I am completely paralized right now. We cannot decide on colors for our downstairs. I need your help. You will see several shades we considered. DH doesn't like any. I'm just clueless. We may end up with stripes down our entire wall if I don't get help picking a color soon. I think I want a main color in the front w/the wall w/the tv a different color, the back room another color and the dining wall w/the shelf another color. I also need help with accents. I have some bare spots on walls and bare areas in the dining room that need help. Any and all suggestions appreciated! Oh! One important thing to consider. The decor changes from green in the front and blue in the back to a deep crimson red w/winter accents for three months of the winter every year so please include paint colors that will work w/crimson and also give some accents that would go well with that too (think winter instead of beachy). The couch cover stays year round, but we think we will get a washable "suede" color in a goldenish color for winter, maybe. The dog bed stays year round too.
It's easier to visualize with paint bucket. I did the tan color between the yellows. I'm really not to keen on those shade of yellows. I sorta like the yellow on the left but maybe if it was lighter.
I help people pick out colors for the inside and outside of their homes all the time. Of all those colors you've picked, the yellow in the middle will work best. ***HOWEVER**** it's a little on the bright side, and I think you'll feel like you're living in a lemon drop if you use it all over. Pick a yellow that isn't as "lemon" but that has a little more "banana" to it. It will be warmer and less "hello, I'm f'ing yellow."
Personally, though, upon looking at your pillows and furniture, I'd do a green or that powder blue. The best thing to do, and what I generally do, is to take one of your pillows, find a green or blue shade in it, and match it. Or, if all the greens are too dark, match the dark shade and go back 2-3 steps on that card. If you *still* don't like that shade, pick up other green cards and find a green in the same position as the lighter green on the first card. Does that make sense???? Do the opposite for the blue if it's too light to your liking.
Green works well with blue and red and yellow.
If you are looking to do different colors on the walls you mentioned, don't worry about if they'll look good w/ red X-mas decorations. Those are up a miniscule amount of time anyway. Focus on what will look good w/ your more permanent accents. You can do the darker shade of the wall color you choose behind the TV wall (example: dark green behind, pale green everywhere else). Then do the accent wall in the dining room any color you wish that will go with what you move in there. I always try new stuff in the dining room.
I'm thinking a really light powder blue, the blue you have is too dark. I agree that you should pull it from your accent pillows. Be sure it's not too "baby blue" or you'll look like a nursery.
miss mee's advice is good -- she is totally right about the yellows. they will be way too yellow. yellow is a really hard color to choose. it often turns out way lemon droppy.
i think an avocado/leaf green would look be good for the main color -- it would look great with all the brown you have in the rooms. three i have used and like very much are benjamin moore's pale avocado (like it sounds), dill pickle (darker and more green), and spring dust (along the same lines of pale avocado but a little more yellow/brown in it). all three it would work with the red for the winter. they are the kind of colors that are there as a color without being harsh or shocking -- just the right amount of neutrality to them. i think they would all work with your pillows.
then you could do a richer, deeper green for the accent walls.
I would do the living room in a sagey green color (more towards the brown than the yellow). I don't know if I'd do a different color on the wall with the tv, it isn't really the focal point of the room and that might throw everything off. Now for the dining room, I would do a golden yellow and you could do an accent color on the wall with the shelf cause that definately is the focal point. I'd end the green and start the yellow on the wall with the bar.
Or another idea is do a dark mocha color on all the walls and put accent colors of yellow on the dining room wall and green on the tv wall.
And an idea for the dining room wall with the shelf, maybe flank the shelf with sconces to help the wall not feel so bare.
Thanks for the suggestions, everyone! I purchased Benjamin Moore's paint feature thing that lets me preview colors on my wall for $10. After playing around for awhile I've decided on colors for the front, but am still trying to pick colors for the back room.
Still looking for more accent ideas if you run across any cool stuff on the web!