Home » Misc » Light colored living rooms

Light colored living rooms


16 design rules for a bright lounge |

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Project by Julia Dempster)

Light living room ideas should be bright, spacious and welcoming – not dull, dreary or dated.

There are a plethora of sophisticated ways to enhance a light space, so dress your living room with best paint ideas, lighting tips and earthy neutral tones for a space that is airy, inviting and oh so stylish.

Light living room ideas – 16 expert ways to introduce light to your lounge

From using the right paint colors to clever ways to accessorize, these bright, light living room ideas will help you add interest and intrigue – and have you reaching for the paint chart or the light bulb.

1. Light your living room right

(Image credit: Future / Matthew Williams)

Living room lighting is one of the most important considerations when designing a room scheme.  

A common task undertaken in any living room is reading. 'For that, you need shadowless light,’ says Rebecca Weir, creative director at Light IQ . ‘One trick is to get an incredibly slim dedicated reading light to sit directly next to a more decorative table lamp. Plug it in under a sofa in a recessed floor socket so there are no wires trailing across the room.’

2. Consider outside influences

(Image credit: Paul Raeside / Future)

Choosing a living room color scheme is one of the hardest parts of decorating a light living room because we only actually know the true color of something because it’s sitting next to another color.

When you’re thinking about color for your home, you have to first start by standing in the middle of the room and explore what will be around the color – where the light is coming in, the architectural qualities of the room and even what is outside the window. If you have foliage outside which the light has to filter through, that green is going to be cast throughout the room. These considerations will help you understand what the color will read as in the space.

3. Don't just reach for the white paint

(Image credit: Future / Lisa Cohen)

‘The trap that people fall into is that they consider dark living rooms to be wrong – and just paint them white,’ says interior designer Rachel Chudley, Rachel Chudley Studio . ‘I like to lean into the darkness and explore the depths of color,’ she adds. ‘Go for a very deep shade but in a high gloss paint and this will reflect the light around the room.’

4. Create a light-filled space for reading

(Image credit: Future / Jon Day)

As with other rooms of the house, layers of lighting are essential to set the right mood for a reading space in the living room. 

Wall lighting on shelf spines work well as reading lights but consider the height of these when both standing and sitting down, recommends Sally Stephenson of Owl Lighting . ‘You could also put them on the sides of shelves to enhance the living room seating area; they focus pools of lights and encourage spaces to pause. ’ 

When creating a reading nook, a sofa in a bay window or a window seat are ideal spaces as they tend to enjoy plenty of natural daylight, but include a soft, dimmable downlight which can be operated separately from the rest of the room for darker evenings.

5. Use a palette of harmonious hues

(Image credit: Future)

Choosing complementary color combinations is an art form that works beautifully in light living rooms. ‘Pick one color as a foundation – from a favorite artwork, image or piece of clothing – to form the thread that runs through the space,’ says Charlotte Archer, head of brand, Sanderson . ‘Build your palette around this with complementary or tonal shades. My number one rule is: decorate for yourself, not others – choose tones that you love and you won’t go wrong.’

6. Use scale to add instant impact to a light living room

(Image credit: Jan Baldwin / Future)

‘Scale in interior design really drives how diverse you can be with color pairings: larger homes can take a looser palette; in smaller homes, it’s best to keep the colors more concise – find three colors that harmonize and use them as a common thread for continuity,’ says Charu Gandhi, founder and director, Elicyon .

‘I enjoy using ivory, egg-yolk yellows with hints of navy, mixed with copper and metal accents. Old rose pink, nude and orangery tones is also a nice palette – the combination of dull shades creates a calm but sumptuous aesthetic. We’re also using pastel lilac with thistle green and soft amber, which gives a pleasing visual sense – perfect for a light living room.’

7. Light up any dark corners

(Image credit: James Merrell / Future)

‘Lighting is key to setting atmosphere in a dark or light living room,’ says Penny Morrison, founder at Penny Morrison . ‘I always illuminate rooms with lamps, except where there are very dark areas. Instead, I will put small downlighters in the corners of the room on dimmer switches. These can be used to gently enhance the illusion of daylight on a really dark day.’

‘Even the simplest of schemes can be enriched with a well-placed chandelier,’ says Annabel Astor, OKA co-founder. ‘They add just the right dose of decadence and drama. ’

8. Think about how you will use your space

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti / Future)

Think about all the different people who will use a light-filled, family living room, including people of varying age ranges. ‘We all like to think a room has plenty of light but as we get older, clarity and sharpness of vision start to be lost,’ says Rebecca Weir. ‘At this point, elements of strong lighting are needed to compensate.’ 

It’s difficult to consider all the changes in lifestyle and interests that lie ahead so try and imagine a niece and nephew or grandparents coming to stay and all the small, fiddly tasks that might be required – from playing board games to knitting. Finally, where space allows, create a reading or crossword area with a small table and smart desk lamp.

9. Go for neutrals underfoot

(Image credit: Polly Eltes / Future)

Choosing a living room carpet in a classic base note will bring a sense of calm to your  light living space. A neutral shade is a wise investment too, as its versatility and longevity adds value to your property. It will also make co-ordinating the flooring in different rooms a breeze – with a neutral palette, everything goes – enabling you to combine plains and subtle patterns, while keeping a consistent flow throughout the house.

10. Use white in a small living room

(Image credit: Anna Stathaki / Future)

Just like any other color, the variation in white tones ranges from cool through to warm. When decorating with white in any room, always buy a range of tester pots and paint large sheets of paper so you can see how they look in different lights throughout the day. 

‘If you’re looking to increase the feeling of space in a room by using white, paint all walls and woodwork in the same shade,’ says David Mottershead, managing director, Little Greene . ‘Use it as you would a blank canvas, then add colorful furniture and collectibles.’

11. Maximize light with mirrors

(Image credit: K&H Design)

Hanging living room mirrors is a quick and easy way to instantly make rooms feel lighter and more spacious. In this living room by K&H Design, floor to ceiling mirrors have been used in conjunction with clever lighting ideas to create a bright and welcoming feel.

'Previously accessed by a single door, this south west facing sun filled room was seldom used. We created the double full height doors for light flow and better accessibility,' says Katie Glaister, founder of K&H Design . 'The Rupert Bevan slumped mirror fills each fireside alcove. It subtly projects the afternoon sun throughout the room and increases the sense of space.'

The decorative lighting, 'adds to the drama and color in the room and brings together the contemporary and old with the antique chinoiserie lamp. They also create different moods in the room by day and night,' she adds.

12. Consider the shape of furniture

(Image credit: Interior by kate Lester / Photograph by Amy Bartlam)

Living room paint ideas are an easy way to brighten a space, but furniture, too, should not be overlooked when thinking about creating a light living room, as it can have a big impact on how a looks and feels.  

In this room design by interior designer Kate Lester , clever living room furniture choices help keep the space feeling open and airy. With their simple, open-frame design, these mid-century chairs have a weightless feel and allow light to shine through. Kate Lester also takes care with her upholstery choices preferring more streamlined designs. 

'I always defer to the idea of pulling from traditional shapes and concepts, but with a more streamlined approach, like traditional roll arm sofas that are over-scaled and extra-deep and plush. The fabrics are a soft and pre-washed to exude an overall casual and liveable aesthetic even on a more traditional frame.'

13. Choose the right window treatment

(Image credit: Hillarys)

Bay windows are a beautiful architectural feature that flood living rooms with light, but finding the right window treatment for them can be tricky. If you're looking for a way to maintain privacy whilst keeping living rooms light and airy, consider a simple sheer roller blind.

'Bay windows increase the flow of natural light into your home and give you views of the outside that you wouldn’t get with an ordinary window. To emphasise this, pick out a sheer voile roller window blind which will create a lovely ambience by allowing sunlight to gently filter through, whilst providing daytime privacy,' advises Yvonne Keal, senior product manager at Hillarys .

Roller blinds are also perfect for those looking for a sleek and simple living room look as they 'sit neatly within your window recess for a neat and streamlined finish,' adds Yvonne Keal. 'They work well in bay windows as you can fit individual roller blinds to each window pane for flexible control over light and privacy.' 

14. Opt for floating shelves

(Image credit: Kitesgrove)

Freestanding or fitted shelving units can be cumbersome, but floating shelves are a brilliant way to create storage and display space while keeping living rooms feeling light and airy.

Fitted to the wall with hidden brackets, they create a clean, streamlined look perfect for minimalist living rooms. They work well behind a sofa where brackets might look messy, but are also effective hung in a series used for display, as pictured in this space by Kitesgrove, as the absence of brackets creates space to lean taller pieces such as framed artworks or artisan plates.

'Floating shelves are an effective design feature to create depth for styling and layering a space with personal objets and decorative items, as well as practical storage,' says Katie Lion, senior interior designer at Kitesgrove . 

'To achieve a curated, uncluttered feel, we always recommend investing in some beautiful storage items such as these handmade woven baskets which become part of the display.'

15. Introduce contrasting tones

(Image credit: Boråstapeter Vivalla wallpaper from the collection Alla tiders Hus)

Decorating with white can make rooms feel lighter and larger, however, it can sometimes make spaces feel soulless. The key to getting it right is to use contrasting tones to create rhythm, explains Sissa Sundling, head of design at Boråstapeter.

'To maximize light in a living room, it is all about using contrasting tones to strengthen the light feeling. In this space, if everything was white, it would be hard to read the whole room, it would appear smaller and darker.'

By having the chimney and wallpaper in white, but with the introduction of darker tones through the wood panels and brown sofa, 'the eyes sweep over the hole room, from light to dark, to light, to dark,' says Sissa Sundling. 'The light parts are predominant, so they reinforce each other, in contrast to the browns, making the room appear lighter.'

16. Choose pale upholstery for furniture

(Image credit: Project by Julia Dempster)

As the largest piece in a living room it's important to get the sofa right. If you're lucky enough to have a space bathed in light from large windows, then consider emphasising this by choosing furniture in pale colors – large, bulky pieces may dominate a scheme if covered in dark fabrics.

'In this living space it was easy as there was a wealth a light from three large windows which allowed the light to flood into the room, says interior designer Julia Dempster .  

'The neutral palette was key in making the area feel larger as the space was not broken up by large contrasting pieces of furniture. The punctuation was an accent of cool pale grey and most of the large bulky furniture items were off white/natural, so soothing to the eye.'

If you're thinking of having a light sofa as part of an all-white living room scheme, try a loose-cushioned design in a textured fabric to ensure the space remains feeling cosy and layered.

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.

Beige living room ideas: 15 best ways to decorate with beige |

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works.

(Image credit: Future)

Beige living room ideas are back in a big way. If the shade is at the top of your snore list – it’s time to have a re-write. 

There is no doubt that neutrals have been the most popular tones for home use during the last few years, and perhaps for good reason. Many people feel most comfortable when surrounded by carefully balanced colors that create an understated environment and make few demands on the eye. 

A beige color scheme offers infinite possibilities for making spaces airy and relaxing, refined and timeless, or elegantly sophisticated. However, beige living room paint ideas alone are not a fail-safe option – and it is all too easy to fall into the trap of using bland, dull colors that are nothing like the subtle, complex schemes featured here.

Beige living room ideas

The new beige living room ideas are all about minimalism, simplistic shapes and natural finishes.

1. Layer a beige living room with texture

(Image credit: Anna Statham / Future)

Beige shades range from earthy brown living room ideas to those with more of an ochre inflection. The right tone in a dark room will bring sunshine to a space that otherwise lacks natural light. 

We recommend pairing beige paint colors with lashings of texture in the form of fabrics, wood and stone to add physical comfort and visual interest to a space.

‘It’s wise to avoid sandy or beige colors with a yellow undertone in north-facing rooms, as these can appear green in the winter,’ says Paula Taylor, color and trends specialist at Graham & Brown. 

2. Adopt a beige color scheme in a period property

(Image credit: James Merrell / Future)

Whether you favor vibrant colors or an understated look, a combination of texture, pattern and scale underpins every successful beige scheme. The key is to choose a cohesive style and carry it through, via fabrics, furnishings and accessories. 

This elegant beige scheme takes inspiration from light creams, serene greens and gray living room ideas, using latte shades to create an air of tranquility, while wood, rattan and enamel accents add joie de vivre.

3. Instil a sense of fun and frivolity in beige living room ideas

(Image credit: James Merrella)

Gentle, warm beige living room color schemes will give you the freedom to play with different accent colors, luxurious textures and finishes elsewhere in your space. 

For an entirely unique scheme, mix and match styles from different eras. Mid-century modern living room ideas are back, but this time it's infused with clean Scandi style, texture and a beige color palette that is cooler than ever. 

4. Use a beige color scheme as a backdrop for art 

(Image credit: Anna Stathaki / Future)

Give beige living room ideas definition with hints of modern monochrome artwork and soft furnishings. Add some sharp, contemporary styling in a mainly neutral space with accents of black and white. 

Keep touches minimal to keep the overall scheme relaxed and understated but with a more edgy loft apartment style.

5. Evoke a sense of grown-up glamor

(Image credit: Richard Powers / Future)

Cream, taupe and beige living rooms are one of the most popular schemes – with ivory, buttermilk and off-white living room colors also popular choices.

Instil a grown-up aesthetic by adopting traditional living room ideas, furniture and a plethora of texture and subtle pattern, all in tonal colors. Beige living room ideas can lend themselves to a number of decorating styles, from rustic to contemporary.

6. Decorate in a variety of beige colors

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

Classic, calm and cozy living room ideas offer respite from the whirlwind of modern life – and with the neutral elements in place, it is easy to play with the balance of your palette as seasons change.

‘Beige colors work well as a base, as it keeps an interior looking fresh and styled without appearing dated,’ says interior designer Kelly Hoppen . ‘You can then use color to accent or highlight using star pieces of furniture, accessories or art.’

7. Introduce one standout accent color

(Image credit: Future)

When decorating your beige living room, you might feel like there's something missing, and that could well be an accent color. This technique of adding in an unexpected shade in small areas of the room is one of the quickest ways to add drama to a space, while creating a harmonious scheme.

Depending on the outcome you wish to arrive at, these colors can complement or contrast with the main tone of the room. Either way they are there to add emphasis to the overall color, like in the elegant beige and green living room above, not detract from it.

8. Channel a warm minimalist look in your beige living room ideas

(Image credit: Matthew Williams / Future)

Rooted in the principle of ridding your home of clutter, minimalist living room ideas are all over social media at present. And with more of us desiring a 'clean' space that features only a few meaningful items, it is easy to understand why.

Minimalist living rooms and beige color schemes go hand-in-hand, so it pays to keep your color choices simple. Opt for a white living room with beige and black decor, like the scheme above, and borrow design inspiration from the 1950s, when home decor was kept simple yet beautifully functional.

9. Use neutrals, natural materials and plants to create calm

(Image credit: Paul Raeside / Future)

Go back to basics with simple decor and neutral living room ideas. Alongside all the clamour of color, pattern and shape in current interior design, there’s a quieter story of considered, understated forms and textures at their finest. 

Dress your tranquil beige living room ideas with materials found in nature, plenty of lush greenery, and art and colors that have been designed to instil peace, calm and serenity.

10. Pack a punch with pattern and color – alongside a beige backdrop

(Image credit: Davide Lovatti / Future)

With their soft, soothing feel, it can be hard to move away from a palette of beige, browns and taupes, but if you're craving an update, it's easy to give a neutral scheme a more contemporary edge. A few additions of color and pattern can turn beige living room ideas from bland to beautiful in an instant..

'Being adventurous with color is hugely rewarding, and you need only start with a few flashes of your favorite strong color,' advises color expert Annie Sloan .

'I tend to base a scheme on the neutrals I want to use, identify what tones they include and then use splashes of a color opposite for maximum drama and interest. For example, if I’m using a cool-toned beige I’d use pops of a hot color – maybe vivid pink or neon yellow living room accents. 

'It’s a very effective way to make a room vastly more lively and rewarding to look at, and you only need small amounts of your accent color.'

11. Build a serene scheme with chalky neutrals

(Image credit: Jake Curtis / Claudia Bryant)

Exposed rafters and textural neutral walls create a coastal-style backdrop in an open-plan beige living room. Sculptural shapes abound – including a curvaceous living room sofa from Ligne Roset , wavy ribbed side table, and a Rose Uniake plaster lamp – add shapely interest to the relaxed scheme.

Color is effectively introduced here with the wonderfully chic coral travertine coffee table from Julian Chichester , the Caroline Popham artwork and complementary mix of blue cushions.

'Textural wall finishes are a really effective way of creating a softer, aged, more lived in feel, and warmer atmosphere,' says style editor, Emma Thomas.

12. Give a beige scheme a boost

(Image credit: ND Studios)

White is the classic neutral that many of us opt for to make spaces seem brighter and bigger, and it makes the perfect backdrop for all accent colors to be laid upon. However, neutral living room ideas – and white living room ideas – can be layered, textured and interesting. 

'Textures help to keep a space from feeling flat or one dimensional,' says Tiffany Leigh, of Tiffany Leigh Design . 'Texture in interior design is all about creating tactile moments that invite touch.'

13. Introduce subtle flashes of color

(Image credit: Margaret Ash Design & Home / Tim D Coy)

Blue and beige décor is timeless, and one of the most classic color combinations, perfect for creating a serene yet fresh aesthetic. The pairing is often used in country or coastal retreats to create chic spaces that look relaxed and informal at the same time. 

The blue and beige color match is a modern take on a color pairing that dates back centuries, and is still popular with ceramicists today. In the contemporary home, it evokes an easy-breezy aesthetic with a laidback beachside lifestyle at its core, although you don't need to have ocean views to incorporate the scheme into your own home.

14. Layer up with texture and pattern 

(Image credit: Kitesgrove)

A beige living room can still be inspiring and have depth and dimension. It’s important to consider texture, whether through pattern, such as a lacquered fabric, or by mixing finishes, like a matte wall with gloss paint on the ceiling. These elements create interest that will make neutral living room ideas sing. 

Layers of similar tones keep a scheme from feeling flat, while accents of dark gray, brown or black can be used to punctuate this space.  

15. Use variations of the same color palette

(Image credit: Rikki Snyder)

It's fair to say that at Homes & Gardens we've been championing vivid interior schemes and bold decorating ideas for some time, but a neutral backdrop can enable beautiful architecture, decorative furniture and bespoke artworks to make a true style statement within your home.  

From oyster and beige to sand and gray hues, the secret to neutrals is to pick the right tones for the type of light coming into your room. Cool light works well with warmer neutrals, while south-facing light has a yellow hue, so cooler neutral colors are best. 

What color goes with a beige living room?

When choosing a color scheme to go with beige living room ideas, your first port of call should always be the color wheel. From bold, dramatic palettes to soothing tonal combinations, using the color wheel is fail-safe way to guarantee decorating success for your beige living room. 

Following color theory (and plenty of trial and error on our part) is a straightforward way of creating an easy-to-live-with beige scheme. These harmonious colors are the most widely used group in interior design.

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.

Living room in bright colors: 88 photos with interior design ideas

Popular and beloved, but dangerous and risky. All this about the interior in bright colors. This is the case when there are only a couple of steps from a light, airy space to a boring and featureless room. A couple of wrong moves. And in this article we will tell you how not to commit them. And also - how to decorate the design of the living room in bright colors in the apartment, so that it turns out to be multifaceted, interesting and voluminous. And we will show it in the photo.

All about how to decorate a bright living room

Living room design options
— Monochrome
— With the addition of pastel colors
— With bright details
Detailed composition of the palette
— Basic tones
— Pastel
— Accent
Finishing materials
Furniture
Lighting
Decor
Interior styles
— Scandi
— Minimalism
— Wabi-sabi
— Japandi
— Retro

Monochrome

Babayants architects social networks

White with white on white is not quite what they mean by monochrome room design. There really is one main, leading monopoly color. It fills the entire space: walls, floor, ceiling. Grabs furniture. But if you use only one shade, the room will become flat, like a piece of paper. Volume and fullness in monochrome rooms are obtained due to the many halftones and shades. For example, more pale and dark. Saturated and vice versa, calm, balanced, warm and cold.

Another technique is a mix of textures for finishing walls, floors, ceilings, furniture upholstery, textiles. Smooth surfaces can be alternated with: