From versatile neutrals to the brightest of brights.
Playing with paint is one of the most accessible ways to experiment with a new color palette. Though a bucket of good-quality paint isn’t inexpensive, it is much cheaper than purchasing a new sofa or rug to bring in different tones. And if you feel like your living room could use a vibrant update, then you should check out these designer-approved living room paint color ideas below.
Choosing the best living room paint color can feel overwhelming, especially when you’re torn between something trendy and something timeless. If you've ever stood in front of a wall of swatches at the hardware store, you know the struggle. The best living room paint colors strike a balance: they complement your home’s architecture and era while reflecting your personality and design preferences. While classic neutrals like white, off-white, and greige remain popular, designers are increasingly turning to richer tones like brown and burgundy.
Before you land on a living room paint color, think about the mood you want to create. Jewel tones can bring a dramatic, cocooning feel. Pastels and soft shades help reflect natural light, making small spaces feel more open. Moody colors like navy or forest green create a cozy, intimate vibe. But no matter your goal or aesthetic, you’ll find plenty of inspiration ahead—we’ve gathered 77 of the best living room paint color ideas to suit every style and space.
Dark Olive
In this living room, designer Kristen Peña chose Trailing Vines by Benjamin Moore to create a moodier space. The dark olive tone has a charcoal gray cast, resulting in a paint color that really packs a punch.
Gray-Brown
Designer Sarah Stacey needed the perfect paint color for this speakeasy living room in her clients' home, and a rich gray-brown fit the bill. It's a cozy spot, meant for taking breaks from dancing and connecting over drinks, and the cocooning hue makes it feel all the more intimate.
Lime and Magenta
A powerful, lip-smacking palette can be found throughout this home by Sawyers Design, but the living room really packs a punch with its lime green and magenta walls. The colors speak to the entire house's vibrant yet polished ethos.
Saturated Mauve
Designer Ali Budd chose this plum color for the living room (Patchwork Plum by Sherwin-Williams) because it nicely ties back to the bubblegum pink range in the kitchen. Along with the marble fireplace and curved furniture, this paint color lends an intimate element to the space.
Inky Blue
The solid blue wall in designer Heather French's living room anchors the heavily patterned space. The deep blue is Admiral Blue by Benjamin Moore, and it looks almost electric in this space, especially when put alongside a plethora of patterns.
Kelly Green
The deep, Kelly green walls in designer Hannah Ozburn's living room almost serve as a neutral in the colorful space. If you love mixing colors and patterns in your home, choosing a deeper tone for your living room walls can help ensure the space doesn't feel too busy.
Slate Blue
When you're selecting a living room paint color, remember that you don't have to paint your walls if you don't want to. Instead, let your ceiling have a moment, like designer Suzanne Kasler did in this cozy wood-paneled room. She chose a glossy slate blue (Providence Blue by Benjamin Moore) for the ceiling to differentiate this space from the rest of the house.
Steely Green
Designer Serena Dugan chose the serene hue Raindance by Benjamin Moore for her living room paint color. A chameleon-like gray-green color like this shade is supremely flexible and can come off colder or warmer, depending on the furniture and decor you finish the rest of the room with.
Mossy Green
You can't always judge a paint color by its swatch—just ask designer Amber Lewis. “If you looked at this on a paint swatch, you wouldn’t pick it. But when the entire room is that color, it’s really lovely,” she says of this mossy green tone. Sometimes, it's better to take a risk and start painting in a color you might be on the fence about, because you may just fall in love with the outcome. For a similar look, try Elemental Green by Dunn-Edwards.
Cloudy Blue
Designer and homeowner Minnette Jackson wanted to make her long, narrow living room feel more cozy, so in addition to choosing plush furniture, she also went with a custom paint color by Pittsburgh Paints in a cloudy blue. It's elevated and brings a calming feel to the room, encouraging any occupant to sit back and relax.
Delicate Pink
In this colorful New York apartment, designer Samantha Stathis Lynch chose a soft pink living room paint color called Tailor Tack by Farrow & Ball, using it on other parts of the home as well. The client wanted to use the spring cherry blossoms in Central Park as inspiration for the interior. “There’s nothing more uplifting than seeing the first pops of vibrant green shoot up in the center of the gray city,” Stathis Lynch says.
Ochre
Yellow can often be too pale or too vibrant, but ochre is a welcome middle ground. A deep, rich hue with brown undertones, this yellow shade is enveloping and inviting. Here, designer Byron Risdon chose ochre to complement the room's tonal soft furnishings for a cohesive look.
Burgundy
This hue, while actually a red-toned deep purple, appears more like a mahogany brown when painted across all four walls and the ceiling. “We wanted to bring in jewel tones to create a dynamic space,” designer Marie Flanigan says of this Houston home's lounge. The rest of the house is painted bright white, allowing this space to be a cozy escape.
Warm Orange
This room, designed by Sarah Vaile, may be covered in wood paneling, but the cozy hue inspires us to get the look with a fresh coat of paint. Orange can be intimidating, but when paired with its complementary hue, blue, the color leans more inviting than garish.
Sage Green
The soothing hue is arguably best loved for its use in kitchens over the years (we can't forget 2021's wide-sweeping trend), but it makes an equally calming statement in a living room. Take inspiration from the 2024 House Beautiful Whole Home, and pair it with warm furnishings and soft textures for a completely cozy space.
Lilac Purple
In this space designed by Erin Shakoor, the lilac paint was chosen to complement the tropical tones of the mural. The hue, Evening Skyline by Benjamin Moore, is simultaneously sophisticated while bringing a playful energy to the Chicago home’s living room.
Sunshine Yellow
This drawing room, designed by Ben Pentreath, is painted in a vibrant egg-yolk yellow that offers a sunny ambiance during the day and transforms into a warm and inviting space by night. The unique choice of living room paint color provides a striking contrast to the traditional gray and often dreary English climate.
Bright Pink
Much of the home redesign budget in this Texas home, executed by Hilary Colia and Jennifer Kostohryz of Fort Design Studio, went to trim and wallpaper, per the homeowner’s request. “Her love for color and pattern was a driver in every part of the design,” Kostohryz says. The great room is drenched in a bubblegum pink, which unexpectedly honors and highlights the home’s original architecture. Even the ceilings are painted to give the room a rosy glow.
Deep Teal
Interior designer Cecilia Casagrande searched for a living room paint color that was “lush but livable.” She landed on Hague Blue by Farrow & Ball. By leaving the ceilings white, Casagrande gives the illusion of higher ceilings in this historic home.
Soft Turquoise
Coastal design can easily lean kitschy, so to elevate this Palm Beach home, the team behind Kemble Interiors opted for a step above ocean blue. The slightly green teal living room paint color (Del Mar Blue by Benjamin Moore) livens up the space and pairs perfectly with the patterned wallcovering.
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