What Colors Should I Paint My New Sitting Room
What Colors Should I Paint My New Sitting Room
Color isn’t anything to be terrified of! It’s common knowledge that it’s one of the most effective methods to demonstrate your design style and breathe life into your space.
You may go for a bright color or go for a more restrained look with a neutral palette.
And you can always combine bold and quiet colors to get the best of both worlds.
So whether you want a monochrome style or prefer to mix and match bright colors, you have unlimited options.
Color is also known to produce distinct emotions, so consider the sort of feel you want to project in your living environment.
With that in mind, we’ve compiled 30 of our favorite living room designs, all of which use a variety of unique color choices. Use these high-end interiors as inspiration for experimenting with color in your own house.
Because your living room is often the most frequently used room in the house, making it a place you like spending time in is essential.
That brings us to color, because choosing a pleasing palette will almost certainly guide the design process and establish the tone for years to come.
We’ve got loads of living room paint color ideas ahead to help you get inspired, whether you want something big and colorful, neutral, or melancholy.
Simply pull on your overalls and grab a roller—or, you know, hire someone to do the dirty job for you.
In any case, choosing amongst all of these designer-approved living room colors will be the most difficult aspect.
BLUE ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20360'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
From the artwork to the accent wall in a Lee Jofa wallcovering, designer Stephen Sills went all in on blue for this living room in a family apartment on Manhattan’s Upper East Side.
SUNBRIGHT YELLOW![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20500'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The living room of Martin Cooper and Karen Suen-1790s Cooper’s home in upstate New York is brightened with cheerful yellow walls.
ORANGE AND BLUE![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20342'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Designer Tom Scheerer used Benjamin Moore’s Blue Muscari on the walls and added orange accents throughout the sitting area of this Upper East Side condominium.
RED AND PURPLE![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20302'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Designer Srila Chatterjee and filmmaker Mahesh Mathai use local flea markets and vintage discoveries from their travels to inject color into their Mumbai living space in unexpected ways.
ALL IS IN THE MIX![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20289'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Interior designer Amaro Sánchez de Moya uses all the appropriate colors in his Seville, Spain, pied-à-terre, from the black-and-white marble flooring to the teal 19th-century French sofa to the red gingham curtains.
BLUE AND PINK![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20304'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Muted pink walls and a blue velvet sofa in Mauro Guerini and Jürgen Hilow-Milan Iwaszura’s apartment combine for an unexpectedly lovely color combination.
SHADES OF BLUE![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20284'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Coordinating your furniture with your art, as designer Hubert Zandberg did in this 16th-century Tuscan estate south of Siena, is a bold choice.
MINT GREEN![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20322'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Pale green walls are perfectly matched by splashes of purple and blue throughout Filipa de Abreu’s Lisbon apartment’s living room.
BLUE ACCENTS![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20315'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
You can still add vivid color to a neutral area with exposed brick walls, as the living room of this Brooklyn triplex illustrates with its couches and carpeting.
ART IN COLOR![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20300'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
You may also use pieces of art to add color to a neutral background. The elements in this boho-chic living room in Santa Monica, California, go well with the pink tones.
LEMON YELLOW ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20718'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Does the idea of painting your living room yellow make you feel sick to your stomach? What do you think now that you’ve seen Michael Maher‘s timeless and bright living room?
We’re planning to repaint our own area after taking one look at this one: It gives out warmth and balances off the chilly blue tones.
CHARCOAL ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20719'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The conventional, neutral furniture in this room by Balsamo Antiques and Interior Design has a low visual effect, allowing the somber hues, artwork, light fixtures, and other decorative accessories to shine.
Don’t be afraid to experiment with a deep, almost purple-gray tone; it turns out to be a really rich and dramatic backdrop.
LIGHT LIME GREEN ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20716'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Take inspiration from Les Ensembliers‘ vibrant pattern mixing and contemporary artwork in this living space.
A bright green ceiling is a pleasant surprise that may bring the entire area together. It looks great with the yellow drapes, geometric green ottoman, and lots of gray tones throughout.
PEACH ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20714'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The open floor concept of this Chicago family apartment designed by Bruce Fox required cohesiveness between the dining and living room sections.
The delicate peachy paint and deep pink sofa are mirrored in the printed armchair at the head of the dining table, which also mimics the rosy glow of the pendant light.
The color palette was inspired by a snapshot of the family taken in London during the spring when the city was covered in cherry blossoms.
KELLY GREEN SPLASH ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20720'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
“I adore the contrast between the old area and the contemporary staircase,” says Eliza Crater of Sister Parish Design. The bright kelly green accent wall and ornate floral drapes add richness and warmth to otherwise all-white surfaces.
NAVY ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20718'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Ann Pyne collaborated with decorative painter Arthur Fowler on the walls to produce a contrasting geometric design.
“I see the puzzle-like forms as a metaphor—a it’s game of integrating all these unrelated ‘treasures’ into an aesthetically unified whole,” she explains.
A pensive and sensuous backdrop is created by combining matte navy blue with a gritty mustard-tone—ideal for a tiny living area.
LILAC ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20717'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A misty lilac tint on the walls and drapes helps ground vibrant animal prints and sculptural furniture items in this unusual living room created by Royce Pinkwater.
The gentle purple is modest enough to be used as a neutral, but it also has a pleasant undertone that keeps the space from becoming too garish.
CRISP WHITE ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20713'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
A pristine, matte white is completely ageless. Sherwin-Williams Pure White is available for you when you’ve had enough of trends.
KHAKI ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20718'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Garrow Kedigian describes a neutral as “anything that isn’t shocking,” which is a great way to reframe things if cream, white, or gray aren’t working in your living room and you’re not sure why.
Certain rooms simply demand something out of the ordinary, whether due to architectural style, light exposures, or existing furnishings. The walls of this room are painted with Benjamin Moore’s Rattan.
CORAL ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20720'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Janie Molster of Coral Interiors believes there’s no such thing as too much pink, and we agree—especially when it’s complemented with red-and-white striped furniture.
If you want to experiment with bright colors, start with a smaller section of your house, such as a lovely window nook.
It gives the room a romantic light without making it look like you sprayed the walls with bubblegum.
ROYAL BLUE ![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20719'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The deep blue paint alone is a striking color choice for this azure living room by Kate Reid, but the high-gloss finish adds some more punch.
It’s practically the hue of wanderlust right in your own home:
It’ll make you feel like you’re on vacation, even if the closest thing you have to an island getaway is your laptop’s screensaver (sigh).
PINK AND BLUE![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20720'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Custom blue paint serves as the perfect backdrop for the pearly pink lampshade, layers of patterns, and one-of-a-kind decorations in this eye-catching living room.
YELLOW AND BLUE![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20320'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
This Grey Gardens-inspired home uses an appealing blue and yellow color to create a bright ambiance.
Stark’s yellow felt paper ceiling insert complements the high-gloss blue walls. Celerie Kemble for Henredon couches in a vivid Brunschwig & Fils linen finish the ensemble.
BLUE, WHITE, AND GREEN![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20724'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
In author Holly Peterson’s Hamptons living room, crisp white balances the lively lime green. The walls, which are covered with her children’s artwork, complement the unique sofa well. A bright blue ottoman completes the look.
WHITE AND RED![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20321'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The historic Palm Springs home of Walt Disney has an Art Deco atmosphere, thanks to geometric draperies and bursts of red against pristine white.
YELLOW AND PINK![](data:image/svg+xml,%3Csvg%20xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2000/svg'%20viewBox='0%200%20480%20320'%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Sasha Bikoff, a New York-based interior designer who enjoys a maximalist approach to designing, chose a soft pink and yellow palette for this living area. The fanciful environment is inspired by nature and has a timeless vibe.