Decorating & Design
July 15, 2021
10 Living Room Color Palettes That Pack A Punch
It’s easy to fall into a bit of a rut when it comes to the living room. Furnishings represent a major investment and many homeowners play it safe with solid neutral upholstery that will stand the test of time. But if you’re looking to shake it up with color and pattern, you’ve come to the right place. We’ve broken down some color palettes that will get your creative juices flowing. Ready to take the plunge? Scroll down!
Oceanic Tropicals
Aegean blue seas, palm green and coral are all evoked in designer Cynthia Ferguson’s maximalist living room. The denim blue walls and coral silk-wallpaper ceiling act as color blocking, and she really gets daring with pattern, injecting juicy accents like zig zag drapes and toss pillows.
Complementary Cohorts
Like complementary colors red and green, orange and blue sit opposite the color wheel. When they are paired side by side, they make for electric neighbors and play off each other. This living room turns down the temp with white walls and a metallic accent table.
Watercolor Wash
For those who prefer pastels, this soft, soothing living room in designer Rosie Daykin’s Vancouver home is like walking into a watercolor painting. Hits of pink and aquatic blue are picked up in the rug, with plenty of marble in the floor and hearth to add a bit of gravitas.
Moody Bloomsbury
It’s no surprise this Bloomsbury-inspired living room by design expert Kai Ethier is full of saturated color. Taking inspo from the grouping of artwork near the hearth, there’s plenty of emphasis of rich power primaries like cranberry and indigo, which are folded in with a secondary shade like clay.
Sophisticated Neutrals
If the goal is elevation, you can’t go wrong with a tonal mix of neutrals. Cerused oak and a mocha leather sofa are the essential hits of texture in this artful living room. Warm taupe and its cooler counterpart, steel gray, let an incredible view take center stage.
Fruit Punch
If you’re a Jungalow fan, you don’t stop at beige. Justina Blakeney is the queen of color, so we aren’t surprised that this persimmon velvet sofa is the centerpiece of her L.A. home. To dial all that heat down, she injects some bluebbery to temper the persimmon, with a squeeze of lemon yellow for good measure.
Showy Peacocks
Shades of green and blue are known to impart a sense of serenity. The walls of this sumptuous London home are lacquered to make the deep peacock hue seem even richer. Designer Colette van den Thillart leavens their darkness with a fresh injection of olive: a perfect match for the regal warmth of gilded picture frames and furniture.
All Ablush
Look to the makeup drawer for the inspiration for this cosmetic mash-up. Gutsy charcoal bolsters the sweetness of frosty pastel pink sofas like a swipe of eyeliner, while a rich red rug acts as a base in this eclectic space.
Spice Market
Sunset hues are having a major moment in the spotlight. In Bohème Goods founder Sarah Shabacon’s Vancouver townhouse, earth-toned furniture and accessories, a saffron sofa and cinnamon throw pillows create the heady atmosphere of a souk marketplace.
Preppy Perfection
The pairing of pink and green will forever be linked as the foundation of a preppy palette, and this room emphasizes this old school style with classic floral chintz. This room’s garden-like vibe keeps a floral theme going with plenty of live plants and artwork in the home of artist Virginia Johnson.