Contemporary living room paint colors

Walls lacquered in Pratt & Lambert’s March Wind help brighten this north-facing room in an apartment designed by Nick Olsen.

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Caribbean Sea by Glidden

"In Turkey, the sea is so clear and so bright—a true ocean blue, like this color," says designer David Phoenix. He adds: "You see the same blue in the tiles in the Blue Mosque. It has endless depth, and that makes it very calming. I'm imagining it in a high-gloss finish in an entry or a library. After all, it's only paint. Take a risk and go for it!"

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Dynamic Blue by Sherwin-Williams

"Dynamic Blue by Sherwin-Williams is a blue bursting with joy," says designer Courtney McLeod, who used it in her own living room. "It strikes a wonderful balance between being bold and bright but also quite livable. It is also a great backdrop for other bold colors."

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Major Blue by Sherwin-Williams

"Certain shades of blue immediately take me away to a tropical island, and this is one of them," says designer Debbie Viola. "Even though it's a medium-bright tone, it's still calming yet vibrant enough to make me feel happy as soon as I enter the room." She suggests adding accents of tangerine and lime green to enhance the tropical flavor.

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Cruising by Sherwin-­Williams

In designer Vern Yip's Florida home, a kitchen with cabinetry painted in Cruising by Sherwin-Williams is the epitome of life at the beach. It offers a welcoming energy that can't be beat, especially considering the rest of the home is covered in other bright colors, patterns, and textures that give it great liveliness.

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Celestial Blue by Valspar

"I like real colors, as opposed to those that are just a hint of something," explains designer Harry Heissmann. He continues: "I love clarity, and this is a clear blue. Anything you put against it—a black bamboo bed, a bright abstract painting—will pop. And the light in the room takes on a wonderful atmospheric quality. You feel good in it."

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Thunderbird by Benjamin Moore

"This sitting room was inspired by the ethereal blues found in Kandinsky paintings hanging in the Hermitage Museum," says Kirill Istomin of this muted turquoise hue, Thunderbird by Benjamin Moore.

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Turquoise Tint by Valspar

"On vacation in the Caribbean islands, I was walking along a street and stopped to sit on a ledge so I could look down at the water, which was exactly this color," says designer Erinn Valencich. She continues: "And suddenly, just three feet away, all these tropical fish were swimming by in the most amazing purples, yellows, and greens. We humans can make many beautiful things, but nothing is more beautiful than what's already here in nature."

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Green Blue by Farrow & Ball

"My favorite blue paint color is Farrow & Ball's Green Blue #84," says designer Chad Graci. He explains: "I love using this clear, mutable blue for its chameleon-like quality. It can feel coastal, historic, or just plain fresh when you need it to."

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Clare Good Jeans

Designer Ashley Izsak selected Clare Paint's Good Jeans for this entryway because it worked so well with the wallpaper she chose (Endless Summer by York Wallcoverings). "This shade of blue almost feels like a neutral because of its toned down soft qualities and works well in our open-concept space to add a little bit of drama without feeling intense," the designer gushes.

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Sienna Livermore

Senior Editor

Sienna is a senior editor at Hearst. She lives in Montecito, California with her husband and two littles.

Emma Bazilian

Senior Features Editor

Emma Bazilian is a writer and editor covering interior design, market trends and culture. She has very strong feelings about tissue box covers and believes that everything is better with toile.

Jessica Cherner

Jessica Cherner is House Beautiful’s associate shopping editor and knows where to find the best high-low pieces for any room.

14 luxurious ideas from ReRooms

Let's talk and show you how to create an incredible living room interior with 14 interesting colors.

The right color combination will help create a stylish and original interior in the living room. Today ReRooms will talk about 14 colors that can and should be combined with other shades to get interesting ranges.

These colors can be both basic and find their place in various interior details, such as decor or textiles. In order not to overload the room or, on the contrary, not to make it faceless, it is necessary to combine colors. And we will tell you how to do it.

1. Beige

Beige will look stylish and noble with almost all colors: cheer up the interior with bright accents of green, coral and red, or, conversely, create a calm and peaceful atmosphere with white, brown, gray or mint colors.

Beige color is better not to use alone, as you run the risk of creating a faceless and boring space from the living room, which will crush with its monotony. To prevent this from happening, introduce a few additional shades into the interior - the photos below show very interesting examples. In the decoration of furniture and walls, give preference to light colors, diluting the palette with bright accents on textiles and decor.

For example, beige and white colors will look most harmonious in combination with a third accent shade. This option will create a cozy and peaceful environment. The combination of white and beige is considered universal, it will suit almost any style: whether it is strict minimalism or cozy Scandinavian style. In such an interior, use textured furniture or decor elements: wooden tables, wicker lamps or iron partitions. Choose these elements in contrasting colors, then beige and white shades will emphasize their unusualness and create an original apartment design.

2. Blue

Blue is one of the most sought after colors in the design world. It is quite difficult to use, but if you find a suitable pair for it, then believe me, your interior will radically change.

Use the aforementioned beige or white to dilute the somber blues. Thanks to this combination of colors, you can create a marine mood, which is sometimes so lacking in city apartments. However, often this combination may look too cold.

Add to these colors a bright red carpet and purple accents on textiles, then the blue and white design of the room will be transformed and you will get a full-fledged vintage interior. Just do not forget to add unusual decor items in this case: carved candlesticks, natural flowers, marble vases and unusual lamps.

3. Violet

This color has a large number of shades of different temperatures and brightness, so it is very interesting to work with it in the living room interior. As you understand, there are a lot of options for combinations with purple.

One word of caution: don't use dark purple alone, or you risk creating Count Dracula's crypt from the living room. To create an unusual interior, give up the classic white or beige shades, give preference to contrasting tones that will bring brightness and fun to the living room. To do this, use green, orange, blue, red or brown. The listed colors can be both bright and pastel. The main thing is to find a balance and fit each shade appropriately. In the photographs you can see very unusual and striking examples.

4. Coral

This color will help create a good mood and atmosphere in any style and in any area, for which we love it so much. Depending on the lighting in the living room, it can give different shades: pink, orange, red and brown.

The peculiarity of the coral color is to give off warmth to the surroundings. Therefore, if you live on the north side of the house or it is always cool in your area, this color will be a real salvation. Pair it with beiges and browns and add interesting decor elements like a coral chandelier (why not?). If you, on the contrary, think that it is too hot and saturated, use white and blue to cool it down. Combine blue and coral in textiles or upholstery, and white in wall decoration.

Such combinations of colors will always give you a good mood and energize you.

5. Green

One of the most frequently used colors not only in the interior of the living room, but also in the interiors of other rooms, especially the kitchen. And it's not just that. Green color calms, creates a natural atmosphere, which is so lacking in city apartments. As in the case of the aforementioned colors, we advise you to abandon the banal combinations, such as green and beige, green and blue. It is better to experiment and create a real jungle at home.

If the living room area is large, use bright shades of green in combination with yellows, pinks, blues and browns. Complement this bright madness with unusual decor: figurines in the form of parrots, fruit-shaped dishes, colorful paintings and pillows. So you will definitely turn the room into a tropical jungle.

If the area of ​​the room is small and you don't really like flashy shades, then give preference to muted green shades that go well with beige, brown and gray. However, you should not completely abandon bright accents, just use pastel shades instead of flashy colors.

You can also see examples in the presented photos.

6. Red

This color has long been feared for its excessive brightness and aggressiveness. However, now almost every interior has this color in various shades and on various surfaces. You need to use it very carefully, because if you overdo it, instead of a comfortable living room, you will get a visual nightmare. In order not to get tired and not annoyed in such an interior, you need to muffle it with white, beige or brown colors.

We advise you not to use red in the decoration of walls or ceilings, it is better to focus on furniture, textiles or decor items. To make the living room look more interesting, experiment with red patterns in combination with other colors: red and white curtains, red and blue pillows.

7. Gray

The popularity of this color has grown exponentially since the release of the famous film. Gray is rich in various shades, which can be emphasized thanks to light and dark, warm and cold colors. At first glance, it seems that gray is a boring color with a poor palette, but it is not. With it, you can create a very cozy room in which it will be comfortable to relax. To do this, combine gray and white colors, do not forget to add wooden textures to this combination, which will create a more cozy atmosphere.

If this combination seems rather boring to you, it doesn't matter - introduce a contrasting third color into the interior: green, red, blue or purple.

8. Turquoise

Turquoise color is very noble and beautiful, it must be in the living room interior. It can be combined with white, beige and blue shades, then you get a very gentle and unobtrusive interior. However, if you create the same design as shown in the photographs, you will get a bright and expressive environment. To do this, add red, orange and yellow colors - and vintage style in your pocket.

The main thing is not to overdo it with saturated shades.

9. Mustard

Luxury, prosperity and independence - these are the associations that arise when we mention the mustard color. Depending on the lighting, it plays with different shades: from bright yellow to dark.

This color pairs well with its closest neighbors, yellow and brown. The first will add brightness and energy to the interior, and brown - luxury and style.

For a summery feel, pair mustard and blue with interesting decor to add freshness and good cheer.

10. Brown

Brown is another color that won't go out of style for a long time thanks to its versatility. It can fit into any interior: be it a cozy Scandinavian or a luxurious classic style. The classic combination - brown and white, coffee with milk - designers use very often in the interiors of living rooms, as it creates both a cozy and luxurious atmosphere. White color in this combination creates a background for brown shades, highlighting them favorably.

To make the brown-white gamma sparkle with colors, add fresh flowers and unusual decor elements to the interior, as shown in the photo below. Just a couple of strokes - and the living room acquires notes of wildlife.

11. White

This color is the basis of all foundations, no modern interior can do without it. However, we do not recommend using this color alone, as the living room risks turning into a hospital room. It is unlikely that you will be comfortable in such a room. To make such an interior warmer and more homely, add blue or beige to white - you can see examples in the photographs. From a lifeless and cold room, these two shades will make something airy and peaceful. This color scheme is used in Scandinavian interiors.

12. Olive

This is a stylish and sophisticated color that goes well with both neutral shades (white, beige, brown) and bright ones (red, purple, yellow).

The combination of olive with brown and white is very harmonious. It resembles wild nature landscapes, where massive tree trunks coexist with delicate foliage shimmering in the sun. This palette will bring peace and serenity to the interior.

13. Burgundy

Not every owner will like this color, as burgundy is a very expressive shade by its nature. However, if you correctly fit it into the interior of the living room, you will get an expressive and expensive-looking room.

This color is rarely used in wall decoration. But if the soul demands, we will not resist it. In this case, use a warm tint and let the surface of the walls be glossy - this way you minimize the over-saturation of this color.

As a rule, burgundy is used in furniture upholstery, textiles and decor. It becomes a bright accent of any room.

14. Orange

A warm and cheerful color that will cheer you up even in the gloomiest weather. Orange is perfect for creating vintage interiors. Love oriental and Indian motifs - then be sure to look at this color. The combination of orange, brown, blue, purple and red will not leave anyone indifferent.

However, such a riot of colors still needs to be smoothed out - use classic white for this. It will hold back the energy of a bright range.

This palette is best used in small areas, as small rooms run the risk of simply drowning in saturated colors.

In small rooms, it is best to use orange as accents and white or beige as the main color.

Living room color - 140 photos of the right color combination in the living room

Whatever style is preferred when designing a living room, the color scheme is of great importance when decorating its interior and design. Of course, now the range of colors is very wide and it is extremely difficult for a simple layman not to get confused and make the right choice. But if an independent search is somewhat difficult and has not yielded results, it is recommended to contact specialists in these matters, who will select an option as soon as possible, taking into account all your wishes.

A list of issues that will be discussed in detail below:

• Skillful combination of colors
• Colors that are in great demand when decorating the living room
• Zoning with the help of playing with color and other devices
• Recommendations that help to perfectly combine different colors sense of taste and style.

Choosing the right color scheme for the interior of a room is not an easy task, but with the help of the recommendations below, it can be solved in the shortest possible time.

Contents

1. Clever combination of colors
2. Popular colors in living room decoration
3. Zoning by playing with color and other devices
4. Recommendations to help you perfectly combine different colors while maintaining a sense of taste and style in a selected photo
living room interior

Skillful combination of colors

All colors are conditionally divided into two types: — cold and warm.

It is very important to take into account the following point: - If you are doing the design of the living room on your own, then you should not mix both types, it is better to choose one color line, because these shades are too contrasting.

It is necessary to combine a warm tone and a cold one in such a way as to prevent a sharp transition in the color scheme, and also so that the combination of colors in the living room looks proportional - only a professional can do this. It is important to remember that a small percentage of a warm shade when decorating a living room in cold colors will not spoil the overall picture with its presence, but, on the contrary, will add elegance and sophistication to the interior. You do the same if you use a line of warm shades in the color of the walls of the living room, you just need to dilute it with a moderate amount of cold shades. Thus, the harmonious combination of colors in the living room will eloquently make it clear that the owner of this room has great taste and an amazing sense of style

Pay attention to which direction your living room windows point? Do your windows point south and do you often have too much sunlight in the room? In this case, we choose a line of cold tones, otherwise the feeling of unbearable stuffiness and heat will never leave you, and the existing air conditioner will not save the situation.

Popular colors for decorating the living room

Living room in white - this color must be introduced very carefully and in moderation to prevent its overabundance, otherwise you will not leave the feeling that you are in a hospital room.

The beige color in the living room, as shown in the photo, is a very picky color, it is good because it will not be difficult to choose furniture made of wooden materials for it. Decorating the walls in the living room in beige is an almost perfect solution.

The brown color in the living room will complement the interior with a touch of practicality, but its overabundance is fraught with the merging of furniture and walls together. It also needs to be used in moderation.

• Gray - many mistakenly consider this color to be too dull and boring, but this is not true, it will fit perfectly into the color combination in the living room.
• Green is the perfect wall color for a living room with windows facing north.
• Red color - possible if the living room is finished in different colors, as shown in the photo. Such a colorful and pronounced color should be diluted with furniture of a different shade.
• Yellow is the main principle here, as with red, it is important to know when to stop.
• Orange is the perfect option for fragmented living room wall decoration for people who prefer a classic style.
• Lilac is ideal for south-facing windows. Do your windows face north? Use this color in minimal amounts so as not to give the living room a gloomy look.
• Blue color - the same recommendations apply to it as to lilac.

Zoning by playing with color and other devices

If the color of the living room is kept in one tone, as you can see in the photo, we highlight the resting place with a different shade, without sharp transitions. To highlight a particular area, it is not necessary to resort to changing the color of the walls of the room, just use the pictures.

Also, artificial light sources are ideal for zoning, it can be either lamps or floor lamps or the same sconces, and it doesn’t matter what color you chose for the living room.

Another ideal option to focus on the seating area is easy to implement with large floor plants, regardless of the color schemes appearing in the living room.

Recommendations that help to perfectly combine different colors while maintaining a sense of taste and style

1. The combination of brown and beige tones must be diluted with black, but again, you need to know the measure, it should be very small.
2. The combination of red and green is hardly possible, since they are both very bright, muted shades are suitable as an option.
3. The combination of blue and white is just a flight of your imagination, as these shades are in perfect harmony with each other.
4. The combination of black and lilac is highly recommended not to be used together.

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