The color of your room creates a certain mood. It is essential that your walls have a certain pallet that are cohesive with your living decor and furniture. While there’s no right or wrong way to paint your home, I think there are definitely some things to consider before you dive into such a big commitment. Don’t be afraid to get out those overalls and get your hands a little dirty.
At Lindye Galloway, we like to stick to mostly shades of whites, but even that choice opens itself up to even more options. There’s a lot of undertones to look out for, including various shades and how they work with your home’s lighting, structure, and furniture. So it’s very important to be thoughtful about the color you choose for your living room.
What Should You Consider Before Painting and Shopping For Your Living Room
Color has a lot to do with mood. That’s why you want to assess the feeling you want to evoke in your living room. Then think of the room’s style and existing colors. Look to our Pinterest for color inspiration, typing in colors you’re interested in, and see if the room inspires or connects with you in some way.
You may also want to consider the light in your living room space. Color bounces a lot of different light. If you have a dark space, I would encourage you to go a little brighter in your wall color. If your space is already bright and full of natural light, you have a bit more room to play with contrast and choose darker paint.
Consider what furniture already exists in the space and which decor you’re willing to purchase in order to complement the wall color. If you have darker furniture, maybe consider a lighter wall color. Or maybe go a lighter shade if all your furniture is soft. Another way to really bring out color is decorative pillows and rugs. These smaller pieces can add the perfect pop of color to your living room. It can also shine a light on the wall color if you choose to make them match or compliment each other.
My biggest design tip when it comes to painting is to paint samples on your walls. This allows you to see the color in different lights and with the backdrop of your own furniture and architecture. If you’re painting more than one wall, get a 12×12” square for each wall, since each wall has a different light and angle. You want to really make sure you love the color and overall tone
Related: The Top Trending Paint Colors
Lindye’s Color Recommendations
At Lindye Galloway, we usually use white paint for living room walls. This is our go-to because it’s neutral and allows your furniture and decor to shine. Still, the right shade of white will really set the tone for the entire space— each shade brings a surprisingly different feeling to the room and we want you to feel your best!
For color, we usually use greys and blues, which create a calm, coastal and cool atmosphere while still adding a touch of color. Basically, you usually want your walls to make enough of an impact that they set a mood, but you don’t want them to overwhelm the space. While no color is wrong when it comes to designing your own living room, we’re going to provide a list of popular colors that we think would really work in just about any space with the right decor.
Classic Blue (2020 Pantone Color of the Year)
When Classic Blue was announced as the Color of the Year, a lot of us were surprised. But this calming shade of azure is a bold statement for your living room that still allows for a multitude of design options. It was chosen because it evokes feelings of confidence and stability — bold yet simple.
Since Classic Blue isn’t a shy color, we recommend pairing it with a blue couch of a darker shade to really bring the room together. Make your other decor natural and simple, like wood finishes and modern, simple accents. This makes sure your living room still feels open and welcoming, instead of overpowering and heavy.
Whites – Hazelnuts
This is a classic. You can’t go wrong with a white wall. It’s simple and easy to work your furniture and decor around. But there’s something special about a hazelnut undertone, which brings out a bit more browns and earthy tones in the room. You’ll still have endless furniture options, but your room will be a bit brighter and welcoming with a hazelnut shade.
Lilac Gray – Greyish Purple
Dove gray is an absolute classic paint color when you’re looking for a modern vibe in your living room. But lilac gray is an often-overlooked alternative that creates a bit more of a sultry and moody vibe.
The addition of lilac makes the gray hues appear warmer, making the choice of a grey wall-less sterile and cold. Pair it with white finishing and make sure your furniture is on the cooler side to ensure that your living room looks more open and peaceful.
Dark (Opaque) Greens
This wall color may come as a bit of a shock to you after hearing me gush about lighter colors (especially white and cream). But there’s no denying that this stunning wall color creates a vibe unlike any other. Let dark green shades inspire a natural vibe, bringing you back to a calm and beautiful botanical garden.
You’ll definitely want some plants in this room, as well as some natural furniture with wood finishes. Focus on elegant, simple furniture to create a balance with the powerful walls.
If you’re going for more of a hunter or bottle green paint, make sure the room is well-light and on the larger side so you don’t overwhelm a small space and make it look dark and eerie.
Soft Clay
This is a simple alternative to white that evokes a much more inspiring atmosphere. Clay is earthy, giving the room a sense of wanderlust that no ordinary white wall can have. The warmth will also inspire a sunny and casual elegance. Some popular choices are terra cotta, clove, caramel, and even burnt orange.
Your decor can take inspiration from this vibe, using brown, yellow, and white to create an inviting atmosphere that invokes exotic travel locations and an escape from everyday life.
Soft Pinks
Like soft clay, this is a classic and simple alternative to white that creates a much richer atmosphere. Pink is bright, happy, cheery, ensuring that your living room feels welcoming, and even fun. Think of playing off that feel in your decor. While a lot of your pieces should be simple, modern, and light to ensure the room isn’t overpowering, you may want to throw in some fun pinks and even other bright colors to really inspire a whimsical vibe.
Mustard – Dusty Yellow
Okay, so here’s a definite mood: gold and mustard. This is a rich wall color that instantly makes your room have depth and an artistic tone. This is a strong color that can be overwhelming in a small room, so make sure this is a living room with a lot of natural lighting and open space. Pair it with white and earth-toned decor to ensure nothing clashes since the wall will be your focal point.
Muted Pastels
Pastels have a soothing quality to them that makes your living room inviting and warm. You’ll want to pick a chalky and muted tone, so it’s still neutral enough to not overwhelm a room since you’ll want to stick with a minimalist design. Simple, modern, and light furniture and elegant accents make the pastel stand out without being overwhelming.
Light Blue
From charcoal blue and ice blue to gray-blue and pale powder blue, a light blue is a great way to give a pop of color to your room without the walls becoming too overwhelming. It’s subtle yet creates a stunning vibe that can’t be denied.
The light blue tone you go for should be soothing and airy, ensuring the room doesn’t feel dark and confined. The right light blue paint can make your room feel larger and more open than it is, reminding people of the sky. Pair it with the white and blue decor to keep the room feeling inviting and light.
Mushroom
This is a fresh twist on the retro brown paints of the past. But instead of feeling dated, shades of mushroom feel modern and bold. If you have a lot of natural furnishings and finishes in your living room, a mushroom-colored wall can really bring that out, highlighting these simple choices. Just make sure your room is large enough to handle such a powerful color since dark walls can make a room feel claustrophobic if they’re too small.
Extra Tips
To ensure your room comes together after a fresh coat of paint, remember the other parts of the room that are often looked over. This can include the door. Sometimes we’ll paint a door to add a pop of color in an otherwise neutral or simple room. This can also add an accent color to add a bit of depth.
And don’t forget about the ceiling. Consider the ceiling the “fifth wall.” At Lindye Galloway Interiors, we have a tendency to do white on the ceiling to ensure the rest of the room can remain calm. But sometimes we’ve even added a deep Moody Blue to the ceiling to add an unexpected pop of color to a room that can handle that bold accent.
Another way to give your living room more depth is to add an accent wall. If a bold color catches your eye, maybe only paint one wall that color. This way it doesn’t become overwhelming but still sets the mood for the furniture and decor within the space.
And don’t be afraid to create contrast with your color selections. If your furniture is dark, go for a lighter wall to really bring out the furniture’s mood. Or if your walls are darker, keep the room feeling light with natural textures and simple, elegant pieces.
Do What Feels Good
All in all, try not to get overwhelmed by the many decisions when it comes to paint colors. Find some inspiration, put up some samples, and ultimately, do what makes you feel good in your space. There will always be trendy colors and experts will always have wall colors that they recommend for your living room, but in the end, it’s all about what makes you happy.
If you need help getting inspired, contact Lindye Galloway today. Let us know a bit about your project and we can help you create the unique, high-end living room of your dreams.