Furniture color scheme
25 best living room color schemes |
(Image credit: Future)
Choosing the right living room color ideas is one of most important decisions you can make for your space. Getting the color choice spot on is vital, because this is the room where we spend most of our time. These inspiring living room color schemes and ideas are guaranteed to add vibrancy to your interiors.
Choosing which colors to decorate your living room ideas with can be daunting – partly because there are so many options available. But knowing which color combinations are guaranteed to look beautiful together and being able to select the best hues are not mysterious secret arts – they are simple skills that we can all learn in just a few steps.
Start off room color ideas by building a complementary palette of timeless tones and classic shades, then add accent hues to create bold effects on a mood board. Think of it like cooking, with colors representing ingredients and flavors.
Collate images, swatches, fabric and photographs to paint a picture of your desired scheme. This allows you to marry finishes together to ensure all your living room paint ideas work as one.
Living room color ideas – the best color schemes for your lounge
Becoming your own color consultant is easier than you think, once you’ve mastered the basics of the color wheel – a tool professional interior designers use to put together stunning schemes that never fail to impress.
It’s time to brush up your skills, get creative with color and transform your living room with the help of our collection of inspiring living room color ideas.
1. Go for a variety of soothing green tones
(Image credit: Future )
Is there any color more suited to 2022 than green? At at time where our happiness and health have seemed more important than ever, it's only right that we'd want to surround ourselves in shades that symbolize growth and renewal. What's more, it has been named one of the best colors to paint a living room by color experts.
Green living room ideas promise to renew your connection to nature, and the color green is said to evoke feelings of serenity, vibrancy and good fortune. When decorating with green, you'll find the color available in a whole host of shades, it’s easy to find decor and living room color ideas that will suit your look and give your scheme a seasonal lift.
2. Instil calm with a neutral color scheme
(Image credit: James Merrell / Future)
'I love the calmness that you create when you have a neutral living room palette in a room,' says interior designer Tamsin Johnson . But this choice definitely doesn’t have to mean boring: you can create an interesting and exciting space by layering different tones, such as off-whites and beige, then introducing a range of caramels and even accents of black.'
'Natural textures, whether they are stone or wood or linen, can help to anchor a beige living room color scheme. It means that the overall look doesn’t feel too contrived or uptight or overly designed. They bring a laid-back quality that always works well.'
3. Build up a layered color palette
(Image credit: Tim Salisbury)
When you typically consider using paint to create impact in a room, the first thought tends to be drenching the walls in a bright hue. While this is a tried and tested way of creating a statement, there are more delicate ways to achieve just as much of an impact.
In this yellow living room from interior designer Anna Spiro , a high-gloss white paint on the walls bounces around light, making the surfaces nearly appear liquid with shine. Architectural details have been picked out in a beautiful deep yellow, adding not only color but an excellent grounding element. Furniture and accessories in similar but not quite matching tones create a warming spectrum of sunshine across the space.
3. Mix up colors
(Image credit: Jonathan Bond Photography)
For a living room that sings with joy try colorful living room ideas full of clashing combinations. This is a space for both socializing and retreat, so you want shades that both enliven and comfort you.
‘Pink and green is one of my favorite color combinations – they play really well off each other and it’s a great way to cheer up a room,’ says Lucy Barlow, founder, Barlow & Barlow .
Balance is key, especially as many people are still working from home. Integrating more neutral tones to offset your bold hues can help bring calm when you need to focus, but then you can turn around and be energized when it’s time to switch off for the day and allow the room to return to its primary function.
5. Amplify with intense hues
(Image credit: Annie Sloan)
Tone-on-tone is an easy, effective way to add impact to your pink living room. This scheme, based around the standout Capri Pink by Annie Sloan on the walls, demonstrates how layering with one color creates a bold, bright and unexpected decorative look.
6. Go for full color in a small space
(Image credit: David Butler)
Use sophisticated color schemes to add interest and intrigue to dark living rooms. ‘I like painting a small living room layout in a dark color to make them feel cozy,’ says interior designer Amelia McNeil , who designed this cozy corner. ‘I even painted the window and architrave in the same blue so that the Phillip Jeffries wallpaper could be the main focus.
7. Embrace the warmth of red
(Image credit: Paul Raeside)
Contemplating red living room ideas? While the color might sound like a dramatic choice, it’s actually a hue that’s easy to live with. Its warmth, the ability to make the room feel cocooning, and its appearance under artificial light makes it a wonderful choice for many living spaces.
One of the leading reasons why you might prefer a red living room is because of the color’s heat, and in cold climate areas, it can create a sought-after atmosphere, perfect for cozy living room ideas.
8. Enliven a neutral scheme with pops of primaries
(Image credit: Future / Emma Lee / Sally Denning)
For a sophisticated room full of fun and energy, create a living room color scheme that hinges on the decorating with primary colors – but bear in mind that even in small doses, such as in the neutral scheme above, they can have real impact.
Feeling braver? Bold blue walls instantly add a cosseting effect to a space, making the room feel more inviting yet spacious.
Look to design movements of other eras, such as Bauhaus, from which you could choose from primary colors such as blue and mustard yellow, or lavender purple and tomato orange.
The colors need to be bold but not bright, so choose hues that are pared back to give them a more authentic tone.
9. Warm up a cool spaces with hot shades
(Image credit: Annie Sloan)
In a cool living room or one that you want to feel incredibly warm and welcoming, red is a great choice.
'Red is more and more popular lately and is a very stimulating shade. In this palette, it also represents the moment during exercising when you are at the top of your game,' according to trend forecasters, TrendBook .
This living room color idea was inspired by the already evident success of orange and bright red. It is the extroverted color for the season, and when paired with gray – the color of sustainability – it represents the full cycle of a routine. 'This color is the quiet one and represents the end of the journey, the warming down after an exercise,' say TrendBook.
10. Pick punchy pastels for a family room
(Image credit: Geraldine Tan )
Pale shades of rose are becoming firmly established as the new neutral of choice in the most stylish of schemes. Yet it is in combination with bolder pastels – as in this family living room by Little Big Bell influencer, Geraldine Tan – that its delicate allure really comes to the fore.
Geraldine predicts that more muted pastels such as the shade below will be popular moving forwards, and at H&G, we love to mix pastels with soft green, muted gray, black and accents of gold to give them a sophisticated edge.
'Neutral pink is best in living rooms; it’s surprising yet subdued,' says Annie Sloan. Pairing with deep burnt reds it will create a sophisticated tonal palette with a lot of warmth; alternatively, bright oranges and turquoises with neutral pinks give more of a tropical, jungle intensity.
'There’s a reason we see this color combination all over our Instagram feeds. It’s highly emotive, it shows confidence in color, and a certain joie de vivre,' says Annie.
11. Match soft pastels with earthy tones
(Image credit: Future/Emma Lee)
Inject a playful summer vibe into your living room color ideas scheme. Use a palette of raspberry and citron to create a fresh, stylish look. Washed linens and the eye-catching open design of the rattan sofa brings a relaxing mood to this inviting space – inspired by bohemian living room ideas – which is enhanced by unlined curtains that gently filter the sunlight.
This confident mix of rose shades evokes a sense of luxury, femininity and sass. Pink has grown up, trading its sweet reputation for a more muted, sophisticated and earthy look.
‘There is an exciting duality to grown-up pink – it’s soft and delicate, yet strong and composed,’ says Paula Taylor, color and trend specialist at Graham & Brown .
It’s best to avoid clean whites with this pink, as they may wash out the space. Stick to warmer neutrals, such as tones of gray that will add depth, or dial up the drama with touches or charcoal, emerald green or black.
12. Pick on-trend powdery pastels
(Image credit: Crown Paints)
Chalky tones have always been an attractive choice for interiors, giving rise to delicate, light rooms that are easy to live in. Create relaxed, grown-up schemes by pairing these hues with bold accent colors, or opt for impact with one sugary shade, like in the minimalist living room above, decorated in Cocoon by Crown Paints .
Decorating with pastel shades needn’t mean going entirely pale. Create an accent wall in a darker color, such as a deep blue, to balance lighter tones. To add depth, introduce subtle textures with wool upholstery, drapes and rugs in patterned weaves.
13. Create a traditional feel with berry shades
(Image credit: Future/Dan Duchars)
Aubergine, heather and indigo have a lasting appeal that makes them decorating favorites, but used on their own, they can feel a little cold. Warm them up instantly with earthy tones or a hit of flame orange – it works really well with colors that have a blue base, like purple or teal.
Purple is all about power and passion. Its strong and versatile hues are associated with creativity, individualism and inventiveness. When choosing purple, always select a color several shades lighter than the one you are aiming for, as they are more powerful when applied.
Lavender reflects light really well, even in the depths of winter, making it a clever choice when planning small living room ideas. Living rooms always look smart bathed in or accented by purple and pink, which creates serene and interesting living spaces, appearing quiet or bold depending on the setting.
14. Warm up neutral schemes with earthy shades
(Image credit: Future/Mark Bolton)
Sandy shades are very usable living room color ideas and work well as part of an earthy palette, coupled with terracottas or warm cinnamon, or even splashes of bright teal and zesty orange.
They can stand alone, providing a calm, neutral backdrop onto which you can layer accent colors like sunflower. Or use harmonious tones of sandstone, beige or taupe for multi-layered beige living room ideas that bring in other off-white or neutral tones.
15. Pick a neutral color scheme for a laid back look
(Image credit: Rikki Snyder)
Reinvigorate your living room with a fresh and soothing color palette of limestone, lichen and sage. Choose a subtle shade of limestone for walls, then layer different but tonal shades of creams or greens on furnishings to create a restful scheme.
A patterned couch will add a punchy highlight to neutral living room ideas; layer it with cushions depicting foliage and forest scenery.
Finally, bring the garden indoors: mix plants and cacti with fresh spring blooms and accessorize with striking botanical prints, faux coral and crystal geodes for a scheme that is at one with nature.
16. Pick an earthy yellow for a bright but elegant finish
(Image credit: Future/Davide Lovatti)
Yellow’s reputation as a fresh and lively sunny color means it is often overlooked for living room color ideas, but paler shades can work nicely and become especially inviting when used in harmonizing or contrasting tones.
Yellow’s complementary shade on the color wheel is blue, and if both are used in a muted combination, like cornflower yellow and pale blue-gray, it will look stunning.
Use tones of muted yellow in your living room to provide a clever mix of brightness and warmth. Mix warm ochre with egg-yolk shades for a yellow living room that will lift your mood.
Yellow inspires optimism, creating a summery feel; team it with charcoal and black for modern look that follows the latest living room trends. This color is also fantastic when mixed with crisp white or warm wood furniture, and the spectrum of sunny shades look great with an additional contrast color such as gray or duck egg blue.
17. Use a cool combination of black and white
(Image credit: Future/Michael Sinclair)
Striking, cool, and confident, black and white is always a winning combination and will make a dramatic statement in a living room. Create a perfect balance of the two neutrals, by using equal amounts of each. It will give a bright and fresh look for the day, together with a dramatic and tailored look for night – especially when paired with living room lighting ideas that feature both directional and ambient lighting.
Introduce pattern and character with a statement rug or cushions and some sophisticated framed artwork, and keep the rest of your furniture and accessories plain and more color blocked.
Recreate the refined elegance of grand Parisian apartments by decorating with soft muted grays, whites and black living room shades.
Paneled walls painted soft gray provide a sophisticated backdrop for this scheme, which artfully balances black and white upholstered furniture. Blocks of pattern, in the form of tailored cushions and artwork, add interest and personality to the modern look.
18. Go for a timeless gray living room color scheme
(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)
Gray living room ideas are enduringly popular, and it's easy to see why – this neutral shade suits most spaces, although it is important to choose the right tone.
'Gray isn't a tricky living room color to get right,' says H&G's Editor in Chief Lucy Searle. 'However, it is important to pick a gray that suits your room's natural daylight.
'A cool, North- or East-facing room will really benefit from a gray – however light or dark – with a hint of yellow pigment; a South- or West-facing space can take a cooler shade that has a hint of blue – although I would always advise a warmer shade for a living room, which is intended to feel inviting.'
19. Create a coastal appeal with red, white and blue
(Image credit: Future/Emma Lee)
Create a blue scheme with tones taken straight from a sea view. The easiest way to create a space with a coastal feel is by adding cool shades of ocean blues.
Whether it’s with paint, fabrics or your choice of living room furniture ideas, choose a living room color that both reflects the tones of the sea and the sky so that it isn’t too bright or too pale. The room won’t feel cold if you team it up with sandy beiges and cream colors.
20. Pick a classic blue and white living room color scheme
(Image credit: Future/Jake Curtis)
Decorate with a palette of blue and white. This combination is often described as the new monochrome, and it is easy to see why. From indigo to navy and cobalt, blue hues sit particularly well together, so offer great scope for pattern mixing.
In this white living room, cushions with small-scale motifs are successfully combined with robust striped blinds and bold indigo geometric on the screen.
Beloved by ancient Chinese dynasties, the Moors and the Greeks, this enduring color combination takes a fresh, modern feel with the latest indigo textiles, shibori patterns and denim tones.
Are your living room color ideas dependent on warmth? You can still use blue and white if you're after cozy living room ideas – keeping blues warm is a matter of applying a shade with warm tones in it and teaming it with rich sandy shades that echo the seashore, or else crisp whites, cool grays and palest yellows.
White is the perfect foil for this color as it copies the skyline. Pale clear blue often looks fabulous combined with oak or chestnut furniture, which serves to keep the atmosphere warm. These colors and combinations work best in spaces that benefit from generous natural light.
21. Bring the outdoors in with fresh green and naturals
(Image credit: Rapture & Wright)
Use arboretum-inspired motifs, hothouse plant life and foliage for a fresh green living room look this season. Working geometric motifs into the scheme gives the finished look a modern edge. It’s time to welcome all things green and pleasant into the home.
'Sage green works wonderfully in a living room, or somewhere south-facing where the nuances of the color will be visible in the bright light,' advises color and paint expert Annie Sloan .
'Pairing sage green with a vivid orange will give more energy to a space; contrasting complementary colors emphasizes the qualities of each and creates a bold statement look.
'I’d use a strong black, too, to give a solidly masculine mid-century modern living room scheme. It’s calming because it’s strong and looks very put together.'
22. Go for a dramatic inky shade
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
Combine saturated shades of cobalt, malachite and verdigris with botanical motifs to bring natural depth and earthiness to dark living spaces.
Pale cane furniture provides a lighter note in a scheme featuring luxurious textures, such as velvet and silk, in rich moody shades – or choose deep woody tones, as in the room above, with antique pieces that only enhance the drama.
23. Opt for a Cape Cod-worthy color scheme
(Image credit: Chris Everard)
This classic pairing has enduring appeal and is a sure-fire way to create a fresh and elegant scheme. The use of two blue tones, one on the walls and a paler hue on the ceiling, combined with white woodwork, draws your eye upwards, creating the feeling of being surrounded by clear skies, great for living room ceiling ideas.
24. Introduce an earthy tobacco shade
(Image credit: Nicola Harding)
‘Tobacco yellow is often used with greys and neutrals; I love the idea of going the other way and allowing it to be a backdrop for much brighter saturated tones,' says Genevieve Bennett, head of design interiors, Liberty .
'We have used this shade as a fantastic backdrop color for the vibrant fresh jewel-like greens. This muted yet rich color allows the jade greens to sing, which a brighter yellow would clash with. It has a surprising, fresh and contemporary feel which is suited to modern living rooms.’
25. Use a timeless blue-green to best effect
(Image credit: Ben Stevens)
‘If nervous about using a bold hue, painting woodwork adds a color shot without overwhelming,’ advises designer Kate Guinness , who used turquoise accents in this chic boot room.
‘This is a guaranteed crowd-pleasing color with lots of positive associations,' says Annie Sloan , color and paint expert. 'It embodies both the recessive quality of blue and the calming quality of green, making it very easy to work with. I’d be inclined to dress it with heavily textured accents to give a cozier finish, but a 1960s palette of turquoise and orange also works fabulously with mid-century modern silhouettes, glass decor and metallic fittings.’
What is the best color scheme for a living room?
'The best color scheme for a living room will always be a color that you simply love and want to look at all day, every day,' says Dominic Myland, CEO of Mylands .
'It is one of the rooms in your house that you’re likely to spend the most time in, so deciding the final scheme shouldn’t be rushed.
'Research living room pictures for inspiration, then paint large sample areas that will catch different light throughout the day and live with it for a few days or weeks before going ahead and painting the whole room.
'That way you can be sure that no matter what you go for, be it dark and moody, bright and light, or calm and sophisticated, you’ll be making the right decision for your space.
'As a general guide, rooms with a cool North-facing light benefit from warmer colors, but rooms with warm South-facing light can take most colors.'
What are good living room color combinations?
Good living room color combinations can be achieved in various ways.
- Contrasting colors – split contrast mixes of two closely related and one unrelated color, and for impact use the brightest tone as an accent in cushions or accessories. Ensure you choose colors of a similar depth for bold impact. Indigo blue always works well with sunny yellow, for example.
- A monochromatic palette using different shades of the same color can also be effective. Try transferring these applications to door and wall panels, cornicing and dado rails. Play with patterns too. Stripes, squares and spots are all eye-catching effects and adding coordinated wallpaper ideas builds in texture.
- A tonal scheme can be created by mixing different tones of the same color together for a multi-layered scheme with lots of depth. For example, use dark navy blue, pretty cornflower blue, and rich royal blue in equal amounts for a balanced result. Or combine moody blues with fresh greens for an elegant scheme that channels colors found in the natural world – think of plants and water. Try zesty lime green with rich indigo blue for an up-to-date look.
- A three-color scheme is a basic but effective approach; try combining no more than two or three colors in a scheme, focusing either on primary or secondary tones. To create eye-catching contrasts, study the color wheel and look at opposing shade combinations, such as canary yellow and grey, or electric blue and hot pink.
- Neutral color blocking, combining monochromes and soft tones, such as black, white and gray is also effective, but be prepared to edit a scheme strictly for maximum effect. Accessories are also an important color blocking tool – vibrant, block colored living room seating ideas against a contrasting block panel will set off a scheme.
‘Combining color is a perfect and affordable way to create an impressive design statement, achieved by applying a modest amount of color for maximum impact. It’s an easy trend to assimilate but does require bravery.
'We all experience color differently from one another and each will have an energy that appeals. Work with your instincts. Assert your whims, and look at the clothes in your wardrobe for color inspiration,' advises interior designer Andrea Maflin .
How do you combine colors in a living room?
For anyone designing a living room, it's tempting to play it safe when it comes to injecting color. However, interiors that experiment with bold tones are often the most striking. The key is to do your research, testing contrasting palettes out before decorating, and using color and fabric with confidence.
Color can have a profound effect on mood, and a bright scheme can uplift the senses as well as adding depth to your interiors. Unexpected color combinations, such as blues and reds or oranges and pinks, can work well, but try to provide relief with some neutral touches, like white woodwork, or introducing pattern to break up the look and add texture.
Before decorating walls, try painting the inside of a shoebox with your preferred hue. That way, you’ll see how the light falls into the corners too, which will give a truer representation of how the color will look in a room.
If you prefer to keep walls more neutral, a large living room rug is a great way to inject vibrancy, complemented by colorful accessories such as cushions and fabrics, whether a single throw or a brightly upholstered ottoman.
Consult a color wheel to find daring hues that will work well together. Remember that color changes with its surroundings. The tone is never quite the same depending on the surface material you choose.
The right paint finish will also transform the final look. Matt and eggshell produce a soft sheen, and gloss and oil are both shiny finishes that reflect light. Test paints first using sample pots to see how they will look before you decorate. Inspiration can be found in the latest trends.
What colors make a living room feel bigger?
When decorating small spaces, the colors that make areas feel larger are pale shades that reflect light. However, making a small living room feel bigger is slightly more nuanced than color scheming alone.
Lean towards off-white shades when working with neutrals, over stark whites: off-whites will deliver more character than a pure white, distracting the eye from the size and more towards to the color.
'Another trick is to carry the wall color onto all of your woodwork, avoiding all the horizontal framing and creating the illusion of more space,' advises brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball , Patrick O’ Donnell.
'Finally, be aware of your ceiling color – most people default to a generic white, but if you choose an off-white that shares similar tones to your wall color, you will become less aware of where your wall height stops and the ceiling starts,' he says. This is also a great tip for apartment living room ideas that sometimes have lower ceilings.
'Traditionally, wisdom has been that rooms in bright tones of white or off-whites will give the best feeling space,' says Dominic Myland.
'However we’re increasingly seeing customers take much bolder steps with bright colors, such as yellow, which, when paired with contrasting trims, mouldings and ceilings in lighter colors, will trick the eye into thinking the walls are spaced further apart to make the room feel bigger.' You can even use paint to play with proportions when planning long living room ideas.
'White and neutral shades are always the go-to color as they make a room look bigger, airier, and more open,' explains David Harris, design director at Andrew Martin .
'However, for small space living, you can be more daring. Don’t be afraid of dark and rich colors, like coffee or dark gray, or try teal or even orange for a braver burst of color. These hues bring richness, intimacy and extra depth whilst allowing you to show personality and flair.
'Layering deep rich colors with artwork also adds fantastic texture and interest.' Be sure to incorporate small living room lighting ideas into your scheme too, to make the most of your chosen color schemes.
What are the new colors for living rooms?
Yellow is set to make a comeback for 2022. It’s the shade of confidence and joy, so after the global turbulence of the past year it comes as little surprise that yellow is decorating’s color du jour. Yellow room ideas inspire optimism, creating a summery feel; team it with charcoal and black from a modern look in the living. ‘Current trends show a real shift towards brighter colors with a clean-cut finish – and are a great way to feel happier at home,’ says Sue Kim, senior color designer at Valspar.
Gentle pastel tones have also been making a big appearance in the fashion world, so it makes sense that they are a burgeoning interior design trend. What you see on the catwalk ends up on the cushions, as the old saying goes.
However, all the trends and color experts we have spoken to predict that this desire for comfort will evolve into a more optimistic excitement, which will translate into brighter, bolder color choices being introduced into our homes, with living room color schemes no exception.
Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.
Picking A Color Scheme For Your House in 2020
Updated: 2022-09-19
Creating a home color scheme is so much more than just choosing a paint color – and it is so much more fun! Whether you let your living room color ideas evolve as you go or try to plan your whole house color palette at once, each room has a color scheme. Choosing the right paint colors can be much easier if you know what color scheme you want to use for your house. Choosing the right paint colors for your home can be much easier if you know what color scheme to use for your interior design project. See our tips on how to choose one here.
How do I choose a color scheme for my house?
Ready to start choosing a paint color? With a few basics of color theory, your palette will emerge in no time.
Creating a color palette
Choosing a color scheme is based on creating a color palette. A color palette for home design has the power to set the mood for a room and evoke emotions. It can make a room feel warmer or cooler, larger or smaller. Depending on the colors you choose for furniture, walls, window coverings, and accents, you can create balance, harmony, unity, or emphasis.
What Colors Appeal to You?
What colors are you usually wearing when you receive compliments on your appearance? Do you want the room to be a place of relaxation? Or will it be used more for entertainment and social interaction? Do you need to make the room look bigger, more open? Or do you need to make the room look smaller and cozier? Use these questions as a starting point to put together the most meaningful living room color ideas for you.
Cool vs. warm colors
One of the first choices in decorating is to decide whether you prefer warm vs. cool colors. There is no right or wrong because the debate over warm vs. cool colors comes down to a matter of preference. If you are working on a project, some information on warm and cool colors and how to use them can help you narrow down the decision.
Warm colors and cool colors
In color theory, the discussion of warm and cool colors has been important since the 1700s. Warm colors range from yellow to red, often including browns. Cool colors range from blue-violet to blue-green, often with some grays included. In art and design, warm colors appear to be more active, while cool colors recede.
Warm and Cool Colors:
- Warm colors: Warm colors are derived from the primary colors red, orange, and yellow; they evoke a warm feeling reminiscent of fire-like elements like the sun.
- Cool colors: Cool colors are derived from the primary colors violet, blue, and green; they evoke a cool feeling reminiscent of earth elements like water or greenery.
Color temperature
Measured in kelvins, color temperature is a light characteristic important to science and design. Cool colors have are blue(ish) and have a higher color temperature of over 5000 k. Warm colors are yellow(ish) and have color temperatures below 3000 k
Using the color wheel
Since it does not explain green or purple in terms of color temperature, we use a color wheel to describe all colors on the spectrum. The color wheel can be divided into two halves. As you can see in the figure on the right, this color wheel has 12 colors, with warm colors on the right and cool colors on the left. Below the color wheel, the colors are broken down into parts.
Warm colors
This section gives an overview of warm colors, discussing the following:
- What are warm colors?
- Warm colors on the color wheel
- A warm color wheel
- Is brown a warm color?
- Warm neutral colors
- Warm colored rooms
- Warm and inviting colors (7 examples)
What are warm colors?
Warm colors have characteristics such as vivid, bright, bold, and sometimes overwhelming. Warm colors have a lower color temperature that ranges from 2700 kelvin to 3000 kelvin. Warm colors recall fire, the sun, and heat and generally have red or yellow undertones.
Warm colors on the color wheel
The main warm colors on the color wheel are red, orange, and yellow. Colors that are solely made up of a mixture of these colors are, without any dispute, warm colors. Like magenta with a blue bias, other colors look like a warm color but are actually a cool color.
A warm color wheel
If we were to make a purely warm color wheel, its primary colors would contain red, orange, and yellow, with numerous mixtures of those three colors. Ultimately, as the color wheel drifts over farther into the deep red part of the spectrum, it will start to drift into the cool (blue) color territory.
Is brown a warm color?
Because it is made of wood, the most common color in furniture is brown. While brown is considered neutral on its own, it is often grouped with warm colors because it complements them well; also, "warm browns" can have a warm color bias when brown is mixed with a warm base. Common "warm browns" are used concurrently with autumn red, orange, and yellows.
Warm neutral colors
While brown is considered a neutral color, it often seems more warm than neutral when mixed with warm colors. This is not the case for grey or green. When warm colors are lightly added to grey and sometimes grey with a green tint, you get what many consider "warm neutral colors." Warm neutral colors feel more neutral than warm but still have more of a warm bias than a cool one.
Warm colored rooms
Warm colors are the king of cozy. Below are some warm home colors that can add a warm and inviting flair to your project if used in the right circumstances.
Warm and inviting colors
- Red: Just a hint more warm-biased than magenta, a deep, rich red can bring warmth to a seasonal project (or any for that matter).
- Peach: Sometimes, peach can be tasteful and inviting when combining all of the warm color spectra.
- Pink: If used tastefully in its more subdued form, Pink can be a bold statement that can be vigorous and inviting at the same time.
- Tangerine: Tangerine in its purest form has more of a pumpkin tint than pure orange. This color can be great for autumn.
- Gold: Darker than the standard yellow, gold, or even mustard yellow, feels warm and inviting without overly exuberant.
- Brown: As discussed above, brown is a neutral color that complements warm colors well, especially if mixed with a deeper warm color.
- White: While white is the quintessential neutral color, a creamy, warm white can be among the coziest of warm colors in the right circumstances.
Cool colors
This section discusses cool colors, namely these topics:
- What are cool colors?
- Cool color wheel
- Cool colors recede
- Cool house colors
- What are some cool colors?
What are cool colors?
On the other side of the color wheel, we have cool colors with blue undertones. Cool colors are the colors of ice, water, sky, and grass. In design, cool colors tend to be calming, relaxing, and soothing, and they tend to recede. A pillow in a fabric like Waylon incorporates cool colors.
Cool color wheel
Examples of cool colors include violet (purple), blue, and green. You can make your own cool color wheel by using only these three colors as the primary colors while using various mixtures of these colors as your secondary colors. Limiting yourself to a cool color wheel can be a useful exercise in color theory, as it is difficult to create any accent tone without a warm color present.
Cool colors recede
Cool colors will appear to recede (think Van Gogh's "Starry Night"). Cool colors seem to recede in space because blue, the primary undertone of cool colors, has shorter wavelengths than other colors. While a blue figure, or any figure based in primary colors, may take up the same space as any other color, they make the space seem larger because of the smaller wavelength.
Cool house colors
When used in a home décor project, cool colors can be calming when used alone. They can also be used as accent colors for rooms with a warm color bias.
What are some cool colors?
- Sage: A calmer alternative to grey and more emotional than white, sage is a green-based color that adds a soothing feeling to a room.
- Deep Purple: Midway between magenta and violet, deep purple goes well with warmer blues. This can be a great accent color.
- Navy: Navy blue is a timeless dark look that goes extremely well with neutral accents. Mixing navy with a grey or deep purple can give you an all-cool space with many flairs.
- Beige: While beige is often considered a neutral color (like brown), cool beige is a trendy version of beige with a pink base.
- Grey: The definition of neutral, we chose grey to be on the list of cool house colors because it is perhaps the best color out there to accompany any other cool color on this list.
- Green: Earthy and grounding, green is a fresh and lively cool color that makes your space feel bold but natural.
- Light Blue: Still technically characterized as a cool color, light blue is a bright cool color that can be calming and enlivening.
Warm vs. cool colors
It’s no mistake! You absolutely can create a beautiful design by mixing warm and cool colors in your room. It’s kind of like planning a buffet with sweet and spicy dishes – the key is to add in another flavor. When you’re talking about mixing warm and cool colors, that other “flavor” is neutral.
Cool neutral colors
Neutrals are colors that aren’t included on the color wheel. Shades of browns, tans, golds, beige, and black are usually considered warm neutrals, while shades of white, cream, ivory, gray, and silver are usually considered cool neutrals. To complicate matters a bit, many neutral color families (like brown) can actually be warm or cool, depending on the proportion of yellow or blue tones in the mix.
Warm-cool colors
A "warm-cool color" is a color that blurs the lines between warm and cool to the point where you can't discern whether it is warm or cool. Magenta, as mentioned earlier, is an example of a warm-cool color. While technically cool, magenta is a color that feels warm. Using a mixture of blue and red, both on the opposite sides of the color wheel, magenta is a color that seemingly transcends the color spectrum.
Cool or warm undertones?
If a color has cool undertones, it will lean gold or yellowish. Something will cool undertones will leak red or blue. For this reason, a mixture of red and blue, the quintessential colors of the warm and cold sides of the spectrum, respectively, will give (sometimes) give you color with the opposite undertone.
Color schemes
Based on the color theory principles we just looked at, below are some ways to create high energy color schemes based on the color wheel:
Mixing cool and warm colors
Using a three-color design scheme, you can apply the “rule of three” when mixing warm and cool colors. In other words, divide the colors into components of 60 percent of a dominant color (applied to the walls), 30 percent of a secondary color (mainly in upholstery), and 10 percent of an accent color (like in accessories or an accent wall). Which color should be dominant? Whichever color you love the most - as long as it’s one you can live with.
The three basic color schemes for your house below are listed from lowest to highest “energy”:
A monochromatic color scheme means the colors are all shades or tints of the same hue, like all grays or blues.
An analogous color scheme uses three colors or hues neighboring each other on the color wheel, like orange, red, and yellow, or blue, green, and yellow. The colors don’t need to be strictly adjacent to each other.
A complementary color scheme means the colors are opposite on the wheel, with one warm color and one cool color.
What Type of Light Does The Room Get?
Also, consider the natural light in the room when you're choosing a color scheme for your home.
- North-facing rooms are the darkest, receiving diffuse light most of the day. This light is cool and bluish, which means cool colors will look even cooler, and whites will look grayish. Bolder colors show up better than muted colors. Warm colors, or lighter colors that reflect rather than absorb light, may be a way to brighten the room.
- East-facing rooms receive early morning light. This light appears warm yellow or gray before noon and then turns bluer later in the day. Bright morning light tends to wash out colors. Blue greens and cool neutrals come to life in the morning light and retain their vibrancy as the day progresses. If the room is used in the late afternoon, warm colors will help balance the lack of light.
- South-facing rooms receive late morning and early afternoon light. Lots of high-in-the-sky light brings out the best in cool and warm color schemes. Dark colors will look brighter, and lighter colors will glow.
- West-facing rooms receive strong late afternoon light, a golden warm light that can be intense. In the morning, west-facing rooms are shadowy. You can use light-reflective cool colors to balance the warmth or go with a hint of warm red if the room is used in the morning.
What Elements Should I Choose First?
It’s easiest to create a color scheme for your home design if you start with a certain color and then work your room around that. Resist the temptation of choosing a paint color first! Instead, find a more long-term investment that you love, like furniture, fabric, or tile. If you have patterned upholstery, a colorful rug, or a large piece of artwork you love, pick colors from that. Remember to consider your wood finishes as well. It is much easier to find a paint that works with the fabric than the other way around. You can change accent wall colors in an afternoon with a small investment in a pail of paint.
Playing with Pattern Sizes
Accent fabrics that incorporate your home color palette are a great way to tie everything together in a way that looks intentional. You can create rhythm in a color scheme by repeating a color in various places throughout the room. Choose fabrics that use the same color family but in varying pattern sizes.
The weight of fabric and smoothness also affect how color appears. Fabrics with smooth textures reflect more light, giving them lighter visual weight. Fabrics with coarse or rough textures absorb light rather than reflect it and make items look heavier.
Light and airy color schemes
Sunny with a side of light and airy? If that’s in your décor forecast, you’ve come to the right place. The right combinations of colors (and lack of them), lightweight materials, lighting, rugs, and accessories can create that oh-so-simple yet comfortable aesthetic you’re seeing on social media – and wanting for your own home.
This season, changing floorplans and adding windows may not be on your to-do list, but you can learn how to brighten a dark room by following a few simple steps.
Paint clean and light colors.
Light doesn’t have to mean “white,” but you really can’t go wrong with it in any room. It creates a canvas or backdrop for everything else in your room. If you’re not completely sold on white, try a whisper of green, blue, yellow, or even lavender. Pale neutrals will set the mood too. Showcase a few pieces of artwork for the walls and frame them simply; artwork should be large enough to hold their own on the wall yet not be overwhelming.
Add a dash of bright color.
Apply the 90/10 rule: use 90 percent white (or whichever light color you’ve chosen) throughout your room and add a dash (10 percent) of bright and happy colors. (Greens or blues, anyone?) Whatever you do to brighten up your dark rooms, go with your gut. You can always rely on stately black accents, too, for turning up the level of sophistication.
Let the sunshine in.
We aren’t all lucky enough to have skylights, or bay windows, or even big windows for that matter, but make the most of what you have. Banish the bummer heavy drapes and opt for cheery sheers instead. Need more coverage at nighttime? Plantation shutters offer the best of both worlds with just a nudge on the tilt rod: a chandelier, wicker ceiling fan, or even white ceiling fan blades.
Delight in lighter fabrics and furnishings.
When brightening a dark room, dark, thick fabrics (and leathers) need to exit stage left now to make way for the stylish Beckham and versatile Exeter sofa and sectionals in light-colored or muted patterns. Bookshelves can take on a more modern, artsy look by removing volumes and placing a few personal objects around artfully. Generously scaled Pippa accent chair and ottoman have light-hearted spool style legs. For a cocktail table, console, or media console, warm and charming Bluffton is the way to go. In the bedroom, you can lighten up heavy-looking furniture like the bed simply by removing the footboard to add more openness to the room; likewise, choose tall, narrow pieces of furniture (think Bella Collection) over wider pieces to give the appearance of extra roominess. Light-colored woods and painted furniture (again, think Bella Collection) has a much-coveted vintage market look. There’s a bookcase, writing desk, buffet and lots more. Neo-traditional with a modern twist, Ventura bedroom pieces combine crisp finishes with handsome accent details.
What’s underfoot?
What kind of flooring do you have? White or some kind of light-colored flooring or carpeting is ideal, while hardwoods of any color will provide that much-needed organic feel. An area rug can serve to brighten up dark rooms, too, as well as a textured or patterned rug if you choose.
Go au naturel.
Speaking of organic, by all means, go au naturel. Touches of green and anything living will ground your room with a modern earthiness. A potted plant will work wonders.
Eliminate clutter and mess.
At all costs, declutter your room and unravel that mess. Kill the knickknacks. Show only the pieces that are useful or that you just adore. Nothing says “zen” like a carefully placed storage basket keeping all the loose ends at bay.
Mixing wood furniture with white
White walls and wood furniture are a classic combination that never seems to go out of style. However, when it comes to mixing wood tones with white, getting your space to look just right can be challenging. Here are five tips for mixing wood furniture with white.
Incorporate different textures
By incorporating woods with different textures, you can mix various wood tones while still keeping the design fresh. For example, if you have smooth hardwood floors, try adding distressed wood furniture into your design.
Stick to common undertones
Matching wood finishes can be a little heavy in a room, even with white walls. Look for wood furniture pieces that complement each other but don't match. If the undertones in your floors are warm, look for wood furniture with warm undertones.
Contrast dark with light
White walls look great with just about any color of wood furniture. But they look really great when the wood furniture is dark enough to create a stark contrast. Creating contrast is also a great way to mix different wood tones. If your floors are light, dark wood furniture will stand out and vice versa.
Mix it up.
Mixing wood furniture and white is restricted to white walls. Try mixing a white couch with a wood panel accent wall or a wood coffee table with white end tables. Mixing white and wood tones is a great way to combine natural and modern decor without looking mismatched.
Don't stress
When it comes to mixing wood furniture with white, you really can't go wrong. White is a blank canvas that you can really pair with anything. Just be cautious when mixing different wood tones, and you should have no problem creating a room that looks as cohesive as it does beautifully.
Best furniture for grey walls
Grey has replaced white as the "it" color for walls in any room. And just like white, grey is a versatile color that goes with just about anything. When it comes to the best furniture for gray walls, you really can't go wrong, but here are a few of our favorite grey paint and furniture combinations.
Grey Walls + Grey FurnitureYou might think pairing grey walls with grey furniture would be too much, but the living room above proves that theory wrong. Grey walls in a medium tone pair perfectly with a light gray sofa, dark gray rug, and dark grey furniture. Even the accent chairs incorporate light stripes of grey. The trick here is mixing greys and mixing patterns. There isn't a single shade of grey or pattern that overwhelms the room, which keeps it from looking too dark.
Grey Walls + White and Black Furniture
Combining dark grey (almost black) walls with white trim creates a striking contrast echoed in the furniture in this dining room. A white and grey patterned rug breaks up the repetitive color scheme, and the white fabric on the chairs contrasts the black table and chair legs to keep the room from looking too dark. Add a colorful centerpiece, and you've got an elegant yet modern dining room.
Grey Walls + Wood Furniture
Light grey textured walls look great with medium-tone wood furniture and metal accents. It's industrial meets traditional in the best way possible. When pairing light grey and wood, mix all the textures you want. Just make sure to keep the other accents, such as pillows, blankets, side tables, and light fixtures, light in color.
We are the color experts.
So how will you create a color scheme for your house's design? There are no absolute rules, of course. If there were, everyone’s living room color ideas would be the same! It’s best to go with what appeals to you the most. See one of our design consultants for friendly suggestions for your home color palette or find elements that make your home come alive.
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Colors of furniture, photos with names, list of shades with descriptions
Quite recently, quality, reliability, practicality of the frame were considered the main criteria for choosing furniture, today the design and shades of the facade have been added to the main characteristics. A variety of furniture colors, photos with names are presented below, they are necessary to create a general interior concept. In addition, with the help of various shades of the facade, you can correct the existing shortcomings of the room.
Content
- Furniture Colors
- Dark
- Light
- 9000 interior items. For example, products made of veneered or painted MDF have many different colors and shades. Color solutions for upholstered or cabinet furniture made from natural solid wood are more limited and, as a rule, depend on the texture of the wood. nine0003 Colors of furniture with names
- walnut - traditional dark brown;
- wenge - blue-black or chocolate color; nine0008
- mahogany - spectacular maroon decor;
- Ebony - African Ebony has a unique black tone.
- Karelian birch - a delicate yellowish tone with a pattern of knots;
- light ash - cream background with an interesting smooth structure;
- pine - a golden tone, characterized by saturation;
- beech light - beige tone with a bright pinkish tint.
- cherry - has a rich reddish tone;
- alder - the texture has interesting reddish and reddish hues;
- oak - oak wood is easy to identify by its beautiful texture pattern.
- gray walls are in harmony with red, orange, blue or brown furniture;
- the pink background of the walls is successfully accentuated by decor elements painted in deep blue, gray, light blue or white;
- Walls in green go well with furniture in yellow, bluish, orange and greyish shades.
How to choose the color of furniture for a small small apartment or a spacious country mansion? The choice of color is influenced by the overall design, dimensions, purpose of the living space. To furnish a modern living room, decorators advise using deep saturated colors, lighter shades are more suitable for a bedroom, and it is recommended to use the texture of precious wood in the hallway.
It should be noted that the color scheme may vary slightly for different manufacturers, but despite this, the whole variety of shades can be conditionally divided into groups. Each category has the name of the tree species to which it corresponds. Below are the most popular colors of furniture photos with names will help you not to be mistaken with the choice, to choose the right color. nine0003
Dark
Deep dark shades of the facade are often used to create aristocratic classic interiors. Exquisite design allows you to create an atmosphere of luxury and splendor in the interior, to bring notes of conservatism and respectability.
Dark shades include:
So that the atmosphere does not look dull and dull, it is necessary to choose the right shades of decorative wall, floor and ceiling coverings.
For furniture painted in black, taupe, chocolate or traditional brown, a neutral background is best to create a calm, homely atmosphere. If interior elements with a mahogany texture are used to decorate a living space, it is recommended to choose wallpaper for walls of a similar shade, but a few tones lighter. The design with a dark color palette is ideal for spacious, well-lit living rooms, dining rooms, or foyers. nine0003 Dark tones of wood
Light tones
Particularly popular are pieces of cabinet furniture with light tones of the facade. Properly selected colors allow you to create the effect of maximum freedom and spaciousness in a small room. Light rocks of the natural massif are used to create interior doors, decorative wooden partitions. The snow-white surfaces of the facade harmoniously fit into any modern interior.
Decorated with gold or bronze floral ornaments, the set will become a real decoration of the luxurious imperial style. Aged Provence-style furniture blends seamlessly with blue, green wall coverings and is suitable for arranging a country mansion, a small country house. nine0003
The most famous light shades are:
Fashionable contemporary interiors come in a wide variety of light facades: maple, pear, apple or acacia. Choosing furniture of a certain warm decor for arranging small shaded rooms, you can fill them with light and add some sunny notes to the overall interior. nine0003 Light beech Karelian birch Pine Light ash
Intermediate
Neutral solid colors will help create delicate, pastel compositions, these include the texture of certain types of wood:
Moderately refined, not attracting attention pieces of cabinet furniture give any interior style a special chic and aristocracy. Multi-colored furniture is used to decorate rooms in the style of pop art, shabby chic, Provence or neoclassicism. nine0003
The location of the texture pattern on the surface of the facade allows you to create the desired visual effect that changes the real perception of the size of the room.
How to choose the color of furniture for rooms with non-standard dimensions? To decorate narrow elongated corridors with high ceilings, designers advise using furniture that has an intermediate facade texture with a horizontal pattern.
Chipboard colors Possible laminated chipboard colorsImitation
Manufacturers offer the most daring and non-standard furniture collections with original facade surfaces imitating the texture of precious wood, leather or marble. The successful combination of furniture colors allows you to create unique modern or classic interiors. To create a harmonious and holistic space, it is necessary that the pieces of furniture are combined not only with each other, but also with the decorative finishes of the walls, floor or ceiling. nine0003
A special table has been developed for combining furniture colors with wall decor:
Color matching is the most important task, it must be solved at the initial stages of repair. nine0025 It is necessary to take into account the combination of individual pieces of cabinet furniture with each other and with finishing, to foresee the effect of color on the perception of the room and the emotional state of a person.
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