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Living Room Colour Ideas To Create A Timeless Space With Design Edge

As the space where everyone in a home spends much of their waking hours (whether that’s a single property dweller or a family of 12), the living room has a demanding job. From play-date central to weary evening lounging or a weekend get-together, this room has to perform many tasks. With all these roles and as a focus for the house, it still needs to seem like a decorating success – less it seems like a chaotic thoroughfare.

Modern living room with grey patterned roller blinds on windows and patio door

Grey Tones

A mid-tone grey living room is a very on-trend choice, and if you choose a tone with a yellow rather than blue base it can be surprisingly welcoming and warm.

Grey handles well British light that can vary from cold and hard on a dull winter’s day to vividly bright in the hot summer sun, and also reflects evening lamplight beautifully too.

Surprisingly neutral, it can handle most decorative periods from mid-century modern bold prints to classical Georgian wooden simplicity. It’s also a shade that can take you from play-date sticky fingers to evening drinks party as it shows fewer marks than white.

Even if you decide on a chalky hue, consider a modern paint formulation that is wipe-able and tough for the rigours of an everyday busy life.

Modern living room with multicoloured Plissé blinds on windows

Green

Green living rooms benefit from the influence this colour naturally has on the nervous system; according to colour theory, green is the colour with the most calming effect.

A great way to introduce it is through house plants. As well as the benefits of creating a healthier space from improved air quality, they create interesting natural shapes which break up most rooms’ boxy structure.

Rather than dotting the odd plant around a room focus on a set of shelving to create a mini living wall, or on side tables of different heights.

Avoid too many different coloured flowers and use strong bright green leaves such as indoor palms, ferns and Aloe Vera plants varying in size and form.

Pair with accessories such as cushions or blinds sporting the hot botanicals trend for extra chic points.

Sunny living room with white Venetian blinds on large windows and patio door

White

White living rooms have a timeless quality making them one of the perennial design favourites.

The challenge with white is to avoid being tempted to make your surfaces too perfect and bland or it can create a soul-less office feel.

To avoid any starkness, look for warm white rather than a blue base. Natural materials work well here, such as rattan or wood, and woven fabrics like Venetian blinds with linen tapes add subtle texture.

Whether in white or earthier tones they will add richness and depth to the scheme.

Modern living room with blue Vertical blinds on large windows

Blue

To ensure a blue living room seems serene rather than cold choose a soft tone blue/grey tone.

These Vertical blinds will keep the look cocooning rather than chilly. Combined with the addition of soft furnishing and good lighting, you can achieve a fresh daytime look and grown-up indulgence at night.

Don’t just think in terms of standard paint colours; a blue wall can add a huge amount of drama whilst also feeling classical and restful.

Try breaking up solids with patterned throws for sofas or large checks on armchairs.

Burnished wooden trays sporting art books or large gilt frames on walls should be used to break up the effect of this dominating shade and to add some New England elegance.

Sunny living room with pink Pirouette® Shades on large windows

Coral Red

A coral red tone in a living room has a very warm and inviting feel and can be made to look very modern when used as an accent colour, for a burst of energy.

It works well as a wallpaper print, especially as a feature within a monochrome scheme. Whether as decorations – like glassware and vases – or as the main detail in a painting or print it can add richness, contrast, or a ‘pop’ to stop a scheme from looking too serious.

For those who want to test the water, try using it as ground on a velvet sofa with complimentary throws over it; in a deep red shade, some bohemian gypsy style that quietly improves with age.

Sunny dining room with yellow Duette® Blinds on windows

Yellow

A yellow living room may seem a rather bold choice, but when used carefully with other accents colours, it can be a very sophisticated and confident colour scheme for living rooms.

It lends itself to a bit of whimsy as a colour and has the advantage of adding instant warmth and humour. Try using fake panels as wall décor to create a classical sitting room or pair with oversized leather sofa. After all, who wouldn’t love to recline in such a cheery yellow room? Instant good mood.

Looking for more inspiration? Visit our living room blinds idea page.

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