{"id":190423,"date":"2025-12-13T22:21:20","date_gmt":"2025-12-13T22:21:20","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/190423\/"},"modified":"2025-12-13T22:21:20","modified_gmt":"2025-12-13T22:21:20","slug":"i-asked-5-designers-the-best-color-for-living-rooms-and-over-half-said-the-exact-same-shade","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/ie\/190423\/","title":{"rendered":"I Asked 5 Designers the Best Color for Living Rooms, and Over Half Said the Exact Same Shade"},"content":{"rendered":"

For many interior designers, your living room feels like your home\u2019s calling card \u2014 it\u2019s one of the only places that many will see. A living room is often created in a way to ensure it makes a great first impression, even moreso than areas like an entryway<\/a>, porch and front yard,<\/a> or even exterior features.<\/p>\n

At their best, living rooms<\/a> are warm, welcoming, and laid out to support all the ways you work and live in the space. But what sets the tone for all of this? Your wall paint color.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe all spend a lot of time in the living room either lounging, watching TV, or entertaining guests,\u201d interior designer Antoinette Allande Anderson<\/a> says. \u201cTherefore, it should be a color that helps us relax, restore, and enjoy each other\u2019s company. Nobody likes to hang out in a room with ugly wall colors<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Unfortunately, though, it\u2019s not always as simple as just picking your favorite hue. It\u2019s key that your color choice communicates with other areas in the home. \u201cColor is so important to contributing to how a space feels,\u201d says designer Jennifer Carter<\/a> of Studio Envie<\/a>. \u201cA living room, whether an open floor plan or not<\/a>, often touches so many other rooms, so choosing a color that can coordinate with the color palettes of other rooms is important.\u201d<\/p>\n

So how do you zero in on the best color for a living room? I tapped five leading designers to learn the best color for living rooms. And not to scoop myself, but I was surprised to learn over half of them said the same exact shade, so read on for that and more color advice, including runners-up shades and foolproof color palettes.<\/p>\n

\"LivingThe Best Living Room Color<\/p>\n

All the designers I spoke with had an opinion on the best color for a living room \u2014 but it\u2019s good to remember that, regardless of your chosen color, your own selection should reflect how you spend time in the space.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen designing your living room, you need the space to convey what type of activity occurs there. If you want people to get very cozy and comfortable, you may opt for a darker wall color,\u201d says designer Emma Beryl<\/a>, author of the upcoming book titled House Rules: 100 Ways to Feel at Home<\/a>. \u201cHowever, if the space is more formal, using a light paint color might be more appropriate. You need to choose the color to help achieve the desired feeling in the space.\u201d<\/p>\n

However, after interviewing five different designers, they all agreed that the best color for a living room is white. <\/p>\n

\"Best<\/p>\n

It all comes down to white\u2019s neutrality. Not all white paints are created equally, though, and designers seem to favor those with warmer undertones <\/a>for this social space in the home. \u201cI consistently gravitate toward warm whites because of their inviting, adaptable nature,\u201d says designer Antonio DeLoatch<\/a>, who works with New York Design Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

\u201cUnlike cool whites, warm whites offer a subtle softness that evolves beautifully with changing light, making a room feel cozy and expansive all at once. They serve as the perfect canvas for showcasing favorite art pieces, quirky collections, or statement rugs, striking a balance between a gallery-like feel and a warm embrace.\u201d<\/p>\n

While all the surveyed designers agreed white was the best shade for a living room, they did have mixed reviews on specific colors \u2014 except for one. Three of the designers cited Benjamin Moore\u2019s Chantilly Lace as their favorite warm white for living rooms. \u201cThis hue subtly warms up a room, making it feel cozy and inviting,\u201d says designer Marina Hanisch<\/a>, who also works with New York Design Center<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Hanisch also recommends Benjamin Moore\u2019s Simply White and Benjamin Moore\u2019s Super White, while Anderson has used the brand\u2019s White Dove and Decorator\u2019s White in previous projects. DeLoatch himself is personally fond of Sherwin-Williams\u2019 Greek Villa.<\/p>\n

White has earned its place as a designer favorite for reasons beyond its versatility. Beryl maintains that it\u2019s a great practical choice to brighten up a dark room and a smart pick for someone still figuring out their interior style. \u201cI believe that a living room is such a universal space \u2014 serving clients for so many different purposes day-to-day and as families grow \u2014 that a neutral color palette is best,\u201d Carter adds.<\/p>\n

\u201cNeutral colors in living rooms provide a serene base for richer, deeper hues in upholstery, accent pillows, rugs, and art \u2014 some of which can be switched out seasonally.\u201d<\/p>\n

Before committing to any wall color, designer-approved or otherwise, it\u2019s always a good idea to swatch your walls and look at those samples during different times of day to see how the shade will change in appearance, as fluctuating natural (and artificial) light levels factor into the equation. If you\u2019re white feels a little too stark or boring, don\u2019t worry. The designers also shared alternative living room colors for people who want a bit more drama or saturation.<\/p>\n

\"paint<\/p>\n

Credit: Design: Apartment Therapy<\/p>\n

5 Other Great Living Room Colors<\/p>\n

While white was the designers\u2019 top pick for a living room color, it\u2019s understandable that this snowy shade might not work for every home. That\u2019s why I asked designers to share their runners-up paint colors for living rooms.<\/p>\n

\"DogIvory or Beige<\/p>\n

If you still want a light and bright look but would appreciate a little bit more pigment and even more warmth, ivory or a light beige might be your best bet. DeLoatch loves Farrow & Ball\u2019s Pointing, a creamy off-white, because of its classic ivory hue and warm undertones. \u201cFor a more organic feel, a creamy white color with a marble-like effect such as [Portola\u2019s Brooks<\/a>] instantly elevates a living room with beautiful texture and depth,\u201d Hanisch explains of her runner-up color. \u201cIn a minimalistic living room, this color adds a layer of complexity without overwhelming the space, allowing other design elements to shine.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"GrayGray<\/p>\n

Gray is a timeless paint color choice for living rooms<\/a>, probably because it\u2019s a mix of white and black, and as such, tends to go with everything. So it\u2019s no surprise Beryl and Carter also recommend this shade family. \u201cWe used the color Benjamin Moore\u2019s Cloud Cover in a living room with southern-facing windows; it\u2019s a really deep space, so we needed to bounce the light into the back of the space,\u201d Beryl shares. \u201cThis was perfect, since it was light and bright but felt warm and cozy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Carter has used Benjamin Moore\u2019s Light Pewter in the past, which, as her favorite gray, is the perfect balance between cool and warm. \u201c[It\u2019s] a warm neutral that is a great backdrop for both warm and cool color palettes,\u201d she explains.<\/p>\n

\"GreenGreen<\/p>\n

Looking for a richer color to paint your living room? Beryl suggests going with a green for a nature-inspired touch that can be surprisingly low-maintenance as compared to white. Looking for an exact hue here? Beryl used Backdrop\u2019s Saged in a recent project. \u201cIt is a muted sage green, which was perfect for the space since we were bringing in a bunch of powerful jewel colors, and we wanted the walls to stay relatively neutral but not white, since it can be hard to maintain white walls with young children running around,\u201d she says.<\/p>\n

\"<span>Blue Gray<\/p>\n

Blue paint<\/a> has always been a crowd-pleaser. Designers rely on it as a great alternative to white for a living room where you want more saturation than a gray or beige can supply. Carter recommends two colors that are a perfect mix between blue and gray. <\/p>\n

\u201cFor those color-loving clients, I love Benjamin Moore\u2019s Templeton Gray, which is a deep color that has both green and blue undertones,\u201d Carter shares. \u201cFarrow & Ball\u2019s De Nimes is also a beautiful blue-gray that is a wonderful background color to a cozy space.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Best Living Room Color Palettes<\/p>\n

Now that you know what shade families our designers think are best for living rooms, it\u2019s time to see them in action so you can pick your supporting cast of furnishings and accessories. It can be overwhelming to paint a room and then figure out what colors, like those found in your textiles, decor, and artwork, will work well with the wall paint \u2014 so we\u2019ve got you covered with some inspiration.<\/p>\n

\"BestNeutrals With Bold Colors<\/p>\n

Several of the designers mentioned how warm whites provide the best backdrop to allow a mix of other colors, whether it\u2019s in artwork or furniture, to shine without feeling chaotic. Beryl goes as far to say you can \u201cincorporate almost any color into the space\u201d with a white backdrop. Anderson\u2019s personal number one pairing? \u201cMy favorite color combination is a mix of warm neutrals, a sapphire blue, blush or peachy tones, and a little bit of black,\u201d she shares.<\/p>\n

\"BestCreate Tranquility With Neutral Creams, Taupes, and Browns<\/p>\n

\u201cWarm hues, such as cream, taupe, and browns, paired with mellow textures and metals, create a calming environment when set against these white shades,\u201d Hanisch explains. \u201cAdditionally, I love incorporating pops of deeper-toned hues such as graphite to create a visually appealing contrast.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"BestWhite with Earth Tones Like Deep Green or Terracotta<\/p>\n

If you\u2019re looking to create a living room that feels \u201cinviting, layered, and full of character,\u201d DeLoatch recommends pairing a warm white with earth tones (think: a deep green or terracotta) and metals like antique brass or gold.<\/p>\n

\"WhiteWhite with Rich Jewel Tones Like Plum and Dark Green<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are really gravitating toward rich, warm colors in pillows, drapery, and upholstery,\u201d Carter explains. \u201cDark greens, plums, warm woods, and golds pair so nicely with a soft, warm neutral and by painting the walls a lighter hue, it allows us to layer these rich, darker colors without weighing down the room.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"LivingGreen Adds Drama and Coziness to a Room<\/p>\n

In this London living room, Farrow & Ball\u2019s Green Smoke provides a deep rich wall color while also letting the jewel-toned purple couch stand out. It feels cozy and exciting all at once.<\/p>\n

Further Reading<\/p>\n

Create Your Own Interior Design Mood Board | Apartment Therapy<\/a><\/p>\n

11 Beautiful Hanukkah Decor Finds to Make All 8 Nights Sparkle<\/a><\/p>\n

I Finally Found a Dupe for the Hotel Pillows That Gave Me the Best Sleep of My Life (They\u2019re 55% Off!)<\/a><\/p>\n