Asked on Dec 07, 2014

Color ideas for open space plan

Vicki Pemberton
by Vicki Pemberton
I need help/ideas on how to link colors in open floor plan. It's one big room: kitchen, dining room and living room. Any suggestions?
  9 answers
  • Shira Shira on Dec 08, 2014
    Hi Vicki, could you post a picture of the space?
  • Diane Diane on Dec 08, 2014
    I strugled with the same issue and finally painted all ajoining rooms light grey and I love it. I used accent colors in the rooms.
  • Sarah Jackson Sarah Jackson on Dec 08, 2014
    One way is to choose colors from the same family of colors, just changing the shade when progressing from one "room" to the next (i.e. light blue in kitchen, medium blue in dining room, etc..), another way, which is one of my favorites, is to use the colors that make another color... for instance red and yellow make orange so one room shades of red, one orange, etc.. It doesn't have to be this bold. It could be more neutral as in black, white and grey.
  • Sharon Russell Sharon Russell on Dec 08, 2014
    I have a combination living/dining room, with the kitchen behind a short wall so most of it is all visible. I painted all of the walls a vanilla cream ( because I hate gray shadows.) In the kitchen I added burgundy chair cushions and patterned placemats on the little table for 2. In the dining room, I keep either a cream, or else a dark green tablecloth on, with a seasonal centerpiece I make and change out - and in the living room I have burgundy and dark green throw pillows, and one or two throws/quilts in the same colors, especially for winter snuggles. My furniture is neutral tone on tone. I can change all this out in minutes for a different look. In summer's heat I often rely on aqua colors and things "watery"...in Spring I use pastels, in Fall, harvest colors, Christmas I don't change too much as the color is already there. Hope these ideas are of some use to you. :)
    • Zeana Zeana on Dec 09, 2014
      @Sharon Russell Hi I'm Zeana. I loved your idea very much , so can you send me a picture for the painting walls with the furniture
  • Sharon Russell Sharon Russell on Dec 09, 2014
    Hi, Zeana! No, I'm really sorry but I can't send pix - my camera and this 19 yr old computer aren't compatible. Everyone is always updating this and that, and I should do that with my electronics. Just remember to keep your backgrounds neutral so all you have to change is accessories for a whole new look! All people "see" when they walk into the room is the current color you're using anyway. Have fun with it! Thanks for the nice reply, it made my day!
  • Vicki Pemberton Vicki Pemberton on Dec 09, 2014
    We've painted the rooms a similar colors from the same browns and taupe family. But was interested in making chairs, window treatments (kitchen and living room) and maybe throw pillows the same fabric. Trying to keep it in the cabin look. I'm going to paint the dining room in chalk paint in the cream color, so it will all be fairly rustic looking.
  • Barbara Burnham Barbara Burnham on Dec 10, 2014
    It depends on so much, it is hard without photos. You can use ANY architectural element to break colors and identify them as separate rooms. I have an arch between the living/dining and breakfast bar with header aside the living room all open concept. My dining room is old gold (with a flat and gloss 10 inch striped paint finish), the living area is taupe and the kitchen is ice gray to pick up marble and granite colors. Taupe has a gray undertone. Gray and gold go great together. I have taupe in the print accessories and rug of the living room and taupe in the chair covers and table linens in the dining room. The colors look good together and I use the 3 paint colors in my decorating. Hope this helps.
  • Marion Nesbitt Marion Nesbitt on Dec 11, 2014
    Have you thought about using wallpaper in one area? It could be the same colour as your paint, but the different texture could add interest and help define that area.
  • The Chirping Frog The Chirping Frog on Dec 15, 2014
    I usually find an inspiration piece such as a rug, window treatment or throw pillow that has lots of color and start there. If I could do an accent wall I probably would otherwise I'd paint it all the same color and then change the main color of each space pulling it out of my inspiration piece.