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Modern living room paint color ideas


50 Best Living Room Color Ideas

Read McKendree

When it comes to living room design, a flattering color palette is one of the first aspects you need to nail down. It will likely drive the whole design scheme and set the mood for years to come. Plus, your living room is probably the most-used room in the house, so choosing colors that make you look forward to spending time in it is a must! Whether you want something bold and bright, neutral, or dark and moody, we've laid out tons of designer-approved living room paint color ideas to help you get inspired. All you have to do is put on your overalls and grab a roller—or, you know, hire someone else to do the dirty work. The hardest part will be deciding between all of these living room colors. But once you do, you can start shopping for the decor.

🏡You love finding new design tricks. So do we. Let us share the best of them.

Seth Smoot

1 of 50

Gray-Purple

In a Cape Cod-style home for a couple of empty nesters, designer Lauren Nelson painted the living room walls in Farrow & Ball's Dove Tale—a warm gray with purple undertones. It keeps the atmosphere neutral yet inviting.

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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

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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

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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.

Lick Paint Launches in the U.S. to Uplift Moods Through Color

Here's a confession: I have been avoiding painting my living room for years. Even with new furniture or decorative accents, I convinced myself that the not-so-chic color of my walls (something possessed me to agree to light-peach paint) could be remedied with low-lift upgrades. I bought huge art prints and even created a gallery wall to hide the color. The warm tint made my space feel cluttered and frankly, outdated, even after rearranging the room and purchasing new furniture. So, when Tash Bradley, Lick's Head of Interior Design, reached out to me offering a color consultation, I jumped at the opportunity.

@lindsey_isla

@carlaelliman

Lick offers a thoughtfully curated collection of high-quality paints and wallpapers to suit every personality—not to mention endless inspiration, community, and in-depth consultations on how to paint your home in a color that fits your style (and isn't an eyesore to your guests).

The UK brand grew in popularity when it first launched during the pandemic. With everyone stuck indoors, all you could pretty much do was watch paint dry—so it's no surprise that many folks were inspired to update their home's color palette. Luckily, Lick has since made its way to the U.S., so my living room makeover can officially happen!

"Decorating can be very daunting," Bradley, a trained psychologist (who happens to be married to the brand's cofounder, Sam Bradley)—admits. "Our main aim is to make decorating very enjoyable, accessible, and easy. We help you along your entire journey. I want our decorators to feel excited about being able to transform their house into a home they love."

Bradley's specialization in color psychology is the core of the brand's mission: to help you understand how colors affect a place. "It's not just about saying, 'Pick this white paint.' We have to look at the color of your sofa and plants, and consider your lifestyle to create a culmination of colors to spread in your home," she explains.

@georgiahamiltoninteriors

To begin the process, Tash and I hopped on a 30-minute FaceTime call for a walk-through of my home and to help her better understand my personality and design goals. I genuinely felt at ease talking to her about my painting woes, and how much I disliked the peach color of my living room walls. "Warm tones make a room feel more intimate and cozy, bringing everything in. If you choose a fresher color, it will make the space lighter and airy," she advised.

After seeing my navy blue couch and bohemian vintage rug, Bradley knew the stuffy walls didn't suit the welcoming vibe I wanted the space to radiate. Suddenly her eyes lit up and she exclaimed, "I want you to show me where the light comes in through your window." As I sat down on the couch to show her how sunlight crept into the room, she smiled and declared: "I know what to do!"

Tash Bradley’s presentation.

Tash Bradley

Tash put together a visual list of recommendations showcasing hues carefully culled from Lick's spectrum of 124 paint colors. I pored over the presentation with anticipation, excited to see the possibilities for my living room. It not only provided six color suggestions, but also the amount of paint I would need. (One Lick color can't be mistaken for any another—"There isn't a shade lighter or darker," Bradley explains—which prevents color paralysis, where "you want one blue color and face 1,000 variations instead," she notes.)

I enlisted friends and family to help me select the best color scheme for my space—and, as soon as I settled on a color scheme, Lick sent me a whole paint kit, complete with a step-by-step guide and all the tools and accessories I would need, from bamboo-handled brushes and recycled rollers to sugarcane pulp trays and biodegradable dust sheets. As a bonus, Tash even included a palette for my kitchen!

Lick Teal 03 Matte

Lick Teal 03 Matte

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"What you never want to do is make a room feel disjointed from the other rooms in the house," she asserts. "You want to get a lovely flow to create harmony."

Lick is the perfect resource for any decorator afraid to commit, DIY-lover in need of an expert opinion, or budding designer looking to hone their decor skills. (Just scrolling through the brand's Instagram feed will help boost your color confidence!)

Ready to give your own home a color facelift? Sign up for a Lick virtual consultation here.

Follow House Beautiful on Instagram.

Medgina Saint-ElienAssociate Market Editor

Medgina Saint-Elien is House Beautiful's associate shopping editor. She covers everything your home is missing. She writes about exciting new launches, hands-on product reviews, shopping guides for every corner of your space, and the "lightbulb" moments in every maker's story. The writer and poet champions the work of BIPOC entrepreneurs in the design and beauty industry. When she isn’t categorizing memes, she can be found looking at sneakers. Her work has been published in Byrdie, Snapchat, and more.

Living room color - 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.

The final conclusion of these recommendations is as follows: - when decorating a living room in different colors, you should approach this issue thoughtfully and then everything will turn out beautifully, aesthetically and stylishly, as shown in the photo.

Also read:

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Zoning living room - the best ideas and zoning options (115 photos)
Walls in the living room - 100 photos of beautiful wall design in the interior

140 photos of perfectly matched colors in the interior of the living room

14 ReRooms luxury ideas

Let's talk and show you how to create an incredible living room interior with 14 fun colors.

The right color combination will help create a stylish and original interior in the living room. Today ReRooms will talk about 14 colors that can and should be combined with other shades to get interesting ranges.

These colors can be both basic and find their place in various interior details, such as decor or textiles. In order not to overload the room or, on the contrary, not to make it faceless, it is necessary to combine colors. And we will tell you how to do it.

1. Beige

Beige will look stylish and noble with almost all colors: invigorate the interior with bright accents of green, coral and red, or, conversely, create a calm and peaceful atmosphere with white, brown, gray or mint colors.

Beige color is better not to use alone, as you run the risk of creating a faceless and boring space from the living room, which will crush with its monotony. To prevent this from happening, introduce a few additional shades into the interior - the photos below show very interesting examples. In the decoration of furniture and walls, give preference to light colors, diluting the palette with bright accents on textiles and decor.

For example, beige and white colors will look the most harmonious in combination with a third accent shade. This option will create a cozy and peaceful atmosphere. The combination of white and beige is considered universal, it will suit almost any style: whether it is strict minimalism or cozy Scandinavian style. In such an interior, use textured furniture or decor elements: wooden tables, wicker lamps or iron partitions. Choose these elements in contrasting colors, then beige and white shades will emphasize their unusualness and create an original apartment design.

2. Blue

Blue is one of the most sought-after colors in the design world. It is quite difficult to use, but if you find a suitable pair for it, then believe me, your interior will radically change.

Use the aforementioned beige or white to dilute the somber blues. Thanks to this combination of colors, you can create a marine mood, which is sometimes so lacking in city apartments. However, often this combination may look too cold.

Add to these colors a bright red carpet and purple accents on textiles, then the blue and white design of the room will be transformed and you will get a full-fledged vintage interior. Just do not forget to add unusual decor items in this case: carved candlesticks, natural flowers, marble vases and unusual lamps.

3. Violet

This color has a large number of shades of different temperatures and brightness, so it is very interesting to work with it in the living room interior. As you understand, there are a lot of options for combinations with purple.

One word of caution: don't use dark purple alone, or you risk creating Count Dracula's crypt from the living room. To create an unusual interior, give up the classic white or beige shades, give preference to contrasting tones that will bring brightness and fun to the living room. To do this, use green, orange, blue, red or brown. The listed colors can be both bright and pastel. The main thing is to find a balance and fit each shade appropriately. In the photographs you can see very unusual and striking examples.

4. Coral

This color will help create a good mood and atmosphere in any style and in any space, for which we love it so much. Depending on the lighting in the living room, it can give different shades: pink, orange, red and brown.

The peculiarity of the coral color is to give off warmth to the surroundings. Therefore, if you live on the north side of the house or it is always cool in your area, this color will be a real salvation. Pair it with beiges and browns and add interesting decor elements like a coral chandelier (why not?). If you, on the contrary, think that it is too hot and saturated, use white and blue to cool it down. Combine blue and coral in textiles or upholstery, and white in wall decoration.

Such combinations of colors will always give you a good mood and energize you.

5. Green

One of the most frequently used colors not only in the interior of the living room, but also in the interiors of other rooms, especially the kitchen. And it's not just that. Green color calms, creates a natural atmosphere, which is so lacking in city apartments. As in the case of the aforementioned colors, we advise you to abandon the banal combinations, such as green and beige, green and blue. It is better to experiment and create a real jungle at home.

If the living area is large, use bright shades of green in combination with yellows, pinks, blues and browns. Complement this bright madness with unusual decor: figurines in the form of parrots, fruit-shaped dishes, colorful paintings and pillows. So you will definitely turn the room into a tropical jungle.

If the area of ​​​​the room is small and you don't really like flashy shades, then give preference to muted green shades that go well with beige, brown and gray. However, you should not completely abandon bright accents, just use pastel shades instead of flashy colors.

You can also see examples in the presented photos.

6. Red

This color has long been feared for its excessive brightness and aggressiveness. However, now almost every interior has this color in various shades and on various surfaces. You need to use it very carefully, because if you overdo it, instead of a comfortable living room, you will get a visual nightmare. In order not to get tired and not annoyed in such an interior, you need to muffle it with white, beige or brown colors.

We advise you not to use red in the decoration of walls or ceilings, it is better to focus on furniture, textiles or decor items. To make the living room look more interesting, experiment with red patterns in combination with other colors: red and white curtains, red and blue pillows.

7. Gray

The popularity of this color has grown exponentially since the release of the famous movie. Gray is rich in various shades, which can be emphasized thanks to light and dark, warm and cold colors. At first glance, it seems that gray is a boring color with a poor palette, but it is not. With it, you can create a very cozy room in which it will be comfortable to relax. To do this, combine gray and white colors, do not forget to add wooden textures to this combination, which will create a more cozy atmosphere.

If this combination seems rather boring to you, it doesn't matter - introduce a contrasting third color into the interior: green, red, blue or purple.

8. Turquoise

Turquoise color is very noble and beautiful, it must be in the living room interior. It can be combined with white, beige and blue shades, then you get a very gentle and unobtrusive interior. However, if you create the same design as shown in the photographs, you will get a bright and expressive environment. To do this, add red, orange and yellow colors - and vintage style in your pocket.

The main thing is not to overdo it with saturated shades.

9. Mustard

Luxury, prosperity and independence - these are the associations that arise when we mention the mustard color. Depending on the lighting, it plays with different shades: from bright yellow to dark.

This color pairs well with its closest neighbors, yellow and brown. The first will add brightness and energy to the interior, and brown - luxury and style.

For a summery feel, pair mustard and blue with interesting decor to add freshness and good cheer.

10. Brown

Brown is another color that won't go out of style for a long time thanks to its versatility. It can fit into any interior: be it a cozy Scandinavian or a luxurious classic style. The classic combination - brown and white, coffee with milk - designers use very often in the interiors of living rooms, as it creates both a cozy and luxurious atmosphere. White color in this combination creates a background for brown shades, highlighting them favorably.

To make the brown-white gamma sparkle with colors, add fresh flowers and unusual decor elements to the interior, as shown in the photo below. Just a couple of strokes - and the living room acquires notes of wildlife.

11. White

This color is the basis of all foundations, no modern interior can do without it. However, we do not recommend using this color alone, as the living room risks turning into a hospital room. It is unlikely that you will be comfortable in such a room. To make such an interior warmer and more homely, add blue or beige to white - you can see examples in the photographs. From a lifeless and cold room, these two shades will make something airy and peaceful. This color scheme is used in Scandinavian interiors.

12. Olive

This is a stylish and sophisticated color that goes well with both neutral shades (white, beige, brown) and bright ones (red, purple, yellow).

The combination of olive with brown and white is very harmonious. It resembles wild nature landscapes, where massive tree trunks coexist with delicate foliage shimmering in the sun. This palette will bring peace and serenity to the interior.

13. Burgundy

Not every owner will like this color, as burgundy is a shade that is very expressive in nature. However, if you correctly fit it into the interior of the living room, you will get an expressive and expensive-looking room.

This color is rarely used in wall decoration.

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