.01 Paint and Wallcoverings

.02 Lighting 

.03 Flooring

To combat grey flooring we recommend choosing a warmer toned paint color. Think warm whites or natural toned neutrals. You can also add in texture utilizing wallpapers (think sisals or faux textures) or plaster. If you do not want to paint you can also hang large color studies, overlapping neutral sheer tapestries or install a wall of curtains. 

Lighting can change everything- bring your wall paper swatch into the lighting aisle next time you're in the hardware store and hold it up to the hue display- toggle through the different light modes and see how they affect the feel your paint gives off. (We typically choose bulbs under a 3000k hue.) As for types of lights, think about adding in some paper, fabric or stone hanging fixtures. An interior design blog I read recently added in sand fabric ovals over some wall sconces to naturalize their space- I think this application could be a great option for renters to place over lonesome recessed lights that they cannot replace with a hanging fixture. 

The obvious answer to a bad floor is a large area rug. Find something with texture if you are going one toned and think about the longevity of your rug- sometimes people want to go bold with their rugs. If you do such you may be caught trying to change the space in the future and struggling to change the vibe due to an overbearing color or pattern. Find a rug that you are in love with or bring in something that can evolve as you do over time. I also love jute rug squares for rectangular spaces! They are a great renter friendly item (if you don’t have pets) for changing a whole room's vibe. They do require some basic hand sewing because they work like a quilt. An added plus to these is that if one square gets damaged you can just undo the stitching for that square and replace it. 

Perhaps your home, like many others made in the last few years- has suffered from being built around the color most call millennial grey. 

If you found these tips useful- tag us @coastalinteriors_seattle

We would love to see what you came up with.




Images found on pinterest.

 For some this is their idyllic aesthetic- but it isn’t for us. Let’s talk about some practical trips for warming up a space, especially a rental. If you are looking for styling tips for a cool toned space- fret not check out our other blog post: “How to Mix and Match Wood Tones in Your Home” where we give tips on natural styling for a cool toned home. 

.04 Natural Textured Finishes

Consider pairing any visual grey tones with neutral natural textures- like stone or tinted glass. The goal is to steer the direction of the space away from a modernistic feel. Over windows try natural fibered curtains or roman shades. If you are aiming for a warm space- also avoid adding in cool toned woods.