Paint Decorating Ideas For Living Rooms

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40 Radiant Living Room Paint Colors to Liven Up Your Space

Elevate your living room with these designer-approved hues.

Annie Schlechter

The living room has long been one of the most important spaces in the home for relaxing, entertaining—and well, living—with family and friends. From the Victorian era's high-spirited parlor rooms to the modern, boldly patterned living room ideas of today, the design of the living room is meant to be a welcoming space for gathering with friends family or for relaxing alone. In most cases, the style of a home's living room sets the tone for the rest of the house via furniture choices, personal collections, and accessories. One of the easiest ways to define the the living room space is with the paint color on the walls. This is also one of the quickest ways to update the living room.

Not only are your color choices the most powerful for establishing a sense of personal style in the living room, but they are also typically the initial decorating decisions that drive the rest of the process, from selecting fabrics and living room rug ideas to thinking through living room lighting ideas. Whether you gravitate towards lighter, airier spaces with calming colors or crave cozy, warm paint colors like you might find in yellow rooms, green rooms or even chocolate brown rooms, you'll find all the living room color inspiration you need right here. We've gathered 40 of the most radiant living room paint color ideas from top designers around the world to get you started. Happy decorating!

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Periwinkle Blue

"I like to utilize the entire volume of a room," says Anthony Baratta of the living room in this Manhattan apartment, pointing to an American painting by Tomory Dodge and oversize custom floor lamp, both of which take advantage of the capacious height. Equally ample upholstered furnishings are clad in arresting colors and patterns, including cherry-red velvet (Pierre Frey) and the sofa's block-printed linen (Christopher Moore). Plaster and marble objects, including an over-the-top amphora lamp, echo the color and classical tone of the original ceiling moldings. The medallion border on the drapes was inspired by one in a Christian Lacroix showroom.

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2 of 40

Cherry Red

Most of the palette and patterns for this London rowhouse decorated by Gary McBournie came from a single small antique Turkish rug. "We loved its colors and design, and Chinese, Indian, and Turkish influences," says McBournie. "It became the starting point for everything." Because it was too small to suit any of the spaces, McBournie re-created it as a large living room rug for the cherry-hued space. A convivial window seat overlooks an emerald and white back garden. Striped banquette fabric, Pierre Frey. French lantern, Carlton Davidson Antiques

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4 of 40

Taxicab Yellow

Designer Todd Romano's living room in San Antonio, Texas, is a virtuoso's guide to owning the color wheel: Taxicab yellow, pure red, and cobalt are a mighty foundation for soft pastels and nuanced naturals. A pair of Chinese baluster vases fitted as lamps bookends a custom button-tufted sofa. Central artwork, C-Ring 1, Todd & Fitch

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5 of 40

Plaster White

In the living room of designer Cece Barfield Thompson's New York apartment, plaster white walls provide a crisp backdrop to a sea of fresh greens. An oil painting by London artist Daisy Cook hangs over a nine-foot Schneller sofa upholstered in stain-resistant fabric (Perennials). The coffee table is crafted from a 19th-century Chinese screen; the chairs are covered in handblocked linen (Clarence House).

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8 of 40

Limestone

In the living room of architect Ken Pursley's home in Charlotte, North Carolina, walls painted a warm, light grey set a soothing tone for a sea of neutrals. A Calacatta marble partition separates the seating area from an open kitchen, shielding countertop clutter while inviting conversation between cook and guest. The custom sofa was a wedding gift from fellow architect Bobby McAlpine.

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9 of 40

Golden Sunlight

At this Bronxville, New York, home designed by Carrier and Company, the golden walls in the newly added family room are painted Standish White. Trim, White Dove, both by Benjamin Moore

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11 of 40

Emerald Green

For the living room in this Connecticut home, designer Miles Redd found a pair of 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 with bullion fringe, and ruby red accents illuminate the room to radiant effect. Hand-blocked chintz upholstery fabric, Clarence House

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14 of 40

Pure White

Lawyer-turned-interior designer Darryl Carter proves soft white walls create a gallery-like backdrop, as seen here in his Washington, D.C., townhouse. Treasured works of art, sculptural marble benches, and a roaring fireplace against white walls provide a serene experience for guests.

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16 of 40

Carmine

Rich carmine walls provide an energizing canvas for a medley of textures and pattern in this New England den by Markham Roberts. A cartouches printed linen (Rose Cummings) and a Kashmir wool paisley (Clarence House) dress the custom sofa and slipper chair. While Roberts opted to upholster the walls in cashmere, you can achieve a similar look by painting the walls with Farrow & Ball's Picture Gallery Red in a matte finish.

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17 of 40

Light Oak

Warm neutrals echoing shades of wood create a calming atmosphere to sit back and watch the bustling streets outside the large bays windows of this Mexico City living room by Fernanda Loyzaga.

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18 of 40

So Golden

Ask designer Jeffrey Bilhuber, and he'll tell you gold belongs on more than just your wrists and fingers. In this Upper East Side townhouse, the New York–based decorator used a sumptuous marigold as a backdrop for the artful mirror-image seating area.

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19 of 40

Powder Blue

When looking for ways to liven up this historic Atlanta home, designers Nina Nash Long and Don Easterling turned to unique shades that could dial up the room's design moxie while still being livable. The duo painted the mantel, trim, walls, windows, and doors in this silvery blue shade from Farrow & Ball.

"It's peaceful and calming but still packs a punch of fun color," says the duo.

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20 of 40

Salmon Pink

"It's funny how much color comes across with those few accents, but I think it embraces Palm Beach's very sophisticated sensibility," remarks Suzanne Kasler, who used a vibrant pink shade to anchor a long living room at the Kips Bay Show House in Palm Beach. The salmony shade not only adds a pop of color to the mostly white space, but it brings out the touches of the pink and yellow in the Sans Soucis wallcovering by de Gournay.

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21 of 40

Artful Greige

The slight brown undertones of the gray hue covering the walls of this living room design by Kishani Perera warm up the quaint space while giving it a timeless air.

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22 of 40

Ice Blue

Shades of blue and pops of yellow echo the crystal-clear skies of the setting of this Bahamas getaway design by Miles Redd. To ensure a living room's color palette never feels overwhelming, Redd recommends using 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," explains Redd. The painting So To Speak by Doug Argue hangs over a sofa in a Osborne and Little fabric. The yellow linen used throughout the space is from Pierre Frey.

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23 of 40

Clean White

"The best thing you can have in a house is good natural light," says architect James F. Carter, who designed the living room of this Georgian-style home with four pairs of French doors and walls in a clean white shade that helps to make the room feel even brighter. The Regency game table and chairs are flanked by Chippendale mirrors and lamps from Bungalow 5. The wall paint color is Glacier White by Benjamin Moore.

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24 of 40

Smoky Gray

A smoky shade of gray (River Reflection by Benjamin Moore) bring the 18th-century boiserie in this Jean-Louis Deniot–designed Paris apartment back to life while also serving as a classical background for colorful midcentury and contemporary furnishings. Pink porcelain side tables (Djim Berger) mingle with a bergère armchair attributed to Georges Jacob and a clam chair by Philip Arctander.

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25 of 40

Glossy White

In the living room of this glamorous Hamptons home, glossy, white-lacquered walls reflect the diffused natural light from the custom ceiling, turning the space into a glowing light box. Designer Alex Papachristidis worked with artisans from across the country to create one-of-a-kind pieces like the pair of Hervé Van der Straeten bronze light fixtures that hang like jewelry in the space. The custom cantilevered sofas are covered in a white velvet from Cowtan & Tout.

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27 of 40

High-Gloss Blue

Many traditional libraries feature brown wood paneling, but slap on a coat of high-gloss blue paint—like in this living room designed by Richard Keith Langham—and you get a modern space that feels fresh and vibrant. Plaid Scottish curtains are Colefax and Fowler, and the ottoman is upholstered with a Jerry Pair suede.

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28 of 40

Soft Blush

The blushing shade adorning the Dallas living room of late arts patron and design enthusiast Betty Blake emboldens the abstract showpieces and eccentric furnishings by Syrie Maugham to shine bright.

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29 of 40

A Shade of White

Once a barn in this provincial home, the new living room stands awash in sophisticated patterns and textures. Farrow & Ball's Wimborne White is just a shade warmer than pure white, making it a subtle backdrop for family antiques and lusciously patterned curtains in Braquenie fabric. Oversize sofas are upholstered in Sits and Pierre Frey.

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30 of 40

Lime Green

Lime green is likely one of the last colors on your list for a living room, but this space designed by Maureen Footer might just change your mind. Dreamed up while researching her book, Dior and His Decorators, Footer approached the design of her own apartment with the spirit of the venerable fashion icon. Neoclassical furnishings stand in contrast with the lime green walls to create a très chic living space. The sofa upholstery is a Bergamo fabric, and the wall sconces are Urban Archaeology.

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Steele Marcoux Editor in Chief, VERANDA Steele Marcoux is the Editor in Chief at VERANDA, covering design trends, architecture, and travel for the brand.

Sarah DiMarco Sarah DiMarco is the Assistant Editor at VERANDA, covering all things decor, design, and travel, and she also manages social media for the brand.

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