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Living room interior paint


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.

The Best Paint for Your Walls 2022

Every item on this page was hand-picked by a House Beautiful editor. We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy.

Grab a brush!

By Jessica Cherner

Lick x Soho House

Nothing is more transformative than swathing your rooms in a new hue, so if you’re in the mood to start a project, you’ll need the best interior wall paint on the market. To lead you in the right direction, we tapped interior designer Becky Shea for her expert opinion. "One of my favorite paint brands is Benjamin Moore, they offer such a range in color and what you can do with the color is also out of this world," she tells House Beautiful.

Here’s the thing about paint, there’s a lot of it. And color aside, you need to consider other factors when choosing your shade—namely, finish. The ones to know are flat, matte, eggshell, satin, and semi-gloss. Don't stress, the finishes aren’t room-specific, so feel free to glaze your walls in any paint that suits your fancy.

The same goes for color in that there are no rules. That said, one thing to keep in mind is that darker shades tend to make a space look smaller, so you may want to avoid painting your powder room navy blue. Or you can always experiment with different tones. "I've played around and made colors darker and lighter by diluting or enhancing the pigmentation," Shea adds.

All in all, before you commit to an entire gallon, start by ordering a sample so you can see what the color would look like in your specific space. The best thing about painting is that it’s one of the easiest projects to master. You just need a paint roller, brushes, a tray, painter’s tape, and, of course, paint. Ready to transform your space? Scroll through for all the best paint for your walls and get to work!

Newest Collaboration

Lick x Soho House

Pink 13 Nashville House

Lick x Soho House

$70 AT SOHOHOME.COM

Moodiest Blue

Farrow & Ball

Hague Blue

Farrow & Ball

$120 AT FARROW & BALL

Most Environmentally Conscious

Benjamin Moore

Chalk

Ace Hardware

$89 AT ACE HARDWARE

Most Regal

Magnolia for KILZ

Conservatory

Magnolia

$60 AT ACE HARDWARE

Best White Alternative

Clare

Beigeing

Clare

$64 AT CLARE

Most Dramatic

Behr

Pure Black

The Home Depot

$42 AT HOME DEPOT

Best Accent Color

BACKDROP

Ghost Ranch

Amazon

$45 AT AMAZON

Most Unexpected

KILZ

Crimson Velvet

Amazon

$53 AT AMAZON

Best Neutral

Farrow & Ball

Hay

Farrow & Ball

$120 AT FARROW & BALL

What is the best paint finish for interiors?

There is no best finish when it comes to paint. That said, glossy paint is a bit more durable than matte, so if you think your walls may get a bit weathered, go the gloss route.

What is the best paint brand?

When it comes to choosing the best paint brand, the most important factor to consider is whether or not the paint contains any toxic chemicals. Companies like Benjamin Moore, Farrow & Ball, and Lick all create colors that are completely toxin-free, making them the best of the best.

Why trust us?

Becky Shea is the principal designer and founder of New York City-based (BS/D) and pays as much attention to details like paint as she does big-ticket elements like furniture. You can trust that this expert knows all there is to know about the best paint for walls.

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

types, how to choose, ideas for interiors

The right choice of wall paint will make repairs more comfortable and faster. To date, there is a huge variety of paints in composition, color, as well as the effect that you want to get in the end. In order not to make a mistake with the purchase, it is necessary to take into account the individual properties, pros and cons of each material. Our article will talk about the most relevant types of wall paint, their advantages, application in different rooms, as well as the criteria that you should pay attention to when choosing. nine0005

Colors

If you decide to find a worthy alternative to wallpaper or renovate already painted walls, then it's time to find out about the most popular types of paints offered by manufacturers:

Silicone Wall Paint

A unique type of wall covering that has the ability to self-clean. This has a positive effect on the absence of stains, dirt and dusty streaks. Silicone paint is used in different rooms of the house or office because it has a high environmental friendliness and proven durability. Such a coating often masks scratches up to 3 mm in size. The composition of this paintwork material may contain antibacterial elements, which is also a distinctive characteristic. nine0005

Acrylic wall paint

She became famous for her elasticity and high moisture resistance. The external variety of colors is very rich in interesting shades. Another significant advantage is the fact that if you wish, you can create your own original shade right in the store. A special machine mixes different pigments, and you become the creator of an interesting new tone for your home.

Latex Wall Paint

This is a very good option for painting old wallpapers. This is evidenced by low vapor permeability, ease of washing, as well as durability. Appearance may differ in brightness or neutral tones. Because of its durability, latex paint is popular in kindergartens, schools, and other educational or recreational settings. nine0005

Water based wall paint

One of the most budgetary types of wall covering. The composition includes a combination of different pigments that dissolve in water. The advantages of water-based paint include environmental friendliness, brightness, and ease of care (simple detergents are used for cleaning).

Alkyd enamels

The design of this type of wall paint may vary. There are matte, semi-gloss and glossy options. Among the distinctive properties are resistance to abrasion and aesthetic appearance. Alkyd enamels dry quite quickly (compared to other types of paints and varnishes), but have a slightly pungent odor that takes some time to fade. nine0005

Paint in the interior of different rooms

The choice of paint and varnish material for the wall surface should depend not only on the properties and appearance of the product, but also on the purpose for different rooms.

Bedroom Wall Paint

An emulsion and silicone base is perfect for a cozy sleeping corner. The first one perfectly masks any irregularities, cracks and scratches on the walls, absorbs excess moisture, and the second, with its environmental friendliness, is suitable even for allergy sufferers. As for the structure, it is best to give preference to matte paints for the bedroom. nine0005

Living room wall paint

Here it would be optimal to use bright alkyd enamel, latex or acrylic paint. A latex product can well cover the remains of an old repair, acrylic paint will delight you with moisture resistance, and alkyd enamel will perfectly fit into a bright design that is filled with rich colors.

Children's room wall paint

For this room, it is very important to use acrylic paint, which is easily washed off. The composition must be characterized by zero emission. This indicates the absence of any harmful components. Another good option for decorating a child's room is to use glue paints, which are also beautiful and safe. nine0005

Kitchen wall paint

The kitchen space is often the hardest thing to keep perfectly clean, so you should look at acrylic paint (walls can be touched up and refreshed at any time necessary) or silicone product, which has become famous for its high durability.

Hallway wall paint

The best choice would be acrylic-latex (combined) or latex paint, which is resistant to chemical and mechanical damage, easy abrasion and has a huge variety of colors. nine0005

How to choose wall paint

Expert advice will help you choose your wall covering twice as fast and with confidence. The first thing to consider when choosing wall paint is that you first need to decide on the color scheme of the furniture, and only after that - on the tone of the finish. It also does not hurt to recreate the room of your dreams in the form of a computer or paper drawing using the colors you like. This will help you look at the big picture from the outside and understand whether you want to give this appearance to a particular room. It is worth remembering that the color of the floor and wall covering should not differ by more than half a tone. Then the interior design will look aesthetically pleasing and elegant, and not flashy. nine0005

For those who have not yet decided on the right option, it is worth buying several washable probes of different shades and painting different parts of the room in order to look at the result and make the right decision.

A matte base can easily hide all wall imperfections, while a glossy base can emphasize them. Therefore, the first coating is good to use on already painted walls, and the second will be relevant for primary repairs or for a completely flat and cleaned surface.

The palette should be harmonious not only in one selected room, but throughout the house. The rooms should complement each other, creating a common beautiful background. It must be remembered that the color solution should also depend on the chosen style solution. Each interior design has its own successful range of colors. nine0005

Wall paint - photo

The photos we have chosen will help you get acquainted with the current types of wall paints, see how they look in the interiors of different rooms, and also choose the right wall covering. Happy viewing!

How to choose paint for the bedroom and living room?

Recently, many people are abandoning wallpaper in favor of painting bedrooms and living rooms. At first glance, this method of finishing seems simple, but in fact, those who want to paint a wall with paint can face a lot of difficulties. We will tell you about what you need to know when choosing paint for the bedroom and living room in this article. nine0005

Benefits of painting the bedroom and living room

Using paint as a base coat has several advantages.

  • A wide range of shades - the range of wallpapers is large, but it still does not cover the richness of shades that is found among paints and varnishes. Painting will allow you to come up with and implement almost any interior.
  • Easy to clean - A painted wall can be easily washed to remove dirt and stray stains. With wallpaper, this is much more difficult to do. nine0084
  • Scratch Resistant - Paint resists accidental scratches and pet teeth. Cats and dogs are simply not interested in a painted wall, and defects caused by children can be easily corrected.
  • Simple repainting – unlike wallpaper, which must first be peeled off, paint with the same chemical composition can be applied in several layers.

Of course, the painted variant also has disadvantages. These include the difficulty of preparing the foundation. The wall and ceiling must be leveled, all cracks covered and flaws removed - only in this case the surface will look attractive. Another important point is the technique of applying the paint itself. nine0005

What to choose?

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

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

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


For interiors, water-based (water-dispersion) paints are the most popular. In them, the role of the solvent is played by water, so the drying is fast enough, and the process itself does not lead to the release of various harmful substances into the environment. nine0005

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

  • PVA-based paints - the most budgetary composition based on water and polyvinyl acetate. The paint belongs to water-based. The composition passes steam well and does not emit harmful substances during the drying process. A negative feature of compositions with PVA glue is low resistance to water, therefore, in most cases, this paint is used only for the ceiling. nine0084
  • Acrylic paints is a composition in which acrylic resins are the main component. After drying, they form a dense film that does not allow moisture to pass through and is resistant to mechanical damage. A wall covered with acrylic paint retains its original color for a long time and does not show scuffs. In most cases, such compositions are used for painting walls, and the coating also tolerates high humidity.

The advantage of acrylic paint is that it practically does not change the shade after drying

  • Latex paint is based on latex polymers and has good water and vapor permeability. This prevents condensation from forming between the base and the paint, which can cause peeling of the finish coat. Latex paint is successfully used both indoors and outdoors. If large companies often gather in the living room, then latex paint will be a good option. Also, the paint tolerates temperature extremes well. Latex paints can be applied in a thin layer, so they are used for painting decorative plaster or textured wallpaper. A thin layer of latex composition does not violate the texture of the base. Due to the strength of the latex film, the surface can be washed with non-abrasive detergents. nine0084
  • Alkyd enamels are compositions based on alkyd resins, these paints are similar in properties to acrylic paints. They dry quickly, form a film that protects the base from moisture. The maximum hardening of the composition occurs within a few days, but the initial solidification occurs within an hour. At the same time, they do not dry out as a result of evaporation of moisture, but due to oxidation as a result of contact with air. This creates an unpleasant odor in the room.

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

Please note that not all colors are equally well combined with each other. For example, it is not recommended to mix layers of alkyd and acrylic compounds. Due to the difference in chemical components, blisters and other defects may appear in these places. At the same time, if you cannot do without such an overlay, you need to carefully clean the base. nine0111

  • Oil paints - compositions in which various artificial oils (linseed oil, drying oil or oxol) are used as a solvent, and not water. For this reason, the surface painted with oil paint dries for a very long time. At the same time, an unpleasant odor will be present in the room for a long time. The advantage of such coatings is high wear resistance. Due to this property, oil paints were previously used for painting floors. At the same time, the coating of the hardened oil paint has poor vapor permeability. This can lead to delamination, condensation and flaking of the paint, which can be observed in various establishments where oil paints are still used to paint doors and jambs. nine0084
For interior work, oils are rarely used, as there are many more practical alternatives. When working indoors, it is important to ensure good ventilation.
  • Silicone paints are based on a silicone emulsion. They have water repellent properties. Good vapor permeability protects against blisters and peeling of the finish coat. In most cases, silicone paints are used for facade work, but in living rooms they can also be used to paint individual elements that may be exposed to moisture. nine0084

Color selection for the bedroom and living room

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

Choosing a color is not an easy task and must be approached responsibly

What mood do you want to create in the room? One of the main questions to be answered. The bedroom is a place of relaxation, so active colors there will be distracting and tiring. More options are possible in the living room. Here the choice depends on how the owners like to spend their free time. If these are noisy parties, then bright warm colors will be appropriate, pastel colors are more suitable for a measured rest. nine0005

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

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

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

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


What size is the room? For small rooms, it is better to choose light shades or white, as these colors will visually enlarge the space. Warm colors in a small living room will create a soothing cozy atmosphere. Dark blue color, on the contrary, will reduce the space. There are exceptions to all the rules; for the style of an English living room, you can use a noble dark brown color. The lack of a lot of light only emphasizes this interior. nine0005

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

Do you have any stylistic preferences? Interior style has a significant impact on colors. Some areas gravitate towards monochrome painting, in others a combination of colors is welcome. For example, one paint with a neutral tint is applied to three walls, and the fourth wall is painted in a bright color. nine0005

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

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

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