My turn with a decorating question

SusieBW · July 2014

The room that will be baby brother's room is currently a light-ish beige. Would it be weird to do this border on the walls, but leave the beige for the top? So the bottom would be blue, with the wave border, but the top would be beige. The current beige is definitely darker than beach sand tan (which I think probably would've looked okay), but not as dark as brown sugar, if that makes sense. I'm still afraid it might be a little too dark to look quite right.

SusieBW · July 2014

Here's another picture where you can see the border even better:

lrobi13 · July 2014

It might not have the same impact but it might look great. This one is a hard one (at least for me as I am a lover than novice skill in design). But I love the wave action!

ADH0906 · July 2014

Cute border! That's a tough question though, since there are sooo many types of beige. If it's approaching 'brown sugar' that does sound a bit dark to me. Could you lighten it up with white or canvas curtains?

bumpuser10309732 · July 2014

I think it depends on the room with how dark it will look. You could always use a lighter blue for the waves! Otherwise I don't think it would look odd or anything. I'm guessing this is the similar color you're going for?

jesslinnn · July 2014

Eh, that's tough without seeing it, but even so, a sand color about the waves might look weird anyway. I don't know, I think it might make the border look less like waves and more just like a design. I'd paint the top.

persephonerose · July 2014

I think time and energy would be a major consideration for me. If you leave the walls beige and paint the bottom and add that border then decide you do not like the beige it going to be a pain to go back and paint the beige portion.

Do you have some blue fabric, maybe a sheet or blanket even a shirt would work that is similar to the color you want to use? Tack it to the beige wall and leave it for a few days. Take time to look at it in the morning and evening, do you like the contrast during morning and evening light?

SusieBW · July 2014

@MrsBabe614 - yes, the darker color stripe in that picture looks about right, but I would do the bottom a brighter blue. Maybe really bright, like this:

@mel689, paint the top pale blue, you think? Then I could get away with a bottom color more like whats in those inspiration pics. It just seems like a lot of work to paint twice. I'm trying to make it easy. :P

persephonerose · July 2014

Also keep in mind if you are painting over a darker color, like your beige you should get a paint with a primer in it. Or your blue will turn out darker than the paint sample.

We had that issue in our nursery. The green we used for the bottom and the blue for the top turned out about two shades darker because of the color we painted over.

SusieBW · July 2014

Right, and to paint a pale blue on the top is going to take a few coats, too. It's probably easier to just paint the walls all one color and get a wave decal to use as a border. That was my first idea, but then I saw this painted border, and I really like it.

TheOtherJacobsons · July 2014

Blue and beige are really complementary colors. A lighter beige would be better than dark like people have said. Without seeing it I say go for it.

ADH0906 · July 2014

mel689 said:
Eh, that's tough without seeing it, but even so, a sand color about the waves might look weird anyway. I don't know, I think it might make the border look less like waves and more just like a design. I'd paint the top.

After thinking about it for a bit, I think @mel689 is right...you're going to lose some of the impact if you don't just repair the entire room. I think that'll give you maximum impact for only slightly more effort.

persephonerose · July 2014

SusieBW said:

Right, and to paint a pale blue on the top is going to take a few coats, too. It's probably easier to just paint the walls all one color and get a wave decal to use as a border. That was my first idea, but then I saw this painted border, and I really like it.

I think Behr and Valspar both offer paint color options with a built in primer. So you should only have to use one coat if you get something like that.

I thought our nursery was going to be really complicated to paint, since we were using three different colors. But it did not take as long or use as much paint as I expected. You should go with what you love. And I think that picture will age well with your LO.

jesslinnn · July 2014

SusieBW said:

@MrsBabe614 - yes, the darker color stripe in that picture looks about right, but I would do the bottom a brighter blue. Maybe really bright, like this:

@mel689, paint the top pale blue, you think? Then I could get away with a bottom color more like whats in those inspiration pics. It just seems like a lot of work to paint twice. I'm trying to make it easy. :P

Yep. Pretty much just like the picture.

Believe me, I get trying to make it easier! Painting sucks. But I figure, you might as well just do it all at once the way you want it to look. You'll have the room prepped and all the supplies already out. And like PP said, trying to paint the top after the waves are painted is going to be a bitch (if you decide you don't like it).

bumpuser10309732 · July 2014

I agree- I think with the lighter blue you want you're probably better off to repaint the whole room to get the effect you want. Otherwise, you paint on all the waves and don't like it you're going to be pissed! Depending on what you're covering you might still need two coats of the Behr paint and primer. I covered an orangey brown with a medium gray and it almost took me two coats with the Behr paint and primer. We even put on a base of white primer before that!

DaniGrace89 · July 2014

I think it will be cute. Even with the beige.

If it were another color (like red) on top I'd be more concerned. But beige still matches up with the the idea of waves.

Saragoeswest · July 2014

I would look at blue paint samples on the wall for a few days before you jump in. And you could load up with bright white trim and accents such as frames, wall art, window treatments, crown molding, etc.

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