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What Is the Best Color for a Living Room

purple 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.

yellow living room

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.

living room with small coffee tables

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.

living room colors

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.

light pink living room

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.

small colorful living room with white spiral staircase

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.

living room with geometric painted walls

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.

purple 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.

Living room, Room, White, Interior design, Furniture, Property, Ceiling, Wall, Building, Home,

Heather Hilliard

8 of 40

Living room, Room, Furniture, Green, Interior design, Blue, Turquoise, Property, House, Home,

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.

living room with taupe walls

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.

living room color ideas

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.

Curtain, Interior design, Window treatment, Room, Living room, Yellow, Blue, Window covering, Furniture, Property,

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).

living room with pink arm chair and bay window

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.

living room paint colors

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.

living room with wallpaper and blue accent paint

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.

white living room with blue accents and door

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.

Room, Interior design, Red, Orange, Living room, Furniture, Ceiling, Home, Table, House,

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.

yellow living room with gallery wall

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.

formal living room with cream walls

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.

Furniture, Living room, Room, Interior design, Property, Wall, Building, Shelf, Floor, Shelving,

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.

Blue, Living room, Room, Furniture, Interior design, Property, Table, Cobalt blue, Yellow, Wall,

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.

Living room, Room, Blue, Furniture, Interior design, Green, Yellow, Property, Table, Coffee table,

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.

Furniture, Bedroom, Room, Bed, Blue, Interior design, Curtain, Couch, studio couch, Bed sheet,

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.

red living room

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.

Room, Interior design, Ceiling, Building, Furniture, Property, Living room, Table, Floor, Dining room,

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.

Room, Living room, Blue, Furniture, Interior design, Wall, Ceiling, studio couch, Couch, Design,

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.

Living room paint color ideas

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!

Room, Living room, Furniture, Interior design, Table, Wall, Turquoise, Home, Shelf, Material property,

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.

blue, living room, room, cobalt blue, red, furniture, couch, interior design, wall, majorelle blue,

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.

Pink, Furniture, Room, Wall, Interior design, Table, Material property, Architecture, Magenta, Chest of drawers,

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/