Paint colors for great room
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.
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Water's Edge by Benjamin Moore
Icy blues bring clear skies indoors. “For a client’s library that opens to a garden and pool, we chose this beautiful blue-gray to give the illusion of bringing the outside in," says designer Paloma Contreras, who matched Water's Edge by Benjamin Moore to a high-gloss lacquer for a mirror-like finish.
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PAUL DYERBorrowed Light by Farrow & Ball
"There's a kind of clarity in the air after a rain, and this color has the same feeling," says designer Katie Maine. She adds: "It suddenly makes the ceiling of a room seem taller, and the space somehow becomes larger. It totally changes the room's energy and makes you feel like you can finally take a big, deep breath!"
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Farrow & BallSmoke Ring by Pratt & Lambert
"This icy blue has a cool crispness that's refreshing," says designer Robert Stilin.
"I'd add fabrics in different tones of the same shade, like navy and slate, to create a layered, monochromatic look." Or, as Stilin recommends, you can bring in contrasting colors like brown and red to add warmth and coziness.
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Oval Room Blue by Farrow & Ball
Painting an office? Try a gray-blue. "Studies have shown that blue helps your ability to focus," explains Sheila Bridges, who used Farrow & Ball's Oval Room Blue for this room. "This particular shade has a little gray in it, and that makes it even more soothing."
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Trevor TondroEarly Frost Blue by Benjamin Moore
"Some people would call this pale gray, but it actually has blue and purple in it," says designer Brian Paquette. He continues: "To me, it's the color of the fog out here in Seattle. I used it in a living room with massive windows overlooking the Pacific Ocean, and at certain times of the day, you couldn't tell the difference between the sea and the sky and the walls.
They were all the same color."
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Benjamin MooreBlue Veil by Benjamin Moore
"This has the coolness of a long, tall drink of water on a hot day," says designer James Michael Howard. "I use it frequently for ceilings because it's subtle. It catches your eye but doesn't yell. Or, if you want to dazzle, do it in high gloss on the walls, and the space will be electrified!"
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Light Blue by Farrow & Ball
Designer Susan Ferrier adores this light blue shade. "When you think of the color of a lake, you have to think about trees and shadows and clouds," she explains. "It's muddled, like this gray-blue. It's not a clear jewel tone, like the ocean. The ocean, with its breaking waves, is all about energy. Lake water is more soothing. It laps at the shore. This gray-blue kind of washes over a room, and you don't see the clutter."
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Farrow & BallSweet Bluette by Benjamin Moore
"My favorite blue paint is Benjamin Moore 813 Sweet Bluette, says New York City designer Marie Burgos.
"This color is part of the Benjamin Moore Classics, and its timeless appeal complements styles from traditional to modern and everything in between. It is such a soft color tone which brings an overall sense of relaxation and healing—perfect for a bedroom design or a nursery."
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Benjamin MooreDrenched Rain by Dunn-Edwards
"This is a romantic and charming blue with soft undertones of gray," says designer Ryan Saghian. He adds: "For me, it embodies Paris in the rain—the silvery reflections on the streets, the misty sky, the coat-grabbing wind. It's a very soothing color, so I see it in either a bedroom or a breakfast room. Pair it with yellows and oranges to make the blue look even richer."
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Jet Stream Blue by Benjamin Moore
"I used this in the study of a Manhattan apartment with panoramic views out to the Hudson River," says designer Raji Radhakrishnan. "It blurred the edges of the walls and seemed as if the sky was lulled inside to wrap the room in one fell swoop.
And the blue of the sky was reflected in the river. Spike it with shades of green, inspired by the treetops and lots of white."
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Benjamin MooreMarch Wind by Pratt & Lambert
Walls lacquered in Pratt & Lambert’s March Wind help brighten this north-facing room in an apartment designed by Nick Olsen.
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Francesco LagneseCaribbean Sea by Glidden
"In Turkey, the sea is so clear and so bright—a true ocean blue, like this color," says designer David Phoenix. He adds: "You see the same blue in the tiles in the Blue Mosque. It has endless depth, and that makes it very calming. I'm imagining it in a high-gloss finish in an entry or a library. After all, it's only paint. Take a risk and go for it!"
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Dynamic Blue by Sherwin-Williams
"Dynamic Blue by Sherwin-Williams is a blue bursting with joy," says designer Courtney McLeod, who used it in her own living room.
"It strikes a wonderful balance between being bold and bright but also quite livable. It is also a great backdrop for other bold colors."
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Dane TashimaMajor Blue by Sherwin-Williams
"Certain shades of blue immediately take me away to a tropical island, and this is one of them," says designer Debbie Viola. "Even though it's a medium-bright tone, it's still calming yet vibrant enough to make me feel happy as soon as I enter the room." She suggests adding accents of tangerine and lime green to enhance the tropical flavor.
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Sherwin-WilliamsCruising by Sherwin-Williams
In designer Vern Yip's Florida home, a kitchen with cabinetry painted in Cruising by Sherwin-Williams is the epitome of life at the beach. It offers a welcoming energy that can't be beat, especially considering the rest of the home is covered in other bright colors, patterns, and textures that give it great liveliness.
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Celestial Blue by Valspar
"I like real colors, as opposed to those that are just a hint of something," explains designer Harry Heissmann.
He continues: "I love clarity, and this is a clear blue. Anything you put against it—a black bamboo bed, a bright abstract painting—will pop. And the light in the room takes on a wonderful atmospheric quality. You feel good in it."
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Thunderbird by Benjamin Moore
"This sitting room was inspired by the ethereal blues found in Kandinsky paintings hanging in the Hermitage Museum," says Kirill Istomin of this muted turquoise hue, Thunderbird by Benjamin Moore.
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COURTESY OF KIRILL ISTOMIN INTERIOR DESIGNTurquoise Tint by Valspar
"On vacation in the Caribbean islands, I was walking along a street and stopped to sit on a ledge so I could look down at the water, which was exactly this color," says designer Erinn Valencich. She continues: "And suddenly, just three feet away, all these tropical fish were swimming by in the most amazing purples, yellows, and greens. We humans can make many beautiful things, but nothing is more beautiful than what's already here in nature.
"
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Green Blue by Farrow & Ball
"My favorite blue paint color is Farrow & Ball's Green Blue #84," says designer Chad Graci. He explains: "I love using this clear, mutable blue for its chameleon-like quality. It can feel coastal, historic, or just plain fresh when you need it to."
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Farrow & BallClare Good Jeans
Designer Ashley Izsak selected Clare Paint's Good Jeans for this entryway because it worked so well with the wallpaper she chose (Endless Summer by York Wallcoverings). "This shade of blue almost feels like a neutral because of its toned down soft qualities and works well in our open-concept space to add a little bit of drama without feeling intense," the designer gushes.
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Courtesy of Ashley IzsakSienna Livermore
Senior Editor
Sienna is a senior editor at Hearst. She lives in Montecito, California with her husband and two littles.
Emma Bazilian
Senior Features Editor
Emma Bazilian is a writer and editor covering interior design, market trends and culture. She has very strong feelings about tissue box covers and believes that everything is better with toile.
HousebeautifulHousebeautiful Lettermark logoJessica Cherner
Jessica Cherner is House Beautiful’s associate shopping editor and knows where to find the best high-low pieces for any room.
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.
Pixabay
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.
First of all, forget about white paint: using it in a dark room is a huge mistake. All that can be achieved is the feeling that in front of you is not a room at all, but a large shoe box. Agree, not a very inspiring association.
Decorators unanimously declare: for a small and dark room - only deep, saturated shades, coupled with properly selected artificial lighting. These can create a feeling of comfort and tranquility in the interior.
Or, on the contrary, make it expressive and attractive.
Another safe option is light shades with a yellow undertone: they work perfectly in dark rooms, filling them with calmness and light. But it is important to avoid light shades with a gray or green undertone in dark rooms: otherwise you risk aggravating the situation and creating a faded and depressing interior.
Perfect for dark rooms: 5 shades from the Farrow & Ball palette
This sophisticated deep magenta hue works especially well in glossy finishes: it looks elegant, warm and dramatic plus the light, multiplying it and filling the room with a shimmering glow.
Brinjal No. 222, Farrow & Ball
Brinjal No. 222, Farrow & Ball
2. London Clay No. 244, Farrow & Ball
London is warm, simple, clappy. interior even in a room without a window. Also, try using it in walk-through rooms, such as a corridor or hallway: then getting from these secondary rooms into a room with little natural light or even without a window, it will seem lighter than it really is.
London Clay #244, Farrow & Ball
London Clay #244, Farrow & Ball
3. Yellow Ground #218, Farrow & Ball little natural light. It makes the interior brighter and happier. It also works as a neutral and high-quality background for art objects: exhibit paintings, graphics and ceramics against its background, as the British and French do.
Yellow Ground #218, Farrow & Ball
Yellow Ground #218, Farrow & Ball
4. New White #59, Farrow & Ball
This creamy tone looks much fresher than more traditional shades. white, such as, for example, Lime White No. 1. With a yellow pigment in its composition, it can warm any room and fill it with soft light. Try pairing it with White Tie #2002 or India Yellow #66.
New White #59, Farrow & Ball
New White #59, Farrow & Ball
5. White Tie #2002, Farrow & Ball
starched cotton. Traditionally, the British used this material for sewing white ties.
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