Your living room is more than a gathering place for your family or housemates. It's also one of the first spaces your guests will see and likely where they'll spend a majority of their time inside your home. With this in mind, you'll want to be mindful when choosing decor. Beyond furniture styles and textural accents, homing in on a color scheme is crucial.
So, what are the best colors for a living room? That depends on a few factors, such as your personal taste, the aesthetic of the rest of your home and whether you like to switch out your decor seasonally or are looking for something more permanent. In any case, you'll find lots of stylish living room color ideas below.
Tasteful Living Room Color Ideas
There's no shortage of living room color schemes to explore on the internet. But if you'd like a curated roundup of tasteful, sophisticated, modern spaces to help get your decorative wheels turning, you're in the right place.
Ahead, classic colorways, neutral themes, simple combos, bold pops of color, accent hues, upholstery inspiration and living-room paint ideas for every home.
Enticing Earth Tones
When it comes to living room color schemes, you really can't go wrong with earth tones. Think brown, amber, ivory, olive, evergreen, marigold, rust, sienna and terra cotta. To enhance the striking outdoor views from the floor-to-ceiling windows, this home features a velvet tawny sectional and undyed natural fiber accents.
Playful Patterns, but Make It Neutral
The idea of combining more than a few patterns and textures may seem like it would look overly busy. However, when you select pared-down prints and neutral hues, you might be surprised by how well the aesthetic works.
Area rugs are a great way to add subtle texture or patterns to your living room. Here are 17 Rug Styling Ideas to Consider for Your Home.
Cozy Colors, Warm Textures
One of the best living room color ideas designers love is to combine warm textures and cozy tones. For instance, this space features a tweed-upholstered sofa in neutral beige, then accents it with a soft tasseled throw and matching Euro pillow in an oversized burgundy plaid print.
What Are Euro Shams and Euro Pillows? Read our blog for insight.
Complement, Not Clash
When choosing a color scheme, aim for hues that complement one another rather than clash. This means the finished look will be cohesive as opposed to a mess of incompatible styles and shades. In terms of ideas for living room paint, you can branch out from the basics, as long as the color enhances the rest of the decor. Case in point: this forest-green wall.
With the right approach, two people can combine their furniture collections without clashing. See our article on How to Design an Apartment You and Your Roommate Love.
Classic Contrast
The best living room color ideas embrace contrast. And when it comes to contrasting color schemes, black and white is a true classic. See how this home features a white base, then accents it with black frames and fixtures.
Speaking of fixtures, lamps can make a big difference in a room's ambiance. Here are some of the Best Living Room Lighting Ideas to consider.
Black and White Glam Living Room Decor
A black-and-white theme can also be a bit bolder. This glamorous art deco living room doesn't hold back with its diagonally striped wallpaper, geometric pillows and loud area rug pattern.
Don't overlook your coffee table when designing your living room. Find inspiration with these 27 Ideas for Decorating a Coffee Table in Your Living Room.
Warm and Cool Contrast
When in doubt, you can always fall back on neutral living room color schemes. To add contrast, try combining warm tones like natural wood grains and rich browns with cool tones such as grey and charcoal.
Natural finishes and pared-down hues are primary components of feng shui. See these Feng Shui Interior Design Ideas for more.
Grey All Day
Grey is somehow both timeless and modern. If you're considering a monochrome scheme, grey might be your best bet. To keep things interesting, incorporate different shades of grey, then play it up with varying textures.
If you like this cool-toned hue, read our blog on How to Design and Style a Grey Bedroom.
White and Wood Small Living Room Color Idea
The best colors for a small living room are often on the lighter side. For instance, white walls can help brighten up a space and make it appear more open.
With limited square footage, you may also want to play around with different furniture arrangements. Check out our blog about Rearranging the Layout of Your Bedroom for tips.
Library-Inspired Living Room Color Ideas
This home leans into a cozy library-inspired theme. The bookish colorway includes a taupe tweed couch, a maroon Euro pillow and a patterned blanket that calls back the deep reddish tone.
For more cozy interior design inspiration, take a peek at these Winter Home Decor Ideas.
Statement Living Room Sofa Color
Statement colors can be subtle, appearing throughout wall accents or throws. They can also be a bit larger, as demonstrated with this living room's muted rust sofa.
Want additional guidance on choosing a couch? Here are 35 Stylish and Functional Living Room Sofa Decor Ideas.
Seasonless Green
If you're on the fence about statement decor, green is a solid choice. The seasonless, endlessly versatile verdant hue is one of the best colors for living rooms. You can get some green-upholstered furniture, place a few houseplants around your space or opt for both.
Want to freshen up your gathering space with foliage? Check out the Top 16 Indoor Plants for Clean Air in Your Home.
Get the Blues
Though it might not be quite as versatile as green, blue is also seasonless and sometimes even neutral, depending on the shade. This living room balances a vibrant navy sectional with warm accents and plain white walls.
If you like this refreshing idea for living room color, you'll love our guide to Spring Home Decor.
Moody and Dark Living Room Colors
Want to create a cozy reading nook? Consider using moody hues and dark finishes, such as deep brown, mahogany, charcoal and burgundy. The color of living room walls matters too, and despite popular misconception, dark tones won't necessarily make your space look smaller.
This home's concrete-tile flooring and unfinished walls lend to a trendy utilitarian aesthetic. Read our article on How to Create a Modern-Industrial Style Look for Your Home.
Alternative Neutrals
When you think of neutrals, white, beige and grey may come to mind. But believe it or not, these are far from your only choices. This living room incorporates a range of subtle, versatile hues, including soft olive green, deep taupe, sandy gold and off-black.
Looking for a neutral feel around the house? Check out our guide to Neutral Bedroom Decor Ideas for more inspo.
Deep and Dapper
If you're aiming for a more masculine vibe, opt for deeper colors. This undeniably dapper space features an ultra-plush sofa with rich brown leather upholstery and a simple off-black throw. A charcoal coffee table-ottoman hybrid and matching pillow complete the look.
Like these handsomely moody living room color ideas? Learn How to Design a Black Bedroom in our guide.
Light Living Room Colors
Light-colored furniture pairs well with lighter wood finishes. To avoid a washed-out look, incorporate a few rattan or jute living room accessories to match the wood grain, or contrast it with slightly darker fibers.
This laid-back, beachy design scheme is ideal for warm climates. Check out these Summer Home Decor Ideas for more tips.
Dark Wood and Retro Tones
Burnt orange and other 70s-inspired hues can offer a retro appeal without appearing outdated. Pulling off this look is all about blending modern accents with simple silhouettes and avoiding bold patterns.
If you're drawn to marigold, olive and rusty orange, you'll appreciate the colors and comforts of Parachute ambassador Ashley Hosmer's Los Angeles Home.
Ivory and Olive Aesthetic Living Room Color Schemes
Ivory and olive balance each other with subtle contrast. Playing well with a wide range of tones, they're also a great base for seasonal and holiday decor. They make wonderful small-living-room colors too.
No matter the color scheme, mirrors can make a room look bigger by creating an optical illusion of more space. Here's How to Decorate With Mirrors Across Your Home.
High-End Hues
There's something about camel-colored leather furniture that exudes high-end sophistication. This living room leans into that luxurious vibe with a crimson velvet bolster, a minimalist-modern lamp and a knitted throw to add a hint of softness.
For more design tips, see our article on How to Create an Interior Design Mood Board.
Trendy Yet Versatile Tones
Not all trendy tones will look out of style in a few years. If you're interested in contemporary color ideas that'll hold up over time, take notes from this home. The blush and green furniture pieces are seasonless and versatile but still incredibly stylish.
What about your sleeping quarters? Here are 31 Bedroom Color Trends to explore.
Classic Colors, Timeless Decor
If you want to play it safe with your living room decor, opt for classic colors and timeless pieces. For instance, this home features a medium-blue sofa, a faded oriental rug, a tufted brown leather ottoman and black-and-white framed art.
Interested in quick and easy short-term enhancements? Check out these 25 Tips to Upgrade Your Apartment.
Coastal Grandmother Living Room Color Ideas
The coastal grandmother decor trend is timeless and sophisticated yet fresh and laid-back. But what does this mean in terms of color? Opt for white, beige, grey, camel and shades of blue to complement this vibe.
For additional guidance and tips, see our Guide to Design and Decor Ideas for Your Home.
Modish Metal Finishes
Metal finishes can add warmth and character to your living room base color without overwhelming the space, as with the brass furniture frames and legs in this glam-inspired home.
Once you have your living room furnishings picked out, explore these Bedroom Furniture Essentials.
Surprisingly Versatile Chartreuse
Similar to neon yellow clothing and accessories, chartreuse is one of those home decor colors that shouldn't be versatile and yet very much is. The retro greenish-gold hue is an excellent choice for furniture upholstery, blankets, decorative pillows and wall art.
Don't Overlook Ochre
Ochre is another golden hue, but instead of leaning green, it has warm, orangey undertones. Like chartreuse, it's surprisingly versatile and one of the best living room color ideas for folks who want to make a statement without going over the top.
Decorative cushions are the finishing touch every indoor gathering space needs. Learn How to Style Throw Pillows Like a Designer in our article.
Accidental Accent Colors
Want to avoid an overly colorful living room without making your space look totally devoid of character? Your kids' toys might be all the pop of color you need. To make things look cohesive, select a few stuffed animals or wooden cars in complementing hues and place them in a floor basket or on a wall shelf or media console. The rest of your child's toys can be tucked away in their room or nearby cabinets.
Here are 23 more Basket Decor and Storage Ideas for every room in your home.
Warm Yet Light Living Room Color Schemes
Warm tones aren't necessarily rich or deep. See how this home combines tanned leather with natural pine, understated wood paneling and undyed jute-braided accents.
What Is a Jute Rug? Read our article for a deep dive into this natural-woven decor staple.
Muted Pops of Color
When you think about pops of color, you might imagine vibrant, eye-catching tones that make a bold statement. However, you can also accent your living room with muted hues in the form of faded fabrics or bleached upholstery.
This gridded pillow is a great example of a toned-down version of a busy pattern. Learn How to Style the Classic Checkerboard Print at Home.
Beige and Burgundy
Beige and burgundy are a gorgeous color combo for living rooms. This home features beige as a base, then accents it with burgundy. Meanwhile, the rich wood finishes align beautifully with the theme.
Warm tones are a go-to for autumn. For more tips and inspiration, check out these Fall Home Decor Ideas.
Beautifully Brown Living Room Color Ideas
Apart from wood finishes, brown is often overlooked when it comes to home decor. That’s a shame, because the neutral hue is timeless and seasonless with an understated elegance. The mink color of this waffle cotton throw is a perfect milk-chocolatey brown, with cool undertones that balance the tanned leather and mahogany wood.
Dusty Mauve
For a feminine touch, consider accenting your space with dusty mauve. Like blush and chartreuse, the pale purplish hue is more versatile than it seems on paper. The red clover-inspired shade of this soft cotton throw is a prime example.
Earth-Sourced Fibers and Finishes
Some of the best living room color schemes mostly stick to undyed plant fibers and natural wood finishes. For example, this one features a braided jute rug, a woven sisal basket, a clay lamp base, a natural stone bowl and a simple sofa with exposed wood legs and armrests.
Balance Warm and Cool Undertones
This might seem counterintuitive, but the most cohesive-looking home interiors often feature a medley of warm and cool undertones. See how this living room balances the rich leather upholstery and mahogany wood with a partial dove-grey wall and greenish-blue framed art.
Focus on Texture and Dimension
Colors are important, but they're not the be-all and end-all. For best results, your living room design should focus on texture and dimension. From tufted pillows and fuzzy throws to woven rugs and varying shapes, there are endless ways to add interest and character to an otherwise neutral space.
Are you decorating your space from scratch? See our New Home Checklist for a rundown of essential items to buy or upgrade when moving in.
Living Room Decor and Free Styling Consultations From Parachute
These living room color schemes should inspire you to kickstart your decorating project. Once you’ve picked out your base color and furniture, start browsing the down-to-earth, minimalist-modern mix of home decor and housewares from Parachute.
If you're stumped on upholstery materials, furniture arrangements, accent pieces or just need guidance on choosing small-living-room paint colors, a Parachute stylist is here to help. Schedule your free design consultation today!
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