Modern wall paint colours
Top 10 Modern Paint Colors From an Expert
- Design & Décor
- Paint & Color
Shades to Update Bedrooms, Kitchens, and Living Rooms
Graphic by Cristina Cianci
These days, the word "modern" means a variety of different things, especially when it comes to embarking on a new interior paint project. Some think pure white paint is modernity incarnate, while others picture deep, dramatic hues. But the truth is that both types of colors have the ability to take lifeless spaces to new style heights, depending on where, and how, they're used. Modern colors aren't necessarily reserved for modern architecture, either, explains Benjamin Moore's Andrea Magno. Rather, "they capture a modern sensibility," she explains.
While Magno acknowledges that in recent years, folks are straying from the dated idea that a modern room is one that's staunchly bright-white, she also admits that variations of white and gray—neutrals—are actually the forerunning color trends proliferating today's painting projects.
Consider using one of these ultra-versatile paint colors to give your space a quick pick-me-up.
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Benjamin Moore
"The captivating, upbeat power of red brings energy into every room," says Magno. Bold and energizing (and with brown undertones), Caliente completely transforms any space, whether covering an entire room or used as a simple accent. "Red never fails to make a statement," she adds, "and you can show off your color-confidence with this classic, dramatic hue."
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Emily Henderson Design
Some colors never go out of style, like this versatile, bright off-white. "White Opulence is crisp and clean with just the slightest touch of pink," Magno says. Use it anywhere you want to evoke a serene, tranquil feeling, such as a bedroom or bathroom.
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Devon Grace Interiors
To create depth and a dramatic effect, paint walls black. "It's a chic way to elevate other colors, and it makes a strong style statement," Magno says.
Black Beauty is a warm, modern, rich tone that that pairs well with any hue, but especially whites, deep greens, pinks, and metallic tones.
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Phil Crozier; Design by Reena Sotropa In House Design
Another off-white, White Heron is a crisp variation with blue undertones that's particularly nice on trim, casings, and millwork. On walls, white is the perfect backdrop via which to show off artwork and decorative elements. Pair it with warm and cool shades—both work with it because it isn't too stark.
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Benjamin Moore
"Sophisticated and subdued, Excalibur Gray has a slightly violet cast that's ideal in a bedroom or bathroom," says Magno. We love this romantic, moody shade that breathes new life into basic gray.
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Devon Grace Interiors
As its name suggests, Moonshine isn't quite white nor is it a full-on gray—it falls somewhere in the middle. "A pale gray with a tinge of green, Moonshine is a subtle color that complements many materials and textures; it's versatile and nuanced," says Magno.
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Benjamin Moore
The statement-making Wolf Gray is cool, with strong blue undertones. It looks beautiful on kitchen cabinetry, built-in bookshelves, millwork, and yes, walls. Earthy neutrals, such as muted yellows and greens, and bolder colors, like cobalt and indigo, complement its richness.
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Benjamin Moore
"This pale slightly-green gray is tranquil and elegant," says Magno. She recommends using Silver Marlin in a living room, bedroom, or bathroom and pairing it with soft, metallic accents such as antique brass or brushed nickel.
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Benjamin Moore
Sharkskin reads as a deep, gray-green and is "a versatile color that pairs easily with pastels, and bolder colors, too," Magno says. Mustard and deep red accents will pop against its verdant undertones. Consider it for the exterior of your home, as well.
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Heidi's Bridge; Design by Jersey Ice Cream Co.
According to Magno, Balboa Mist is one of Benjamin Moore's most popular grays due to its ability to freshen and modernize any space.
"It works beautifully with a wide range of other colors, and stands up well on its own," she says. Consider ceilings, trim, and walls.
20 Beautiful Interior Color Schemes Designers Have on Repeat
Article Sources
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Elliot AJ. Color and Psychological Functioning: A Review of Theoretical and Empirical Work. Front Psychol. 2015;6:368.doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2015.00368
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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.
What colors to paint the walls: tips and ideas
The choice of colors for the interior is one of the key points. It sets the mood and shapes our feelings. Therefore, the issue should be approached carefully. Our article will help, in which we give tips and ideas on what color to paint the walls in the house.
All about choosing wall paint colors
Tips
Best options
- White
- Black
- Brown
- Pastel
- Violet
- Yellow
- Blue
- Green
- Red
Not sure how to choose a wall paint color and afraid that the end result will not meet your expectations? Here are 5 tips to help you decide.
1. Trust your first instinct
It often happens that you plan to paint the walls in a certain color, but then, when you see a wide range of shades in the store, you start to doubt. In this case, designers advise not to change the original decision - a spontaneous choice is likely to be not the most successful.
It's best to have a detailed room design on paper. Color combinations will already be thought out in it, and the temptation to change your choice will become less.
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2. Match the furniture
If we are talking about a full-fledged repair, it is first important to decide on most of the furniture, and only then, what color is better to paint the walls. The combination of shades in this case will be more balanced, besides, you can choose the tone, starting from the pattern on the upholstery of the sofa or chair.
Another argument in favor of this advice is that repainting the walls is cheaper than completely refurbishing the room.
3. Choose a paint with rich pigment
Regardless of the shade (it can even be very light), try to choose a paint with rich pigment. It is this finish that will ultimately give the room depth and look interesting in different lighting conditions.
This paint can be found in the assortment of foreign manufacturers Portola Paints and Farrow and Ball.
4. Don't give up on testing
Even if you fall in love with a certain tone in the store, don't buy it right away. Ask for a paint sample and test it at home under different lighting conditions. Light does wonders for color, so seeing how a particular tone looks in your room is very important.
5. Choose the right test site
When testing a paint sample, it is important to select the correct test site. Test paint next to other finishes and as far away from distracting elements in the room as possible. So you can accurately understand how the room will look after the repair.
And one last piece of advice. If you still can't wait to buy paint directly in the store, always give preference to a lighter palette. Sometimes you want to add more color to a space, but in a real room, the lightest shade will most likely look brighter than in the jar.
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1. White
The most popular choice for painting large surfaces due to its versatility. White and its shades (beige, cream, ivory) visually enlarge the space, make it lighter. White is uplifting and calming, and also helps to focus.
Any furniture and floor finish can be combined with white. If it seems that the interior looks boring, feel free to add bright colors. It can be bright furniture or an accent wall.
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But in fact, this is one of the most stylish interior solutions, of course, with the right selection of proportions and combinations with the environment.
An interior with a black wall becomes elegant. Its depth emphasizes the details, gives expressiveness. It becomes the perfect backdrop for artwork and vintage furniture. A classic combination: black walls and light furniture or floors.
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3. Brown
Brown is the color of stability and reliability It is suitable for classic interiors, as it is considered quite conservative. Brown is also recommended to design a relaxation area, as it soothes.
In order not to make the interior too gloomy, it is recommended to combine brown with white and other light colors such as beige. This rule works both when choosing furniture and when choosing what colors to paint the walls in a room. Another good combination is brown trim and turquoise accessories in the interior.
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4.
Pastel Pastel colors are very diverse and look great in any interior. Pistachio, mint, soft blue, pale yellow or pink can be the main background, making the room airy and delicate, or balance a bright and contrasting wall and furniture.
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5. Purple
Violet and its shades (lavender, mauve, lilac and violet) attract attention and set the tone for the interior. They also inspire a person and have a positive effect on brain activity.
When designing an interior, it is important not only to choose the right color, but also to determine its quantity. Violet rarely decorate large surfaces. As a rule, it is used as an accent and balanced by other elements.
Soft and calm shades of purple can be used in classic interiors. In pop art, minimalism and hi-tech, more saturated options will look good. Against a purple background, light-colored furniture looks the most advantageous.
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7. Blue
Blue creates a feeling of peace and tranquility. Despite the fact that it belongs to the cold palette, the right combinations with other shades and competent lighting ensure its harmonious existence in the interior.
For small rooms, a combination of blue and white is suitable. White will visually make the room wider, and blue will bring freshness. To keep the interior from being too cold, you can use shades of blue, close to blue and turquoise, in combination with beige. Furniture in a blue interior can be neutral, wood-like or, conversely, bright contrasting colors.
The variety of green tones is so great that it can be used in any interior. Light shades will visually enlarge the room, dark ones will make the interior elegant and deep.
Green and its shades blend well with each other and wood.
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0002 Red is associated with passion and luxury. It helps to become more active and energetic, excites and attracts attention. But in order to paint a large area red, or at least make it the main accent, you will need to pay attention to furniture and accessories.
The best complement to red is white. Light doorways, doors, window frames and furniture will balance the aggressiveness of red. Also, red walls will look harmoniously with red furniture and accessories.
The choice of palette depends not only on personal preferences, but also on the parameters of the room - color schemes will make a room with low ceilings and one north window more comfortable, a very narrow or irregularly shaped room.
The choice of colors depending on the direction of the world
Perhaps the first thing to do is to determine how effective the natural lighting of the room is: the northern rooms do not receive sunlight, while in the southern rooms there is an excess of them.
Of course, a lot also depends on the climate, because some even the southern regions are distinguished by the predominance of cloudy days.
Colors help make the living room more comfortable.
- In a room facing north, there is usually a feeling of lack of sunlight and heat . Therefore, the color of the living room in this case should be warm, soft, cozy. Usually it is a beige palette, muted shades of green combined with natural woody, chocolate scale with terracotta and yellow notes.
- Room with south-facing windows can be cooler - blue, grey, white and turquoise . But these tones do not seem cozy to many, so they are often changed to a neutral range - barely noticeable cream, milky, gray-blue and white-sky.
- Northwest and northeast rooms can be different. To determine in what shade to decorate such a room, it is worth watching. If there is no time, you can choose combined solutions - paint the wall where the rays of the sun fall in light cool colors, and the opposite one - in the shade - on the contrary, in the sunny palette.
Then it will seem that there is still more sunlight in the room than there really is. To make the effect more noticeable, choose bright colors of warm colors for accents - they will look as if sunlight is also falling on them. - More comfortable rooms - southwest and southeast . Here the sun's rays look more, respectively, they warm the room and make it bright. For a hall in an apartment with such an arrangement, any shades and their combinations are suitable.
Combination of finishes and furniture
The choice of color for the living room and its furnishings is usually based on simple rules of harmony. And in this matter, it is not so important what the chosen shade for the walls will be - it is important to find an aesthetic combination.
Natural duets and trios are among the traditional combinations. This, of course, is the color of greenery and wood, sky and earth, greenery and buds. Obviously, the blue, pastel olive and pistachio walls of the living room complement the brown furniture.
An example is the combination of woody and lively greens, mint and fuchsia.
Combinations of beige scales with all natural shades look just as harmonious: the color of sand and the sea, clouds and clear sky. But the most organic are the tones close in gamut - for example, cream, sand and peach, as well as pistachio, azure and emerald.
The achromatic palette is always out of competition, because it goes well with any - both natural and "poisonous" tones. The white, gray or even black color of the living room does not determine the shade of the furniture set - any other shade looks great against such a background.
To find the best combinations, you can use the circle, in which harmonious tones are selected using figures inscribed in it - triangles, squares or rectangles - depending on how many shades are needed for decoration.
How to find the perfect color for your living room
In search of the best decor, hosts look not only to personal preferences and design advice, but also to various psychological aspects.
For example, psychologists are sure that deep blue is the best shade for a bedroom, while light green gives a feeling of peace and tranquility.
Another theory of the influence of the color palette is associated with the Taoist symbolic exploration of space, called "feng shui". In this teaching, it is believed that the color for the living room is as important as your spiritual state is for you. Here, the balance and distribution of color throughout the room is significant. In this theory, the palette is divided into male and female shades. And they should all be present in the design. According to Taoist theory, a cozy living room should include almost all existing shades, but it is recommended to give priority to the feminine, then the atmosphere will turn out to be soft and hospitable. These tones include white, blue and green - a rather cool palette, but they must be complemented by "male" colors - black, orange or red.
Of course, no one can tell you what the ideal color for your living room will be, so you should take into account a variety of parameters and personal preferences.
Neutral character of pastel shades
A living room in pastel shades is a universal solution for any style project. This range is distinguished by a particularly light spectrum, almost imperceptible emotional coloring, the possibility of combining with any other bright accents. The best shades in this range are, of course, beige, milky, cream, powdery, gray-beige. Less commonly, pastel yellow, green, blue are used in the design. They are more emotionally colored, so choose them when the owners are sure what mood they want for the interior of their living room, albeit in pastel colors.
This palette has both warm and cool tones:
- Beige tones in a wide range help to make the room warm and cozy . They are applicable to the interior in any style and are harmoniously combined with bright color spots of any spectrum.
- Pastel yellow will be warm. It is quite close to beige, so in this color the design of the living room will become more sunny and cheerful.
- Cool colors include ultra-light and muted grey, blue and green, lilac, pink . Of course, there are also warm tones in every spectrum. The choice depends on the overall design, the location of the room, its area and shape.
Living room in pastel colors can be different - restrained and neutral, strict and unemotional, hospitable and cheerful, solemn and elegant. The inclusion of any bright color sets the mood and shapes the character of the setting.
Living room in warm colors
It is obvious that warm colors in the interior of the hall form a completely unambiguous atmosphere - cozy and pleasant. Lighter shades are quite sophisticated, but saturated ones are homely and emotional.
- The lightest and most neutral cream tones are a sophisticated option for decorating rooms in classic, modern, technological and solemn - a variety of styles . Close to white, this color looks unobtrusive and elegant.
Together with gilding, it can be used in a classic majestic interior, and with the inclusion of bright colors of the "acid" palette - in the hi-tech direction. - Living room in cream tones - an elegant option for discreet classics, laconic minimalism, a cozy interpretation of high-tech style . This is a universal color from the beige range, which is easily combined with different shades - deep, bright, dark.
- Living room in peach tones - a richer interior in which it is easy to create a special atmosphere . Summer aromas and a light atmosphere are literally in the air here, so you should choose the appropriate solutions for decoration. Peach color in the interior of the living room helps to decorate the room romantically, gently, unobtrusively. It easily fits into the directions with a rustic character, where natural white textiles, simple wooden furniture, wicker sets are also appropriate.
- Terracotta color in the interior of the living room is a rather bold decision .
Of course, this is the natural color of a traditional brick, but it is distinguished by its brightness and saturation, so the terracotta shade cannot fill the entire room. And if it was chosen for painting a large area, but even the hinged shelves will be lighter and weightless.
Living room in warm colors can be red - extravagant, and brown - in a natural, rather saturated color of natural wood. Against such a background, elegant details in a peach shade, in a white and beige palette, as well as green, blue, and pink decor are harmoniously used.
Warm colors in the interior of the living room can be both pink and green. To do this, just add yellow notes to such shades, and you get a curious mix of halftones that will allow you to combine opposite temperature spectra for full harmony and filling the composition. For example, a peach-colored living room includes a hint of pink, which allows you to organically use the rich shade of fuchsia in accents.
Living room in a cold palette
Cool shades are usually chosen for rooms that are flooded with sun.
Most often, these are apartments and houses in the southern regions, because even the southern rooms of the northern climatic regions actually rarely see the sun. But a living room in cold colors can also be chosen to implement a discreet - modern or solemn pompous style. It will be a detached environment, perhaps strict and even businesslike, technological or with futuristic features. Of course, even such a palette can be made cozy if you choose light shades for the background, and the main composition will be wooden pieces of furniture, accents in a warm palette - red, orange, yellow, beige, chocolate.
The lilac color in the decoration of the hall will look extraordinary. Shades of lilac range are quite peculiar and ambiguous. They include a wide range of other pure colors, which creates a variety of variations and nuances of this color scheme. For example, the predominance of notes in the purple range will make the interior mysterious and meaningful. In the living room in lilac tones, there will hardly be an additional zone in the form of a children's or play area.
Such a room is more often used for receiving guests and spending time with a married couple without children.
Black is designed to emphasize the style of the hall in cool shades - it outlines the contours, sets off the depth of the background color or demonstrates the lightness of the light palette.
Cool tones of blue, green, gray-beige remain pleasant to the eye. These are light and unobtrusive colors that can be pastel or more intense, but their nature allows for organic and comfortable compositions.
Living room decoration in dark colors
Before choosing the main color for the living room, it is worth evaluating its parameters: if it is spacious and light enough, the walls can be painted in an intense shade from any palette. Of course, black surfaces will press psychologically, so when choosing a specific tone, one should take into account its effect on human sensations.
Despite the apparent extravagance of a saturated background, you can find a lot of interesting solutions:0223 .
This is a standard solution for the loft style, as well as for many industrial, urban, ultra-modern areas in which there is a lot of metal, concrete, glass.
Decorating a room in this palette is quite easy - it goes well with light and saturated shades of other ranges. Chocolate can be the color of natural wood panels or painted concrete, then there are discreet gray notes in it.
When choosing a dark color for the hall, another interesting question arises - regarding the choice of color for the kitchen-living room when combining these zones. Obviously, a saturated room in a deep palette cannot be monotonous. When we design a combined space, it should not be cluttered with intense tones. The combination of contrasting shades will be the perfect tool for zoning a room.
With any dark range, white, light gray, beige will organically look.
Choice of finishing colors for individual surfaces
It is unlikely that anyone thinks that it is enough to paint the walls in the living room and the interior will be ready: the composition, mood, atmosphere are formed by many details, and you should not take away an important role from floor and ceiling coverings in this process. One thing is obvious - they almost never merge with vertical surfaces. Even in the same range, clear boundaries are drawn between the planes with the help of a plinth. In a monochrome room, the flooring, the color of the walls of the living room, the ceilings will be implemented in the same range, but in different shades. Although among the harmonious combinations there are many stylish and elegant solutions.
White living room
The ideal solution for a bright, spacious room is, of course, white. It is chosen for walls and ceilings in classic, Scandinavian, Greek style, as well as contemporary and shabby chic.
Depending on the direction, you can find the best answer to the question of how to choose the color of the floor.
Popular and harmonious floorings include:
- Parquet or other wood alternative . Most often, the coating retains its natural shade, so the color of the laminate is usually brown, although this range is quite large - from whitish to chocolate with golden threads. If you choose a monochrome design, gray-white types of laminate are suitable for a white room; they will look stylish and restrained in the living room interior. The warm brown shade of wood will make the atmosphere cozy and homely.
- Natural stone will make any room solemn - natural mineral looks so luxurious. Marble, which is dominated by a white palette, will look exceptional in a classic interior. But other minerals, differing in a variety of colors, will organically fit into an aristocratic interior.
- Ceramic tiles, due to their variety, can be used in any style .
When choosing such a coating, a well-chosen ornament is important - a tile can imitate wood material, natural stone, or represent a completely different category - the ability to create patterns on the surface in the widest palette of shades.
From ceiling coverings for a white interior, similar materials are usually chosen - preference is given to stretch fabrics. The choice of gloss or matte surface depends on the style and parameters of the room. As a rule, glossy ceilings are equipped in rooms that are too low and in modern design directions. In tension multi-level structures, colored canvases can be used - in the central and zoning inserts of various shapes. It can be a regular geometric figure or a contour of arbitrary geometry.
Beige interior
Everything is clear here: the use of beige neutral colors creates an elegant environment with a discreet character. As a rule, cream or sand wallpapers complement the wood floor. The ceiling can be painted both in traditional white and in milky - a softer tone.
Universal beige is a good solution for both luxury and budget interiors. Such a palette allows you to save a lot - there are no flashy and demonstrative details, the price of materials fades into the background, like the whole environment - comfort plays the main role.
Gray room
Gray palette - a wide variety of shades for decorating rooms in different styles. Silver is a frequent guest in restrained classicism, matte ash is the color of pure concrete in a loft style, aluminum and steel is a high-tech direction priority, graphite can become the basis of any modern or retrospective design. Of course, a living room in dark colors is possible only with a sufficient area of the room. However, there is always room for an accent surface.
To decide what color to paint the walls, it is worth comparing the parameters of the room and the nature of the chosen style. Universal and achromatic gray can be appropriate in any of the directions in a very different format.
Picking up the same color for the floor and ceiling is not difficult.
- Wood brown flooring is the perfect choice for any interior . It is a warm color that will balance the cool and austere ash, especially when used metallically in modern settings.
- Gray granite or grey-beige slate - a luxurious solution for a room with monumental features . This wear-resistant coating is expensive and has a variety of decorative textures, but the weight of the material prevents its widespread distribution.
- Ceramic tiles can be bright enough - any accent looks stylish against a smoky background. And it is the floor that can become an accent in a laconic self-sufficient interior.
Wall materials
Still, the main issue when choosing a particular palette is the choice of wall material. The traditional answers are paint and different types of wallpaper.
A painted interior is the simplest solution, the implementation of which is available to everyone. For a textured finish, you can choose wallpaper for painting, which differ in unobtrusive relief, or plaster, but it’s better not to work with it without skills.
Other options include decorative wood panels, glass and stone panels for accent and partial wall decoration. Such coatings can imitate doors to other rooms, look like paintings, mask built-in wardrobes, etc.
The most common option is, of course, wallpaper.
The choice of these depends on many factors:
- If you need coatings for an accent wall, you should pay attention to bright colors, catchy patterns, stylish ornaments. For example, if you choose materials for the Provence style, floral wallpaper will do. The same is worth picking up curtains, sofa cushions.
- To create a harmonious combination, it is worth considering what color other surfaces are painted.
- When choosing a base coat with a pattern, it is worth finding a plain or textured strip to place photos on the walls. In the same tone, curtains are selected.
- Wallcoverings can be combined – solid colors with stripes or floral motifs, stripes with floral motifs on adjacent walls, alternating stripes, contour ornaments and plain textural areas.
At the same time, the color of wallpaper with a pattern loses its original character - here the shade of the ornament takes on the main role. This should be taken into account when decorating a living room in a certain range.
Features of choosing a color for a living room combined with a kitchen
The rules for choosing a palette for a living room combined with a kitchen are, in fact, not much different from choosing the color scheme of any room.
Nevertheless, there are nuances that are worth paying attention to.
- A popular solution is white color for the kitchen, then the facades of the kitchen set literally merge with the wall finish, visually freeing up space .
But this range remains the brand itself, so you should choose it only if you are ready to regularly care for such surfaces. True, you should not save on white furniture - modern manufacturers offer functional coating options that do not absorb dirt, so they are easy to clean. - The kitchen can be made in the same color as the hall . Then it is worth considering constructive zoning methods that will not allow the working block to merge with the recreation area.
- When combined with the dining room, and not just the working area, it is worth decorating the entire room in the same style, but you can choose a different color . In the kitchen, for example, bright - pink, blue, blue, green, and in the guest part - neutral, more balanced. The dining room will become a transition between territories with different purposes. It can be arranged in a transitional shade or in a combination of basic ones.
- A comfortable color scheme with the same background will help make the living room together with the kitchen unit complete in composition .
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