Paint Living Room – There are several appealing techniques for bringing together a living room and a staircase using paint.
Painting a living room that has a staircase can present a challenge when choosing colors, especially if the staircase opens to the living room. To choose the best paint color for the space, always look at cards or swatches in the room itself, both in artificial and natural lighting, to see how it will really look; oftentimes, the lighting in the paint store is different than the lighting in your home. No matter what color of Paint Living Room or technique you choose, take your time to prep the living room by taping off trim, removing outlet covers, and protecting the flooring with a drop cloth before you begin for the best results.
How to Paint Living Room
Match Existing Paint Properly
Painting the living room the same color as the walls of the staircase, whether it’s open to the room or not, creates a seamless flow, and, of course, is the easiest option, at least when it comes to making a decision on paint colors or techniques. If you’re trying to match the new living room paint to the existing shade on the staircase, you’ll need to take a chip or a can of touch-up paint to your local home improvement or paint store to have an exact match made. Every can of paint is mixed a bit differently, even if it’s the same manufacturer and color, resulting in different shades. With two spaces directly next to each other, this variation will look awkward.
Same Color, Different Texture
A twist on using the same paint color for both the staircase and the living room is to alter the texture while keeping the color the same. Match the paint color on the stairs and then use it in the living room, but add a texture additive to the paint when you’re having it mixed, or use a different painting technique to create a new finish. For example, painting one coat of the color on the Paint Living Room walls and then applying the second coat with a sponge will create a subdued texture that matches the staircase, yet still sets the living room apart. Other texture techniques include running a whisk broom across wet paint, or using sheepskin dampened with water to create a color wash effect. There are also additives you can mix into the Paint Living Room that will alter its texture once dry.
Create an Accent Wall
For a closed-in staircase, painting the wall that faces the living room a brighter or deeper color than the rest of the walls can create a visual stopping point before the staircase begins, adding dimension to the room. With a staircase that’s open to the living room, you can paint the entire room a lighter, more neutral color than what is already on the staircase wall, turning the latter into the accent wall. This also works if the staircase and the living room share a wall. For example, a rich chocolate brown on the staircase wall that faces, and runs into, the paint living room, paired with a lighter, warm beige color on the rest of the living room walls will keep the living room bright and separate from the stairs without attempting to match more than two shades between the spaces.
Match the Trim and Flooring
No matter how you choose to match your living room paint to the staircase or what painting technique you choose, always keep the trim color the same throughout, whether the staircase is open to the living room or not. A fresh coat of paint on the living room trim is also a good idea, as painting the walls and leaving the trim alone can make the trim look dirty or old, depending on the color. For wood trim, cleaning with wood cleaner can remove dust and give the trim back its shine. When choosing a color to paint living room, ensure that it works with staircase flooring, whether they’re wood, tile or carpet. Even if the staircase is closed off, you can almost always see some of the flooring of the stairs from the living room.