trim on the outside witch would make that beautiful detail pop. You might want to think about moving the hutch on a larger wall as it looks out of place where it,s at. I hear chalk paint works great. I would also put some color in the room by putting a rug under the table. Also that table looks a bit large for the room, perhaps take the leaf out, or a couple less chairs. A color called burnt plum goes great with the color that you have on your walls now. So what you have done so far is great you simply need to take it a bit further:-) Good luck! Would love to see what you decide to do. I,m sure you will get all kinds of ideas. I get tired of the same thing myself an like to change it up.
  • Deby P Deby P on Mar 28, 2014
    I would paint the table top and the hutch. I am in love with painted furniture!
  • Ellen R Ellen R on Mar 28, 2014
    Maybe go lighter on the table top. Leave the chairs as they are. Leave the china cabinet as is.
  • Jennifer Davis Bunn Jennifer Davis Bunn on Mar 28, 2014
    Add a rug and paint the hutch and chairs. The rug will soften and warm up the room.
  • Andrea P Andrea P on Mar 28, 2014
    I also would like to see all the chairs white and put the two odd ones at the ends of the open table. I would paint the hutch white also and maybe dry brush a little of a contrasting color or gold or silver over the medalion on the lower part of the hutch for interest. Fill the hutch with dishes or items in keeping with your color scheme.
  • Andrea P Andrea P on Mar 28, 2014
    I would also paint the table top white and do a stencil border, so that it looks good even if all the leaves are not in. Then complete it with several coats of polyurethane.
  • Annie Annie on Mar 28, 2014
    I think the table looks great and the elephant in the room is the hutch. Paint the hutch white and put a rug under the table, I think that would be so cute..
  • Becky L Becky L on Mar 28, 2014
    Paint your hutch white and remove trim, then paint the inside a bright color so your white dishes will pop. Paint all of your chairs white. Use the same bright color to stripe your dining room furniture by adding a band around the legs, etc. or paint the chair seats. Paint the tabletop with chalkboard paint so that you can use it to label dishes, place settings, and even diagram a table setting when you're entertaining.
    • Lorin G Lorin G on Mar 29, 2014
      @Becky L and move it out of the corner if you have room.
  • Donna Fridley Vacek Donna Fridley Vacek on Mar 28, 2014
    I think you should finish painting the rest of the chairs white, match the seats of the chairs with the table top color. then paint the china cabinet all white, Then if your hutch comes off of the china cabinet, get a nice sized wooden board to stain the color of the table top and place it on top of the base of your china cabinet before putting the hutch back on top of it. Make sure to make the board large enough to hang over the edges by one inch and one inch thickness. this would bring it all together. Also a rug under the table for a pop of color.
  • Alma Williams Alma Williams on Mar 28, 2014
    I second Annie: just get a rug and tackle the hutch. The table and chairs are elegant as they are.
  • and heres what i did with my table and chairs with chalk paint too http://hervintajesoul.blogspot.com/2014/01/table-chairs-redo.html I say paint them....I love paint redos!
  • Cj Cj on Mar 29, 2014
    Remove one leaf from the table. The color of the chairs needs to be all the same or all different. Whichever you prefer. I would prefer all white with the dark wax over the white on all the chairs, tabletop I like as it, china cabinet I would prefer painted like chairs and like the contrast color inside but I would use a lt grey ( like annie sloan French linen) or a lt beige/sand colorfor the contrast color. Add Rug and some kind of window treatment that you like. And move the china cabinet to wall where the clock is or switch the china cabinet for a smaller one it is too big for that spot.
  • Teri Teri on Mar 29, 2014
    I would suggest choosing a stain you really like, do the table top, the unpainted chairs, and the seats of the painted chairs all in that stain to tie them together. I'd keep the white paint on the 3 chairs that already have it and the base of the table, I love the natural wood top with painted bottom look. For the hutch, I'd paint it white, dry brush some gold or silver on the medallion to bring it out and then paint the area behind the upper shelves a nice robin's egg blue so that your white dishes pop. A rug that brings in the blue and the wall color would finish tying it all together.
  • Teresa Kidd Teresa Kidd on Mar 29, 2014
    I like the table. I agree that it is the hutch that is getting in your way.
  • Sabrina Sabrina on Mar 29, 2014
    I agree with Annie. Tackle the hutch
  • Lynn anderberg Lynn anderberg on Mar 29, 2014
    I might suggest getting fabric in the room...rug, cushions on the chairs, something to warm all of the wood in the room. I think the table is fine...the room needs warmth. Nice job on the table btw!
  • Jeanette S Jeanette S on Mar 29, 2014
    I would agree that putting in a bright colored rug would soften all that wood. Try that before you start another re-do on the furniture.
  • Lpi315964 Lpi315964 on Mar 29, 2014
    I love these suggestions - they help us all!!
  • Patricia Bates Patricia Bates on Mar 29, 2014
    I agree you should paint. But do it in an antique white not a bright white. Please do the hutch too.
  • Carol Carol on Mar 29, 2014
    sell it and start over, at this point you will never be happy with it. Been there done that.
  • Candie Firebaugh Candie Firebaugh on Mar 29, 2014
    Can you turn the table so the hutch can go against the back wall? Paint the hutch similar to the table base but more vintage and also the remaining chairs. Add a larger and more colorful vignette on the table top. Oh, and paint the inside of the hutch a soft color.
  • Janice Fisher Janice Fisher on Mar 29, 2014
    Mismatch chairs are fine but paint them all white. If table top stays stained then stain chair seats. I would paint them as well as the hutch. There are too many bland colors...lifeless.....need some "Pop"......back inside of hutch/walls/rug/large picture on wall
  • Jim L Jim L on Mar 29, 2014
    Do all of the chairs in white and paint the bottom of the table dark, dark gray. That will "anchor" it. Having a rug with some color will help also...how about some color on the walls also? They look so pale...
  • Judy Judy on Mar 29, 2014
    Agree, move the hutch on the wide wall, paint it maybe a slight darker than the table, a light gray possibly, pop some color in the back wall of the cabinet with wall paper or stencil. I personally would paint the walls, but that's me, paint all the chairs white, cushions with some color and some drapes or window treatments of sorts and a nice area rug for under the table with some color. Accesorize
  • Janice Riley Janice Riley on Mar 29, 2014
    Paint all the chairs white and the hutch also. A rug like others have said. I would remove the leaf from the table to make it cosier looking, unless you have a huge family.
  • Berniece Knotts Berniece Knotts on Mar 29, 2014
    Great ideas! There's no comfort factor or color. Table's great, chairs OK. Matching seat cushions might unify the chairs. Before totally redoing the hutch, I'd paint behind the shelves & accent the medallions. That might be enough. Don't obsess over the furniture! This room is calling out for artwork & accessories, fabric & a color accents. That's what will make it a welcome place!
  • Donna Kaplan Donna Kaplan on Mar 29, 2014
    You could do sooo much with that gorgeous table!! One idea: Paint the walls a classic red, install a wide chair rail in high gloss white and paint the bottom in same red. To keep your "cottage" feel; Do your table top in a crackle finish and seal twice. Under coat of red and overlay of white and use large crackle finish. And for a contrast, add a funky chandelier!
  • Donna Kaplan Donna Kaplan on Mar 29, 2014
    Oh! Pull the look together with fabric seat cushions, (you can sew yourself; do not use store bought cushions, this is were the custom will make a hugh difference) Now..the direction of your fabric will help define your style. Choose your fabric; black background fabric would look great and anything from a "check" to stripes to floral to funky will work!
  • GAnderson GAnderson on Mar 29, 2014
    the hutch should be placed on the wall at the end of the table not next to the window as the window takes away from the beauty of the hutch , soften the space with a nice area rug and curtains
  • Lori Parker Dowell Lori Parker Dowell on Mar 29, 2014
    Go dark on the table base and light on the top, paint the hutch to match but mirror the back of it with mirror tiles, chairs all white. Then wax everything in a dark wax to bring out all the details. Add a rug, window treatments, set the table with your prettiest place settings...even if it is only 2 place settings, a floral arrangement, candlesticks, a rug or hand painted floor cloth, and art work on the walls. You will have a beautiful finished space. Lori Dowell, Interior Decorator
  • Julie Julie on Mar 29, 2014
    I agree with the post of coordinating the chairs with a common color which will complete the grouping.
  • Lorraine Lorraine on Mar 29, 2014
    I recently painted my dining room furniture and love how it came out. I used an Behr paint called coastal beige which was really a barely off white in a satin finish. After two coats of paint I rubbed the entire set with the Ann Sloan dark wax. Put it on lightly and immediately rubbed it off. The inside of the china cabinet and the top of the table are the shade of a Kraft Caramel. The wax gave me just the aged look that I wanted. Good luck with your pieces.
  • Sandie S Sandie S on Mar 29, 2014
    The style of the table and chairs is different from the hutch....I would either repurpose the hutch in another room as a tv cabinet or wardrobe .....or sell it to someone...and get a more french/country buffet...................
  • Michaela Edwards Michaela Edwards on Mar 29, 2014
    chairs - paint them as so many suggested including the hutch. turn table kiddy corner, you can take the top off the hutch, but on the wider wall and the hanging next to window. With just a half a hutch with a mirror above it or something else that is larger than what there is now. Add some decorative flowers or anything you like a tray with something on it. put some colored cushions on the seats and repeat that color through out the room. I hope it makes since to you.
  • Nicole Martin Nicole Martin on Mar 29, 2014
    Chairs would be white. Hutch blue with a contrasting interior color, maybe a nice wallpaper pattern. The table could be white with a blue chevron pattern or stencils. Pick a pallet of white or black, and two or three coordinating colors and mix it up!
  • Christina Butinski Welch Christina Butinski Welch on Mar 29, 2014
    darken those walls to a dried thyme color and paint the hutch white and the 3 brown chairs white. Get a rug and kitty corner that table to offset. I used wallpaper wainscoting and painted it high gloss white. I hate dining rooms, such a waste of space. We rarely use ours.....LOL
  • Johanna Eldridge Johanna Eldridge on Mar 29, 2014
    I think the essence of the *design dilemma* is that, at the moment there is not one unifying theme between all the pieces with lovely potential. Choose the ONE THING you love already and do not want to change (maybe the colors on the wall) and then identify the ONE THING you can't live with another minute, then begin to experiment in an easy way. I am thinking that you could drape the table with a table cloth and the chairs with fabric samples to see how quickly different treatment change the room. Do you love bright room? Do you prefer light or dark stains to paints? Do you like a combination of stain & paint on one item or do prefer to commit to one finish for the whole piece? What dining room concepts that you have seen elsewhere thrill you? The flooring is a different stain from the table which different from the hutch... Many different *shabby chic* finishes work better together, creating an *eclectic* look, than a variety of mid to high end look finishes, which more easily looks like furnishings without a plan. You need a concept that you love to aim for, then you will be able to recreate the elements of that concept you love and eliminate the elements that are competing with one another in creating your own unique unifying theme.
  • Nanette F Nanette F on Mar 29, 2014
    Stop refinishing and paint. If u like the pottery barn black, go for it. U may not get the smooth finish of a store bought piece, so a more rustic, cheap chic, worn look would be easier. Satin black, sandpaper and water based poly should do the job. Take doors off hutch to mimic pottery barn piece and change pulls. Move hutch to wall behind hostess chair, if room. This should pull it together. Good luck!
  • Debra Anderson Debra Anderson on Mar 29, 2014
    Paint all the chairs white like you did the others. Paint the hutch white and place on wall away from the window. Accentuate the drawer pulls, and paint the interior back of hutch walls or line them with a beautiful accent color.
  • Frances Marciniak Frances Marciniak on Mar 30, 2014
    Paint the china cabinet white, the table is beautiful! Unify the chairs...all white. I like the ideal of a contrasting color inside the china cabinet....something to the rest of the home to this room.
  • Gu3mom Gu3mom on Mar 30, 2014
    After reading everyone's input, here's my 2 cents: paint the hutch to match the two-tone table and desk (white with dark surface); take out unneeded leaves from the table; move the hutch to the larger wall; add a rug that brings in colors/patterns from adjacent rooms; find or make an art piece or collage that adds some color and personal touches. Voila!
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Mar 30, 2014
    I found the color they use for pottery barn black...I bought some yesterday to spray furniture with it is sold at Sherwin Williams. It is polyarcylic enamel paint Domino 6989 .. For other colors go to pottery barn paint colors. Sherwin Williams sales this and even through it's not the orginal piece of furniture...I love there black.
  • Sherrie Sherrie on Mar 30, 2014
    Just so you know you can get it in any paint or finish you want. These are for several desk and tables I am doing and want the tops to hold up.
  • C C on Apr 06, 2014
    I think there is a ton of great advise here!! Since you said the you have redone the table and aren't happy with the result.... you obviously want the white with a wood top. I would suggest darkening the wood top with something like Red Mahogney stain & paint the remaining chairs white. For the hutch.... like everyone said, do it the same white as the table & chairs..... BUT, If you don't like the idea of moving it to the other wall {or its not an option} remove the top and put the bottom under the window as a side board/buffet table :) The top of the hutch can also be painted out white & add furniture feet to the bottom so it can be a display cabinet under the clock or anywhere else in the house :) {contrasting color inside it would be nice added touch too!}
  • Mhackett Mhackett on Apr 06, 2014
    Definitely paint all chairs to match. I'd paint the table top the same along with the hutch. I would do a great rug on floor with coordinating fabic cushions on chairs. I'd do wallpaper or the same fabric as the chairs inside the hutch again.or paint inside a color that ties in with rug and fabric.