David Tsay
59 Eye-Catching Living Room Color Combinations That Are Anything but Dull
Move over beige and taupe—these brilliant shades are here to stay.
By Sarah DiMarco Published: Jun 1, 2023
Nothing transforms a room quite like color does, and what better place to let us shine than in your living room where your family gathers most often? You certainly want it to be a warm and welcoming space that feels just right for the people who spend time there. Here we have some of the most beautiful living room color ideas and schemes to inspire you.
When it comes time to design the space, the color combinations drive many of the decisions you will make. Before you select one, think about how color will play into your wall paint or wallcovering, curtains, fabrics, and rugs. Consider unexpected shades to bring extra vibrance to to the room or popular colors that are trending like Pantone’s Viva Magenta or Magno’s Savannah Green. You can always go classic with a shade of white too. The possibilities, from greens to purples and shades from all around the color wheel, are endless.
Looking for more color inspiration? Be sure to peruse our ideas for bedroom paint colors, kitchen paint colors, dining room paint colors, and living room paint colors too. Here, the living room color schemes we are loving right now!
Browns, Blacks, Whites, & Greens
Becky Stayner
Abstract paintings by Belgian artist Jean-Marc Louis command the white-walled living room of architect Paul Bates’ hillside Birmingham home, where an Italian articulating mobile chandelier in black and brass dangles from the vaulted ceiling. A green sofa and wood chairs accentuate the space.
Deep Plum & Mossy Light Green
Read McKendree
In this Upper East Side townhome designed by Lucy Doswell, a tufted deep plum corner banquette brings the soaring parlor down to a more intimate scale with a pop of dark color backgrounded by a graphic mossy light green wallcovering. Banquette fabric and wallpaper, Holland & Sherry
Yellow
Yellow is a good choice to offset sage green. Plus several colors go with yellow, allowing you to add a third shade to round out your palette. These shades can truly uplift an interior and can be used to highlight architectural features, such as painting above or below a dado rail and the ceiling cornices.
But the right shade is important. ‘Several colors go with sage green such as a muted yellow like ochre, a tan yellow or pastel yellow,’ says Amy Krane, architectural color consultant and founder of Amy Krane Color. ‘Bright, highly saturated yellow are less successful. They will overpower the softness of sage green.’
White
White walls work to create a timeless and classic look but when paired with sage green accents can create a fresh feel to a space. Plus, decorating with neutrals is fairly simple as any color layering can add a wonderful pop to the scheme.
‘Sage green works well with many neutral colors; personally, I love its combination with white or beige,’ says Kashi Shikunova, director at Yam Studios. ‘Maintaining a balanced color scheme is crucial, and I always recommend using neutral tones with similar undertones to create a calming and harmonious ambiance.’
Cream
Cream and sage green is an easy way to add interest to your homes without having to drastically overhaul your interiors. The scheme can go far to make a room feel brighter and lighter, reflecting light in the summer months while adding coolness to the decor. Cream living rooms have the advantage of looking warmer than pure white spaces, and can create a more welcoming atmosphere.
‘As with most muted or earthy tones, sage green pairs best with a softer cream, or opt away from your bright whites and yellow undertones and go for something with a green or greige undertone,’ say Kirsten Dahl-Feathers and Carlie Ng from The Stylesmiths.
Farrow’s Cream
Recommended Primer & Undercoat: Mid Tones
Price: $40 for 3 liters
Choose this pretty, traditional color that has no black pigment, to create a delightfully inviting room with a gentle warmth.
