Unique living room paint 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
There's a reason why a blue is always in style: Depending on the shade, it can come off as evocative and moody, serene and calming, or bold and energetic. Plus, it pairs beautifully with a wide array of other colors (including wood tones and metallics). Since, considering the breadth of options, choosing the right blue paint can be a daunting task, we've put together a list of designers' favorite tried-and-true blue colors—from the palest powder blue to deep, glistening navy. Think of finding the right blue paint like searching for a pair of blue jeans that fit like a glove: Whether your decor is uber-traditional or super-modern, there's a perfect blue for you out there!
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 Benjamin Moore Water's Edge 1635, $49
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 Farrow & Ball Borrowed Light No. 235, $130
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 Pratt & Lambert Smoke Ring, $97
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 Farrow & Ball Oval Room Blue 85, $115
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 Benjamin Moore Early Frost CSP-590, $49
Blue Veil by Benjamin Moore
Farrow & Ball
"This has the coolness of a long, tall drink of water on a hot day," says designer James 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 Benjamin Moore Blue Veil 875, $49
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 Farrow & Ball Light Blue 22, $115
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 Benjamin Moore Sweet Bluette 813, $49
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 Dunn-Edwards Drenched Rain DE5883, $5
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 Benjamin Moore Jet Stream 814, $49
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 Pratt & Lambert March Wind, $84
Caribbean Sea by Glidden
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!"
BUY NOW Glidden Caribbean Sea GLB02, $26
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 Sherwin-Williams Dynamic Blue 6958, $115
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 Sherwin-Williams Major Blue 6795, $115
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 Sherwin-Williams Cruising SW 6782, $115
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 Valspar Celestial Blue 5003-9C, $45
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 Benjamin Moore Thunderbird 675, $49
Turquoise Tint by Valspar
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."
BUY NOW Valspar Turquoise Tint 5006-10B, $62
Green Blue by Farrow & Ball
Courtesy of 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 Farrow & Ball Green Blue 84, $115
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 Clare Paint Good Jeans, $64
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 Benjamin Moore Antiguan Sky 2040-60, $49
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 Jeanette Whitson of this stunning space.
BUY NOW Farrow & Ball Hague Blue No. 30, $115
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 Benjamin Moore Santa Monica Blue 776, $49
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 Sherwin-Williams Sea Serpent SW 7615, $115
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 Farrow & Ball Pitch Blue No. 220, $115
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 Farrow & Ball Pitch Blue No. 220, $115
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 Benjamin Moore Blueberry 2063-30, $49
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 Sherwin-Williams Searching Blue SW 6536, $50
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 Benjamin Moore Polo Blue 2062-10, $49
Pin It for Later!
Alice Morgan
Use this chart as a reference guide before you head to the store.
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.
features and selection rules (60 photos in the interior)
Features of choice
By choosing the color scheme of the walls, you can visually increase or decrease the size of the living room.
Factors affecting the choice of color:
- Room area
- Lighting
- Personal preference
- Functional requirements
For compact living rooms, light colors are suitable, thanks to which the area of the room will appear larger. Successfully complement the interior, in harmony with the overall color, a pattern on one of the walls.
In spacious rooms, the possibilities for realizing fantasies are much greater. The color palette can be with a soft transition or contrast.
Vertical stripes on the wall will stretch the space, while horizontal stripes will expand it.
Wall color and cardinal direction
When choosing the color of the walls for the living room, you should pay attention to the lighting of the room. The same shade in natural and artificial light will look completely different.
Turning the room to one of the cardinal directions also affects the overall "picture".
Soft and warm shades are suitable for the north side, they compensate for the lack of sunlight. It can be yellow, green, beige or chocolate.
If the windows face south, then the living room can be cold shades, as there is enough daylight in the room. Sky blue, turquoise and white.
For the oriental side, it is better to use warm light colors, for example, soft pink, honey, peach.
For a west-facing living room, cool colors should be preferred. The walls can be painted in gray, blue, mint.
Feng Shui Wall Color
Feng Shui is an ancient and very interesting theory, the purpose of which is to have a beneficial effect on life with the help of objects and colors. It is believed that any colors affect the energy of the house and affect the spiritual state of a person.
According to the rules of Feng Shui, the color palette of the living room can be chosen according to the principle of masculine or feminine, or based on which side of the world the room faces.
Light and warm colors such as red, yellow, green and white are masculine.
Dark and deep colors are assigned to the female part, for example, blue, purple, black.
For a living room located on the north side, blue is suitable. Shades of blue promote relaxation, reduce activity. As an interior design, you can choose paintings depicting reservoirs.
For the southern part, it is better to choose the orange and red color of the walls, it protects against negative energy and increases vitality. These colors should be treated with care. According to the theory of Feng Shui, red color can increase blood pressure and has a negative effect on the nervous system. For the living room, it is better to use more muted shades of these colors, soft coral and peach. Red color
For northeast and west rooms it is better to use a cream, beige and honey palette. Colors enhance mood, vigor and inspire optimism.
Popular living room colors
Beige
Beige is versatile and looks great in almost any style. The living room will turn out warm and cozy, the character of the room can be changed with the help of decor. The finish may be brickwork or unusual paint application.
Gray
A modern and trendy color that is often used to create loft, classic, modern styles. The walls of the room can be complicated by a variety of textures and geometric shapes.
Light blue
Various shades of blue have a relaxing effect. For people with a high load, it will be the best solution for decorating a living room. Corresponds to oriental, nautical, mediterranean and shabby chic style.
White
White is considered a neutral color, but by playing with colors you can create absolutely any interior. It has a lot of shades, and thanks to the complex application to the walls, the living room will turn out to be original and completely unusual.
White walls will be the base for creating the character of the living room. For a dark living room, white will be a salvation, there will be more light in the room.
Decor elements will make the interior simple and refreshing, or vice versa, will give comfort and warmth.
Green
A trendy color in recent years, which is associated with greenery and nature. The walls can be painted in different shades, zoning the space of the room. Wallpaper with a bright print will emphasize the eco-style of the living room.
In addition, green has a beneficial effect on vision and has relaxing properties.
Yellow
A bright, summery and sunny color, it is subconsciously associated with something warm and pleasant. Suitable for covering the walls of a spacious living room.
Too bright and poisonous shade of yellow in a living room of a small area will put pressure, while pastel and light colors will contribute to communication, increase attention and mood.
Olive
Olive is a shade of green, it envelops with its noble shade and gives a feeling of comfort.
Wall decoration in olive color will look harmoniously in classic, Scandinavian and country style.
Peach
Peach-colored walls will fill the interior with rich colors of summer and early autumn. Suitable for classic, modern and fusion styles.
Peach is combined with gray, turquoise and burgundy.
Turquoise
Painting the walls in turquoise will give a feeling of freshness and spaciousness to the living room. It has a different color depth from weightless pastel to rich and deep. It is combined with almost any paint without overloading the overall interior of the room.
Color combination
Monochromatic use of shades of the same color allows you to visually preserve and increase the area of the room. Each color has many shades, their combination options will create an original and unique interior of the living room.
Without overloading the interior, by painting the walls in different shades, you can zone the space or focus on a certain area.
The neutral color of the walls gives more room for fantasy. Muted and delicate shades are suitable for the classic style of living room design.
Furniture or decorative elements that become boring over time will change the character and style of the living room. Walls in a neutral color can be set off with bright accents in the decor of the living room. For example, light gray in combination with beige will give home comfort. The calm colors of the walls will relax you after a hard day and will play in the evening sunset.
A contrasting combination for a more modern style.
This option is suitable for brave owners. With proper execution, combinations can be the most unexpected.
A harmonious combination of two colors of one half of the spectrum will give the living room the interior of a Garden of Eden.
The walls of the room can be made using a gradient or a smooth transition of colors from one part of the living room to another.
The use of this method is preferable for spacious rooms, although using light colors in a small living room will also be harmonious.
How to match the color of the walls with the color of the furniture
When creating the interior of a living room, it is worth deciding what the attention will be focused on. If the walls of the living room are rich and bright colors, then it is better to choose furniture elements of restrained and solid colors.
White furniture can be decorated with pillows that match the color of the walls
If you choose more restrained shades for painting the walls, bright furniture can become the main accent in the interior. The sofa, as an independent element of the living room or in tandem with armchairs of bright colors, will become the main object of attention in the room.
Also, the whole concept of the living room can be made in one color scheme. The interior will be discreet, but tasteful.
Interior color and style
Classic
Restrained and muted colors, such as green, blue, pear, match the classic style. As a rule, the walls are painted in one color or covered with wallpaper with a discreet pattern.
Modern
A living room designed in a modern style will allow you to use more colors. Walls can be bright colors such as turquoise, grey, blue or emerald green.
Most often, only one wall of the living room is painted in a bright color, in this case the space is not overloaded and does not create an oppressive feeling. In contrast with the bright color of the wall, light furniture will look interesting.
Country
Country style is directly associated with nature and rustic themes. Accordingly, the use of any natural shades is suitable.
Ceiling beams are considered a distinctive feature of the stylistic direction.
Wall colors can be painted in any natural shades, green, brown, grey.
Loft
A fashion trend used to create a modern living room. In the literal sense, the loft is translated as an attic or basement. Accordingly, the interior is performed mainly in cold colors.
The photo shows a loft-style living room, the accent wall is decorated with brickwork.
Scandinavian
The walls of the living room are made in light colors, white, beige, blue. A distinctive feature of the style is the maximum functionality and simplicity of the interior.
Provence
Provence style has a restrained palette. The walls are decorated in olive, lavender and other pastel colors.
Features of choosing colors for the kitchen-living room
To create the perfect interior, you should follow a number of rules:
- General color palette
- Choice of wall color depends on lighting
- The lighter the color, the more spacious the room appears
Colors for a small living room
The design of a small room should be as functional as possible.
Walls can be decorated with a beautiful discreet pattern.
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Light colors are preferred for small rooms
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Decorative elements add bright colors to the interior
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Mirrors and reflective elements help visually increase the area
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Curtains for decorating windows in the hall should preferably be chosen from a dense and light fabric
- Painting one of the walls in a different color will make the interior of the living room stylish and unusual
Each room in the house has its own function and should be as comfortable as possible to stay in it. Spend a lot of time in the living room. The color of the walls should be pleasing to the eye and not cause an annoying effect.
50 photos with original water-based wall paint ideas for modern design
Sometimes everything is much simpler than it seems.
This vital maxim extends to what surrounds us - the interior of the living space. The search for new forms of self-expression often takes us somewhere in the wrong direction, but literally under our noses are those materials and tools that can make candy out of your interior. Painting walls with water-based paint is perceived by many as something outdated and completely in vain: there are many interesting ideas for using it in the format of any design, as you can see from the photos below. Due to the skillful selection of colors, you can bring to life the most daring and extraordinary creative projects, and for their practical implementation you do not need any professional skills or expensive tools. Everything about how to make a masterpiece out of your apartment using ordinary water-based paint is in our material.
- Which type of paint is best suited;
- Surface preparation for painting;
- Process features;
- Interesting ideas for painting;
- More original ideas for you to choose from.
Photo selection; - Conclusion.
What type of paint is best
Answering this question unequivocally is like pretending: each type of water-based paint on the market has a given specification. This implies the appropriateness of its use in certain cases. And although the basis of any water-based paint is water, the coloring matter can be made from elements that are completely different in origin and sometimes have radically different characteristics. Let's pay close attention to this point.
Silicate
- liquid glass and colored pigments in the composition;
- reference vapor permeability;
- long (more than 10 years) operation.
Such a water-based paint can be safely painted on concrete, plastered walls, but, alas, it is not recommended for rooms with unstable temperature conditions and high humidity.
Acrylic
- with latex additives;
- universal;
- washes well with water and is resistant to any type of impact.
The best water-based paint on the market, good for everything but the price. It is very high in comparison with other types of paint. However, the game is worth the candle: you get amazingly juicy shades on almost any surface.
Silicone
- with silicone resin;
- is ideal for uneven surfaces;
- excellent water repellency.
Painting uneven walls is best done with silicone water emulsion - the composition perfectly fills all the pores, cracks and crevices, allowing you to visually level the wall and improve the appearance. Perhaps, it can also be called expensive, but with the help of such paint, a number of problems with defects on the surface can be solved.
Mineral
- composed of quicklime and cement;
- for concrete surface;
- limited use.
Alas, it looks like it's time to write off such water-based paints for scrap: they burn out very quickly and the only thing they can boast of in front of other types is excellent adhesion to any surface.
A dubious plus, of course, especially when you consider that the applied layer is easy to destroy even with a finger.
What do we conclude?
You can definitely use acrylic and silicone options for painting walls with water-based emulsion, in some cases - silicate - they will help to realize all your ideas in the field of design. But it is best to refrain from mineral paint or, at worst, use it for painting technical rooms.
A water-based paint calculator can also help you.
Preparing the surface for painting
If there is any elementary type of repair finishing work available to everyone, then, perhaps, painting the walls with water-based paint is one of them. However, many people make a big mistake by ignoring the quality preparation of the walls in front of her, although it is not much different from the process of preparing the walls for wallpapering. Let us briefly recall what these stages are and why they are so important.
- removal of old material - it can be whitewashing, the same paint, but you need to clean the wall completely: to do this, you can walk on it with a roller moistened with hot water, and after a while a layer carefully soaked with moisture with a spatula;
- repairing cracks and eliminating irregularities - putty is used for this, and if the irregularities are already very noticeable, then its starting version;
- priming is a mandatory step that significantly improves adhesion with the future water-based composition, the choice of primer type must match the type of paint that you will use in the future.
After you have thoroughly walked over the wall with primer, run your hand over it and make sure that it slides freely over it without encountering any obstructions. Convinced? Congratulations, you can start painting the walls with water-based paint!
Features of the process
In order for all those ideas that have already matured in your head to be successfully embodied in the design of the room, of course, you should delve a little into the features of the process. Despite the elementary nature of such an operation, there are still such moments that it is not recommended to pass by - we will not pass either.
Roller selection
You can mainly find rollers in three popular materials in hardware stores:
- foam rubber;
- velor;
- pile.
As a rule, the first option is the cheapest, but there are no difficulties with it in the process: high paint consumption, bubbling surface, uncomfortable rough surface.
But nothing bad can be said about the other two materials:
- a beautiful even layer;
- good absorbency;
- long service life.
Good advice for the future: most often the final thickness of the paint layer depends on the length of the pile, so you should take this point into account when choosing a tool.
Painting nuances
- you need to start from the perimeter of the wall - walk along it with a brush;
- roll out the roller in the paint and start painting from the very top of the wall surface;
- each time you set the paint, roll out the roller on a sheet of paper so that the pile completely absorbs the composition;
- full-fledged painting of walls with water-based paint includes 2-3 layers, and the next one should be applied only after the previous one has completely dried.
Interesting ideas for painting
One gets the impression that the limit of the imagination of the majority is the design of a room in one color.
As they say, minimalistic, but tasteful. However, one should not look for taste where it is often absent. We have searched and prepared for you a small digest of interesting ideas for the design of residential premises. With a photo, of course.
Accent wall
- highlighting one wall with a bright color against the background of three others painted in soothing colors;
- allows you to achieve a visual variety of the interior.
This idea is particularly relevant when the dominant color scheme is overly peaceful. Most often, the wall that stands out is either on the right side of the door, or exactly opposite it.
Several photos of this method of painting walls with water-based paint.
Gradients
- beautiful transition from one tone to another;
- requires good execution.
When choosing tones for the organic deployment of a gradient combination, pay attention to the fact that tones of similar temperature should interact with each other.
Otherwise, you will get completely wild eclecticism, which can cause nothing but irritation. You can read more about this in the article: "Painting the walls in an apartment in two colors."
Horizontal division
- visually expands the room;
- use of a decorative dividing strip.
Traditionally, the lower part of the wall is made in dark color, but no one prevents you from experimenting. Many people call this method of decorating the walls hospital, referring to its use within the walls of the corresponding institution, however, getting rid of such intrusive allusions is extremely simple: choose an interesting pair of shades, get creative with the design of the dividing border.
Vertical division/Stripes
- makes the room appear taller;
- it is recommended not to abuse bright colors.
A spectacular solution, the impression of which is easily spoiled if you choose frankly unsuccessful shades.
It's better to pay attention to discreet color variations than to bite your elbows later on turning the room into a ready-made circus venue.
Using screen templates
- allows you to get a beautiful wall surface with original patterns;
- templates can be bought at the store or made by yourself.
Of all the modern water-based wall design ideas, using stencils seems like the most affordable way to achieve a really dramatic and memorable look. There really is nothing to limit you here: you can use figurines of animals, birds, templates that refer us to the world of flora, and just a variety of abstract patterns. And at the same time, nothing is required of you except accuracy!
More original ideas for you to choose from. Photo selection
Of course, we will not be able to cover all the modern ideas that are widely used in the process of painting walls with water-based paint, but it’s quite possible to collect the most unexpected and non-trivial photos in one collection.
