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Best paint color combinations for living rooms


54 Living Room Color Combinations

1

Citron and Blue-Black

Thomas Loof

Decorator Garrow Kedigian pulled color inspiration from The Carlyle's timeless decor for his own apartment in the iconic New York building. The bright yellow walls pay homage to the lobby's velvet sofas while the black moldings echo the iron doors and the window mullions.

2

Persimmon and Taupe

DAVID TSAY

Instead of looking to the walls, designer Fran Keenan decided to introduce color into this Los Angeles family room by hanging persimmon curtains. The light-taupe upholstery and bronze-brown carpet (Fibreworks) make the room feel gracious and relaxed.

3

Pale Apricot and Blood Orange

Melanie Acevedo

In Summer Thorton's Chicago townhouse, an oversized orange sofa brings out the warm undertones of the apricot living room. Woven bouillon fringe (Samuel & Sons) adds a flirty touch to the velvet mohair seating.

4

Beach Pink and Soft Blues

Eric Piasecki

The floral linen by Blithfield covering the comfy sofas and tufted armchairs inspired the soft pink and barely-there blue palette in this Block Island living room. Designer Miles Redd sprinkled oak spindle armchairs cushioned in white terry and woven rattan drum tables throughout to amplify the home's beachy feeling.

5

Reimagined Red, White, and Blue

Mark Roskams

To counter this Upper West Side pied-à-terre's spacious rooms, designer Anthony Barrata played with arresting colors and dramatic furnishings. An American painting by Tomory Dodge and an oversize custom floor lamp take advantage of the capacious height. Plaster and marble objects, including an over-the-top amphora lamp, echo the color and classical tone of the original ceiling moldings. The cherry-red velvet is by Pierre Frey.

6

Park Green and Cream

Thomas Loof

Taken by her famed neighborhood's green, decorator Cece Barfield Thompson ushered verdant color and nature-inspired patterns into her family's New York City living room. The white walls, tonal carpet, and punchy green curtains give the Louis XVI chairs a modern presence. An oil painting by London artist Daisy Cook hangs over a nine-foot Schneller sofa upholstered in stain-resistant fabric (Perennials).

7

Taxicab Yellow and Pastels

Douglas Friedman

Sweet pastel tones, taxicab yellow walls, and cobalt Chinese lamps give the living room of Todd Romano's San Antonio home a dose of vibrancy. On the walls are two prized artworks from Romano's vast collection: an Andy Warhol silkscreen print of Liz Taylor and a flamboyant Todd & Fitch work.

8

Teal and Red

Mark Roskams

Decorator Anthony Barrata played up high-drama Americana with an emphasis on textiles and folk art in this historic New York apartment. The study is dressed in a Lee Jofa tartan pattern recolored specifically for this room. The armchair upholstery is inspired by an early American weaving; the leather chair is antique English.

9

Gold and Green

Annie Schlechter

Raw oak rafters mix with white-painted panels and crossbeams, and golden walls (Standish White by Benjamin Moore) in this Carrier and Company-designed New York family room, making it an energetic place for parents and kids to hang out. The sofa is upholstered in a moss green fabric by Kravet.

10

Modern Earth Tones

Brie Williams

Designer Ceara Donnelley used an Art Deco–inspired wallpaper (Iksel) to headline a warm, earthen palette in the sitting room right off the kitchen of her 18th-century Charleston home. The Dmitriy & Co. sofa is covered in a Schumacher fabric.

11

Juicy Apricot and Kiwi

Thomas Loof

For this Naples, Florida home, designer Summer Thornton ushered in delightful color and buzzy prints to create an energizing family hub. Apricot walls are amplified by verdant fabrics and botanical prints. The gauzy block-printed drapery (Muriel Brandolini) filters sunlight into the great room.

12

Sunshine Yellow and Muted Peach

Julia Lynn

Designer Angie Hranowsky gives each room of this late-20th-century Tudor in Austin its own distinct personality with the help of buoyant color. For the lively living room, energizing shades of yellow on the wall (Golden Straw, Pratt & Lambert) flirt with the soft peach tones of the sofa (Pierre Frey).

13

Metallic Neutrals

Mali Azima

Ravishing neutrals and brilliant metallics dominate the sprawling, light-filled salon of this Atlanta home by designer Melanie Turner. Historic styles mix to create an elevated look from conical Murano glass chandeliers and Louis XVI–style commodes to the chevron-pattern custom carpet (Patterson Flynn Martin). The custom retro-inspired sofa is by Björk Studio.

14

Blue Velvets and Oak

Annie Schlechter

Blue velvets, lilac prints, and touches of red liven up the original oak panelings in this New York living room by Carrier and Company. The Bridgewater-style sofa is covered in a Mohair fabric by Maharam. The walnut veneer drawings are by Neal Perbix.

15

Apple Green and Raspberry

Annie Schlechter

In this New York living room designed by Chiqui Woolworth, vivid dragon-print draperies (Jim Thompson) and glossy apple green walls cloak the living room in a carousal of color. The artwork over the mantel, Contemplation, is by Anne Rose, the owner’s mother.

16

Timeless Blue and White

Stephen Karlisch

17

Aubergine and Olive

Francesco Lagnese

At a Montana condo designed by Palmer Weiss, a Pierre Frey floral linen called Mortefontaine inspired a scheme for the living room of nutty aubergine, soft brown, navy, and olive tones to play off walls of shiplap paneling. Leopard carpet acts as a neutral and stands up to snowy boots. A Paul Marra chandelier “feels like an old bobbin bed, but with a modern attitude,” says Weiss. The 19th-century portrait of Pocahontas is by Victor Nehlig.

18

Emerald, Sapphire, and Ruby

Douglas Friedman

For a client's home in Connecticut, designer Miles Redd found these George II–style painted mirrors at auction “for a steal. They are totally Mario Buatta and really anchor the living room.” Emerald silk walls (Kravet), lapis-blue taffeta curtains and bullion fringe, and ruby red accents illuminate the room to radiant effect. Hand-blocked chintz upholstery fabric, Clarence House

19

Coming Up Roses

DYLAN THOMAS

20

Midas Touch

William Abranowicz

Who said luxury can't be laidback? At this seaside houose in the Hamptons, designer Alex Papchristidis created a scheme for the entire home comprising whites, creams, silvers, and golds for a luxe look that feels appropriately casual for the beach. In the living room, a pair of custom cantilevered sofas are upholstered in white velvet (Cowtan & Tout). Ceiling lights and sconces, Hervé Van der Straeten. Drapery fabric, Fabricut

21

Caramel and Indigo

Douglas Friedman

This Naples, Florida, living room designed by Celerie Kemble defies all the tropes of coastal style with its moodier palette of caramel and indigo while still retaining hints of the tropics, like a natural wall covering crafted of dried water hyacinth (Phillip Jeffries). Art series, Henri Matisse

22

Cinnabar and Neutrals

Nelson Hancock

In this Connecticut living room featuring cashmere-upholstered walls, designer Markham Roberts brought the room to life with fabrics steeped in history. A cartouches printed linen (Rose Cummings) and a Kashmir wool paisley (Clarence House) adorn contemporary pieces like a custom sofa and slipper chair. Mandala artwork, Julia Condon

23

Blue, Tobacco and Coral

Melanie Acevedo

In Danielle Rollins' Atlanta living room, a curated rainbow of blue, tobacco, coral, and off-white unites an explosion of patterns. Sofas in a Prelle silk velvet, DeAngelis; curtains in a Cowtan & Tout fabric; wallcovering, Pierre Frey; artwork over sofa, Kelly O’Neal.

24

Cantaloupe and Coral

WILLIAM ABRANOWICZ / ART + COMMERCE

In this Upper East Side townhouse, Jeffrey Bilhuber used a pair of slipper chairs to a create artful mirror image seating area and ground the living room color scheme—soft cantaloupes and peaches plus cheerful accents in coral—with an earthy neutral.

25

Black-and-White Flair

Simon Upton

Shades of ebony and creamy white keep the attention of this Atlanta living room by Amy Morris, which showcases the Tudor-style home's original architecture and craftsmanship. Cool linens (Jim Thompson Fabrics) covering the armchairs paired with elemental ebony tables (Baker Furniture) add to the room's tailored look.

26

Verdant Views

Annie Schlechter

This Millbrook living room by Lynne Stair of McMillen, Inc., is a dazzling emerald showcase. An ethereal de Gournay wallpaper enveloping the space is punctuated by green draperies (Manufacture Prelle) and a Murano glass chandelier. The mahogany library table formerly belonged to the Marquess of Downshire, a British politician who served as secretary of state for the colonies in the mid-1700s.

27

Dapper Greens and Reds

Annie Schlecter

In his role as Colonial Williamsburg's Designer in Residence, Anthony Baratta brought modern energy and vivacious color into this revolutionary-era home. To accentuate the tall ceilings of the living room, Baratta painted the trim a dapper gray-green (Goodwin Green by Benjamin Moore) and hung a Chesapeake Bay shipyard sign over the doorway to a broom closet, reimagined as a spirited red bar.

28

Indigo Relaxing

Douglas Friedman

Stucco arches painted in a sweet pink color play down the architecture's imposing qualities and dial up the charm and comfort in this outdoor living room by Celerie Kemble. Indigo fabrics covering the slipper chairs (Penny Morrison) and dark teak furnishings ensure the room's link to the outdoors is organic and authentic.

29

Parisian Pastels

Christoph Theurer

Sweet candy tones transform this 18th-century Paris living room into a fresh stage for modernist artwork. Designer Jean-Louis Deniot filled the space with colorful midcentury and contemporary furnishings, such as the curvy sofa covered in a flecked bouclé (Raf Simons) and pink porcelain side tables (Djim Berger), which stand out against the gray-painted boiserie.

30

Accented in Emerald

David Tsay

Los Angeles–based designer Peter Dunham combed through flea markets and auction houses across the world to find the antique fabrics and colorful pieces to fill this Newport Beach living room. Emerald tones in the vintage chintz on Syrie Maugham armchairs and Flemish tapestry on the round ottoman informed the calming color palette of the space. The verdant drapery and shade fabric (Tassinari & Chatel) pops against creamy walls.

31

Mediterranean Splashes

HELENIO BARBETTA

Blue and green glassware and furnishings echo the sparkling Mediterranean outside in Milanese landscape designer Marco Bay's Portofino farmhouse. Handmade terra-cotta floors and tiles crafted in Tangier, Morocco, nod to the rosy tones of the landscape and fruits hanging from the trees in the home's garden.

32

Island Spirit

MELANIE ACEVEDO

In the living room of this Bahamian getaway, designer Miles Redd needed to find a way to ensure the sunny yellow shades and watery tones worked together rather than competed for attention. His solution was to use art as a color equalizer.

"Not only does art help a room feel complete, it can make soft colors feel less wan and stronger colors appear more mellow," says Redd. The painting "So To Speak" by Doug Argue hangs over a sofa in a Osbourne and Little fabric. The yellow linen fabric seen on the ottoman and lamp shades is from Pierre Frey.

33

The Turquoise Coast

Thomas Loof

Sharp shades of turquoise and red make a powerful statement in the living room of this Hamptons home designed by Katie Ridder. Playing off the colors of the graphic, hand-painted Iksel wallpaper, Chinese red pillows and a Jim Thompson sofa fabric headline the room’s vibrant palette. A bold chrysanthemum print by Bennison Fabrics covers the club chair and ottoman.

34

Pretty in Pastel

Annie Schlechter

Soft yellow accents playfully mingle with green and blue hues throughout designer Meg Braff’s Long Island living room. A floral print by Lee Jofa covers the pair of club chairs and complements the green-patterned Bernard Thorp drapery fabric. Braff’s vintage goatskin-lacquered coffee table by Karl Springer boasts an exotic finish, which is emblematic of Springer’s 20th-century style.

35

A Maximalist's Jewel Box

Björn Wallander

Vivid jewel tones shine in the sitting room of this Sig Bergamin–designed Miami apartment with the help of sand-colored textiles. Among the nearly two dozen patterned fabrics Bergamin used in this room, a fabric by Braquenié serves as the trim on a George Smith sofa. The solid tan-colored sofa fabric comes from Peter Fasano. The ottoman is covered in a Lee Jofa fabric and the bolster tassels are from Samuel & Sons.

36

Sunny Disposition

Amy Neunsinger

Cheerful yellow walls and neutral yet lively patterns set a whimsical tone within this midcentury living room designed by Mark D. Sikes. Exuberant walls in Farrow & Ball’s Citron and a geometric rug from Patterson Flynn Martin make this room that talk of the house. An ikat fabric by Pierre Frey covers the armchair by Hickory Chair Furniture Co. The floral drapery and tufted sofa upholstery is by Lee Jofa.

37

Rust Reinvented

Annie Schlechter

A soft rust velvet sofa pops against blue and white textiles throughout the casual and ultrastylish family room of Meg Braff. James Mont-style horseshoe chairs, upholstered in a ticking Malabar cotton, channel the curvy, low slung forms of the Ming dynasty. A rattan chandelier from Currey & Company hangs at the center of the media room with Katie Ridder wallcovering decorating the walls.

38

A Robin's Nest

Thomas Loof

In this New Jersey home designed by Miles Redd, subtle pink florals are amplified by lacquered robin’s egg blue walls in the living room. An exaggerated pelmet disguises a low window and draws the eye upward with the help of treatment fabric by Fisherman’s Fabric. The custom tufted sofa is in a Brunschwig & Fils silk velvet. The wall color is Bird’s Egg by Benjamin Moore.

39

Lights of Gold

NICKOLAS SARGENT

Designer Cindy Rinfret uses gold leaf lighting by Currey & Company and ultramarine furnishings to play off the entry’s domed, Moroccan-influenced architecture within the Kips Bay Show House. The 1970s Jansen palm tree acts as a tasteful nod to the living room’s Palm Beach setting. The patterned grass cloth wallpaper and panels were designed in collaboration with Nicolette Mayer. The drapery fabric is by The Shade Store.

40

Shell Tones

FRANCESCO LAGNESE

Echoing the soft tones of a seashell collection, pinks and creams make for a romantic setting in this Palm Beach living room designed by Susan Zises Green. Claremont fabrics cover the custom sofa and both pairs of armchairs with pillows in Fortuny fabrics. A pair of Daniel Barney lamps top side tables by John Rosselli Antiques. A framed artwork by Belgian artist Diane Petry hangs above the sofa.

41

Notes of Dior

Melanie Acevedo

Taking a few tricks from Christian Dior’s decorating legacy, historian Maureen Footer pairs far-flung artifacts with contrasting lime green and red tones in her fanciful New York apartment. The living room’s custom sofa is in a Bergamo fabric with Urban Archaeology sconces hanging above. A Bryan Burkey artwork sits between two windows dressed with Brunschwig & Fils damask shades.

42

Splashes of Green

FRANCESCO LAGNESE

Youthful energy bursts from this Palm Beach living room with the help of apple-green seating. Designer Bunny Williams covers antique Italian chairs in a bright Zimmer+Rohde fabric. Bradmore armchairs in a Quadrille print surround a Bernd Goeckler cocktail table. The custom curved sofas are from Liz O’Brien.

43

Lacquered Lifestyle

Simon Upton

Overlooking New York’s Central Park, this Hampshire House apartment designed by Tammy Connor boasts classic cosmopolitan style with a punch of blue lacquer, accented with mossy green and brick red. The tilting oculus of the family room brings natural light in the adjacent stairwell. The John Saladino X bench in a Kyle Bunting hide perfectly matches the George Smith armchair. The Ferrell Mittman sofa is in a Peter Dunham Textile stripe, and the custom rug is from Beauvais Carpets.

44

A Balancing Act

Kevin Spearman Design Group

Dark furnishings and a creamy white palette gracefully work together, creating a surprisingly soothing living room in this Tel Aviv home. Designer Kevin Spearman covered Rose Tarlow armchairs in a Loro Piana fabric. The sofas are from Dmitry & Co., and the rug is by Beauvais Carpets.

45

Stripes of Blue and White

J. Savage Gibson

A classic seaside palette and warm-weather textures make for the perfect getaway in this Phoebe Howard–designed Palm Beach living room. An Abaca rug by Patterson Flynn Martin ties the room together, while Richard Serra artwork acts as the room’s main focus. Howard covers the McGuire armchairs and daybed in a blue-and-white Bennison fabric. The custom sofas feature a C&C Milano stripe, and the curtains are in a Raoul Textiles print.

46

Purple Reign

Max Kim-Bee

Designer Colette van den Thillart incorporates varying shades of purple and cream to accent the delightful curves in the living room of her Toronto home. A Marvic Textiles crewel dresses a 19th-century Italian chair. The roman shades are Nicky Haslam for Turnell & Gigon, and the Italian glass lamps are custom.

47

Green with Envy

Thomas Loof

Black-and-white patterns have never looked so vibrant in the verdant green living room of this Washington, D.C., home designed by Alessandra Branca. The room’s sofa and chairs are from the designer’s Casa Branca collection, and the chairs are covered in a Schumacher fabric that pop against the lacquered green walls. The 1940s lacquer cocktail table is from Maison Jansen and artwork is by Ellsworth Kelly.

48

Into the Woods

Simon Upton

Crisp lines and natural materials enable rich textures to shine throughout the Atlanta home of architects Bobby McAlpine and Blake Weeks. Stark white furniture and warm wood-paneled walls work together to create a dramatic contrast in the sitting room. A Paul Ferrante lamp sits on an antique French altar-boy seat. The sofa and screens are by McAlpine Home for Holland MacRae. The cocktail table is from John Saladino.

49

Velvet Dreams

Thomas Loof

In Diana Ross’s former apartment on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, riots of color make a powerful statement against glossy lacquered walls and mirror insets. Designer Jeffery Bilhuber incorporates saturated shades of plum, French blue and olive green throughout the living room to add a contemporary spin in the historic apartment. A Caio Fonseca artwork hangs above a custom sofa covered in blue Cassaro fabric, which is flanked by brass cocktail and side tables from Michael Dawkins Home. The rug is from Holland & Sherry.

50

Plaid Chic

Eric Piasecki

Designer Anthony Baratta embraces the impactful power of plaids in the black, white, and red living room of this Utah mountain home. Ralph Lauren Home checks decorate the custom chairs and ottoman while a custom-painted Kevin Cross trunk accents the home’s warm palette. The walls are in White Dove with ceilings in Yarmouth Blue, both by Benjamin Moore. The custom mantel is by Thomas W. Newman.

51

Metallic Motifs

Francesco Lagnese

Deep purple upholstery stands out against luminous metallic walls in a quaint Upper East side apartment designed by Nick Olsen. Missoni chevron-covered spoon-back chairs frame a John Salibello cocktail table. The curtains in a Manuel Canovas satin silk reflect the sleek Roger Arlington wallcovering. The custom sofa and armchairs are in a Holland & Sherry velvet, and the rug is from Eskayel.

52

Sunshine Yellow

Melanie Acevedo

Vivacious yellow walls and an emerald Décor de Paris velvet sofa flourish in the living of this Miles Redd–designed Manhattan apartment. The colorful Sultanabad rug inspired the room's rich palette. Redd covered the pillows in a Clarence House leopard silk velvet. The 1930s French coffee table is from Todd Alexander Romano.

53

Lush Living

Max Kim-Bee

Designer Ashley Whittaker infuses earthy greens and browns and outdoorsy imagery into the family room of this Upper East Side townhouse. A piece of art by Carol Greenan Bouyoucos and a Les Indiennes wall fabric serve as the room’s focal points. The custom sofa is in a Brunschwig & Fils wool and flanked by custom lamps with shades in Rogers & Goffigon stripe. The custom ottoman is covered in a Schumacher fabric.

54

A Rustic Revamp

Joshua McHugh

In this lively New York living room designed by Nick Olsen, rustic wood beams and painted floors perfectly frame vivaciously upholstered furniture in shades of green, blue, yellow, and red. A Bennison Fabrics crewelwork covers a Ann-Morris armchair and ottoman. The walls are painted in White Dove by Benjamin Moore.

Sarah DiMarco Sarah DiMarco is the Assistant Editor at VERANDA, covering all things art, design, and travel, and she also manages social media for the brand. 

50 Best Living Room Color Ideas

Read McKendree

When it comes to living room design, a flattering color palette is one of the first aspects you need to nail down. It will likely drive the whole design scheme and set the mood for years to come. Plus, your living room is probably the most-used room in the house, so choosing colors that make you look forward to spending time in it is a must! Whether you want something bold and bright, neutral, or dark and moody, we've laid out tons of designer-approved living room paint color ideas to help you get inspired. All you have to do is put on your overalls and grab a roller—or, you know, hire someone else to do the dirty work. The hardest part will be deciding between all of these living room colors. But once you do, you can start shopping for the decor.

🏡You love finding new design tricks. So do we. Let us share the best of them.

Seth Smoot

1 of 50

Gray-Purple

In a Cape Cod-style home for a couple of empty nesters, designer Lauren Nelson painted the living room walls in Farrow & Ball's Dove Tale—a warm gray with purple undertones. It keeps the atmosphere neutral yet inviting.

2 of 50

Pearl

A soft white paint with a slight gray tone to it can easily make your living room a spot you want to spend all day in. Take it from designer Sharon Rembaum, who dressed this living room with textured pieces in a neutral color palette to boost its overall coziness.

TREVOR PARKER

3 of 50

Cerulean Blue

Designer Garrow Kedigan made use of Lakeside Cabin by Benjamin Moore on the walls of this cozy corner. The faded cerulean blue acts as a soft backdrop to the rich orange and gold decor and dark gray sofa.

Sean Litchfield

4 of 50

Cloudy Green

Reminiscent of the outdoors and luxurious spas, sage green can instantly make your living room feel welcoming. In this speakeasy-inspired room by Brooklinteriors, Art Deco, Eastern World, and bohemian elements are blended together on a background of Clare's Dirty Martini paint for an opulent but casual atmosphere.

Alyssa Rosenheck

5 of 50

Sunny Yellow

Sunny yellow walls can instantly brighten up your living room— no matter if you have big windows or small openings for natural light. In this room designed by Taylor Anne Interiors, Farrow & Ball's Citron adds energy to the tropical-yet-modern space.

Haris Kenjar

6 of 50

Ebony

Set a moody yet cozy scene by painting your walls and ceiling in a soft shade of ebony. For designer Sean Anderson's client, comfort and function in the living room were crucial for entertaining. He painted the room in Iron Ore by Sherwin-Williams and layered items that told the homeowner's story to enhance the welcoming atmosphere.

Mali Azima

7 of 50

Red Clay

Designed by Melanie Turner, this living room's walls are painted in Windswept Canyon by Sherwin-Williams. The assortment of furniture styles is united by a common colorway that pairs nicely with the paint.

LAUREY GLENN

8 of 50

Frost Blue

Frost blue walls—in Benjamin Moore's Philipsburg Blue, to be exact—offer the right amount of softness in this formal dining room designed by Jenny Wolf. Gold framed art and a textured rug add warmth near the fireplace.

2022 TREVOR PARKER PHOTOGRAPHY

9 of 50

Teal

"It’s a vibrant happy blue while not being too overwhelming, says designer Rudy Saunders of the color on the walls of his Upper East Side studio apartment. It's Fine Paints of Europe Jefferson Blue from the Dorothy Draper paint collection.

Bjorn Wallander

10 of 50

Sangria

Designer Krsnaa Mehta aimed for a salon feel in the heart of his India home. The sangria-and-blue palette of the living room achieves that inviting look that's best suited for entertaining.

Lisa Romerein

11 of 50

Cream

This sunny living room designed by Thomas Callaway exudes warmth, despite the grand size and ceiling height. Callaway broke the room into zones to enhance intimacy and then used soft buttery glaze on the walls to give the room a golden glow, and layered rich yet mellow fabrics.

Jared Kuzia Photography

12 of 50

Dark Blue-Green

Designer Cecilia Casagrande chose rich jewel tones for this Boston Colonial living room. It's classic yet fresh. The paint color—Farrow & Ball Hague Blue—in particular, straddles that duality of modern and traditional styles, perfect for a historic home. Casagrande also mixed contemporary elements with more traditional ones to further play with that juxtaposition between old and new.

Thijs de Leeuw/Space Content/Living Inside

13 of 50

Dusty Rose

Atelier ND and homeowner Carice Van Houten used a variety of plant species to liven up the room and create visual intrigue with different heights and shapes. It really freshens up the bold pastels and rich earthy tones for a unique composition. Pro tip: Don't forget to paint the ceiling for a more immersive impression.

Anna Spiro Design

14 of 50

Buttercream

Instead of painting the walls blue, designer Anna Spiro covered the hardwood floors in a cheerful blue color. She also made the windows extra sunny by painting the frames buttercream yellow.

Brie Williams

15 of 50

Pitch Black

Dark black walls and lots of warm gold and caramel tones make this living room designed by Ariene Bethea super cozy but also formal and regal—the ideal balance if your living room doubles as the family room. She used Tricorn Black by Sherwin-Williams.

Kendall McCaugherty

16 of 50

Peach

The open floor plan in this Chicago family apartment designed by Bruce Fox called for cohesion between the dining and living room areas. That soft peachy paint and deep pink sofa are reflected in the printed armchair at the head of the dining table, and also mimic the rosy glow of the pendant light. The color scheme was inspired by a photograph taken of the family in London during spring when the city was veiled in cherry blossoms.

Read McKendree

17 of 50

Clay

Dark gray walls can be a bit brooding, like storm clouds, but in the case of this sunny Manhattan apartment by Elizabeth Cooper, they look playful and contemporary. Cheerful pinks, a dash of cobalt blue, traditional granny-chic patterns, and whimsical artwork lighten the mood.

Nicole Franzen

18 of 50

Off-White

While bright colors can help liven up a room, it's not the only route. Take this neutral-toned living room by Kristin Fine: Soft and texture-rich upholstery mix with off-white paint, rustic wood pieces, and plenty of antique accents to make a surprisingly modern impression with lots of character.

Robert McKinley

19 of 50

Olive

Robert McKinley wanted to keep the color scheme in this country retreat earthy and neutral but also wanted to inject it with a little warmth. He opted for a quietly sophisticated shade of olive green for the walls while the chose a cream color for the wood-paneled ceiling.

Chris Mottalini

20 of 50

Steel Gray

This New York City living room designed by Nanette Brown is a lesson in dark paint decorating that strikes the balance between formal and casual, sophisticated and easy-going, elevated and cozy. The exact color pictured is Amethyst Shadow from Benjamin Moore.

Paul Raeside

21 of 50

Light Lime Green

Take your cues from the bold pattern mixing and modern artwork on display in this living room designed by Les Ensembliers. A light green color on the ceiling is an unexpected surprise that ties the whole room together. Here, it pairs beautifully with the yellow curtains, geometric green ottoman, and plenty of gray tones throughout.

Paul Raeside

22 of 50

Lemon Yellow

Does the thought of painting your living room yellow scare you to your very core? How about now that you've seen this timeless and cheerful living room designed by Michael Maher? One glance at this space, and we're about ready to repaint our own: It radiates warmth and offsets the cool blue tones.

Heidi Caillier

23 of 50

Light Fawn

This muted fawn color in a living room designed by Heidi Caillier is hard to pin down, and that's exactly why we like it. Not quite brown, not quite beige, it's a nice offbeat eath-tone option that functions as a neutral.

Simon Watson

24 of 50

Glossy Black-Green

Deep, dark, and glossy, the lacquered black-blue-green color makes this living room by Kristin Hein and Philip Cozzi seductive and mysterious. Paired with bohemian furniture and accents, the more moody qualities become more approachable and cozy.

Maura McEvoy

25 of 50

Kelly Green Splash

"I love the juxtaposition between the traditional space and the modern staircase," says Eliza Crater of Sister Parish Design. The rich kelly green accent wall and decorative floral curtains help bring some fullness and warmth to otherwise all-white surfaces in her home.

Bjorn Wallander

26 of 50

Charcoal

The traditional, neutral furniture in this room designed by Balsamo Antiques and Interior Design make a minimal visual impact so the moody colors, artwork, light fixtures, and other decorative accents can stand out. A deep, almost purple-gray tone turns out to be a wonderfully complex and evocative backdrop, so don't be afraid to try something different.

Douglas Friedman

27 of 50

Navy

Ann Pyne worked with decorative painter Arthur Fowler to create a contrasting geometric pattern on the walls. "I think of the puzzle-like shapes as a metaphor—it's a game of fitting all these disparate 'treasures' into a graphically coherent whole," she says. Matte navy blue and a gritty mustard tone work together to set a pensive and seductive backdrop—perfect for a smaller living room.

Heather Hilliard

28 of 50

Crisp White

A crisp, matte white is totally timeless. Sherwin-Williams Pure White is there for you when you're not interested in going for a trending paint color.

Francesco Lagnese

29 of 50

Mint Green

Channel a lush tropical oasis, as Thomas Jayne and William Cullum did, with this fresh color. In a living room where the paint stretches all the way up to the rafters, the hue changes depending on the way the light hits it, shifting between sharp mint and soft sea foam green.

Paul Raeside

30 of 50

Khaki

Designer Garrow Kedigian defines a neutral as "anything that isn't jarring," which is a super helpful way to reframe things if cream, white, or gray simply isn't cutting it in your living room and you can't figure out why. Certain spaces just call for something outside the box, whether it's because of an architectural style, light exposures, or existing furniture. Here, the walls are painted Benjamin Moore's Rattan.

photos, popular colors, tips for choosing colors

A living room is a place where you can not only spend your free time and have fun, but also meet guests. It is not surprising that the design of this room requires special attention.

What is the first thing that catches your eye when a person enters the living room? Of course, this is the color of the walls and furniture. The selection of the color palette used in the arrangement of the room is a top priority.

At the same time, the color scheme of the walls of the living room, along with the selection of furniture, are a key factor in the formation of an individual design. Then a natural question arises: how to choose the color in the living room? nine0003

Design: Zhenya Zhdanova, DivaDecor.ru

Basic rules for color combinations in the interior

When choosing a particular color for decorating a room, you should start not only from your personal preferences, but also from existing color combination rules. An incorrect combination of even two tones will cause dissonance in the interior and psychological discomfort.

What should be the correct combination of colors in the interior?

  1. Using a gamut of shades within a single color. For example, if you combine light yellow, yellow and dark yellow. In this case, the palette should be diluted with a neutral companion, which will help create a smooth transition from one tone to another. It is gray, white, beige. nine0003

  2. Shades that harmonize with each other. There are universal tones - white, black, gray, beige, which are combined with any others. They can be taken as a basis, diluted with contrasts.

  3. Contrasting interior color combination. To understand which of them are well combined, you should use the color wheel - this is a palette of color combinations in the interior. For example, yellow and purple, orange and blue, green and red harmonize with each other. But they should not be used in equal proportions, there should be more of some shade. nine0003

  4. Use of adjacent tones (analogue triad). On the color wheel, it is green with blue and blue, orange with red and purple.

In addition, you should follow the recommendations regarding interior color design:

Psychology, meaning and perception of color

Choosing a harmonious combination of colors in the interior, you can remember Luscher's psychological test. It helps to determine what state a person is in based on the choice of palette. The test does not highlight gray, beige, white or black - they are neutral. But it distinguishes four main shades: red, yellow, green and blue. nine0003

You can interpret them like this:

Classic color combinations

Some interior color combinations have become classic:

  1. Black and white. A combination of two universal shades suitable for any style and room.

  2. Gray and blue. This combination of colors in the interior gives peace and tranquility. A sophisticated, stylish combination suitable for bedroom, study, library.

  3. Beige (brown) with pink. Symbiosis of simplicity and classics. The shade of a dusty rose is especially relevant today.

  4. Yellow - ivory. A bright combination, suitable for rooms that need additional lighting. Shades bring a touch of joy, freshness, purity.

  5. Red and gold. Bright hues may look too pompous, but muted ones help to create an elegant, expensive interior.

Warm and cold colors in the interior

The combination of colors in the interior of cold and warm colors requires following some rules:

  1. Harmony is achieved by choosing the dominant scale - warm or cold, to which accents of the opposite are added.

  2. Application of the principle of balancing one tone at the expense of another. So, the result of this principle was a combination of turquoise and beige.

  3. The use of mutual reinforcement, when the shades make each other deeper, nobler (for example, emerald and marsala).

  4. Uses a muted, desaturated effect. An example of such a technique is a neutral main background with accent bright colors. nine0003

By combining a warm palette with a cold one, you can adjust the space. It is known that warm tones visually reduce the space, and cold tones make it deeper, wider.

The use of a gradient in the interior

Gradient (ombre) is a complex technique of combining shades from lighter to darkest. It is used when painting surfaces, combining wallpapers, selecting accessories. When decorating walls with a gradient, they make a transition from bottom to top from dark to light, thereby visually increasing the height of the ceiling. nine0003

When creating a gradient, it is important to find the right combination of colors in the interior. Then the ombre technique will make the room stylish, and not just colorful. When combining, you can use the color wheel. The most commonly used gradient is blue and gray.

The technique of painting walls with a gradient is often difficult for the layman, so you can simplify your task by using ready-made textiles or ombre-colored decor (curtains, rugs, carpets, photos, floor lamps). Curtains with a gradient look especially advantageous against the background of neutral, plain walls. Small ombre carpets give the effect of volume. nine0003

Tables of harmonious color combinations in the interior

When creating a fashionable image of your home, it can be difficult to figure out which colors are best to choose. Therefore, there are ways to simplify this choice. They were created by experts. In addition to the color wheel, they include a tabular form for selecting shades.

To choose the right combination of colors in the interior, the table offers ready-made options. It remains to choose the main shade, then see which complementary companions are suitable. In tables built on this principle, several tones (five or six) are presented. The first of them is the main one, the next two are complementary to it, and the fourth and subsequent ones are contrasting. With the help of such a palette, you can choose all the necessary shades for decorating a room. nine0003

Other tables may work differently. For example, by choosing a shade you like, you can see the degree of its compatibility with another. If it is low, you should look for other options. More opportunities are provided by tables that present a shade and a number of tones combined with it: a similar range, similar shades of other colors, or in contrast.

Popular colors for living room walls

Living room colors can be varied. The entire palette of existing shades is divided into warm and cold tones, which should not be mixed with each other. What colors can be taken as a basis in any living room? nine0003

White

Undoubted favorite of the classic style, versatile and perfect for creating a cozy room. Light colors create the effect of expanded space, visually increasing the volume of the living room. White color is easily combined with any other shade, black and white is especially welcome - a classic that will never go out of style.

Recommendations from Nadezhda Kuzina

The only rule of a "white" living room is to use bright and contrasting elements, because an exclusively white interior will create an impression of incompleteness. Among such elements may be furniture, paintings or patterns on the walls, curtains. nine0003

In general, the white shade of the walls can be compared to a canvas: further drawing will depend on your imagination.

Beige

Another win-win option that is very difficult to spoil the design of the living room. This color scheme makes the room bright and spacious, does not tire, combines well with other shades.

Beige-coloured walls go well with natural wood furniture. This approach to the design of the room will not leave your guests indifferent. nine0003

Design: Svetlana Startseva

Brown

There are a huge number of shades of brown, and all of them will add practicality and richness to your living room. Brown walls are suitable for those rooms that are well lit.

Just don't overdo it with brown, because too much brown will make the living room look smaller. And one more tip: first paint the walls brown, and then pick up furniture and other sets of a different shade so that the elements of the room do not merge with each other. nine0003

Gray

Another versatile option for decorating the living room walls. Against a gray background, any bright paraphernalia looks good, be it a headset or paintings. A good option would be to dilute the monotonous gray shade with patterns or stripes.

Design: Yana Molodykh

Green

Among the many shades of green, there are both bright and dark options for decorating a living room. The presence of green color will give the room a sense of calm, which is so lacking after a hard day's work. nine0003

Green colors look original and attractive, but matching them with other design elements will not be so easy. Shades of green may not be combined with all furniture or floor options, which makes it somewhat difficult to design a living room.

At the same time, a competent combination of all factors makes a room in green tones cozy, beautiful and mysterious. Natural colors are always pleasing to the human eye, which your guests will definitely appreciate.

Design: Stepan Bugaev

Yellow

A truly vibrant color scheme for the living room. The use of yellow shades will be a saving solution for rooms with insufficient natural light.

Bright yellow must be diluted with other, calmer tones (white, gray, beige). A successful combination will make the living room so cheerful and cheerful that you won’t want to leave it.

Design: Irina Sobylenskaya

Blue and light blue

Blue and light blue are suitable for small rooms. These shades are well combined with white, gray, yellow, lilac, brown. Do you want to make your living room a place of peace and tranquility? Then blue tones will be a good solution when choosing a color scheme.

When using blue or light blue, it is important to know the measure and be able to combine with the material of the headset and other elements of the living room. With a successful selection, the room will look elegant and unusual. nine0003

Design: Nikolay Nikitin

Red

The use of red color with proper execution of the design leads to good results. An excess of this shade gives the room excessive saturation and contrast, which greatly hurts the eyes, and guests can plunge into a slight shock.

Would you like to use shades of red? Dilute them with furniture and white curtains. This will reduce the “danger” of red in the room and save the eye from overstrain.

Orange

This is where you can talk about the character of a person if he uses orange to decorate the living room. Walls painted in this color will obviously speak of the positive mood of the owner and give the guests a charge of good mood.

Too much orange is the same mistake as in the case of red. Because orange color is very popular with designers, they advise to dilute it with white, gray, beige or black.

Purple and lilac

Purple is a symbol of wealth. The decision to paint the walls of the living room in such shades speaks of the owner's creative and extraordinary thinking. Rich style and unusual design - that's what you can get when choosing lilac and purple colors for decorating the living room.

Black

Here you can once again talk about the classic combination "white + black", the choice of which will bring almost 100% effect on you and your guests. However, the use of black for wall decoration is a rather controversial point, although acceptable in the modern world of design. nine0003

It is believed that black shades can bring sadness and melancholy to those who are in the room. However, now there are many projects where black tones fit perfectly into the overall picture of the living room. The main feature is the use of additional matte, metallic and chrome shades of the color palette in the room set.

Design: Kameleono studio, Pavel Lichik and Anastasia Ivanova

Living room zoning with color

Zoning will be an excellent addition to the overall design of the living room. In particular, the room should have its own seating area, where guests can sit on the sofa and spend their free time having pleasant conversations. How can space be divided? nine0003

  1. An excellent solution would be to paint one of the walls in a bright and saturated color. This contrast is especially visible in the room, the main shades of which will be beige, gray, white and other light colors. The brightness of the object will visually divide the room into several zones;
  2. If you have a dark room in which the walls and other attributes are designed in brown, dark green, blue shades, you can highlight the place for leisure by installing floor lamps, lamps and lamps;
  3. If you dilute plainly painted walls with a few paintings or photographs, you will also be able to highlight a corner in the living room.

Choosing the color of the living room according to the cardinal direction

As the wind rose is taken into account when building a city, one should not forget about the direction in which the living room windows face. The choice of the color of the walls and its maximum manifestation may depend on this.

Design: Yuliya Piskareva

Decorating a living room is an important step in decorating any home, so the choice of wall color should be taken seriously.

Our advice: choose the colors you like best and then see how to do it. So it will turn out to create a compromise option and satisfy not only your wishes, but also create a successful version of the interior of the living room as a whole.

Design: Vasilyeva Natalia

Design: Anna Muravina

Design: Nikolay Nikitin

Design: Olga Rozina, Natalia Preobrazhenskaya and Uyutnaya kvartira studio

Design: Uyutnaya kvartira studio

Design: ToTaste Studio

Design: Marina Kutuzova

Design: Victoria Smirnova

Design: Alexander Babajanyan

Design: Irina Krasheninnikova

Design: Elena Filimonova

Design: Elena Chabrova and Olga Chebysheva

Design: Irina Sobylenskaya

The best color combinations in the living room interior + combination rules and a selection table

Do you want to make your living room interior unique and spectacular? Experiment with the color palette, because in nature there is not only beige and gray. Our tips will help you choose a harmonious combination without the help of a pro.

Publication date: 03/17/2020 nine0003

Material prepared: Ira Ryzhova

With the help of color, you can create the right atmosphere in any room. Which living room is right for you: soothing, cheerful, calm family or bright for friendly parties? All this can be realized with the help of different combinations of shades.

Basic rules for color matching

Start choosing a color palette with the main color - it usually dictates the selection of other aspects of the interior: the texture of materials and surfaces of walls and ceilings, wallpaper patterns, furniture, accessories. It is desirable that in each color scheme there are two bright accents.

Project author: Rimma Semenova

Project author: Ksenia Ivanova

The color wheel and how to use it

Most designers use the Itten color wheel. In it, the three primary colors (yellow, blue and red) form second-order colors (green, purple and orange), and then turn into intermediate colors. Thus, 12 basic shades are obtained, which can be combined with each other in different variations. nine0003

Most often, the interior uses not pure colors, but their bleached or muted grayish shades. To evaluate the best combination of colors in the interior of the living room, a color table or a special pocket color wheel will help: it is much easier to choose a combination of colors in the interior with it.

What palette combinations are there:

Project author: Svetlana Gavrilova

Author of the project: Tatyana Mironova

Project author: Natalya Vologdina-Anikina

Project author: Alisa Svistunova

Project author: Natalya Shirokorad

The most spectacular color combinations in the interior of the living room + photo

Pink + beige

Pink tones look good in natural light and in the evening interior with dimmed lamps and candles. For large furniture, use rich shades of milk chocolate. For accents, daring accessories in bright colors or, conversely, pastel shades are suitable. nine0003

Project authors: Irina Kilina, Ekaterina Dudkina

Blue + Beige

Sky blue can be surrounded by light, desaturated grays, beiges and warm neutrals for a great combination. You can also use a combination of two-color wallpaper in the living room: in the photo and in real life, blue plus beige will look great. Together they create an atmosphere of serenity. The color of the morning haze is suitable for matte and glossy surfaces of furniture, while warm brown shades will add a sense of luxury to the room. nine0003

Project author: Evgeniya Mishina

Project author: Ekaterina Rudnitskaya

Project author: Ekaterina Tretyakova


Green + Beige

Green muted tones are good for creating a simple and relaxed atmosphere in the interior of the living room. If you have chosen juicy shades of grass, greenery, bet on natural materials in the decoration - warm wood, natural beige and brown stone, wooden furniture. You can complement the atmosphere with the color of peppermint in textiles - curtains, pillows and bedspreads. nine0003

Authors of the project: Dmitry Mudrogelenko, Zlata Mudrogelenko

Gray + citrus shades

The gray walls in the living room are suitable for almost any combination of colors. An excellent combination would be a combination of light gray boom, concrete-colored walls and juicy citrus shades. It is important to think about what time of day the sun enters the room - ideally, when the yellow and orange hues are illuminated by the pre-sunset rays. True, in this case it is better to use a bright sunny shade carefully - as accents. nine0003

Project author: Natalia Suslina

Blue + yellow

Bright blue can become the main tone for interior design. And not only as the main color of the walls, but also as a shade for large furniture - for example, a shelving unit or a full-wall cabinet. Saturated citrus tones complement the turquoise interior with contrasts. This color scheme is great for modern interiors.

Design: Enjoy Home

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Project author: Daria Maksimova

Project author: Ksenia Ivanova

Project author: Rimma Semenova


Light Yellow and Blue

A pale shade of yellow that gives a zest to an outdated interior, breathes new life into it. The combination of yellow and blue is a classic combination, but it never ceases to inspire designers. Shades of blue in the interior of the living room create a feeling of air, cleanliness. Shades of water and lemon coexist beautifully together. nine0003

Project author: Margarita Sivukhina


Grey-blue and soft pink

The classic "Scandinavian" color of the living room walls can be revived with ash pink, muted salmon shades. A very light blue can be used to paint the ceiling, because white can look rough next to the muted tones of this range.

Project author: Svetlana Khabeeva

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