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Interior wall colors ideas


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.

40 Best Bedroom Colors 2022

1

Red Lacquer

FRITZ VON DERSCHULENBURG

High-energy yet calming, bold yet timeless, this jaw-dropping bedroom designed by Brian J. McCarthy is serious goals. For a similar effect, stick to a tight two-color story with the walls in a show-stopping super high gloss paint and your ceiling in a flat white paint. "This finish feels fresh for a guest room, and the surprising pop of color is both warm and chic," he says.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Blazer, $110

2

Bright Red Accents

ALISON GOOTEE

Or, reverse the look and opt for bright white walls and bold red bedding, artwork, and floors. The high-impact combo in this bedroom by Anthony Baratta is all the convincing we need.

BUY NOW Backdrop Negroni, $45

3

Bubble Gum Pink

Anna Spiro Design

Too outrageous? No such thing. Bright bubblegum pink is a fearless choice. In this bedroom by Anna Spiro, it asserts a youthful spirit to balance out the traditional pieces, like the dresser and tight floral patterns.

BUY NOW Benjamin Moore Deep Carnation, $47

4

Blush Pink

Francesco Lagnese

If this whimsical bedroom doesn't make you blush, we don't know what will. "Exuberantly feminine, yet resolutely chic" was designer Jonathan Berger's motto for decorating this Brooklyn townhouse. Berger found the suzani on eBay, while and the curvy Venetian-inspired headboard is covered in Nouvelle Orleans, a cut velvet from Clarence House that resembles ironwork but, of course, is much softer to the touch. The antique Napoleon III rope ottoman covered in an Aubusson tapestry adds a French country chic feel to seal the deal.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Pink Ground, $110

5

Coral

Amy Neunsinger

Nothing quite radiates like joy like coral (as far as paint colors are concerned, at least). In this bedroom by Nicky Kehoe, it picks up the bright tones featured in the gallery wall while the trimming, which is a darker gray color, reflects the cooler neutrals in the bedding and accents. Under direct light, it appears brighter, while it mimics the more muted shade of terra cotta in dimmer or less direct light.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Red Earth, $110

6

Peach

Anna Malmberg

In this Scandinavian studio, peachy blush walls contrast with with the high-impact black and white wall art. But that softness is reflected again in the jute rug and oat-hued linen bedding. Blush pink also pairs nicely with steel blue tones and even bright red for an unexpected contrast.

BUY NOW Behr Premium Plus Serene Peach, $28

7

Cream

Matthew Millman

Who says beige and cream are boring? Dependable, versatile, warm, and subtle, these neutrals are some of the best paint colors for a bedroom. A super light taupe shade will contrast just enough with crisp bright interiors while also injecting some warmth into the space. It also brings to mind long walks on a sandy beach. Add pops of cheerful colors with decor and throw pillows or keep it classic, as designer Richard Beard did here.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Dimity, $110

8

Caramel

Danielle Colding Design

Take a cue from this bedroom designed by Danielle Colding and match your upholstered headboard to the walls. Here, the studded boarder adds a touch of intrigue but blends right into the beige color behind it for a timeless look.

BUY NOW Benjamin Moore Gingerbread Man, $43

9

Terracotta

Paul Raeside

A Canadian townhouse's guest bedroom exudes warmth with terracotta walls. A large, statement piece of art helps break up the dark color. Though brown isn't exactly the most obvious paint color when decorating a bedroom, this warm nook makes a strong case for it. The fact that it's unexpected makes it perfect for anyone who likes to experiment with color but doesn't love bright neons and playful pastels.

BUY NOW PPG Timeless Deep Russet, $39

10

Chocolate Brown

Amelia Stanwix

With slightly less of the red clay undertone than the brown paint in the previous room, this color is more calming than it is energizing. Designer Fiona Lynch felt it was perfect for a bedroom. She used Rich Biscuit by Dulux and then mixed in some offbeat accents for an eclectic elegance.

BUY NOW Dulux Rich Biscuit Sample, $6

11

Ochre and Teal

SIMON WATSON

Designer Peter Dunham created a custom curtain wall and installed bedside sconces to give this small bedroom a regal feel. The mustard accent wall mirrors the upholstered headboard and warms up the room.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball India Yellow, $110

12

Marigold

Joshua McHugh

This bedroom proves just how beautiful marigold can look with navy blue and olive green. This sunny shade also works nicely when you incorporate accent pieces with metallic finishes for a glamorous aesthetic. Think bronze pendant lights and stools with interesting frames. These finishes accentuate yellow's shining personality.

BUY NOW Portola Paints & Glazes Roma, $10

13

Lemon Yellow

STEPHEN KENT JOHNSON

It's always a good idea to consult the color wheel at every step of the decorating process. Knowing which colors complement one another will make everything easier, from ideating to shopping, and, of course, living within the final result. A good example of a job well done? This gray and yellow bedroom designed by Juan Carretero. There's no doubt that yellow represents cheer, so if you want to spread warmth and energy, this is the color for you. You'll love how the bright striped ceiling brings in a more playful element to the more traditional guest room.

BUY NOW Behr Premium Plus Ultra Bicycle Yellow, $36

14

Butter Yellow

James Merrell

Designed by Kathryn M. Ireland, these white-painted wicker twin beds are topped with mosquito net canopies for an ethereal touch. The rose-printed canopy toppers offer a slight contrast in pattern but keep the color story consistent, and the yellow walls anchor the entire space.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Farrow's Cream, $110

15

Green and Gold

Roland Bello

Instead of paint, consider lush green upholstery and illustrious wallpaper. Miles Redd makes a strong case for the design combo in this breathtaking and colorful bedroom. De Gournay's hand-painted silk Sans Souci wallcovering lays the foundation for a bright green paradise to come alive.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Verdigris Green, $110

16

Sage Green

2LG Studio

Instead of painting your walls, add a statement ceiling in the bedroom, as the design duo at 2LG Studio did here. It draws the eye up and keeps things interesting. This shade of sage green is also a lovely color that's at once grounding, calming, and fun.

BUY NOW Behr Marquee Fern Leaf, $46

17

Light Gray-Green

Shade Degges

"I wanted to create a bedroom full of personality," designer Jae Joo says of the main bedroom in this Boston Rowhouse. Though classic and understated, the room brims with character thanks to a shrunken photo gallery, curved furniture, and colorful accents. The light gray walls look blue in some lighting and green in others; either way, they're a welcome departure from the go-to white canvas most bedrooms feature.

BUY NOW Backdrop Lawn Party, $45

18

Khaki Green

Heidi Caillier Design

In this cabin designed by Heidi Caillier, the guest bedroom is painted a soothing, nature-inspired shade of green. It's fitting for the environment, and speaks to all the other accent colors used throughout the space for a nice cohesive whole.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Calke Green, $110

19

Deep Earthy Green

Gieves Anderson

David Frazier took a moody and earthy approach in his New York City apartment bedroom. While the color (Studio Green from Farrow & Ball) is worth praising, it's also the texture-rich finish that elevates the walls. "We wanted to showcase the movement in the plaster, so we had the walls painted in a satin finish it gives a certain depth that we wouldn’t have been able to achieve with a flat paint.”

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Studio Green, $115

20

Matte Marine

Stephen Kent Johnson

A matte version of that moody marine hue is also a great option and creates a softer atmosphere. Studio Shamshiri enveloped the entire room in the color, including the ceiling.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Stiffkey Blue, $115

21

Deep Navy

STEPHEN KENT JOHNSON

Paint your walls a nice deep shade of navy and then punctuate the depth with crisp white accents and vibrant bedding for a balanced bedroom. In this space designed by Mally Skok, the playful patterns contrast nicely with the deep blue walls, giving the room a touch of levity.

BUY NOW Valspar Salty Dog, $44

22

Steel Blue

Read McKendree

In a room by Elizabeth Cooper, this steel blue gray paint color brings a posh sensibility to the more whimsical floral details for a nice balance. The color will flatter a variety of styles and designs as bedding and decor are swapped out over the years, too. she used Farrow & Ball's Hauge Blue.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Hague Blue, $115

23

Cobalt Blue

PHOTO: Bjorn Wallander; DESIGN: Alisa Bloom

High gloss paints are a surefire way to make a bold statement. In this bedroom designed by decorator Alisa Bloom, the rich, liquidy sheen of the finish bounces light around a dark room. She used Fine Paints of Europe’s Delft Blue 4003 in Hollandlac Brilliant to illuminate the entire bedroom.

BUY NOW Fine Paints of Europe Hollandlac Brilliant, $45

24

Crisp Light Blue

Eric Piasecki

Here's definitive proof that primary colors go together nicely. This bedroom designed by Robin Henry is a breath of fresh air, thanks to the invigorating blue paint—the varying shades of blue throughout the room make it look like it's glowing.

BUY NOW Benjamin Moore Crisp Morning Air, $50

25

Mint Green

Trevor Tondro

Paired with a slightly more pistachio-hued upholstered headboard and a retro-style crocheted coverlet, this bedroom designed by J. P. Horton belongs in the summer getaway home of our dreams. The traditional landscape painting and warm wood side chair ground the space and work beautifully with the mint green paint.

BUY NOW Behr Premium Plus Ultra Soft Mint, $35

26

Sky Blue

Trevor Tondro

Though this shade of blue definitely makes a statement, it doesn't overpower the space nor overwhelm the eye—that's because it's consistent. Since this bedroom is basically a cocoon of light blue, there's a strong sense of cohesion and personality. So if you have a favorite color, and don't see it changing any time soon, why not let it be theme of your bedroom?

BUY NOW Behr Marquee Skylark, $58

27

Baby Gray Blue

Mikael Axelsson for Fantastic Frank

A soothing soft blue is a key ingredient for a peaceful bedroom. It adds an ethereal, dreamy quality to every space but also offers a ton of versatility, making it particularly well-suited for the bedroom. The linen bedding and makeshift side table accent chair contribute to that easy, undone elegance.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Lulworth Blue, $110

28

Crisp White

Tamsin Johnson Interiors

This bedroom is a showstopper, but it's also simple and timeless. And though some may say white is the absence of all colors, we'd argue this one is making quite a statement. In fact, sometimes neutral hues give the space a more timeless and open feel while also allowing other design highlights to stand out more. This bedroom by Tamsin Johnson marries classic architecture with contemporary style and the walls are painted in a pure, cool shade of white that really energizes the entire space.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball All White, $110

29

Greige

Fantastic Frank

If you think crisp all-white interiors look too stark but still like the look and feel of light neutrals, opt for warm oat-y creams or layers of soft, smoky grays. The results are edgy and industrial yet gentle and understated.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Skimming Stone, $110

30

Light Lilac

Annie Schlechter

This lavender oasis designed by Cathy Chapman is proof that you can decorate with color while still being understated. Though it's bursting with shades of lavender, this little nook also exudes a calm, serene energy. The key is to stick to a color story of muted pastels. In this case, the designer worked within a purple spectrum while keeping things interesting with contrasting textures, shapes, and finishes.

BUY NOW Farrow & Wall Great White, $110

31

Deep Beige

WERNER STRAUBE

To warm up a bright bedroom without painting all the surfaces something other than classic white, cover one wall in a printed covering and another in a warm, neutral color. In this versatile bedroom designed by Corey Damen Jenkins, the far wall is painted in a light sandy beige hue, marrying the cooler blues, whites, and grays with the warmer wood and cream tones as well as the brass accents.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Mouse's Back, $110

32

Dusty Purple

Kingston Lafferty Design

Though purple and black don't seem like the most obvious pair for a grownup, calming bedroom, they actually work together brilliantly here. Kingston Lafferty Design accentuated the purple details in the shelf and bedding with a dusty, gray purple tone and then played up the cooler undertones with sharper black metal accents.

BUY NOW Benjamin Moore Raspberry Ice, $47

33

Royal Purple

Bjorn Wallander

Window treatments will make a bedroom more comfortable for lazy morning sleep-ins, but if your room is super bright, a deep shade of royal purple on an accent wall like Krsnaa Mehta did here will help absorb light while still adding vibrant personality.

BUY NOW Benjamin Moore Mystical Grape, $43

34

Violet

Courtesy of Nicole Franzen

If you want to keep color from overpowering your space or you simply want to give your room a little more shape, color blocking is your solution. There are plenty of ways to play with this design trend, from more subtle and simple toning treatments to full on murals. This bedroom designed by GRT Architects is somewhere in between. If you like what you see, try painting your paneling and leaving the walls light. Then opt for a low-to-the-ground bed to show it off even more.

BUY NOW Behr Premium Plus Purple Potion, $33

35

Light Pink and Lavender

Ngoc Minh Ngo

A sweet lavender hallway frames the pink floral bedroom beyond for a sweet foundation while the black and white floors, dark mahogany table, and red bedding polish and ground the space by decorator David Kaihoi.

36

Deep, Dark Purple

Thijs de Leeuw/Space Content/Living Inside

For a thoroughly special bedroom paint color, look no further than this bedroom designed by Atelier ND, where the walls are painted in Pontefract by Paint & Paper Library. The unique hue defies definition (but if we had to try, we'd say it's a purplish-reddish black)—which is one of the many reasons the design team chose it. The pendants were sourced from an old church and a Vispring bed is upholstered in pink Pierre Frey mohair.

BUY NOW Paint & Paper Library Pontefract $42

37

Gray

Mali Azima

The blue ombre curtains embolden the romantic ceiling paint and emphasize the purple undertones of the gray base color in this bedroom designed by Janie Molster.

BUY NOW Bejanmin Moore Adagio, $50

38

Light Gray

Stephen Karlisch

An ultra pale shade of gray flatters the green and indigo tones in this bedroom designed by Jean Liu. Opt for a similar shade if you're looking for a subtle neutral that'll be a little less jarring on the eyes than a bright white.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Dimpse, $110

39

Grayscale

Tim Street-Porter

And for our final stop on this tour of bedroom colors, we're presenting you with a whole new world of options: Wallpaper. This bedroom isn't just a living space, it's a work of art. Our eyes are immediately drawn to the hypnotizing black painted stripes that trace the architectural DNA of the house itself, beautifully modernizing the bones of the Victorian home decorated by Martyn Lawrence Bullard. The moody, lush throw pillow and end blanket add just a splash of color, which is really all you need in a space like this.

BUY NOW Graham & Brown Indian Ink Striped Wallpaper, $98

40

Soft Black

Farrow & Ball

While we often think of bright whites and crisp, light hues when trying to open up a smaller space, there's also a strong case for going darker. In fact, inkier tones are known to amplify smaller spaces. Not to mention, it sets the right mood in the bedroom. The soft black paint color in this bedroom makes it feel special and intimate in ways you'd never be able to achieve with a lighter hue.

BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Railings, $110

Hadley Mendelsohn Senior Editor Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House.

Colors in the interior: how to choose

One of the first and far from the easiest steps in design: we share ways that will help you choose colors for the interior.

The choice of colors for the interior is one of the main issues that arise at the very beginning of the creation of a design project. Even a clear understanding of what color you want to see in each room is clearly not enough: you need to choose a shade, similar colors, accents and harmoniously combine them. In this article, we will try to help you with a choice that you will not regret after the repair.

Contents:

The color scheme in the interior - what dictates the style?

Style and color go hand in hand in our passions: often we ourselves do not even know what we choose in the first place. However, if you have a precise style, this can help you a lot with your color scheme:

Read in detail about the chosen style and study the photos of the interiors - maybe there is a ready-made solution. Do not forget that with good taste you can mix elements of different styles, creating interesting mixes: the choice of color in this case can also be a field for experimentation.

If choosing a style is difficult, read: "How to choose an interior style for a future apartment."

Desired mood and color preferences

Each of us has colors that we prefer more. It is a pity, but not all of them are suitable for the basis of the interior. For example, if you love purple, you should not make purple walls: you will quickly get tired, and the color will begin to psychologically press. You can always stop at light walls and a purple chair or carpet.

It's no secret that psychologists advise choosing calm, light and cold shades for the bedroom, and warm colors for the kitchen that awaken the appetite. There is no need to memorize these rules: think about what kind of atmosphere you would like to create in the room, and the basis of the color scheme will come by itself, on associations. Designer and decorator Olga Rozet calls this an intuitive approach. From the story of her lecture, you will learn a lot of useful things: "Color in the interior: from a scientific approach to an intuitive one."

Choosing the basis

The color basis in the interior is usually set by the largest objects: floor, walls, ceiling, large furniture. But the main color may not be one; it will be even better if you take several close shades, for example, a little darker and lighter than the selected one.

Very often in the interior the floor will be wooden or imitate wood, as well as cabinets, tables, shelving, so the tone of the wood or the black/white color of the furniture can set the color balance of the entire interior. If you are not going to paint furniture, take designer furniture or make it to order, look at what shades are available from the manufacturers available to you that fit into your budget and taste.

Related:
Ultra violet: the "new black" in the interior

Sometimes furniture can also act as a constraint, especially if you want to keep some of the old when renovating: the task of fitting these shades into the new desired palette can be difficult.

Choosing an accent

Your favorite or mood-setting color can be an accent, not necessarily bright and iridescent, but always contrasting to the base one. There can also be several accents: either close in scale to each other, or, conversely, of different colors. Accent colors should be harmoniously combined not only with each other, but also with the base. The number of such objects that stand out should be controlled by your sense of proportion and taste.

Balancing the gamut

How to achieve harmony between colors? This is even more difficult than choosing a gamma. Designers use various tools for this purpose, such as a color palette. About what a palette is and how to create one yourself, we just wrote: "Interior color schemes: we create and use." Ready-made color combinations can be found on the Internet.

The second option is to create a collage: it will help you figure out the percentage of colors in your interior. In any graphic editor, you can take samples of wall paint, flooring (as well as furniture and decor) and put them side by side. Putting everything together, it is easy to understand which color is superfluous and which should be added for balance.

I sketched the collage in the first image below from IKEA furniture and decor for my upcoming renovation, so that in the future it would be convenient to choose the color of the floor and walls. The second and third images are collages of my completed bathroom. They show how I chose the tiles: thanks to the collage, it became clear that darker and larger ones look better.

Related:
Yellow in the interior: bringing spring closer

Checking colors in real conditions

When choosing colors in the store before renovating, don't forget to check. You should always have samples of primary colors with you, without relying on memory, and a piece of the final material or a painted sample should be taken home and see how the shade changes with different lighting in the interior.

Check live and those colors that will be adjacent in the room, putting them side by side in different combinations: due to the device of our vision, the same color can look completely different if it is surrounded by different colors.

More on the subject

Photos: homedsgn. com, thompsonclarke.com, inmyinterior.com, mybeautifulrooms.com, home-designing.com, trendir.com, interiorbit.com, contemporaryhome.com

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Interior design, Color

photos, Popular colors, Councils on the choice of color scheme 9000 9000. a place where you can not only spend your free time and have fun, but also meet guests. It is not surprising that the design of this room requires special attention.

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

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

Design: Zhenya Zhdanova, DivaDecor.ru

Basic rules for color combinations in the interior

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

  • Do not use more than three or four shades. Choose the main one, the rest will be his companions. The combination of colors in the interior is considered correct if the proportion is observed: 75% - the main tone, 25% - companions, 5% - bright color accents.

  • Neutral shades should be used for the background.

  • A monochrome interior can seem boring. To revive it, it is worth adding bright decor and elements with different textures.

Psychology, meaning and perception of color

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

You can interpret them like this:

  • Yellow is a symbol of joy, happiness, manifestation of new opportunities, self-development. An interesting combination of colors in the interior (photo below): muted yellow, gray and greenery of living plants.

  • Red symbolizes self-respect, confidence, power. Many people cannot get along with this color, considering it aggressive. But you can always add muted shades of red to the design of the room, for example, terracotta, dusty pink.

  • Blue - Luscher self-limitation. From the side of interaction on the psyche, one can say about blue as calming, pacifying, capable of giving a good sleep.

  • Green - trust, optimism, self-confidence. This color in the interior gives peace, relaxation, and reduces fatigue.

Classic combinations

Some interior color combinations have become classic:

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

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

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

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

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

Warm and cold colors in the interior

The combination of colors in the interior of cold and warm colors requires compliance with certain rules:

  1. The choice of the dominant range - warm or cold, to which the opposite accent is added, helps to achieve harmony.

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

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

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

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

Using a gradient in the interior

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

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

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

Tables of harmonious color combinations in the interior

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

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

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

Popular colors for living room walls

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

White

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

Recommendations from Nadezhda Kuzina

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

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

Beige

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

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

Design: Svetlana Startseva

Brown

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

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

Gray

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

Design: Yana Molodykh

Green

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

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

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

Design: Stepan Bugaev

Yellow

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

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

Design: Irina Sobylenskaya

Blue and light blue

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

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

Design: Nikolay Nikitin

Red

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

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

Orange

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

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

Purple and lilac

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

Black

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

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

Design: Kameleono studio, Pavel Lichik and Anastasia Ivanova

Living room zoning with color

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

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

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

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

  • If the windows are facing north, it is a great option to use warm and bright colors when decorating the room. Here you can use red, yellow, orange, green, etc.;
  • In cases where the windows are open towards the South, the situation is opposite. Cold and calm shades like blue, purple, beige organically fit in here;
  • Are the windows facing East? This means that the room will be well lit. The use of neutral, soft colors will be the perfect solution for such a living room. Among these shades, white, gray, beige, lilac can be distinguished;
  • Windows facing West. Everything here is just the opposite: The lack of light should be compensated for with bright and saturated colors like red, yellow and orange. Also, the choice of calm tones (beige, lilac, purple, blue) will not be a mistake.

Design: Yulia Piskareva

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

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