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Good paint colors for living room


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.

11 Best White Paint Colors 2022, According to Interior Designers

imaginimaGetty Images

Contrary to popular belief, there are as many shades of white as there are blue, red, and any other hue on the color wheel. Therefore, this can make finding the perfect white paint colors tricky. Overall, there are several factors to consider including undertones, brightness, and, of course, the room that’s about to undergo a makeover. Lucky for you, we’ve tapped several industry experts for foolproof advice.

Despite the overwhelming possibilities, white is hands down a solid paint color because it goes with everything and can easily set the mood of a space. Additionally, white-painted rooms tend to feel brighter and bigger (two much-welcomed benefits in design).

"I agree that white is the hardest color for most people to pick because there are so many options," Nicole Gibbons, interior designer and Clare paint founder, tells House Beautiful. However, this means versatility and she goes on to reveal all the best places to incorporate the shade. "In a north-facing room, you’ll want a warm white to balance out the cold light," Gibbons adds. "In a south-facing room, cooler whites counteract the yellowness of the bright sunshine."

Scroll on and you'll see all the points above in action alongside specific white paint colors that should be on your radar. A number of other interior designers and industry experts from Farrow & Ball to Benjamin Moore also weigh in on best-selling paints. Keep reading and consider this your ultimate guide to choosing the perfect paint for you.

Benjamin Moore

Chantilly Lace

David A. Land

$99 AT BENJAMIN MOORE

Benjamin Moore

Super White

Benjamin Moore

$99 AT BENJAMIN MOORE

Benjamin Moore

Paper White

PETER MURDOCK

$99 AT BENJAMIN MOORE

Benjamin Moore

Frostine

JAMES MERRELL

$99 AT BENJAMIN MOORE

Benjamin Moore

Pale Oak

NICOLE FRANZEN

$99 AT BENJAMIN MOORE

Benjamin Moore

Cloud Cover

MAX KIM BEE

$99 AT BENJAMIN MOORE

Benjamin Moore

Decorator's White

JOSHUA MCHUGH

$99 AT BENJAMIN MOORE

Benjamin Moore

Simply White

REBECCA MCALPIN

$99 AT BENJAMIN MOORE

Sherwin-Williams

Pure White

SHAYNA FONTANA

$45 AT SHERWIN-WILLIAMS

Farrow & Ball

All White

WINNIE AU

$130 AT FARROW & BALL

Benjamin Moore

Swiss Coffee

MATHEW MILLMAN

$99 AT BENJAMIN MOORE

What is the most popular white paint color?

What's considered on-trend changes all the time, but as of right now, the most popular white paint color is the Sherwin-Williams Pure White.

What are the different shades of white paint?

There are way too many white paint colors to count. To make things easier on yourself, just know that they can all be organized into five categories: warm, cool, bright, soft, and true. Keep this in mind when making your selection!

Why trust us?

You can count on all this information here because we went out and spoke to several industry experts. Furthermore, as design editors, we understand the versatility of white paint colors and laid out exactly what you should look for when narrowing down your specific shade.

Emma Bazilian Senior Features Editor Emma Bazilian is a writer and editor covering interior design, market trends and culture.

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

How to choose paint for the bedroom and living room?

Recently, many people are abandoning wallpaper in favor of painting bedrooms and living rooms. At first glance, this method of finishing seems simple, but in fact, those who want to paint a wall with paint can face a lot of difficulties. We will tell you about what you need to know when choosing paint for the bedroom and living room in this article.

Benefits of painting the bedroom and living room

The use of paint as the primary finish has several advantages.

Of course, the painted variant also has disadvantages. These include the difficulty of preparing the foundation. The wall and ceiling must be leveled, all cracks covered and flaws removed - only in this case the surface will look attractive. Another important point is the technique of applying the paint itself. nine0003

What to choose?

When painting the living room and bedroom, the balance of colors and the style of the entire interior play a significant role, in addition, you should pay attention to the paint itself. Depending on the composition of the paint are divided into types. It is difficult for an unprepared buyer to choose the right tool from all this variety.

The most popular type of paint for bedrooms
and living rooms are water-based

If we simply disassemble the composition of all paints, then they have two main components. They are pigment and solvent. The pigment determines the color of the ink composition. The solvent gives a liquid consistency, water, oils and alcohols can be used as a solvent. After painting, these substances evaporate and the composition dries.


For interiors, water-based (water-dispersion) paints are the most popular. In them, the role of the solvent is played by water, so the drying is fast enough, and the process itself does not lead to the release of various harmful substances into the environment. nine0003

Let's take a closer look at the main types of paints that can be used in the living room or bedroom.

The advantage of acrylic paint is that it hardly changes color after drying

Alkyd compounds are used for painting
metal elements to protect them from corrosion Alkyd paints are inferior to acrylic paints in terms of service life. With intense exposure to ultraviolet radiation, the surface may lose its original color, so it is better not to use alkyd compositions in sunny living rooms. Enamels are well suited for painting metal elements, they provide them with reliable protection against corrosion.

Please note that not all colors are equally well combined with each other. For example, it is not recommended to mix layers of alkyd and acrylic compounds. Due to the difference in chemical components, blisters and other defects may appear in these places. At the same time, if you cannot do without such an overlay, you need to carefully clean the base. nine0043

  • Oil paints - compositions in which various artificial oils (linseed oil, drying oil or oxol) are used as a solvent, and not water. For this reason, the surface painted with oil paint dries for a very long time. At the same time, an unpleasant odor will be present in the room for a long time. The advantage of such coatings is high wear resistance. Due to this property, oil paints were previously used for painting floors. At the same time, the coating of the hardened oil paint has poor vapor permeability. This can lead to delamination, condensation and flaking of the paint, which can be observed in various establishments where oil paints are still used to paint doors and jambs. nine0016
For interior work, oils are rarely used, as there are many more practical alternatives. When working indoors, it is important to ensure good ventilation.
  • Silicone paints are based on silicone emulsion. They have water repellent properties. Good vapor permeability protects against blisters and peeling of the finish coat. In most cases, silicone paints are used for facade work, but in living rooms they can also be used to paint individual elements that may be exposed to moisture. nine0016

Color selection for the bedroom and living room

When the paint is selected, you can proceed to the direct selection of colors. We recommend that you read the articles on our website: "Choosing paint for different interior styles", "Tips for choosing colors". In this section, we will give simple questions to answer when choosing a color.

The choice of color is not an easy task and must be approached responsibly

What mood do you want to create in the room? One of the main questions to be answered. The bedroom is a place of relaxation, so active colors there will be distracting and tiring. More options are possible in the living room. Here the choice depends on how the owners like to spend their free time. If these are noisy parties, then bright warm colors will be appropriate, pastel colors are more suitable for a measured rest. nine0003

The green color scheme is relaxing and soothing, it will be a good choice for the living room
, this color will remind you of nature

Which side do the windows face? If the room faces north, then it is not recommended to use dark cold colors, since there will be a shortage of light anyway. On the south side, on hot summer days, relaxing blue or blue will make the living room or bedroom more comfortable.

If it's hard to find "your" color, it's best to stop
on neutral shades of beige or gray

It is not recommended to paint all the walls in one color at once. It must be understood that under different lighting conditions, the color has new shades, while on the walls of the living room or bedroom, the color that seemed ideal in the store may no longer seem so suitable.


What size is the room? For small rooms, it is better to choose light shades or white, as these colors will visually enlarge the space. Warm colors in a small living room will create a soothing cozy atmosphere. Dark blue color, on the contrary, will reduce the space. There are exceptions to all the rules; for the style of an English living room, you can use a noble dark brown color. The lack of a lot of light only emphasizes this interior. nine0003

Samplers can be used to experiment with color. Paints can be applied to individual sections of the wall. You can also take small square pieces of drywall. By painting them in different colors, you can see how the painting will look in different lighting conditions.

Are there any stylistic preferences? Interior style has a significant impact on colors. Some areas gravitate towards monochrome painting, in others a combination of colors is welcome. For example, one paint with a neutral tint is applied to three walls, and the fourth wall is painted in a bright color. nine0003

An example of a combination of several colors in the living room

If there are children in the family, it would be useful to involve them in the choice of colors for the living room. Small children love to draw on the walls, so a separate place can be painted with slate paint, on which the child can safely let his creativity unfold. Read more about the choice of paint for the nursery in the article "Choosing paint for the children's room. "

Conclusion

Painting allows you to give the interior of the living room or bedroom a neat and effective appearance. In this case, we must not forget about the preparation of the base for painting. For finishing the interior, you should choose water-based paints, for walls, acrylic and latex paints are the best options, for the ceiling, you can use PVA-based paints. Places exposed to moisture can be coated with silicone paints. nine0003

How to choose paint for walls in an apartment: which one will stick better

When choosing paint for walls in an apartment, it is important to pay attention not only to the color, but, first of all, to the composition, as well as performance. Let's deal with each parameter in more detail.

All about apartment wall paint

Types of paintwork

  • Water soluble
  • Acrylic
  • Latex
  • Silicone

Important material characteristics

Multi-room paint

  • Kitchen and bathroom
  • For bedroom and living room
  • For children

Invoices

What else to consider

It is impossible to say unequivocally which wall paint is better, because there is no single rating. The choice depends on the budget and the type of room to be painted.

All materials can be divided into three groups: outdoor, indoor and universal, which can be used in both cases. It is logical that two of the three types are suitable for interior repairs: specialized colors and universal ones. Why you should not use materials intended for the street? nine0003

The fact is that the coating for facade work may contain toxic antiseptics, hardeners - substances that cause irritation and even allergic reactions in a closed, unventilated space. Only garage walls are suitable for painting in this way.

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Paints and varnishes intended for interior work in a house or apartment are of two types: based on water and other solvents. nine0003

Water soluble

They are also called water dispersion, water emulsion - the difference is in the constituent components. They are popular because of their price and practicality: they dry quickly, are well tinted, do not smell, and fit perfectly on almost any surface.

At the same time, the cheapest, but not stable emulsion is based on PVA. It gets dirty easily and is exposed to moisture. The walls are not covered with it, the maximum is the ceiling in a room with a non-aggressive environment, for example, in the living room or in the bedroom. nine0003

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Acrylic

This paint contains aqueous dispersions of acrylic resins. After application, they form a thin protective film that is resistant to moisture and mechanical stress. This coating is suitable even for rooms with high humidity.

By the way, acrylic-based water-dispersion fits well on both wooden and concrete surfaces. The only “but”: if there are small irregularities, it is first recommended to putty, for more serious defects, you first need to properly plaster. nine0003

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Acrylic is most commonly sold in stores as a white base. To get the desired shade, you need to add color - a color pigment. You can even do this at home on your own. So that the result does not disappoint you, there is no problem of incompatible components, take the color paste of the same company as the base.

Latex

These are aqueous emulsions based on latex copolymers to which rubber has been added. Which paint is better for the walls in the apartment: acrylic or latex? Depends on goals. The latter are even more durable, water resistant, but also more expensive. nine0003

Latex emulsion is often used to decorate rooms with high humidity. In addition, it is recommended to apply it on wallpaper for painting and use it to create decor from plaster, for example, imitation of a brick wall. A thin layer, which is formed after application, retains the texture of the surface, while additionally protecting it from water and moisture.

Like acrylics, latex coatings are mixed with color to achieve the desired shade.

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nine0208 Silicone

This silicone resin emulsion is one of the new products on the construction market. It is suitable not only for finishing walls inside, but also for decorating the facade of a building, it has good resistance to mechanical damage, to ultraviolet radiation, heat resistance and antiseptic properties. The only significant disadvantage is its high price.

However, such emulsions are rare in pure form. Most manufacturers offer acrylic-silicone mixtures. nine0003

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  • Hiding power - the ability to paint over the color of the surface. The higher this indicator, the fewer layers are needed to create a uniform tone. The hiding power of cheap colors is lower, this should be taken into account when buying, you will need more cans.
  • Vapor permeability - the ability to "breathe". This indicator is important for rooms with high humidity. Vapor-permeable paints conduct moisture and protect against mold and mildew. nine0016
  • Resistance to abrasion, that is, mechanical damage, is an indicator of durability. It is determined in the laboratory, simulating the washing procedure.

How to choose paint for walls in the kitchen and bathroom

As you know, the most aggressive environment in the apartment is in the kitchen. There is high humidity and temperature, splashes of water and grease. Not every coating will withstand this. Appropriate materials are needed: waterproof, vapor-permeable, with good abrasion performance. Such requests are met by latex and silicone emulsions. nine0003

The same goes for the bathrooms, where humidity is combined with steam and heat.

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For bedroom and living room

A quieter environment in the bedroom and living room does not require hardwearing or waterproofing. Acrylic paint will help to avoid financial costs. Choose products that have a wet cleaning mark on their packaging so that you can periodically wipe down the surface. nine0003

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Decorating a nursery

The most important thing here is safety. When choosing, you need to pay attention to the mark on the environmental friendliness of the material and its hypoallergenicity. Most manufacturers offer special products for children.

Is a small child trying to paint a room? Choose a color that can be washed, resistant to mechanical stress. For example, acrylic emulsion.

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Often it is in the nursery that you want to create an accent: a fabulous pattern or a textured finish. And you can even do it yourself. And with an older child, the lesson can turn into an exciting game. What colors to paint on the wall? The best option is acrylic. The advantages are obvious: a palette of colors, no smell and ease of application.

  • Matte, not shiny. Ideally hides surface imperfections. Suitable for low traffic areas such as bedrooms. The deep matte emulsion is also gaining popularity, it is especially relevant in the interior in a modern style. nine0016
  • Semi-matt has a subtle sheen. It has slightly higher indicators of wear resistance and durability, such surfaces can often be washed. Suitable for covering the hallway, corridor.
  • Semi-gloss is designed to decorate a nursery, kitchen, bathroom - rooms that will have to be washed frequently. She has good indicators of strength, resistance to dirt and wear.
  • Glossy gives a sheen almost like glass. It is the most wear resistant paint. But working with it is difficult: the surface must be perfect, because gloss can emphasize even the smallest roughness and unevenness. By the way, in this way you can arrange an accent wall. nine0016

The right choice will help to reduce material consumption: be sure to level the surface, use a primer and a medium pile roller.

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If you can't decide on a color for your bedroom, kitchen or living room, try making an inspiration board. Get a folder on your computer or print out your favorite interior options. When enough has accumulated, see what they have in common? What color scheme, style? nine0003

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Designers unanimously urge not to be afraid of bright colors. However, let's be honest: the majority still prefers a neutral base. Want to try out the brighter options? Start with an accent or small rooms. By the way, most likely a successful experiment will be a bathroom. A neutral white bathroom and sink will stand up to any color.

It is also desirable to choose harmonious colors in adjoining rooms. Especially if they are visible in the aisle. So the feeling of a sharp transition will not be created, in addition, the space will appear visually larger. nine0003

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Alas, not all colors look equally good in the store catalog and in reality at home. To see how the selected sample will behave, try painting a tester with it - a drywall square with a side of at least 50 cm.

Learn more