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Jan 03, 2024

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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!

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.

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

In Liz Lange's restoration of Grey Gardens in East Hampton, teal pops from two vintage chairs by Mastercraft, complementing the sofa's Arbre de Matisse Reverse upholstery (Quadrille) in a nod to Billy Baldwin.

In this Naples, Florida, rebuild, Bobby McAlpine and Susan Ferrier selected a tropical grisaille mural (Ananbô) to headline the living room. Like the rest of the home, the fabrics and carpets are monochrome neutrals and earth tones. Sofa, Promemoria

The pelmet and drapery fabric in a burnt orange color by Logan Montgomery Textiles surrounds a wall of windows in designer Palmer Weiss's California home, with yellow pillows and a chair accenting its color scheme. Ottoman, Lee Industries

Decorator Garrow Kedigian pulled color inspiration from The Carlyle's timeless decor for his own apartment in the iconic New York building. The bright yellow walls pay homage to the lobby's velvet sofas while the black moldings echo the iron doors and the window mullions.

Instead of looking to the walls, designer Fran Keenan decided to introduce color into this Los Angeles family room by hanging persimmon curtains. The light-taupe upholstery and bronze-brown carpet (Fibreworks) make the room feel gracious and relaxed.

In Summer Thorton's Chicago townhouse, an oversized orange sofa brings out the warm undertones of the apricot living room. Woven bouillon fringe (Samuel & Sons) adds a flirty touch to the velvet mohair seating.

The floral linen by Blithfield covering the comfy sofas and tufted armchairs inspired the soft pink and barely-there blue palette in this Block Island living room. Designer Miles Redd sprinkled oak spindle armchairs cushioned in white terry and woven rattan drum tables throughout to amplify the home's beachy feeling.

To counter this Upper West Side pied-à-terre's spacious rooms, designer Anthony Barrata played with arresting colors and dramatic furnishings. An American painting by Tomory Dodge and an oversize custom floor lamp take advantage of the capacious height. Plaster and marble objects, including an over-the-top amphora lamp, echo the color and classical tone of the original ceiling moldings. The cherry-red velvet is by Pierre Frey.

Taken by her famed neighborhood's green, decorator Cece Barfield Thompson ushered verdant color and nature-inspired patterns into her family's New York City living room. The white walls, tonal carpet, and punchy green curtains give the Louis XVI chairs a modern presence. An oil painting by London artist Daisy Cook hangs over a nine-foot Schneller sofa upholstered in stain-resistant fabric (Perennials).

Sweet pastel tones, taxicab yellow walls, and cobalt Chinese lamps give the living room of Todd Romano's San Antonio home a dose of vibrancy. On the walls are two prized artworks from Romano's vast collection: an Andy Warhol silkscreen print of Liz Taylor and a flamboyant Todd & Fitch work.

Decorator Anthony Barrata played up high-drama Americana with an emphasis on textiles and folk art in this historic New York apartment. The study is dressed in a Lee Jofa tartan pattern recolored specifically for this room. The armchair upholstery is inspired by an early American weaving; the leather chair is antique English.

Raw oak rafters mix with white-painted panels and crossbeams, and golden walls (Standish White by Benjamin Moore) in this Carrier and Company-designed New York family room, making it an energetic place for parents and kids to hang out. The sofa is upholstered in a moss green fabric by Kravet.

Designer Ceara Donnelley used an Art Deco–inspired wallpaper (Iksel) to headline a warm, earthen palette in the sitting room right off the kitchen of her 18th-century Charleston home. The Dmitriy & Co. sofa is covered in a Schumacher fabric.

For this Naples, Florida home, designer Summer Thornton ushered in delightful color and buzzy prints to create an energizing family hub. Apricot walls are amplified by verdant fabrics and botanical prints. The gauzy block-printed drapery (Muriel Brandolini) filters sunlight into the great room.

Designer Angie Hranowsky gives each room of this late-20th-century Tudor in Austin its own distinct personality with the help of buoyant color. For the lively living room, energizing shades of yellow on the wall (Golden Straw, Pratt & Lambert) flirt with the soft peach tones of the sofa (Pierre Frey).

Ravishing neutrals and brilliant metallics dominate the sprawling, light-filled salon of this Atlanta home by designer Melanie Turner. Historic styles mix to create an elevated look from conical Murano glass chandeliers and Louis XVI–style commodes to the chevron-pattern custom carpet (Patterson Flynn Martin). The custom retro-inspired sofa is by Björk Studio.

Blue velvets, lilac prints, and touches of red liven up the original oak panelings in this New York living room by Carrier and Company. The Bridgewater-style sofa is covered in a Mohair fabric by Maharam. The walnut veneer drawings are by Neal Perbix.

In this New York living room designed by Chiqui Woolworth, vivid dragon-print draperies (Jim Thompson) and glossy apple green walls cloak the living room in a carousal of color. The artwork over the mantel, Contemplation, is by Anne Rose, the owner's mother.

At the 2020 Kips Bay Decorator Show House Dallas, designer Mark D. Sikes channeled the vibe of the iconic living room at La Fiorentina—designed by, among others, Billy Baldwin—with a fresh take on the room's blue and white palette and slipcovers.

At a Montana condo designed by Palmer Weiss, a Pierre Frey floral linen called Mortefontaine inspired a scheme for the living room of nutty aubergine, soft brown, navy, and olive tones to play off walls of shiplap paneling. Leopard carpet acts as a neutral and stands up to snowy boots. A Paul Marra chandelier "feels like an old bobbin bed, but with a modern attitude," says Weiss. The 19th-century portrait of Pocahontas is by Victor Nehlig.

For a client's home in Connecticut, designer Miles Redd found these George II–style painted mirrors at auction "for a steal. They are totally Mario Buatta and really anchor the living room." Emerald silk walls (Kravet), lapis-blue taffeta curtains and bullion fringe, and ruby red accents illuminate the room to radiant effect. Hand-blocked chintz upholstery fabric, Clarence House

At his own home in the English countryside, textile designer Richard Smith clad the walls of a large parlor with a shell-pink wallcovering, then covered upholstered furniture in a mix of textiles featuring various shades of pink. Hot pink lampshades energize the space.

Who said luxury can't be laidback? At this seaside houose in the Hamptons, designer Alex Papchristidis created a scheme for the entire home comprising whites, creams, silvers, and golds for a luxe look that feels appropriately casual for the beach. In the living room, a pair of custom cantilevered sofas are upholstered in white velvet (Cowtan & Tout). Ceiling lights and sconces, Hervé Van der Straeten. Drapery fabric, Fabricut

This Naples, Florida, living room designed by Celerie Kemble defies all the tropes of coastal style with its moodier palette of caramel and indigo while still retaining hints of the tropics, like a natural wall covering crafted of dried water hyacinth (Phillip Jeffries). Art series, Henri Matisse

In this Connecticut living room featuring cashmere-upholstered walls, designer Markham Roberts brought the room to life with fabrics steeped in history. A cartouches printed linen (Rose Cummings) and a Kashmir wool paisley (Clarence House) adorn contemporary pieces like a custom sofa and slipper chair. Mandala artwork, Julia Condon

In Danielle Rollins' Atlanta living room, a curated rainbow of blue, tobacco, coral, and off-white unites an explosion of patterns. Sofas in a Prelle silk velvet, DeAngelis; curtains in a Cowtan & Tout fabric; wallcovering, Pierre Frey; artwork over sofa, Kelly O’Neal.

In this Upper East Side townhouse, Jeffrey Bilhuber used a pair of slipper chairs to a create artful mirror image seating area and ground the living room color scheme—soft cantaloupes and peaches plus cheerful accents in coral—with an earthy neutral.

Shades of ebony and creamy white keep the attention of this Atlanta living room by Amy Morris, which showcases the Tudor-style home's original architecture and craftsmanship. Cool linens (Jim Thompson Fabrics) covering the armchairs paired with elemental ebony tables (Baker Furniture) add to the room's tailored look.

This Millbrook living room by Lynne Stair of McMillen, Inc., is a dazzling emerald showcase. An ethereal de Gournay wallpaper enveloping the space is punctuated by green draperies (Manufacture Prelle) and a Murano glass chandelier. The mahogany library table formerly belonged to the Marquess of Downshire, a British politician who served as secretary of state for the colonies in the mid-1700s.

In his role as Colonial Williamsburg's Designer in Residence, Anthony Baratta brought modern energy and vivacious color into this revolutionary-era home. To accentuate the tall ceilings of the living room, Baratta painted the trim a dapper gray-green (Goodwin Green by Benjamin Moore) and hung a Chesapeake Bay shipyard sign over the doorway to a broom closet, reimagined as a spirited red bar.

Stucco arches painted in a sweet pink color play down the architecture's imposing qualities and dial up the charm and comfort in this outdoor living room by Celerie Kemble. Indigo fabrics covering the slipper chairs (Penny Morrison) and dark teak furnishings ensure the room's link to the outdoors is organic and authentic.

Sweet candy tones transform this 18th-century Paris living room into a fresh stage for modernist artwork. Designer Jean-Louis Deniot filled the space with colorful midcentury and contemporary furnishings, such as the curvy sofa covered in a flecked bouclé (Raf Simons) and pink porcelain side tables (Djim Berger), which stand out against the gray-painted boiserie.

Los Angeles–based designer Peter Dunham combed through flea markets and auction houses across the world to find the antique fabrics and colorful pieces to fill this Newport Beach living room. Emerald tones in the vintage chintz on Syrie Maugham armchairs and Flemish tapestry on the round ottoman informed the calming color palette of the space. The verdant drapery and shade fabric (Tassinari & Chatel) pops against creamy walls.

Blue and green glassware and furnishings echo the sparkling Mediterranean outside in Milanese landscape designer Marco Bay's Portofino farmhouse. Handmade terra-cotta floors and tiles crafted in Tangier, Morocco, nod to the rosy tones of the landscape and fruits hanging from the trees in the home's garden.

In the living room of this Bahamian getaway, designer Miles Redd needed to find a way to ensure the sunny yellow shades and watery tones worked together rather than competed for attention. His solution was to use art as a color equalizer.

"Not only does art help a room feel complete, it can make soft colors feel less wan and stronger colors appear more mellow," says Redd. The painting "So To Speak" by Doug Argue hangs over a sofa in a Osbourne and Little fabric. The yellow linen fabric seen on the ottoman and lamp shades is from Pierre Frey.

Sharp shades of turquoise and red make a powerful statement in the living room of this Hamptons home designed by Katie Ridder. Playing off the colors of the graphic, hand-painted Iksel wallpaper, Chinese red pillows and a Jim Thompson sofa fabric headline the room's vibrant palette. A bold chrysanthemum print by Bennison Fabrics covers the club chair and ottoman.

Soft yellow accents playfully mingle with green and blue hues throughout designer Meg Braff's Long Island living room. A floral print by Lee Jofa covers the pair of club chairs and complements the green-patterned Bernard Thorp drapery fabric. Braff's vintage goatskin-lacquered coffee table by Karl Springer boasts an exotic finish, which is emblematic of Springer's 20th-century style.

Vivid jewel tones shine in the sitting room of this Sig Bergamin–designed Miami apartment with the help of sand-colored textiles. Among the nearly two dozen patterned fabrics Bergamin used in this room, a fabric by Braquenié serves as the trim on a George Smith sofa. The solid tan-colored sofa fabric comes from Peter Fasano. The ottoman is covered in a Lee Jofa fabric and the bolster tassels are from Samuel & Sons.

Cheerful yellow walls and neutral yet lively patterns set a whimsical tone within this midcentury living room designed by Mark D. Sikes. Exuberant walls in Farrow & Ball's Citron and a geometric rug from Patterson Flynn Martin make this room that talk of the house. An ikat fabric by Pierre Frey covers the armchair by Hickory Chair Furniture Co. The floral drapery and tufted sofa upholstery is by Lee Jofa.

A soft rust velvet sofa pops against blue and white textiles throughout the casual and ultrastylish family room of Meg Braff. James Mont-style horseshoe chairs, upholstered in a ticking Malabar cotton, channel the curvy, low slung forms of the Ming dynasty. A rattan chandelier from Currey & Company hangs at the center of the media room with Katie Ridder wallcovering decorating the walls.

In this New Jersey home designed by Miles Redd, subtle pink florals are amplified by lacquered robin's egg blue walls in the living room. An exaggerated pelmet disguises a low window and draws the eye upward with the help of treatment fabric by Fisherman's Fabric. The custom tufted sofa is in a Brunschwig & Fils silk velvet. The wall color is Bird's Egg by Benjamin Moore.

Designer Cindy Rinfret uses gold leaf lighting by Currey & Company and ultramarine furnishings to play off the entry's domed, Moroccan-influenced architecture within the Kips Bay Show House. The 1970s Jansen palm tree acts as a tasteful nod to the living room's Palm Beach setting. The patterned grass cloth wallpaper and panels were designed in collaboration with Nicolette Mayer. The drapery fabric is by The Shade Store.

Echoing the soft tones of a seashell collection, pinks and creams make for a romantic setting in this Palm Beach living room designed by Susan Zises Green. Claremont fabrics cover the custom sofa and both pairs of armchairs with pillows in Fortuny fabrics. A pair of Daniel Barney lamps top side tables by John Rosselli Antiques. A framed artwork by Belgian artist Diane Petry hangs above the sofa.

Taking a few tricks from Christian Dior's decorating legacy, historian Maureen Footer pairs far-flung artifacts with contrasting lime green and red tones in her fanciful New York apartment. The living room's custom sofa is in a Bergamo fabric with Urban Archaeology sconces hanging above. A Bryan Burkey artwork sits between two windows dressed with Brunschwig & Fils damask shades.

Youthful energy bursts from this Palm Beach living room with the help of apple-green seating. Designer Bunny Williams covers antique Italian chairs in a bright Zimmer+Rohde fabric. Bradmore armchairs in a Quadrille print surround a Bernd Goeckler cocktail table. The custom curved sofas are from Liz O’Brien.

Overlooking New York's Central Park, this Hampshire House apartment designed by Tammy Connor boasts classic cosmopolitan style with a punch of blue lacquer, accented with mossy green and brick red. The tilting oculus of the family room brings natural light in the adjacent stairwell. The John Saladino X bench in a Kyle Bunting hide perfectly matches the George Smith armchair. The Ferrell Mittman sofa is in a Peter Dunham Textile stripe, and the custom rug is from Beauvais Carpets.

Dark furnishings and a creamy white palette gracefully work together, creating a surprisingly soothing living room in this Tel Aviv home. Designer Kevin Spearman covered Rose Tarlow armchairs in a Loro Piana fabric. The sofas are from Dmitry & Co., and the rug is by Beauvais Carpets.

A classic seaside palette and warm-weather textures make for the perfect getaway in this Phoebe Howard–designed Palm Beach living room. An Abaca rug by Patterson Flynn Martin ties the room together, while Richard Serra artwork acts as the room's main focus. Howard covers the McGuire armchairs and daybed in a blue-and-white Bennison fabric. The custom sofas feature a C&C Milano stripe, and the curtains are in a Raoul Textiles print.

Designer Colette van den Thillart incorporates varying shades of purple and cream to accent the delightful curves in the living room of her Toronto home. A Marvic Textiles crewel dresses a 19th-century Italian chair. The roman shades are Nicky Haslam for Turnell & Gigon, and the Italian glass lamps are custom.

Black-and-white patterns have never looked so vibrant in the verdant green living room of this Washington, D.C., home designed by Alessandra Branca. The room's sofa and chairs are from the designer's Casa Branca collection, and the chairs are covered in a Schumacher fabric that pop against the lacquered green walls. The 1940s lacquer cocktail table is from Maison Jansen and artwork is by Ellsworth Kelly.

Crisp lines and natural materials enable rich textures to shine throughout the Atlanta home of architects Bobby McAlpine and Blake Weeks. Stark white furniture and warm wood-paneled walls work together to create a dramatic contrast in the sitting room. A Paul Ferrante lamp sits on an antique French altar-boy seat. The sofa and screens are by McAlpine Home for Holland MacRae. The cocktail table is from John Saladino.

In Diana Ross's former apartment on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan, riots of color make a powerful statement against glossy lacquered walls and mirror insets. Designer Jeffery Bilhuber incorporates saturated shades of plum, French blue and olive green throughout the living room to add a contemporary spin in the historic apartment. A Caio Fonseca artwork hangs above a custom sofa covered in blue Cassaro fabric, which is flanked by brass cocktail and side tables from Michael Dawkins Home. The rug is from Holland & Sherry.

Designer Anthony Baratta embraces the impactful power of plaids in the black, white, and red living room of this Utah mountain home. Ralph Lauren Home checks decorate the custom chairs and ottoman while a custom-painted Kevin Cross trunk accents the home's warm palette. The walls are in White Dove with ceilings in Yarmouth Blue, both by Benjamin Moore. The custom mantel is by Thomas W. Newman.

Deep purple upholstery stands out against luminous metallic walls in a quaint Upper East side apartment designed by Nick Olsen. Missoni chevron-covered spoon-back chairs frame a John Salibello cocktail table. The curtains in a Manuel Canovas satin silk reflect the sleek Roger Arlington wallcovering. The custom sofa and armchairs are in a Holland & Sherry velvet, and the rug is from Eskayel.

Vivacious yellow walls and an emerald Décor de Paris velvet sofa flourish in the living of this Miles Redd–designed Manhattan apartment. The colorful Sultanabad rug inspired the room's rich palette. Redd covered the pillows in a Clarence House leopard silk velvet. The 1930s French coffee table is from Todd Alexander Romano.

Designer Ashley Whittaker infuses earthy greens and browns and outdoorsy imagery into the family room of this Upper East Side townhouse. A piece of art by Carol Greenan Bouyoucos and a Les Indiennes wall fabric serve as the room's focal points. The custom sofa is in a Brunschwig & Fils wool and flanked by custom lamps with shades in Rogers & Goffigon stripe. The custom ottoman is covered in a Schumacher fabric.

In this lively New York living room designed by Nick Olsen, rustic wood beams and painted floors perfectly frame vivaciously upholstered furniture in shades of green, blue, yellow, and red. A Bennison Fabrics crewelwork covers a Ann-Morris armchair and ottoman. The walls are painted in White Dove by Benjamin Moore.

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