Painting scheme 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.

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.

29 Best Blue Paint Colors in 2023: Shop Designer-Approved Picks

GladiathorGetty Images

When it comes to swathing your walls in a calming hue, you can’t go wrong with a neutral shade. And if you ask us, blue fits into that category. Whether you’re going pale and icy or dark and moody, nearly every blue tone pairs beautifully with a myriad of colors (not to mention woods and metallics). Don’t believe us? See for yourself. Ahead, you’ll find some of the most renowned blue paint colors interior designers love.

Surrounding yourself with cool-toned blues is also said to instill tranquility and calmness, so there’s no better time than now to cover your walls in the pretty shade. That said, there are a lot (and we mean a lot) of options out there, which can make choosing the right one a challenge. Our suggestion? Buy a few swatches or small cans and test the colors on your wall. Otherwise, check out these elegant spaces with walls that are as stylish as they are soothing. What’s more, experts have offered their tips and opinions on the best shades for specific types of rooms.

You'll see that no matter your decor or style, there’s a blue for you. All you have to do is find the right one, and we guarantee you’ll discover your perfect shade in our designer-approved list. From big names to smaller brands, these blues will make you feel anything but, well, blue. So if you're interested in transforming your space without having to do a whole lot, you may want to scoop up a can and pick up a paintbrush!

Water's Edge by Benjamin Moore

PAUL DYER

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.

BUY NOW

Borrowed Light by Farrow & Ball

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!"

BUY NOW

Smoke Ring by Pratt & Lambert

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.

BUY NOW

Oval Room Blue by Farrow & Ball

Trevor Tondro

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."

BUY NOW

Early Frost Blue by Benjamin Moore

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."

BUY NOW

Blue Veil by Benjamin Moore

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!"

BUY NOW

Light Blue by Farrow & Ball

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."

BUY NOW

Sweet Bluette by Benjamin Moore

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."

BUY NOW

Drenched Rain by Dunn-Edwards

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."

BUY NOW

Jet Stream Blue by Benjamin Moore

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."

BUY NOW

March Wind by Pratt & Lambert

Francesco Lagnese

Walls lacquered in Pratt & Lambert’s March Wind help brighten this north-facing room in an apartment designed by Nick Olsen.

BUY NOW

Caribbean Sea by Glidden

Tk

"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!"

BUY NOW

Dynamic Blue by Sherwin-Williams

Dane Tashima

"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."

BUY NOW

Major Blue by Sherwin-Williams

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.

BUY NOW

Cruising by Sherwin-­Williams

ROBERT PETERSON / RUSTIC WHITE

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.

BUY NOW

Celestial Blue by Valspar

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."

BUY NOW

Thunderbird by Benjamin Moore

COURTESY OF KIRILL ISTOMIN INTERIOR DESIGN

"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.

BUY NOW

Turquoise Tint by Valspar

Lowe's

"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."

BUY NOW

Green Blue by Farrow & Ball

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."

BUY NOW

Clare Good Jeans

Courtesy of Ashley Izsak

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.

BUY NOW

Antiguan Sky by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"Aqua is a calming color, which balances a fiery red-head like me and makes for a pretty room," says designer Lindsey Coral Harper. "Actually, most people look good in aqua, and when you look good, you feel more confident."She likes to use a range of one color, so she'll add a darker teal or Prussian blue with this one. "Red or pink would punch it up and give it more pizzazz," she adds.

BUY NOW

Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball

Simon Watson

When it comes painting to pint-sized rooms, designers often reach for a deep, dark blue, like perennial favorite Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball. "Because the library is small, it lent itself to a rich jewel-box treatment," says Jeannette Whitson of this stunning space.

BUY NOW

Santa Monica Blue by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"This is the deep, almost Prussian blue of the ocean in the Bahamas at low tide," says designer Alessandra Branca. "When you combine it with coral-colored fabrics, it's amazing." Branca has used this color in a bedroom with blue-and-white toile. The designer recommends going for it if you live near the sea or want to constantly be reminded of it.

BUY NOW

Sea Serpent by Sherwin-Williams

EMILY FOLLOWILL

“I love the kitchen—it suits their personality: cool and sophisticated,” says designer Melanie Millner of the Atlanta kitchen she designed for a pair of coastal bon vivants. The backsplash has a nice hint of blue in it that pairs well with the cabinetry painted in Sea Serpent by Sherwin-Williams, making the space one seriously dreamy place to cook.

BUY NOW

Pitch Blue by Farrow & Ball

Jana Davis Pearl

"I love this color because it changes throughout the day," says designer Kelly Finley. "The pigments are so rich that sometimes it reads as if there is a little periwinkle in the blue and from another angle, it is a true dark blue. " Finley notes that the color adds a ton of depth when used on furniture that most other paints can't achieve.

BUY NOW

Pitch Blue by Farrow & Ball

Farrow & Ball

Designer Dan Barsanti is another fan of Pitch Blue. He explains: "I'm a big blue-and-white freak. It says nautical, crisp, and timeless to me. I painted my kitchen cabinets this great blue—almost a navy but with some periwinkle thrown in—and did white statuary marble on the countertops."

BUY NOW

Blueberry by Benjamin Moore

SANDA STOJAKOVIC

Designer and blogger Sanda Stojakovic used Benjamin Moore's Blueberry paint to give her Illinois library a vibrant, happy atmosphere. “Incorporating bold colors was important to me because we moved from the sunny states of California and Texas to the Midwest where there are many gloomy, cold days that really can have a negative effect on our mood,” she says.

BUY NOW

Searching Blue by Sherwin-Williams

Sherwin-Williams

"This painterly blue proves a color can be tranquil and exciting at the same time," says designer Mary Douglas Drysdale. "You almost sink into the calmness, but it's still confident."

BUY NOW

Polo Blue by Benjamin Moore

Benjamin Moore

"A deep, dark blue in a dining room will evoke the deep, dark Atlantic," says designer Tom Scheerer. "The paint finish is matte to absorb as much light as possible and let the objects arranged on it shine."

BUY NOW

The most popular blue paint shade continues to be Benjamin Moore's Hale Navy, which is part of the brand's Historical Colors Collection. This shade is a gentle maritime-inspired hue that boasts the perfect amount of drama.

In recent years, blue has become a wildly popular interior color because it's colorful enough to add a bit of spice to a room without overpowering the eye. It's also known to reduce stress and put the mind at ease.

While we consider ourselves well-versed in beautiful design elements, we turned to the interior designers to do the talking this time. After all, when it comes to outfitting the most beautiful spaces in the world, they tend to know best.

Sienna Livermore Senior Editor Sienna is a senior editor at Hearst.

Emma Bazilian Senior Features Editor Emma Bazilian is a writer and editor covering interior design, market trends and culture.

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

DIY patterns: 7 cool ideas for decorative wall painting