What Is the Best Color for a Living Room
Thomas Loof
Your living room is probably the most popular room in the house, so decorating it to make sure it's a place you actually look forward to spending time in a must. And that brings us to color, since coming up with a flattering palette will likely drive the design process and set the mood for years to come. Whether you want something bold and bright, neutral, or moody, we've got tons of living room paint color ideas ahead 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. Either way, the hardest part will be deciding between all these designer-approved living room colors.
🏡You love finding new design tricks. So do we. Let us share the best of them.
Paul Raeside
1 of 40
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.
Bjorn Wallander
2 of 40
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.
Paul Raeside
3 of 40
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 can tie the whole room together. Here, it pairs beautifully with the yellow curtains, geometric green ottoman, and plenty of gray tones throughout.
Kendall McCaugherty
4 of 40
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.
Maura McEvoy
5 of 40
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.
Douglas Friedman
6 of 40
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.
Thomas Loof
7 of 40
Lilac
In this eclectic living room designed by Royce Pinkwater, a misty lilac color on the walls and curtains helps ground lively animal prints and sculptural furniture items. The soft purple is subtle enough to function as a neutral and also has a somewhat sweet nature to it so the room doesn't feel too over the top.
Heather Hilliard
8 of 40
Francesco Lagnese
9 of 40
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
10 of 40
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.
Bjorn Wallander
11 of 40
Coral
Interior designer Janie Molster says there's no such thing as too much pink, and we agree—especially when it's emboldened by red-and-white–striped furniture. But if you just want to dabble in the bright color, start by painting a smaller area in your home, like a pretty window nook. It imparts a bit of a romantic glow without feeling like you painted the walls with bubblegum.
JAMES MERRELL
12 of 40
Royal Blue
The deep blue paint alone is a bold color choice for this azure living room by Kate Reid, but the high-gloss finish adds some extra punch. It's basically the color of wanderlust right in your own home: It'll make you feel like you're on vacation, even if the closest you're getting to an island escape is your laptop's screensaver (sigh).
Shade Degges
13 of 40
Ever-Changing Neutral
Designer Jae Joo opted for a soft palette in this 1885 Boston living room. The light pink armchair adds some youthful buoyancy to the dark wood pieces while also bringing out the warmer tones in the versatile neutral backdrop. In some lighting, it appears light gray-green and in others, a more beige hue.
Tamsin Johnson
14 of 40
Sage Green
Turn to nature and bring gorgeous shades of sage indoors. Green-infused grays feel like a breath of fresh air and add just the right touch of intrigue as a backdrop for the gallery wall in this living room designed by Tamsin Johnson proves.
Gail Davis Design
15 of 40
Steel Blue Gray
Interior designer Gail Davis chose a blue with gray undertones to complement the greige wallpaper. Then, she warmed up the cooler colors with deep caramel brown leather armchairs.
Werner Straube
16 of 40
White and Marine Blue
It was a challenge marrying the two styles of his clients, designer Corey Damen Jenkins explains. "The wife loved jewel tones and embellishment, while the husband was on the total opposite end of the spectrum—no color, no wallpaper," Jenkins tells us. So the living rooms walls were painted in Garlic Clove by PPG, "which has enough warmth to counter balance the bright white of the often snowy landscape," while a door to the adjacent room got a splash of color with Navy Masterpiece by Benjamin Moore.
David A. Land
17 of 40
Violet
Why pick one fun paint color when you can pick two? We're loving the romantic yet surprisingly fresh color combination of fire engine red and violet in this space by Katie Brown. The bohemian embroidered throw pillows tie everything together nicely. That's another great way to approach the living room design process: Start with a fun pair of throw pillows and then pull out your two favorite colors to highlight on the walls and ceiling.
SIMON WATSON
18 of 40
Marigold
Before we even comment on paint color, can we just take a moment to appreciate that wild gallery? This marigold living room designed by Brockschmidt & Coleman is at once classic and quirky, unique and timeless. The walls are covered in Mustard Olive by Benajmin Moore and bordered at the ceiling in black.
Stephen Karlisch
19 of 40
Cream
Warmer than white but still neutral, cream is the perfect background for an inviting yet formal living room. In this one designed by Jean Liu, the neutral, almost iridescent rug, velvet sofa, and brass accents are emboldened by the paint color while the blue throw and white side table contrast with it nicely.
Fiona Lynch
20 of 40
Pistachio
Designed by Fiona Lynch Studio, this modern living room is a masterclass in how to use bold, offbeat colors with restraint. The lime wash pistachio wall and painted fireplace add just enough texture to make a statement yet still feel minimalist.
Annie Schlechter
21 of 40
Tangerine
The unexpected orange walls in this room by Matthew Bees set a dynamic scene for artwork and an emerald green lampshade. They make the room feel so sunny.
Heidi Caillier
22 of 40
Light Gray
In this charming family-friendly home, interior designer Heidi Caillier chose a light gray paint in the living room as a neutral foil for the patterned furnishings. It's more complex and less stark than a classic white, but still subtle enough not to steal the spotlight.
John Merkl
23 of 40
Pale Blue
Pale blue walls give this living room designed by Heather Hilliard a calming vibe, while white ceilings help break up the blue and make the room feel lighter and airier. Meanwhile, the green lucite coffee table injects a funky youthful energy that livens up the sky blue backdrop and floral sofa without clashing with the traditional elements throughout.
Bjorn Wallander
24 of 40
Bright Red
Pattern packed and bursting with vibrant energy, this living room designed by Krsnaa Mehta will inspire you to never hold back when it comes to color. For an especially bold statement, paint an accent wall bright red.
BG COLLECTION
25 of 40
Army Green
A moody shade of army green paint complements the mahogany wood details in this living room, while the sunny yellow sofa and pink layered rugs brighten up the space.
26 of 40
Powder Blue
Just looking at a blue room can slow your pace and calm you down. A monochrome palette allows us to focus on the incredible interior architecture and dramatic statement pieces in this living room designed by Robson Rak. The soothing tones and rounded shapes throughout make it both understated and bold.
Maura McEvoy
27 of 40
Black
Designer Kristin Kong hid a door to the basement behind millwork painted in Sherwin-Williams' Black Fox in her home near Atlanta. The trick "makes the room look less choppy," she says, since the dark color helps everything blend together. And never underestimate the power of a beautiful flower arrangement on the coffee table!
Felix Forest
28 of 40
Griege
Much more complex than white yet still soft and understated, griege paint colors are a fitting backdrop in contemporary spaces. The black marble fireplace anchors this living room designed by Arent & Pyke, which gets a contemporary lift from the bright artwork, low-slung coffee table, and shapely table lamp.
Katie Ridder
29 of 40
Hot Pink
Intense, eye-catching, and adventurous, the neon pink walls in this Greenwich Village living room designed by Katie Ridder (she used C2 Paints' Mulberry) are a bold choice that paid off. Contrasting sky blue tones and traditional furniture make it more transitional and timeless than quirky. Use the shade in a foyer for a warm, welcoming, impossible-to-forget entrance.
Farr & Ball
30 of 40
Raspberry
This room is simultaneously friendly and inviting, grownup and sophisticated. And while its berry hue is definitely bolder and brighter than your average cream, it also has an absorbing depth to it. The burnt orange and chocolate brown upholstered armchair speaks to the room's spirited personality, while the metallic gold tables and cool marble fireplace add polish.
What Is the Best Color for a Living Room
Source: https://www.housebeautiful.com/room-decorating/colors/g1181/living-room-paint-color-ideas/