Decorating

[postman44]

A decorator has said magnolia matt is good on bedroom walls and white matt on ceiling. Does anyone have an opinion on this please. Thank you

[Cloverjo]

A bit dull and cliched, to be honest. Cheap and easy though.

[pixie374]

Anything but... if you want pastel, try a type of cream. I usually go for silk or satin for a bit of a shine (and wipe able).

[pastafreak]

I agree that magnolia is out of date. And if you are going for a 'white'...there are many variations...I'd do the ceiling the same. To me, magnolia just looks dirty next to white....as in an intense white.

[Atheist]

Why can't you have your own opinion, postman? It's not rocket science.
Magnolia is the default colour for clients with no opinion of their own; it's bland but at least it isn't white. White is obvious for ceilings - nobody ever looks at ceilings, and white reflects more light and makes for a brighter room.

[pastafreak]

I just painted my bedroom a deep teal. I'm loving it. No magnolia!

[pixie374]

... not necessarily in matt though.

[pixie374]

^^ to atheist. I did my bedroom in amethyst and white. Love it.

[pastafreak]

Right now I'm looking at chalk white for my stairwell...and thinking 'but I want colour!'

[Buenchico]

White is always fine on a ceiling.

Magnolia MIGHT be OK on the walls IF you're then going to add plenty of interest to them by, for example, hanging some colourful prints or putting up shelves to 'break up' the appearance of the walls. Otherwise my instinct would be to go for something a bit more colourful. Duck egg blue, perhaps?
https://www.crownpaints.co.uk/products/period-collection/matt/classic-duck-egg/358

PS: My guess is that your decorator has got a garage full of magnolia paint that he bought as a job lot and is now trying to shift ;-)

[pastafreak]

Duck egg as a accent wall is what I had...until I went to the dark side ;)

[ummmm]

I'd also go for silk. So easy so clean.

[Maydup]

A decorator is employed to put the paint in the walls and ceilings but doesn't necessarily enjoy choosing the colours. The Magnolia White combo is a standard response for some and its cheap. Personally I don't like it. Ask the decorator for some colour swatches and prices and see if there's something you like.

[Chinajan]

Is the room carpeted? If so what colour?

[Buenchico]

It's worth taking note of Pasta's reference to an 'accent wall'. You DONT' need to have the same colour on every wall! (Decorators prefer it when clients do, as it saves them having to paint very carefully into the corners, but you shouldn't be led by your decorator!)

[Ken4155]

Magnolia and white are the 'go-to' colours for landlords sprucing their houses up before renting. It is cheap and also easy for the tenants to paint over in their own colours should they wish to do so. They go for matt because it is much cheaper than silk vinyl which, on an uneven wall, will show up any imperfections in the plastering.
I will not have, nor have i ever had, magnolia in my house.

[Ken4155]

By the way, in all my time as a decorator, i have never advised clients of colour schemes. I only have to apply the paint and the paper. They have to live with whatever choice they make.

[theshedman]

Yes as Ken says always let the client pick the colours. As said white is always a good choice for the ceiling but if you decide on a silk or satin finish I would only do this if the walls were really nice and smooth as both of these will show up any marks in the walls whereas a matt finish is more giving to marks.

[davebro]

I'm with your decorator & that's what I have although an accent wall in a different colour (or wallpapered) seem to be fashionable now. Dark colours are harder to get rid of if you find you don't like it.

I once had my lounge painted "lupin" which is a kind of soft purple. I hated it and the colour "bled" into the white radiators & doors. I painted over with magnolia after a couple of weeks!

[Ken4155]

'Accent' walls are called 'feature' walls in my neck of the woods. While fads such as borders and dado rails come and go, feature walls have been around for ever.

[emmie]

white ceiling for me is find, but magnolia is a cop out. I have silver, grey, gold silk wallpaper in the bedroom and a dusky pink for the living room. which goes with the sofa, chair, and tables.