redecorating

[sunflower68]

Any modern ideas and tips?  Bit vague I know. Should I use 2 shades on bedroom wall; quite like the half and half idea but should lighter shade be on top or bottom half?  Is white still best for a hall?  Help!!!!

[smudge]

It all depends on the shades of your curtains & duvet, etc.

In our bedrooms, we found ivory/cream wallpapers blend in well with our Antique Pine furniture & all the other  accessories, wicker baskets, lamps, etc. It is very relaxing.

In our hall, stairs & landing, we have white panelled walls below the dado rail & the top half is a victorian pale green & white wallper. Above that is a picture rail & above that is 18" of white up to the coving. It always looks really fresh & inviting.

[smudge]

P.S. Just realised you asked for modern ideas sunflower!

Athough our house isn't an ultra modern style - cream/ivory suits most type houses.

[Chillum]

dark on bottom, lighter on top is the general rule.

[AliFlump]

I would put light on top and dark on bottom. we have got our hall white but we have the most horrendous Artex on it that white seemed the only option, depending on the size of it i would do something a bit unusual, you dont spend alot of time in a hall so i see it as the perfect oppotunity to do some experimenting!!

Also having a feature wall is a good idea we have cream walls in the bedroom with the wall behind the bed a bright orangey/red colour, then got some plain canvases for the opposite wall paint them in the orange colour to tie it in

have fun

[rampart]

Mrs rampart's decorator said pick your fabrics first, then the paints to coordinate. She said she normally uses two main colours and two accent colours. Your fabrics might have the four colours, paints in two colours, and accessories around the room the two accent colours.

Two shades on a wall is fine, but you might have the one colour only up to about the height of a chair rail. Check your furniture and perhaps line up the change in colour with the tops of the night stands, for example.

[sunflower68]

Thanks all!  These replies are more than I could hope for.  Smudge I love the sound of the hall. We have a mossy green at the mo but it does need brightening up.We have a lovely shop called Dunelm and I'm off to take the advice of (Mrs) rampart and do a bit of fabric-shopping, ho hum :)  All the replies have given me some great ideas.

[smudge]

Thank you sunflower - we love our hall too! My favourite colour is green, fortunately so is my husband's! It's such a relaxing colour & goes well with white or ivory.

We have a Dunelm store near us too - the trouble is, once in there you can't get out! They have so many lovely bits & bobs & a wonderful fabric department.

Good luck & have fun with the decorating!

[woofgang]

Its a good idea to start with a mood board. Just get a big bit of card or a cheap cork notice board and collect anything that appeals to you..pictures, colour swatches, postcards, polaroids of furniture and accessories...maybe you own them or maybe you don't anythng goes at this stage. Makje sure that you put on the board anything that you can't get rid of or change. Keep it where you cnqa see it From this you will find that themes emerge and you will identify the style that pleases you, then you can choose fabrics, colours etc that fit this style.

[woofgang]

and here's a website to help http://www.bbc.co.uk/homes/design/colour_moodboard.shtml

[smudge]

woofgang - a very good idea & site.

You should see inside my shoulder bag when we're about to decorate - I keep little mood boards but on card/paper - they really do help to match things up, specially when you're out shopping, etc!