My mom asked me to pick the color of the dining room a few days ago and I'm completely lost on what color to use. Our dining room is connected straight to the kitchen so it's like one big room, and the colors my mom picked for the kitchen are really bold and I'm not sure what color would actually make sense to connect both rooms together. I don't want to use the color she used in the kitchen either because I think that it would make the room look too cramped.

Below is a link to the our kitchen and dining room sorry if it's messy, it was night time and I was too tired to clean but couldn't fall asleep because I was trying to figure out what color would make sense.

http://s555.photobucket.com/albums/jj470/coffeekills33/?action=view&current=homecloring.png

Using the same color from the kitchen would actually make the space feel opened up a bit. Combing the two rooms with the same color will make the space feel like ONE BIG ROOM.

My wife and I have a similar sized dining/kitchen set up, and used a "mocha" color accented with white.

Here is a link to our project pictures http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=688322718&aid=294837

And here is a sample photo http://www.facebook.com/album.php?id=688322718&aid=294837#!/photo.php?fbid=10150121123542719&set=a.10150121119857719.294837.688322718&theater

Well, it looks like the photo didn't work :/

Most places that sell paint have computer imaging machines with sample rooms you can put in your kitchen color and it will give some colors that go with it or you pic out colors that you like and you can see how it looks in the sample room. You can also buy paint samples in some brands of paint, buy the color a little darker than the one you like. Paint a 6" square at a point nearest the kitchen and a few other places in the room and both sides of a corner and next trim. Colors look different in different depending the sun, time of day, and lighting. Buy a sample white to mix in to your color. Add some white a little at a time each time painting a square on your wall each time. Make sure that each time you do this that you put some on something that you can take with you so you can mach it at the paint store. Most now have a machine that can duplicate the new color. If you have some left over kitchen paint you can also make samples by adding colors to it. Mix bits of any latex paint for samples, don't bother cleaning off your brush between colors unless you change you sample color a lot. You don't have to add just white. You can add colors together. Add a little of a yellow to it say, a blue and get blue/green if you add the opposite color (on the color wheel) like orange to blue and you get a dull blue. Another general rule is too pick the color you like and drop down 2 shades on the color strip. Also use the same trim color through the entire space. Remember color is personal, so there is no answer only opinions, the above are just some tricks that will not cost you a lot to try. Once you find the color how to paint it is the real question paints have changed a lot in the past few years the best paint is not always the most expensive.

I agree with Sharper-- from what I see, the best solution would be to create one unified "diningkitchen" with a single paint color. You say you're afraid that the space will look cramped, but it will have the opposite effect-- one large room will have a different feel than separating the space into two smaller rooms. What color are you using on the kitchen, anyhow?

PS I'm jealous of your cabinets, haha.