Home » Misc » Family room wall colors

Family room wall colors


20 Family Room Color Ideas

By

Melissa Epifano

Melissa Epifano

Melissa is a news writer for The Spruce. She covers a wide range of topics including trends, decor ideas, and design tips.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 09/01/22

Amy Leferink of Interior Impressions

Family rooms are synonymous with the term household hub. Often used interchangeably with the term living room, a lot goes down in these warm and welcoming spaces. This area is a place for socializing, family recreation, and often for quiet relaxation, so it's understandable if you're set on nailing the perfect color scheme. The family room must meet the needs of various purposes and multiple people, all while feeling more comfortable than a more formal living room. These days, many homes only have one living space or blend these names together, so we'll refer to these terms synonymously.

Whether you're opting for bolder color schemes, two-color combinations, classic neutrals, or anything in between, your family room paint color can match the function and feel of your space. We've gathered 20 different ideas to help you choose the best color for your family room walls. The Spruce's Paint Calculator can help you determine how much paint you'll need to get started.

These 10 Behr Paint Colors Inspire a Family Room Update

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.

Color selection for rooms | Blog

  1. Home
  2. Articles
  3. Choosing colors for rooms

A room with a quality and well-thought-out renovation will be uncomfortable if the main color of the interior is chosen incorrectly. It is desirable to choose the optimal color for finishing the rooms the first time. Still, >buying an apartment in a new building is an expensive pleasure, and additional expenses (even wallpapering) are sometimes extremely undesirable.

The choice of color depends on the individual preferences of the owners of the apartment, but the recommendations of psychologists should not be neglected either. Colors affect most people in about the same way. This impact is well studied, and designers use this knowledge when designing interiors.

Taking into account the effect of color on a person is not difficult even when designing interiors on your own. But you should pay attention not only to the purpose of the rooms, but also to the temperament of the inhabitants of the apartment.

Special colors and shades

Yellow is both calming (pastel colors) and revitalizing (bright colors) depending on the shade. It is suitable for children's rooms. If little light enters the room, yellow light will come in handy.

It is undesirable to use muted shades of yellow. Overly active and nervous people may feel uncomfortable in such an environment, this color does not suit them.


Pastel colors with bright elements - ideal for a nursery, you can buy such an apartment in Odintsovo and not worry about repairs. nine0025

Brown looks good if there is enough light in the room. This is a versatile neutral color that creates a cozy feeling. This is due to the fact that in nature a person is usually surrounded by brown and green colors, they are familiar to him and are associated with safety.

But red is associated with danger. It has an exciting effect on people. Red is often used in rooms intended for eating, because it stimulates the appetite. But it’s hard to stay in a red interior for a long time, a person may even have an increase in blood pressure. Therefore, it is used mainly where you do not need to be constantly, for example, in the kitchen. Instead of red, you can choose orange. It also acts invigorating, but not so tiring when you stay indoors for a long time. nine0011

Pink, although close to red, has a different effect on a person - it is calming, it can even help reduce pressure.

But lilac is the best soothing color. Therefore, it is used for bedrooms and lounges.

Blue is also a calming color, but most people find it too cold for a bedroom.

Green helps to relax. It is used in rooms intended for entertainment and recreation.


This is an example of the interior of a bedroom >apartment in Kuntsevo from FSK Lider, shades of green and yellow help to calm down and relax.

In brightly lit rooms, it is better to use gray instead of white.

Black looks spectacular in combination with white, but only in small quantities.

The choice of the main color for the room

You can experiment with colors and shades in the hallway, living room, bathroom. You don't have to spend a lot of time in these rooms. nine0011

But there are rooms, when decorating which it is better to listen to the recommendations of designers regarding colors and shades:

  • bedroom:
    • pastel;
    • neutral;
  • kitchen:
    • orange
    • yellow;
    • red;
  • children:
    • calm colors with bright accents.
    • nine0063

    But don't forget about the temperament of the residents. If emotions and hot passions are raging in your family, for example, red color will further increase their degree. But cold shades will act soothingly.


    Bright living room in gray tones - restrained and spectacular, this design in the style of "AVANGARD" is designed for those who decide to buy an apartment in Tushino

    By choosing the right colors and shades for different walls, you can visually change the proportions of the room. Patterns and drawings on the walls or wallpaper will further enhance the effect. nine0011

    Not only the choice of the main color is important, but also the combination of colors in the room. For example, in a room pasted over with bright wallpaper, the same bright furniture will look too colorful. Therefore, it is desirable to combine bright colors with calm ones.

    In order not to miss when choosing shades, you can use ready-made color solutions. For example, paint manufacturers offer customers informational materials with professionally selected color solutions for different rooms. nine0011

    Thanks to the right colors >a flat in a new building will become more comfortable and your life will be more harmonious.

    Dormitory room design: interior photo

    The desire to make your home more comfortable and transform it is absolutely natural and does not depend on where a person lives. It is equally strong for those who are the happy owners of luxury apartments, and for those who own only a small room in a hostel. The only difference is in the "filling" of the dwelling. Today we will talk about the design of a dorm room, namely: how to increase the free space and functionally arrange furniture in it, while maintaining comfort. nine0025

    The main problem of small rooms is the need to functionally and at the same time harmoniously place several “rooms” in one room at the same time. And you can’t do without competent zoning here, because due to the compactness of housing, each meter of it should be spent expediently.

    Contents

    1. Color solution
    2. Furniture and equipment
    3. Decor

    Color solution

    The first thing I would like to talk about is color, because it is the main assistant in visually enlarging rooms. The first rule for people who want to bring a beautiful, stylish and functional design of a small dorm room to life is to avoid dark colors when decorating the room as much as possible. nine0011

    Remember, the darker any of the elements of the room, the smaller the result will seem to be an already small room.

    However, rushing to extremes and bringing to life the idea of ​​a room in sterile white is also not worth it. After all, in this way your house will not only resemble a hospital ward, but also maintaining cleanliness in it can become simply an impossible task, since even the smallest speck of dust will not go unnoticed.

    The best option is pastel colors. nine0025

    If there is a first rule, then there must be a second one. And it concerns the prohibition:

    • Thinking through the interior design of a dorm room, in no case do we recommend that you make the ceiling or floor contrast with the color of your walls (the same applies to the color of the furniture).
    • Remember, the lighter the ceiling, the larger the room will appear.
    • For lovers of ornaments and other prints, we note that their use is possible if the pattern is small or monochromatic. nine0004
    • Large patterns can only "clog" your room.

    Furniture and equipment

    A distinctive detail of creating a functional room in a hostel from the interior design of one-room apartments is the need to combine not only the living room and bedroom, but also the dining room in one room. Therefore, the choice of furniture should be approached very carefully, so that in the end you do not have to “attach” half of the purchased interior to friends and acquaintances. nine0025

    Do not stop at large-sized furniture, it will only reduce your space and “take away” such precious meters. The best option is small size and versatility.

    So, a sliding wardrobe can be both a container for clothes and a working area, if a small computer table is made in one of its compartments. Although it is not necessary to have a desktop computer in the dorm, a laptop will do just fine, which will save space and give you more freedom of action. Moreover, if you cannot imagine life without a desk for working at a computer, then a small mobile dining table may well play its role. nine0011

    Speaking of the canteen. Designers recommend placing the dining area along the narrowest wall

    to save space.

    • Traditionally, for small spaces, it is recommended to purchase a sofa bed, which, depending on the time of day, is both a place to meet and talk with friends, and an area for sleeping and relaxing.
    • If you are designing a room in a family dormitory, do not forget about the play area for the child. nine0004
    • With regard to the arrangement of furniture, it is preferable to arrange it in the corners and along the walls, thus leaving the center of the room free.

    Decor

    If your room is made in light, soothing colors, then the use of carefully thought-out bright details and textiles made in the same style is quite acceptable as decor.

    Learn more