Thanks so much Ann. It makes such a difference when you get opinions from others. I actually like the first photo to tell you the truth! I'm not sure what my husband would think though :-) We can always do the trials of getting the A4 size page with paint on and stick to our wall to see how we feel.

Yes - definitely getting shutters on the big front window and window behind our bed. It will make such a difference to our room once we replace the daggy black out curtains. Appreciate any more advice you could give, this is just great.

Hi spanna420,

For timeless neutrals, we suggest: Dulux Antique White USA, Dulux White Duck half & Grand Piano quarter.

Don't be afraid to use teal! Its daring, sophisticated and elegant. Perfect for adding a bright accent to the room. Hope some of the ways we have styled the colour inspire you:

Nelson Street, Chatswood · More Info

Raymond Street, Neutral Bay · More Info

Chiltern Street, Willoughby · More Info

High Street, Willoughby · More Info

Thank you - I was also thinking of a dove grey, but do keep going back to a teal. Here's a better photo that the real estate took when we bought it (this isn't our furniture etc)... so this gives more of an idea of the light during the day. The curtains will be replaced with bright white shutters

Master bedroom - paint colour ideas · More Info

Evidently you like teal and other deep, strong colours and they give you a sense of the relaxing and sensual whereas white walls would feel 'stark'. So I think you should follow through with that preference, with the awareness that you'll be creating a room that's a retreat rather than a big, light, open extension of the rest of the house. The deep colours and sensuous textures could be in soft furnishings, allowing for swapping later. Walls could be a half or quarter-strength of colours you prefer. Hopefully there are expert readers who can help you with more images.

There is nothing wrong with all white - the room will look larger.

Our bedroom is 3600 x 3600 (so a little smaller than yours) and with white walls and white drapes on sliding glass doors it does not look small or closed in. I suggest that you declutter your bedroom by removing the chest of drawers in the corner and centering the bed. Decorate with some very bright colourful or teal/ turquoise toned doona covers, pillows, etc.

I solved my hot west facing room problem with soft aqua and lots of white. Room always looks fresh and clean but it is not too cold looking for winter.

The teal is nice, only painting a sample will give you a good idea, but I think I would only do one wall. The problem then is which wall - ideally the wall behind the bed would be best, but with the window, I think it will break the colour up and it will loose impact.

I love the last photo Ann B very calm and relaxing.

Tyrian..nice one too. Accents are great and not too overwhelming.

Bedrooms should have a calm feel not right in your face colours.

I'm thinking of upgrading my drapes to a lighter colour .

Nice rooms Tyrian, but the hot afternoon sun is the factor here and those rooms would be unbearable. I love the third photo and have tried those colours but found them far to hot in our summer in any room regardless of the direction it faced.

Yes, I love that orange earth colour so much. White is also good for West in Feng Shui. I guess I am a bit too obsessed with Feng Shui, lol. Whatever really feels great is good a person I think. I do love a lovely deep blue or green. I have been told that pure colours are more relaxing than lighter colours by a friend. I stayed in her deep kelly green guest room and felt quite immobilised in a delicious way. It was like entering into another world, or a baroque painting!

Feng Shui is fun. Colours do play a vital role in the mood of a room but aspect plays a large role in how that colour plays out. This is where photos don't always do justice to decorating, you can see a room that looks amazing but it doesn't always transfer to another room, resulting in disappointment.

I love dark colours in dining rooms too, I think they create a lovely intimate atmosphere for dining. I've done the dark colours in bedrooms too for that intimate feeling, but I've now moved on to lighter colours to open the house up more and I really enjoy the freshness of them, the rooms seem to look a lot cleaner.

My soft aqua lounge room was created from years of living with the sun and the heat it generated in the room, often making it unbearable to be in. Since I've done it in the aqua, people walk into the house and just want to be in the room and don't want to leave, because it is both cool and restful.

Shutters make a huge difference spanna, well done.

Lovely lovely!!