Living room color ideas – soothing shades and bold schemes

When it comes to living room paint color ideas, there is so much choice out there. From accents throughout the room, to a ceiling color pop, to the monochromatic look, your living room is a great part of the home to express your personality through the use of color. 'I am all about color when it comes to living rooms - I love to be bold,' says designer Naomi Astley Clarke. 'I often continue the color from the walls onto the ceilings to wrap around the whole room. Sometimes living rooms can have a neutral backdrop but then you bring the space to life with colorful furniture which can be just as bold a move.’

When it comes to picking the color that is right for you and your home, it's all about thinking about what kind of mood you want to create. 'The colors associated with relaxing are predominately brown, dark blue and green, whilst those associated with stimulating conversation are red (although too much can turn the conversations heated), orange and yellow,' says interior designer Nicola Holden. 'If your living room needs to cater for both relaxing and socializing, then you will need to ensure you have a balanced mix of the colors that support these activities, for example, blue and orange, green and yellow.'

We've spoken to interior designers and color experts to break down what paint colors are best for living rooms, and what effect and mood each of these living room ideas will help to create.

How to pick a living room paint color idea

When it comes to how choose a living room color scheme, an accent ceiling or painted woodwork is an easy way to introduce color into your home without it feeling overbearing or having to commit to an entire scheme. For those more confident with color, a room painted entirely one shade, from skirting to window to ceiling, will feel immersive and modern.

So whatever your style, whether you are a firm lover of ever-popular grey, want to go bolder with a deep blue or add warmth with layers of earthy neutrals, here are plenty of living room color ideas to get you inspired.

Living room size in another thing to consider when looking for living room color ideas. With large rooms you are pretty safe with most colors, but you could try out darker colors if you wanted to make a large living room feel cozier. 

For small living rooms, light colors are always going to make the room feel bigger and lighter. Opt for crisp white walls, greys, beige, cream, and then bring in colors with your decor and accessories. 

David Harris, Designer Director at Andrew Martin says: ‘White and neutral shades are always the go-to color as they make a room look bigger, airier, and more open. However, for small space living, you can be more daring. Don’t be afraid of dark and rich colors, like coffee or dark grey, such as or try teal or even orange, for a braver burst of color. These hues bring richness, intimacy and extra depth whilst allowing you to show personality and flair. Layering these deep rich colors with artwork also adds fantastic texture and interest.’

1. Deep blue 

Blue is a colour with infinite possibilities. It can be calming, welcoming, as well as bold and sultry, depending on the tone. Whatever feeling you're looking to evoke in your living room, blue, in all its shades, is a great color to play around with. It also is a tone that works with lighting, casting shadows and creating depth, or reflecting bright light and giving an airiness to a space. 

'This grand Victorian house makes a bold statement that reflects the client’s love of the color blue,' explains Melanie Baynon, who designed this room in St Kilda. 

Blue walls lavish the front living room and the blue compliments the original marble fireplace and an antique crystal chandelier. Luxe royal navy-blue carpet leads the eye from the entry up the remastered staircase to the first-floor quarters. 

2. Brown

With a 1970s revival in interiors taking place, brown is certainly having its moment in the spotlight, and brown can be a great paint color for your living room. Brown in all its shades, from nutmeg, through to chocolate, to a neutral beige can really help give warmth to your room. 

'When designing a living room, I love using earthy colors, particularly brown, which tends to serve as a grounding color,' says Kirsten Blazek, principal designer of A1000XBetter.

Browns can be a great base for a neutral color scheme too, and provide a soothing blank canvas for pops of color and stand out pieces of furniture to really take to center stage. 

3. Soft pink

Soft pink has seen a real resurgence and in interior design, especially when it comes to living room fall decor ideas and its warm palettes. From muted pinks to blush tones, this color has an enveloping quality to it. 

This Farrow & Ball blush tone - Sulking Room Pink has grey undertones, which means it isn't too rosie and bold.

'Pink is one of my favourite colours,' says Francesca Wezel, founder of eco-friendly paint brand, Francesca's Paints. 'It is a calming colour associated with love, kindness and femininity. Adding a splash of pink to your living room will bring a peaceful and serene environment.'

4. Grey

Grey living rooms are always such calm, serene spaces that have a very lofty, sophisticated feel. It's this that makes grey so versatile, they are so many shades to choose from, and all work beautifully in a living room. 

Grey was once the most popular living room color choice, but despite its ubiquitous nature, there are many ways to use this color in different tones. 'Try to avoid thinking of grey as grey, but see it as a neutral and perfect for any living room,' recommends Patrick O'Donnell, Farrow & Ball Ambassador.

'Paler, brown-tinged greys can feel surprisingly warm and layer effortlessly with many complementary colors from greens, blues and pinks. At the darker end, dark greys can be deeply comforting and cozy, even suitable for poorly lit spaces.'

Meanwhile, cooler, blue/black-based greys lend themselves to a cleaner aesthetic. 

5. Grey blue

A blend between grey and powder blue, grey-blue shades are peaceful and calming. Paired with white it creates a really fresh scheme that would look lovely in cooler living rooms that are either north or each facing. 

However, while blue living rooms are usually cooler spaces, you could warm up this icy shade by mixing it with a soft cream, lots of tactile fabrics and warm wooden accents. The trend for painted ceilings is still proving ever-popular. Dominic Myland comments: ‘inverting the traditional formula of painted walls and white ceilings, the ceiling is becoming the hero, often combined with paler tones or off-white walls to make the room feel larger.’

6. Bright blue

For an energetic, uplifting shade, dive in with a bright blue living room color. And you don't have to go all over with these bolder shades to make an impact, check out how a gorgeous bright turquoise has been used just on the doors and door frames in this living room add the perfect pop of color to the otherwise soft, neutral scheme.

Dominic Myland or Myland paints says that 'this year there's been a particularly big appetite for accent woodwork – rather than trying to make the woodwork disappear, selecting a standout colour for a fresh take on a painted interior.'

7. Teal

And our final shade on the blue spectrum; teal. This is a very modern and powerful look, especially when a room is enveloped in it.

Again, you could dip your toe in the teal trend by painting just accent woodwork instead. ‘Teal is a perfect accent for the inside of an open cupboard filled with white accessories, as it creates a gallery-style backdrop,’ suggests Colin Roby-Welford, creative director at Fired Earth. ‘Opt for crisp white on the woodwork for a contemporary look.’

8. Light greens

Light greens are really on-trend right now, with sage greens being the obvious, most popular choice but light most greens and pale vivid apple greens are also beautiful colors to bring into a living room.

Pair more muted, muddied light greens with crisp whites to provide the perfect contrast. These hues are particularly well-suited to country homes or period houses and is a beautiful color to accent woodwork with. And for those bolder pale greens, just embrace the hue and go all over as a four-wall color – these hues look lovely with warm terracotta oranges and deep blues. 

9. Dark greens

If you want to create drama with your living room colors, but don't want anything as harsh as black or deep blue, a lovely dark green would be a great option. 

David Harris, Designer Director at Andrew Martin says: ‘We have seen a huge trend in dark blues over the past few years, but now dark rich greens are becoming very popular. These rich tones mixed with softer setting plaster colors work well.’

These dark greens pair wonderfully with pale pinks, as can be seen in the gorgeous living room above. A baby pink makes the quite traditional elegant green feel fresh and fun. 

10. Yellow

Yellow is a color we just don't see enough of in living rooms, but it does look like we are beginning to embrace these sunny hues once again. A pop of bold yellow can really lift a space making it feel fun and modern. Just look how it works in this grey living room, to really brings out the other colors used in the room and stops all that mid-grey going on from looking flat. 

For something more subtle, experiment with deep mustard yellows that work so well in more traditional living room and look wonderful when paired with whites. As David Harris says: ‘Rich golden yellows are becoming very on-trend. These still have a light feel and look fantastic when layered with framed artwork and photography, against crisp white picture rails and plasterwork.’

‘Painting skirting boards and window frames to match the wall color is also a simple but stylish touch for the living room. Not only does this create a contemporary, monochromatic look, but it is also an easy way of creating the illusion of bigger walls, making the room a whole appear more spacious,’ advises Judy Smith, Crown Colour Consultant.

11. Raspberry pinks

Blush pink just not daring enough for you? Try a deep sumptuous raspberry. Gorgeous, grownup, and elegant, this is the way to do a pink living room. We love how in this living room that berry hue is continued onto the armchair and ottoman, creating a really intimate, cocooning.

12. Reds

For a long time now, red has been almost shunned in the world of interiors, but it's back, this bold brave color is back, and we are loving it. It's a lot of living room sure but why not pinch this living room color idea and just paint partway up a wall with a deep maroon. 

‘One color we’ve been particularly drawn to as an accent shade is maroon,’ says Jody Hudson, stylist at Graham & Brown. ‘It works especially well with taupe and beige for a cozy room. It’s a rich, heavy shade, so if you’re considering a horizontal color-blocking effect, place the red at the bottom and a sandy beige shade up top.’

13. Purple

An aubergine purple can be such a cozy and inviting living room color, and depth and ambiance without any of the starkness of a dark grey or black. It's soft and deep and feels elegant despite being a bold color choice. As with most of these deep velvety hues, pair it with a bright white to give it a lift.

14. Earthy tones

‘Natural colors are effortless, comforting colors,’ says interior designer Linda Barker. ‘These shades have a profoundly natural and calming influence.’

Linda adds: ‘I find it fascinating to read that Global trend forecasters have seen a huge revisit towards these more earthy tones in favor of last years’ brighter colours, and I wholeheartedly agree with this consciousness, we want masses of comfort in these turbulent times.’

Use these colors to create a restful backdrop, then weave in brighter colors as natural earthy colors are grounding but can often be bland so look at other colors to elevate the impact of a foundation color.

15. White

Yes, we know white isn't technically a color, but when it comes to living room color ideas, we can't ignore this classic shade. Crisp, fresh, light, airy, and timeless, you simply cannot go wrong with a warm or crisp white.

With white living rooms, the key to adding interest is to layer up textures even if you aren't adding in more colors, texture will add depth. 

16. Near black

A soft dark grey doesn't sound as dramatic as you think, see how in this living room it actually feels really neutral and not too intense. The rattan and the warm wooden furniture gives it almost a warm, rustic feel despite the deep colors of the walls. 

‘For something more impactful whilst remaining intimate, consider darker paint colors,’ advises Ruth Mottershead, Creative Director Little Greene, ‘as they give a cozy and inviting feeling when painted on all four walls; they inspire quiet evenings, and look sumptuous when paired with dark woodwork.’

17. Jet black

And finally, for the gothic interior fans, jet black for the most dramatic living room look. ‘My reception room is painted black – banish thoughts of dinginess because used correctly this color is a shortcut to creating an elegant, chic and dramatic space,’ says Annie Sloan.

‘For grown-up sophistication use with taupes and earthy neutrals. Alternatively, follow my lead and harness the power of black to juxtapose with bold brights, statement throws, and pieces of art. It’ll make them pop with renewed intensity –include hot colors to make the space feel warm. Make sure you use a paint with a nuanced, matte finish – low-quality paints won’t contain sufficient pigment to give the pitch-dark coverage you need.’

What are the best living room paint colors?

The best living room paint colors will of course come down to your own personal style, but there are a few rules of thumb that will help you pick the perfect color for your space and the vibe you want to create. You'll need to think about size and aspect as well as your tastes when choosing living room colors. 

If you have a south or west-facing living room, you're in luck because those lovely spaces, filled with natural light for most of the day can handle most colors. You can either choose to lean into the warmth of the room and opt for colors with warmer undertones like beiges, pinks, oranges, and yellows or if you like a crisper, cooler look try pale blues, greys and true whites. You could go for something dark and dramatic but test it out first as dark colors can sometimes look a bit stark in direct sunlight – choose a velvety finish to give the color some depth. 

In north or east-facing living rooms, you'll get cooler light and in north spaces in particular there will be less of it. These spaces do risk feeling dark and cold so you need to pick colors that are going to balance that out. Warm-toned colors like pinks, yellows, orange and gold will add instant warmth and coziness, but if you are a neutrals lover you could go with a warm white or even a grey that has a touch of pink in its base.