In living rooms, your paint choice is a pivotal supporting character. As the backdrop of arguably the most reflective room in your home, it can be hard to choose between shades that read timeless, chic, or bold. While it might be tempting to follow your feed and opt into the latest trendy palette, designers caution against it. The trend cycle is a cycle, after all. The hues that rule social feeds today might be ousted by next season.
So, what do designers recommend? If you're looking for a home that looks its best no matter the latest aesthetic, designers say you should play it safe when it comes to painting your walls.
'It [your paint colour] doesn't need to be the star of the room, but it still feels intentional', says Johanna Lyle, founder and principal designer at the North Carolina-based interior design firm, Jo Lyle & Co.
As basic as it may seem, a soft, taupe, almost parchment colour is the one living room shade that can stand the test of time and the pressure of ever-evolving palettes. Not quite a crisp, true white, this white-adjacent neutral adds warmth and lived-in sophistication to spaces while providing the perfect canvas for you to decorate and experiment.
Jo's perfect pick is Farrow & Ball’s Stirabout. Noted for its earthy oatmeal hue and subtle grey undertones, the shade is equal parts airy and grounded, striking the perfect balance and carrying just about any aesthetic.
'I think a mid-tone neutral is always a safe bet in a living room,' says Lyle. 'White can sometimes read as the default; a nuanced neutral like this gives the room a point of view without competing with everything else,' says Jo.
For the designer duo Elizabeth Bennett and Mallory Robbins of Kansas City-based Kobel + Co, the perfect living room paint color is defined by neutrality and adaptability.
'For living rooms, we love timeless colours that transition beautifully from day to night: bright and light during the day, warm and enveloping at night. Hues that feel warm and sunny yet still flatter everyone by candlelight or firelight. Colors akin to warm parchment or plaster evoke this feeling effortlessly,' says Elizabeth.
Like any room in your home, you want your living room walls to look their best no matter the season, time, or cloud cover. Choosing a hue that shifts well with natural light is essential for achieving a timeless look. In their own homes, Elizabeth and Mallory reached for both Joa's White from Farrow & Ball and Muslin from Benjamin Moore, both smooth taupes that pair effortlessly with natural materials and contemporary décor schemes.
'For a living room to feel elevated, I tend to gravitate toward colors that are warm and nuanced. Never stark white,' says Blair Moore, founder of Moore House Design.
Blair's paint of choice is Sherwin-Williams Wool Skein. Officially classified as a yellow, the shade is a creamy khaki with subtle olive undertones to bring an earthy vibe to your palette.
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'Wool Skein has this beautiful, earthy softness. It shifts with the natural light and creates a beautiful backdrop that allows the furniture, art, and architectural details to really come forward,' says Blair. Even more than finding the right hue, channelling movement in your wall treatments can seriously elevate your space. In the room above, Moore custom-matched Venetian plaster to the warm neutral to add depth, motion, and a little extra panache to the design.
I guess the rumours are true. You really can’t beat a good neutral.
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The Neutral Edit
