Ask Me Help Desk - Choosing a colour for the hallway

Choosing a colour for the hallway

The bathroom, toilet and laundry are directly adjacent to each other and run off the hallway - the bedrooms are at the other end of the hallway. I've recently repainted the bathroom and toilet a water based gloss white and plan to paint the laundry in the same paint. I've painted the wooden bathroom and toilet window sills soft grey (subtle bluish tinge) in a high gloss enamel paint. Although I like the window sills in the bathroom and toilet painted grey as they match the tiles and suit those rooms, I don't want to use any more of the grey gloss.

I've been preparing the hallway to be painted and am getting stuck wondering what colour to choose for the walls, skirting boards and doors. I had almost thought of using the same gloss white the bathroom is painted in, but I'm not entirely sure I should. I'm also left wondering what colour to paint the skirting boards and doors. I'd like the colours to harmonise and don't want to go into any high contrasting rich colours. Dulux have a stone white paint I like and could use for the walls... any ideas? I'm open to suggestions at this stage.

The hallway is around 7 meters in length (21 feet) and runs off the kitchen/small family area.

Hi, frangipanis!

The first sort of colors that come to my mind to use would be different shades of blue. What color is the floor or carpet in the hallway, please? Also, would it be possible for you to post any images of what you've painted as compared to how the hallway now looks?

My suggestion is to use at least a satin or semi-gloss paint for the doors so that they can be washed.

Thanks!

Hi there, Clough! Nice hearing from you.

Different shades of blue sounds interesting, but I've been out and chose a paint called 'ocean pearl' which is a light and creamy off-white beigy colour that should look good on the walls.

You know, I must be the last person on the planet who doesn't own a digital camera so can't send any pics. I've decided to leave choosing the colour for the doors, skirting boards and door frames until I have the walls painted... hmmm... I don't want to end up with a mish-mash of colours, so will have to keep it subtle. Still open to ideas on this one.

The beige flecked carpet through the hallway really needs to be thoroughly steam cleaned. Kids who used to play bowls down the hall... you know what I mean :)

While you're about Clough, after putting the first coat of gloss enamel on a wooden window frame, I noticed there are cracks in the wood. Is it too late to fill the crack with wood filler and add the second coat?

Hi, frangipanis!

You're not the only only one who doesn't own a digital camera because, I don't either! Almost every image that I've put on the threads of this site because I have scanned them in or when the film was developed, I also purchased a Cd of them.

The cracks must be really small if you've just now noticed them. Instead of wood filler, I would just use a light spackling compound that would be easier to sand then wood filler.

We're a lost breed, you and I Clough. By the time I get around to buying a digital camera everyone else will have laser hologram images beamed onto their dining tables.

I'm very happy with the colour of walls and am feeling a lot freer about choosing from a wider range of colours for the skirting boards. I'll do the doors in the same colour as the walls.

Ta for the advice about the spackling compound (uh?? )... I hope that translates into Australian.

It's just a substance that you fill small crack and dents with before and during painting.

Please click on the following link.

DAP Spackling Compound - Google Search

DAP is one of many companies that makes spackling compound.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frangipanis

We're a lost breed, you and I Clough. By the time I get around to buying a digital camera everyone else will have laser hologram images beamed onto their dining tables.

I also don't have a cell phone! :)

Ooohhhh... you are laid back about letting the world pass you by, Clough lol! Actually, the only reason I have a mobile phone is that my boyfriend gave it to me. It will be a pity if we ever break up :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by frangipanis

hi there, Clough! Nice hearing from you.

The beige flecked carpet through the hallway really needs to be thoroughly steam cleaned. Kids who used to play bowls down the hall.... you know what I mean :)

No, I'm not sure what is meant by playing "bowls". Would you please explain?

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

No, I'm not sure what is meant by playing "bowls". Would you please explain?

Thanks!

It's a berber carpet (loop) in beige with brown flecks. The hallway carpet runs through to the bedrooms and is the same as the living room, where the carpet is fine. Only the hallway carpet is especially tackyt. Once the inside of the house is painted, I'll have the carpets steam cleaned and will see how the hallway comes up.

Bowls = ten pin bowling (plastic children's set) :)

Hi again, frangipanis!

Thanks for the explanation about the game of Bowls! I kind of figured that's what it was!

I am interested in how your project turns out. Also, if you need any advice on sanding or anything else about painting, would you please let me know? House painting and decorating is one of the things that I do for a living.

Thanks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

No, I'm not sure what is meant by playing "bowls". Would you please explain?

Thanks!

Yes, the kids had some fun bowling down the hallway for a while :)

Thank you for your interest, Clough. I really do appreciate the fact you're around to offer your expert advice.

Ray is a whiz at home building but has an urgent storage need at the moment and is busy building a garage. As I'm keen to get on with renovating my home, I'm mostly doing it on my own. He took a look at the walls this evening and is loaning me his small electric sander and putty filler to prepare the walls better for painting, and he's been good at showing me how to clean the brushes properly and look after them. It's helpful to know simple things like having a brush only for enamel paint, another for water based paints. Ray didn't know about spackling compound by the way, so it goes to show you learn something new everyday and it pays to ask for another opinion.

After your question about the carpets today, I started to wonder if it would be possible to replace just the hallway carpet... unless a different carpet in the hallway alongside the bedroom carpets would look too tacky. I know I'm stating the obvious here, but since the hallway carpet connects to the bedroom carpets, is it possible to now cut the carpet at the doorways? If it's possible, I wonder if an off-cut of carpet would do the trick. What do you think?

I'm not sure what you mean by "an off-cut of carpet". I don't have any problem with carpets in adjoining rooms being a different color. Each room has its own separate look and identity. It's a matter of personal preference and taste.

If a different carpet in the hallway would look fine, I'll certainly give it more thought. An off-cut of carpet is left-over carpet from a large roll, which I believe you can buy and is much cheaper. The hallway is only around 1 meter wide (3 feet) and 7 meters long (21 feet), I'm guessing. However, a professional would need to lay the carpet on the floor. I'll have to find out how much it might cost... hmmm... thanks for planting the idea.

You're welcome!

It was just some food for thought...

The spackling compound worked perfectly, Clough. It dries quickly too, which makes it handy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frangipanis

the spackling compound worked perfectly, Clough. It dries quickly too, which makes it handy.

Cool, I'm glad that it helped! You know, its not really all that hard to lay carpet yourself.

Just some other food for thought...

Having seen carpet being laid Cough, I'm not sure I'm up to it. I'm only 5 foot and probably don't have the sort of physical strength or even the tools that are needed. What did you have in mind though?

What do you think of Golden Jasmine2 for the skirting boards, Clough?
Hope

The doors will be two tones darker than the walls that are similar to the creamy white in the pic with the fireplace.
http://www.dulux.co.uk/colours/colle...sic_whites.jsp

I did go to the first link that you provided, frangipanis. But, it's taking a long time for it to open up because I'm on a really slow dial-up connection. I do promise that I will look at what's on both of the links that you have provided, but probably not tonight for me. It's very late here...

Concerning the carpet laying - since this is a hallway, it might be feasible for you to do it since it's not a large room. I would think that something like a carpet stretcher could be rented and the other tools that you would need would be those that most people would normally have on hand for basic home repairs.

There's quite a bit of information available on the Internet how to do it yourself.

How to Lay a Carpet - Google Search

No need to be in a hurry Clough as I won't be doing the skirting boards for a couple of weeks at least.

As for the carpet laying, I had a quick look at the link you provided and think it's probably outside my scope of abilities. I wouldn't have the patience or skill to cut the carpet to fit exact, I'm sure. Besides, I don't have any of the tools:

Row running knife
Knee kicker
Seaming iron
Hot melt seaming tape
Power stretcher
Tackless strip
Carpet padding
Gripper edge
Masonry nails

If I decide to lay a carpet, I'd definitely call in a professional. Thank you though for the thought as you're probably not wanting me to miss out on the opportunity of laying new carpet in the hallway.

The hallway is finished and looks good, Clough. I'm now on to the kitchen that I've started painting in a pale yellow which I like.

I might give the skirting boards a miss as it's turning into too big a job painting the whole house. There's the dining, lounge, kids rooms and laundry to do yet. If I did paint the skirting boards, I might go for a very pale grey tinged in blue. We'll see.

What's the best thing to use to get the odd bit of water based paint off woodwork? Turps is working okay... do you happen to know of anything better?

Oops! Or Goof-off are two products that will do the job for drips and painting outside of the edge of something. I like to keep a water-dampened rag with me when I'm painting so that I can wipe anything up right away rather than waiting until after it's dried.

If you're talking about really old paint from a previous paint job, then you might need to use a singe-edged razor blade or small chisel to scrape off the paint and then apply the Oops! Or Goof-off.

Oops! or Goof-off Paint Removal - Google Search

Pale yellow for the kitchen sounds great! Yellow has been probably the most favorite color to use in kitchens for many decades.

I know that we've previously talked about taking pictures. I do hope that you at least get one of those throw-away type cameras with a flash and do take some before and after pictures. You could then have them put on a CD and be able to post them here. You could also do the same thing by scanning images into the computer. I would love to see what you're doing!

For many years, I didn't take pictures of most of the work that I did. Now, I always take pictures. They make for great conversation and are things that I like to keep in a "brag" sort of photo album so I can show friends and potential customers examples of the work that I've done.

Oops and goof off sound brilliant, Clough. I'm not sure they're so well known... are they?

I do own a fairly good SLR camera. It's just that I haven't used it for a long time... maybe it's an inferiority complex lol. Or I'm just too busy to take photos. I like your idea though, so I'll get snapping and pass some on to you here for any suggestions you might have.

Oops! And Goof-off are products that can readily be found in the States. I don't know about in Australia, though.

I'm trying to refresh my memory about you. Aren't you also into the arts of some kind? I know that we've dialogued somewhere else on this site to some extent, but I can't quite remember where. Please forgive me for being forgetful!

That would be great to see some images here!

Thanks!

There isn't a lot about me to remember, Clough. I've enjoyed drawing since I was a child and as an adult, have always kept a sketch book around for when I'm in the mood for drawing. I'm no Rembrandt by any stretch of the imagination though, who is one of my favourite artists.

Rembrandt Bibliography

Thanks!

I thought that's where I'd remembered you from was on one of the art threads.

Have you considered becoming artist on your walls in your home by putting up your own hand-drawn borders or something else?

I've seen it where people have done that, and it can be really cool!

Wow, that's an awesome idea. Not sure where they would fit... hmm... Although, my daughter is a natural designer and is brilliant at decorating tables in pebbles and things. Her imagination is still free and uncritical, and naturally gifted. Maybe she could come up with something along those lines for her room. One drawing of mine is framed and is in the dining room. I wouldn't mind putting a light above it to show it off more.

You've got some great ideas Clough.

Thanks!

There you go! The wheels of creative thinking are really starting to roll for you now!

Bathrooms and bedrooms are ideal places to add a personal, creative touch on the walls or even the ceilings.

I would like to see sometime, your drawing that you have hanging. If you've already posted an image of it on this site, please do direct me to it.

Thanks!

By-the-way, Beethoven actually composed music on whatever he could find sometimes, like walls and shutters.

Just a thought...

When you can see through to my son's room, he has pretty good taste. Being 18, he might be a bit old for it now, but his own composition along the window sill could be interesting...

I shouldn't get too excited, since there's a good chance I'm preparing the house for sale in a few months.

Have you done anything like that in your own home, Clough? Inscribed your music on the walls? :)

The kitchen is now done, Clough and I'm ready to tackle the laundry next weekend.

Now that four main areas of the house are freshly painted, I'm beginning to see what a difference it makes. Especially the kitchen/family room where we spend a lot of our time.

Now wanting to paint the skirting boards and door frames as that will make a dramatic difference to the finish of the job. Still a few weeks away and still thinking about what colour to use...

Quote:

Originally Posted by frangipanis

have you done anything like that in your own home, Clough? Inscribed your music on the walls? :)

No, not on my own walls. But, I have on the following thread. Just something simple to keep a young girl occupied and interested in what life has to offer.

https://www.askmehelpdesk.com/writin...ng-267729.html

1 Attachment(s)

Here's some music though, that I thought I'd scribble right on this thread!

Attachment 13544

Quote:

Originally Posted by frangipanis

the kitchen is now done, Clough and I'm ready to tackle the laundry next weekend.

now that four main areas of the house are freshly painted, I'm beginning to see what a difference it makes. Especially the kitchen/family room where we spend a lot of our time.

Now wanting to paint the skirting boards and door frames as that will make a dramatic difference to the finish of the job. Still a few weeks away and still thinking about what colour to use.......

I'm glad that you've gotten so much done! One thing that you might want to consider is to add clear plastic covers to corners of the walls that might get bumped and perhaps subsequently chipped.

New coats and colors of paint and the cleaning/preparation of a room for preparing to do that can make a world of difference!

If I haven't already mentioned it, painting of any trim is best to be done with a semi-gloss paint so that those surfaces can be washed if needed without damaging the paint.

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Oops! I forgot to add my signature to my short, little composition! :eek:

Attachment 13545

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

Oops! I forgot to add my signature to my short, little composition! :eek:

Attachment 13545

That's so cool, Clough! I have no idea how you did it, but it looks great.

And I had actually read your exchange before with the young musical/poetic girl on the other thread. She's enjoy it, isn't she :)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Clough

I'm glad that you've gotten so much done! One thing that you might want to consider is to add clear plastic covers to corners of the walls that might get bumped and perhaps subsequently chipped.

New coats and colors of paint and the cleaning/preparation of a room for preparing to do that can make a world of difference!

If I haven't already mentioned it, painting of any trim is best to be done with a semi-gloss paint so that those surfaces can be washed if needed without damaging the paint.

I'm not sure what you mean about clear plastic covers over the corners. I bought some plastic sheeting and a canvas floor cover to keep things clean while painting.

Semi-gloss would look much better and preferable to acrylic paint that I find very difficult to work with. So I have vivid white, off-white and pale yellow so far on the various walls... the doors will be two shades darker than the off-white. The skirting boards and door frames take up a lot of visual space, so I want to be careful about choosing the right colour. Too much of anything could overpower the effect, so something subtle would be better.