| Archived Question: Paint | |
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Question: Our family room is an open room with walls that lead down the hall then downstairs into the foyer. Do we have to paint all of this or is there a stopping point?
Answer: Your question is a good one, though a little hard to answer without seeing your layout. However, in general, it is difficult to stop a wall treatment on a continuous wall surface like the one you have described.
If there is any sort of natural break -- such as an archway, an angle, a corner, or whatever -- you could probably stop it there. Or you may be able to put up a piece of molding at some point -- say at the place where the stairs begin. You'd have to try it in your space to see if it would be acceptable.
Your paint job will look the most finished and coordinated when there is a continuous color in any open space. However, if that isn't possible, then try to paint up to the most natural breaking point. In your case it may be one of the walls in the foyer at the bottom of the stairs.
Choose a paint color that will fit into the color schemes of all of your rooms -- family room, hallway and foyer. Note that even if you do paint all of the walls using one consistent color, each room doesn't have to look the same. For instance by using a creamy tan paint, the family room furniture might use dark green and tan fabrics, the hall could have botanical prints with greens, tan and white, while your entryway could be tone-on-tone beige and tan. In this case the paint color is one of the elements used to tie all three areas together.
Hope that helps and good luck on your project!