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Living room color scheme


25 best living room color schemes |

(Image credit: Future)

Choosing the right living room color ideas is one of most important decisions you can make for your space. Getting the color choice spot on is vital, because this is the room where we spend most of our time. These inspiring living room color schemes and ideas are guaranteed to add vibrancy to your interiors.

Choosing which colors to decorate your living room ideas with can be daunting – partly because there are so many options available. But knowing which color combinations are guaranteed to look beautiful together and being able to select the best hues are not mysterious secret arts – they are simple skills that we can all learn in just a few steps.

Start off room color ideas by building a complementary palette of timeless tones and classic shades, then add accent hues to create bold effects on a mood board. Think of it like cooking, with colors representing ingredients and flavors. 

Collate images, swatches, fabric and photographs to paint a picture of your desired scheme. This allows you to marry finishes together to ensure all your living room paint ideas work as one.

Living room color ideas – the best color schemes for your lounge

Becoming your own color consultant is easier than you think, once you’ve mastered the basics of the color wheel – a tool professional interior designers use to put together stunning schemes that never fail to impress. 

It’s time to brush up your skills, get creative with color and transform your living room with the help of our collection of inspiring living room color ideas.

1. Go for a variety of soothing green tones

(Image credit: Future )

Is there any color more suited to 2022 than green? At at time where our happiness and health have seemed more important than ever, it's only right that we'd want to surround ourselves in shades that symbolize growth and renewal. What's more, it has been named one of the best colors to paint a living room by color experts.

Green living room ideas promise to renew your connection to nature, and the color green is said to evoke feelings of serenity, vibrancy and good fortune.  When decorating with green, you'll find the color available in a whole host of shades, it’s easy to find decor and living room color ideas that will suit your look and give your scheme a seasonal lift.

2. Instil calm with a neutral color scheme

(Image credit: James Merrell / Future)

'I love the calmness that you create when you have a neutral living room palette in a room,' says interior designer Tamsin Johnson . But this choice definitely doesn’t have to mean boring: you can create an interesting and exciting space by layering different tones, such as off-whites and beige, then introducing a range of caramels and even accents of black.'

'Natural textures, whether they are stone or wood or linen, can help to anchor a beige living room color scheme. It means that the overall look doesn’t feel too contrived or uptight or overly designed. They bring a laid-back quality that always works well.'

3. Build up a layered color palette

(Image credit: Tim Salisbury)

When you typically consider using paint to create impact in a room, the first thought tends to be drenching the walls in a bright hue. While this is a tried and tested way of creating a statement, there are more delicate ways to achieve just as much of an impact. 

In this yellow living room from interior designer Anna Spiro , a high-gloss white paint on the walls bounces around light, making the surfaces nearly appear liquid with shine. Architectural details have been picked out in a beautiful deep yellow, adding not only color but an excellent grounding element. Furniture and accessories in similar but not quite matching tones create a warming spectrum of sunshine across the space.

3. Mix up colors

(Image credit: Jonathan Bond Photography)

For a living room that sings with joy try colorful living room ideas full of clashing combinations. This is a space for both socializing and retreat, so you want shades that both enliven and comfort you. 

‘Pink and green is one of my favorite color combinations – they play really well off each other and it’s a great way to cheer up a room,’ says Lucy Barlow, founder, Barlow & Barlow .  

Balance is key, especially as many people are still working from home. Integrating more neutral tones to offset your bold hues can help bring calm when you need to focus, but then you can turn around and be energized when it’s time to switch off for the day and allow the room to return to its primary function.

5. Amplify with intense hues

(Image credit: Annie Sloan)

Tone-on-tone is an easy, effective way to add impact to your pink living room. This scheme, based around the standout Capri Pink by Annie Sloan on the walls, demonstrates how layering with one color creates a bold, bright and unexpected decorative look.

6. Go for full color in a small space

(Image credit: David Butler)

Use sophisticated color schemes to add interest and intrigue to dark living rooms. ‘I like painting a small living room layout in a dark color to make them feel cozy,’ says interior designer Amelia McNeil , who designed this cozy corner. ‘I even painted the window and architrave in the same blue so that the Phillip Jeffries wallpaper could be the main focus.

7. Embrace the warmth of red

(Image credit: Paul Raeside)

Contemplating red living room ideas? While the color might sound like a dramatic choice, it’s actually a hue that’s easy to live with. Its warmth, the ability to make the room feel cocooning, and its appearance under artificial light makes it a wonderful choice for many living spaces. 

One of the leading reasons why you might prefer a red living room is because of the color’s heat, and in cold climate areas, it can create a sought-after atmosphere, perfect for cozy living room ideas.  

8. Enliven a neutral scheme with pops of primaries

(Image credit: Future / Emma Lee / Sally Denning)

For a sophisticated room full of fun and energy, create a living room color scheme that hinges on the decorating with primary colors – but bear in mind that even in small doses, such as in the neutral scheme above, they can have real impact. 

Feeling braver? Bold blue walls instantly add a cosseting effect to a space, making the room feel more inviting yet spacious.  

Look to design movements of other eras, such as Bauhaus, from which you could choose from primary colors such as blue and mustard yellow, or lavender purple and tomato orange.

The colors need to be bold but not bright, so choose hues that are pared back to give them a more authentic tone.

9. Warm up a cool spaces with hot shades

(Image credit: Annie Sloan)

In a cool living room or one that you want to feel incredibly warm and welcoming, red is a great choice.

'Red is more and more popular lately and is a very stimulating shade. In this palette, it also represents the moment during exercising when you are at the top of your game,' according to trend forecasters, TrendBook . 

This living room color idea was inspired by the already evident success of orange and bright red. It is the extroverted color for the season, and when paired with gray – the color of sustainability – it represents the full cycle of a routine. 'This color is the quiet one and represents the end of the journey, the warming down after an exercise,' say TrendBook.

10. Pick punchy pastels for a family room

(Image credit: Geraldine Tan )

Pale shades of rose are becoming firmly established as the new neutral of choice in the most stylish of schemes. Yet it is in combination with bolder pastels – as in this family living room by Little Big Bell influencer, Geraldine Tan – that its delicate allure really comes to the fore. 

Geraldine predicts that more muted pastels such as the shade below will be popular moving forwards, and at H&G, we love to mix pastels with soft green, muted gray, black and accents of gold to give them a sophisticated edge.

'Neutral pink is best in living rooms; it’s surprising yet subdued,' says Annie Sloan. Pairing with deep burnt reds it will create a sophisticated tonal palette with a lot of warmth; alternatively, bright oranges and turquoises with neutral pinks give more of a tropical, jungle intensity. 

'There’s a reason we see this color combination all over our Instagram feeds. It’s highly emotive, it shows confidence in color, and a certain joie de vivre,' says Annie.

11. Match soft pastels with earthy tones

(Image credit: Future/Emma Lee)

Inject a playful summer vibe into your living room color ideas scheme. Use a palette of raspberry and citron to create a fresh, stylish look. Washed linens and the eye-catching open design of the rattan sofa brings a relaxing mood to this inviting space – inspired by bohemian living room ideas – which is enhanced by unlined curtains that gently filter the sunlight.

This confident mix of rose shades evokes a sense of luxury, femininity and sass. Pink has grown up, trading its sweet reputation for a more muted, sophisticated and earthy look. 

‘There is an exciting duality to grown-up pink – it’s soft and delicate, yet strong and composed,’ says Paula Taylor, color and trend specialist at Graham & Brown . 

It’s best to avoid clean whites with this pink, as they may wash out the space. Stick to warmer neutrals, such as tones of gray that will add depth, or dial up the drama with touches or charcoal, emerald green or black.

12. Pick on-trend powdery pastels

(Image credit: Crown Paints)

Chalky tones have always been an attractive choice for interiors, giving rise to delicate, light rooms that are easy to live in. Create relaxed, grown-up schemes by pairing these hues with bold accent colors, or opt for impact with one sugary shade, like in the minimalist living room above, decorated in Cocoon by Crown Paints . 

Decorating with pastel shades needn’t mean going entirely pale. Create an accent wall in a darker color, such as a deep blue, to balance lighter tones. To add depth, introduce subtle textures with wool upholstery, drapes and rugs in patterned weaves.

13. Create a traditional feel with berry shades

(Image credit: Future/Dan Duchars)

Aubergine, heather and indigo have a lasting appeal that makes them decorating favorites, but used on their own, they can feel a little cold. Warm them up instantly with earthy tones or a hit of flame orange – it works really well with colors that have a blue base, like purple or teal. 

Purple is all about power and passion. Its strong and versatile hues are associated with creativity, individualism and inventiveness. When choosing purple, always select a color several shades lighter than the one you are aiming for, as they are more powerful when applied. 

Lavender reflects light really well, even in the depths of winter, making it a clever choice when planning small living room ideas. Living rooms always look smart bathed in or accented by purple and pink, which creates serene and interesting living spaces, appearing quiet or bold depending on the setting. 

14. Warm up neutral schemes with earthy shades

(Image credit: Future/Mark Bolton)

Sandy shades are very usable living room color ideas and work well as part of an earthy palette, coupled with terracottas or warm cinnamon, or even splashes of bright teal and zesty orange.  

They can stand alone, providing a calm, neutral backdrop onto which you can layer accent colors like sunflower. Or use harmonious tones of sandstone, beige or taupe for multi-layered beige living room ideas that bring in other off-white or neutral tones.

15. Pick a neutral color scheme for a laid back look

(Image credit: Rikki Snyder)

Reinvigorate your living room with a fresh and soothing color palette of limestone, lichen and sage. Choose a subtle shade of limestone for walls, then layer different but tonal shades of creams or greens on furnishings to create a restful scheme. 

A patterned couch will add a punchy highlight to neutral living room ideas; layer it with cushions depicting foliage and forest scenery. 

Finally, bring the garden indoors: mix plants and cacti with fresh spring blooms and accessorize with striking botanical prints, faux coral and crystal geodes for a scheme that is at one with nature.

16. Pick an earthy yellow for a bright but elegant finish

(Image credit: Future/Davide Lovatti)

Yellow’s reputation as a fresh and lively sunny color means it is often overlooked for living room color ideas, but paler shades can work nicely and become especially inviting when used in harmonizing or contrasting tones.  

Yellow’s complementary shade on the color wheel is blue, and if both are used in a muted combination, like cornflower yellow and pale blue-gray, it will look stunning.

Use tones of muted yellow in your living room to provide a clever mix of brightness and warmth. Mix warm ochre with egg-yolk shades for a yellow living room that will lift your mood. 

Yellow inspires optimism, creating a summery feel; team it with charcoal and black for modern look that follows the latest living room trends. This color is also fantastic when mixed with crisp white or warm wood furniture, and the spectrum of sunny shades look great with an additional contrast color such as gray or duck egg blue.

17. Use a cool combination of black and white

(Image credit: Future/Michael Sinclair)

Striking, cool, and confident, black and white is always a winning combination and will make a dramatic statement in a living room. Create a perfect balance of the two neutrals, by using equal amounts of each. It will give a bright and fresh look for the day, together with a dramatic and tailored look for night – especially when paired with living room lighting ideas that feature both directional and ambient lighting.

Introduce pattern and character with a statement rug or cushions and some sophisticated framed artwork, and keep the rest of your furniture and accessories plain and more color blocked.

Recreate the refined elegance of grand Parisian apartments by decorating with soft muted grays, whites and black living room shades. 

Paneled walls painted soft gray provide a sophisticated backdrop for this scheme, which artfully balances black and white upholstered furniture. Blocks of pattern, in the form of tailored cushions and artwork, add interest and personality to the modern look.

18. Go for a timeless gray living room color scheme

(Image credit: Future / Davide Lovatti)

Gray living room ideas are enduringly popular, and it's easy to see why – this neutral shade suits most spaces, although it is important to choose the right tone.

'Gray isn't a tricky living room color to get right,' says H&G's Editor in Chief Lucy Searle. 'However, it is important to pick a gray that suits your room's natural daylight. 

'A cool, North- or East-facing room will really benefit from a gray – however light or dark – with a hint of yellow pigment; a South- or West-facing space can take a cooler shade that has a hint of blue – although I would always advise a warmer shade for a living room, which is intended to feel inviting.'

19. Create a coastal appeal with red, white and blue

(Image credit: Future/Emma Lee)

Create a blue scheme with tones taken straight from a sea view. The easiest way to create a space with a coastal feel is by adding cool shades of ocean blues. 

Whether it’s with paint, fabrics or your choice of living room furniture ideas, choose a living room color that both reflects the tones of the sea and the sky so that it isn’t too bright or too pale. The room won’t feel cold if you team it up with sandy beiges and cream colors.

20. Pick a classic blue and white living room color scheme

(Image credit: Future/Jake Curtis)

Decorate with a palette of blue and white. This combination is often described as the new monochrome, and it is easy to see why. From indigo to navy and cobalt, blue hues sit particularly well together, so offer great scope for pattern mixing. 

In this white living room, cushions with small-scale motifs are successfully combined with robust striped blinds and bold indigo geometric on the screen. 

Beloved by ancient Chinese dynasties, the Moors and the Greeks, this enduring color combination takes a fresh, modern feel with the latest indigo textiles, shibori patterns and denim tones.

Are your living room color ideas dependent on warmth? You can still use blue and white if you're after cozy living room ideas – keeping blues warm is a matter of applying a shade with warm tones in it and teaming it with rich sandy shades that echo the seashore, or else crisp whites, cool grays and palest yellows.  

White is the perfect foil for this color as it copies the skyline. Pale clear blue often looks fabulous combined with oak or chestnut furniture, which serves to keep the atmosphere warm. These colors and combinations work best in spaces that benefit from generous natural light.

21. Bring the outdoors in with fresh green and naturals

(Image credit: Rapture & Wright)

Use arboretum-inspired motifs, hothouse plant life and foliage for a fresh green living room look this season. Working geometric motifs into the scheme gives the finished look a modern edge. It’s time to welcome all things green and pleasant into the home.

'Sage green works wonderfully in a living room, or somewhere south-facing where the nuances of the color will be visible in the bright light,' advises color and paint expert Annie Sloan . 

'Pairing sage green with a vivid orange will give more energy to a space; contrasting complementary colors emphasizes the qualities of each and creates a bold statement look.  

'I’d use a strong black, too, to give a solidly masculine mid-century modern living room scheme. It’s calming because it’s strong and looks very put together.'

22. Go for a dramatic inky shade

(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)

Combine saturated shades of cobalt, malachite and verdigris with botanical motifs to bring natural depth and earthiness to dark living spaces. 

Pale cane furniture provides a lighter note in a scheme featuring luxurious textures, such as velvet and silk, in rich moody shades – or choose deep woody tones, as in the room above, with antique pieces that only enhance the drama.

23. Opt for a Cape Cod-worthy color scheme

(Image credit: Chris Everard)

This classic pairing has enduring appeal and is a sure-fire way to create a fresh and elegant scheme. The use of two blue tones, one on the walls and a paler hue on the ceiling, combined with white woodwork, draws your eye upwards, creating the feeling of being surrounded by clear skies, great for living room ceiling ideas.

24. Introduce an earthy tobacco shade

(Image credit: Nicola Harding)

‘Tobacco yellow is often used with greys and neutrals; I love the idea of going the other way and allowing it to be a backdrop for much brighter saturated tones,' says Genevieve Bennett, head of design interiors, Liberty . 

'We have used this shade as a fantastic backdrop color for the vibrant fresh jewel-like greens. This muted yet rich color allows the jade greens to sing, which a brighter yellow would clash with. It has a surprising, fresh and contemporary feel which is suited to modern living rooms.’ 

25. Use a timeless blue-green to best effect

(Image credit: Ben Stevens)

‘If nervous about using a bold hue, painting woodwork adds a color shot without overwhelming,’ advises designer Kate Guinness , who used turquoise accents in this chic boot room.

‘This is a guaranteed crowd-pleasing color with lots of positive associations,' says Annie Sloan , color and paint expert. 'It embodies both the recessive quality of blue and the calming quality of green, making it very easy to work with. I’d be inclined to dress it with heavily textured accents to give a cozier finish, but a 1960s palette of turquoise and orange also works fabulously with mid-century modern silhouettes, glass decor and metallic fittings.’  

What is the best color scheme for a living room?

'The best color scheme for a living room will always be a color that you simply love and want to look at all day, every day,' says Dominic Myland, CEO of Mylands . 

'It is one of the rooms in your house that you’re likely to spend the most time in, so deciding the final scheme shouldn’t be rushed. 

'Research living room pictures for inspiration, then paint large sample areas that will catch different light throughout the day and live with it for a few days or weeks before going ahead and painting the whole room. 

'That way you can be sure that no matter what you go for, be it dark and moody, bright and light, or calm and sophisticated, you’ll be making the right decision for your space.  

'As a general guide, rooms with a cool North-facing light benefit from warmer colors, but rooms with warm South-facing light can take most colors.'

What are good living room color combinations?

Good living room color combinations can be achieved in various ways.

‘Combining color is a perfect and affordable way to create an impressive design statement, achieved by applying a modest amount of color for maximum impact. It’s an easy trend to assimilate but does require bravery. 

'We all experience color differently from one another and each will have an energy that appeals. Work with your instincts. Assert your whims, and look at the clothes in your wardrobe for color inspiration,' advises interior designer Andrea Maflin .

How do you combine colors in a living room?

For anyone designing a living room, it's tempting to play it safe when it comes to injecting color. However, interiors that experiment with bold tones are often the most striking. The key is to do your research, testing contrasting palettes out before decorating, and using color and fabric with confidence.

Color can have a profound effect on mood, and a bright scheme can uplift the senses as well as adding depth to your interiors. Unexpected color combinations, such as blues and reds or oranges and pinks, can work well, but try to provide relief with some neutral touches, like white woodwork, or introducing pattern to break up the look and add texture.

Before decorating walls, try painting the inside of a shoebox with your preferred hue. That way, you’ll see how the light falls into the corners too, which will give a truer representation of how the color will look in a room. 

If you prefer to keep walls more neutral, a large living room rug is a great way to inject vibrancy, complemented by colorful accessories such as cushions and fabrics, whether a single throw or a brightly upholstered ottoman.

Consult a color wheel to find daring hues that will work well together. Remember that color changes with its surroundings. The tone is never quite the same depending on the surface material you choose. 

The right paint finish will also transform the final look. Matt and eggshell produce a soft sheen, and gloss and oil are both shiny finishes that reflect light. Test paints first using sample pots to see how they will look before you decorate. Inspiration can be found in the latest trends.

What colors make a living room feel bigger?

When decorating small spaces, the colors that make areas feel larger are pale shades that reflect light. However, making a small living room feel bigger is slightly more nuanced than color scheming alone. 

Lean towards off-white shades when working with neutrals, over stark whites: off-whites will deliver more character than a pure white, distracting the eye from the size and more towards to the color.

'Another trick is to carry the wall color onto all of your woodwork, avoiding all the horizontal framing and creating the illusion of more space,' advises brand ambassador at Farrow & Ball , Patrick O’ Donnell.

'Finally, be aware of your ceiling color – most people default to a generic white, but if you choose an off-white that shares similar tones to your wall color, you will become less aware of where your wall height stops and the ceiling starts,' he says. This is also a great tip for apartment living room ideas that sometimes have lower ceilings.

'Traditionally, wisdom has been that rooms in bright tones of white or off-whites will give the best feeling space,' says Dominic Myland.  

'However we’re increasingly seeing customers take much bolder steps with bright colors, such as yellow, which, when paired with contrasting trims, mouldings and ceilings in lighter colors, will trick the eye into thinking the walls are spaced further apart to make the room feel bigger.' You can even use paint to play with proportions when planning long living room ideas.

'White and neutral shades are always the go-to color as they make a room look bigger, airier, and more open,' explains David Harris, design director at Andrew Martin . 

'However, for small space living, you can be more daring. Don’t be afraid of dark and rich colors, like coffee or dark gray, or try teal or even orange for a braver burst of color. These hues bring richness, intimacy and extra depth whilst allowing you to show personality and flair. 

'Layering deep rich colors with artwork also adds fantastic texture and interest.' Be sure to incorporate small living room lighting ideas into your scheme too, to make the most of your chosen color schemes.

What are the new colors for living rooms?

Yellow is set to make a comeback for 2022. It’s the shade of confidence and joy, so after the global turbulence of the past year it comes as little surprise that yellow is decorating’s color du jour. Yellow room ideas inspire optimism, creating a summery feel; team it with charcoal and black from a modern look in the living. ‘Current trends show a real shift towards brighter colors with a clean-cut finish – and are a great way to feel happier at home,’ says Sue Kim, senior color designer at Valspar. 

Gentle pastel tones have also been making a big appearance in the fashion world, so it makes sense that they are a burgeoning interior design trend. What you see on the catwalk ends up on the cushions, as the old saying goes.

However, all the trends and color experts we have spoken to predict that this desire for comfort will evolve into a more optimistic excitement, which will translate into brighter, bolder color choices being introduced into our homes, with living room color schemes no exception.

Jennifer is the Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens. Having worked in the interiors industry for a number of years, spanning many publications, she now hones her digital prowess on the 'best interiors website' in the world. Multi-skilled, Jennifer has worked in PR and marketing, and the occasional dabble in the social media, commercial and e-commerce space. Over the years, she has written about every area of the home, from compiling design houses from some of the best interior designers in the world to sourcing celebrity homes, reviewing appliances and even the odd news story or two.

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.

style and character of the whole house or apartment

10/01/2019

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The living room is the most visited place in the house or apartment. The whole family rests here in the evenings, guests and unexpected visitors are received here. Therefore, the choice of color in the interior of the living room determines the whole character of the house or apartment. An ideal living room should be functional, comfortable and harmonious at the same time, not annoying with flashy colors and not be faceless.


Factors affecting color choice

The choice of colors for the living room is influenced by many factors: the size and illumination of the room, the style of the hall and the house as a whole, the taste preferences of the owners (and the designer), the colors, shapes and textures of the furniture.

Dimensions and shape of the living room

The dimensions and height of the common room directly affect the choice of colors for the walls, ceiling and floor. Traditional advice is appropriate here: for small rooms, you should use light colors that visually increase the volume. Black, chocolate, dark blue, purple, burgundy tones make the room visually smaller.

In compact and low living rooms, a glossy ceiling will be very appropriate - it adds height to the room.

Spacious rooms give more space to the imagination of homeowners - the choice of colors and shades for decorating the living room is much wider.

To choose the decoration of the living room, the location of the room in the house or apartment is no less important. An enclosed space with a door allows for a more creative finish. Open placement, when the hall is one with the dining room, hall, hallway, implies a common style and color scheme for all rooms. In open living rooms, it is usually not used to paint a large surface in one color, especially dark. A combination of several colors and / or textures would be more appropriate.

The monochrome solution of the walls visually enlarges the room. In current design solutions, a combination of several wall colors or textures in one room is very often used.


Lighting

The natural illumination of the room depends on which side of the world the windows of the living room face. North windows give a little light, so it is better to choose warm shades: beige, chocolate, peach, orange, coral, lemon, yellow, pink.

The southern windows give bright light, and you can choose cool colors in the room: blue, blue, gray, turquoise, white, mint. For a living room with western windows, a cold color scheme is also more suitable.

Colors are perceived differently in natural and artificial lighting.


Color specification

White is becoming more and more popular. Initially, neutral white blends well and effectively emphasizes any color accents, decor elements, furniture, textiles. White has many shades. A room in white tones will always look flooded with light, clean and gentle. Depending on partner colors, décor, textiles and lighting, a white living room can look warm or cool. But light or white furniture, white carpet, curtains will give the room a somewhat cold and distant look.


Black color looks very stylish and extravagant, but visually reduces and darkens the room. Sometimes it acts somewhat depressingly, requires bright lighting. It is better to use it for individual design elements or to highlight part of the wall, rather than paint over the entire room with black paint. The black gloss on the ceiling looks interesting - the reflection of the room adds volume to it, no matter how paradoxical it sounds. Black is combined with all colors, but it is better not to choose caramel, pink, beige, lilac, peach as partners.


Everything that has been said about black belongs to the noble shades of dark chocolate. But it is better to combine chocolate shades with white, beige, cocoa with milk, cherry. Brown colors - chocolate, cocoa with milk, light brown, coffee - require competent lighting, in the twilight all the charm of these colors is lost.

Green, pistachio and salad colors have a calming effect on the psyche and relax - there is an association with green vegetation and nature. For dark shades, it is necessary to provide bright lighting. The optimal partner for green and salad shades is yellow and lemon. Olive and marsh colors should be used with caution, preferably in partnership with white.


The warmest colors are yellow, peach, light orange. The living room in these colors seems warm, cozy and sunny. This is the best choice for a room with windows to the north. Yellow and peach do not go well with red, cherry, black furniture. Optimal partners are natural wood browns, beige, green, ivory, dark orange and terracotta.

Red color is the brightest, exciting, active. And aggressive - it is uncomfortable to live in it. It is better not to use it for the entire room, but to highlight individual sections of the wall with decor. It is better to muffle the brightness of red with a combination of gray, beige, white walls, furniture, textiles.


A more refined and muted shade of red is coral. But it is better to use it in doses. The same applies to dark orange, terracotta.

Cherry blossom has long been the color of luxury. Especially when combined with gold. It will warm the room and serve as a wonderful backdrop for light-colored furniture, curtains, carpets. It is possible to use furniture in "palace" styles - natural lacquered wood, carving, gilding, inlays. Requires bright lighting. It does not go well with black, orange furniture or high-tech items.

The same can be said about emerald and blue colors combined with gold.

But all shades of blue and blue (boring faded blue does not count) are gaining more and more popularity. The white and blue gamma simply does not go out of trend. To soften the contrast, bright accents are used: red, coral, yellow, orange. Blue and blue shades are great for high-tech style.


Increasingly, purple and lilac colors are used. That's right - combine purple walls with white or light-colored furniture, light purple textiles. Companion colors - white, beige, light coffee, gray, lilac, light purple. Looks great, but the purple space is not very suitable for families with small children. Purple living room requires bright lighting.


Another trend among modern designers is light gray. A discreet neutral color is not as cold and easily soiled as white, and at the same time it is combined with any color and favorably emphasizes all design delights, furniture, decor, textiles.


Family and living room color

In many ways, the color scheme of the living room is determined by the composition of the family and the characteristics of family pastime. For a couple without children or with teenage children, a creative design of the hall would be more appropriate: bright or dark colors, non-traditional catchy design, high-tech style, loft, etc.

For a family with young children, neutral warm tones and a small amount of aggressive colors are preferable. Children will be uncomfortable in a black or coffee room, and parents of children in an exciting red one. For a family of three generations, a calmer color scheme of the common room and a traditional design are more suitable. The main thing is that all family members do not feel discomfort and can fully relax.


Interior styles

The style of the living room determines the color. Some styles simply dictate the use of certain colors. So, hi-tech requires cold, soft shades (possible with bright accents): gray, white, blue. Loft - almost always white or brick (terracotta) walls, or a combination of both. Rustic style, eco-style require the use of wood, white and beige. Provence - muted beige, pistachio, olive shades.


For modern styles, more saturated colors are used, often only one wall is painted in a bright color. For a classic style, muted beige, salad, blue, lemon shades are used.


Any renovation starts with an idea. Abstractly choosing the color scheme of a room is risky - you can create a completely meaningless interior.

Before choosing the color of the living room, you should weigh all the factors that affect the choice. The living room should be cozy and warm for all family members, the space should not seem cold, not “press” with tightness, not annoy. With the help of color, you can mask certain flaws in the room, make it “warmer”, lighter, more spacious, adjust the shape, divert attention from the ledges. The right combination of the main color and accents will help create an exclusive interior in the living room of each house or apartment.

Color of the living room - 140 photos of the correct color combination in the living room

With the help of these recommendations, the selection of colors for the interior of the living room will be greatly simplified and will not take much time.

Whatever style is preferred when designing a living room, the color scheme is of great importance when decorating its interior and design. Of course, now the range of colors is very wide and it is extremely difficult for a simple layman not to get confused and make the right choice. But if an independent search is somewhat difficult and has not yielded results, it is recommended to contact specialists in these matters, who will select an option as soon as possible, taking into account all your wishes.

List of issues to be discussed in detail below:

Choosing the right color scheme for the interior of a room is not an easy task, but with the help of the recommendations below, it can be solved in the shortest possible time.

Table of contents of the article:

Skillful combination of colors

All colors are conditionally divided into two types: — cold and warm.

It is very important to take into account the following point: - If you are doing the design of the living room on your own, then you should not mix both types, it is better to choose one color line, because these shades are too contrasting.

To combine a warm tone and a cold one, it is necessary in such a way as to prevent a sharp transition in the color scheme, and also so that the combination of colors in the living room looks proportional - only a professional can do this. It is important to remember that a small percentage of a warm shade when decorating a living room in cold colors will not spoil the overall picture with its presence, but, on the contrary, will add elegance and sophistication to the interior. You do the same if you use a line of warm shades in the color of the walls of the living room, you just need to dilute it with a moderate amount of cold shades. Thus, the harmonious combination of colors in the living room will eloquently make it clear that the owner of this room has great taste and an amazing sense of style.

Pay attention to which direction your living room windows point? Do your windows point south and do you often have too much sunlight in the room? In this case, we choose a line of cold tones, otherwise the feeling of unbearable stuffiness and heat will never leave you, and the existing air conditioner will not save the situation.

Popular colors for decorating the living room

Living room in white - this color must be introduced very carefully and in moderation to prevent its overabundance, otherwise you will feel like you are in a hospital room.

The beige color in the living room as shown in the photo is a very picky color, it is good because it will not be difficult to choose furniture made of wooden materials for it. Decorating the walls in the living room in beige is an almost perfect solution.

Brown color in the living room will complement the interior with a touch of practicality, but its overabundance is fraught with the merging of furniture and walls together. It also needs to be used in moderation.

Zoning by playing with color and other devices

If the color of the living room is kept in one tone, as you can see in the photo, we highlight the resting place with a different shade, without sharp transitions. To highlight a particular area, it is not necessary to resort to changing the color of the walls of the room, just use the pictures.

Also, artificial light sources are ideal for zoning, it can be either lamps or floor lamps or the same sconces, and it doesn’t matter what color you chose for the living room.

Another ideal option to focus on the seating area is easy to implement with large outdoor houseplants, regardless of the color schemes appearing in the living room.

Recommendations that help to perfectly combine different colors while maintaining a sense of taste and style

  1. The combination of brown and beige tones must be diluted with black, but again, you need to know the measure, it should be very small.
  2. The combination of red and green is hardly possible, since they are both very bright, muted shades are suitable as an option.
  3. The combination of blue and white is just a flight of your imagination, as these shades are in perfect harmony with each other.
  4. The combination of black and lilac is highly recommended not to be used together.

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