Breathe new life into your living room with a splash of carefully chosen colour. Whether you're looking to create a cosy retreat or a vibrant entertainment hub, the right colour scheme can work wonders. From soothing neutrals to bold statement hues, we'll explore clever combinations that will transform your living space into an inviting sanctuary – perfect for hosting guests or unwinding with loved ones.
What makes an inviting colour scheme?
Whether you have a small living room with little natural light or a light and airy open plan space, choosing warm colours for living rooms ensures a cosy and timeless appeal. Warm hues like red, yellow and orange tend to feel more inviting than cool tones, as they’re associated with the sun, evoking energy and warmth.
However, nature-inspired blues and greens have a soothing effect, making you want to spend time in your living room. Neutral shades like cream, beige and grey can also have a calming appeal, especially in modern living rooms.
From brights to neutrals, there’s a shade for everyone at Dulux. If you’re not sure where to start, learn how to create a colour scheme you'll love in our guide, then explore our top picks here.
Vibrant orange infuses a living room with warmth, making it an excellent choice for revitalising a tired space. For a balanced approach, opt for a softer orange hue like Soft Peach on all the walls, creating a welcoming ambience without overwhelming the senses.
Alternatively, make a bold statement by incorporating a vivid shade like Frosted Papaya as an accent. Use this eye-catching colour to highlight architectural features like the interior of a doorway or to frame a window, catching visitors’ attention and adding depth to your living area.
Neutrals are some of the best warm, inviting colours for interiors, and a well-balanced neutral palette can create a cosy living room atmosphere. Consider painting your walls in Perfectly Taupe to envelop the space in warmth. Want to add dimension to the room? Apply a deeper shade like Intense Truffle to the wall behind your sofa to make it stand out, then use lighter tones for the other walls.
To enhance the inviting ambience, layer the space with neutral accessories. From scatter cushions in various patterns and textures to luxurious throws in velvet and wool, these tactile elements add visual interest and help create the perfect setting for relaxed evenings and cosy gatherings.
Vibrant yellow infuses a living room with optimism, creating a welcoming feel. For a bold statement, paint your walls in a bright, sunny yellow like California Days. Balance this intensity with grounding neutrals like white or grey in your furniture and accessories.
Alternatively, opt for softer tones like Honey Nut on the walls for a more subtle take on this colour palette. Pale yellows pair beautifully with pastel greens and blues for a soothing colour scheme, while warm neutrals allow yellow to pop.
Green can create a striking living room look, evoking nature and bringing a sense of calm to the space. Whether used on your walls or as an accent colour, dark greens like Forest Shade add sophistication to the room. To balance the boldness, incorporate crisp white ceilings and woodwork, creating a fresh contrast that prevents the room from feeling overwhelming.
Lighter greens like Spring Meadow are a great way to dip your toe into colour, providing an excellent alternative to neutrals. Soft blues reminiscent of the sky and sea work harmoniously with any green and enhance the room's connection to nature.
5. Create a cosy feel with dark grey
Using dark grey in your living room can create a cosy, enveloping atmosphere without the intensity of black. Consider incorporating rich hues like Urban Obsession or Cannon Ball – paint a feature wall or try colour drenching for a dramatic yet inviting design. Be sure to add various textures and metallic accents to prevent the room from feeling flat.
Hesitant about committing to dark walls? A tonal grey colour palette can be equally effective. Paint your walls in a soft grey like Chic Shadow, then apply darker shades to architectural features like doors and window frames. This technique adds visual dimension to your living room while helping it maintain a lighter appearance overall.
A rich and warming red can transform your living room into a welcoming haven that's perfect for entertaining. From terracotta hues to deep, brown-toned reds, this colour is particularly enchanting in the evenings when bathed in soft, ambient lighting.
Consider layering different shades of red throughout the room for added dimension. Use lighter tones like Tuscan Terracotta on all the walls for a colour-drenching effect and deeper hues like Pepper Red or Copper Blush for accents or feature walls.
To enhance the rustic charm of a red living room, add natural wood furniture. The organic textures and warm tones of wood complement the earthy undertones of red, creating a harmonious space.
Wondering how these inviting colours will look in your living room? Download the Dulux Visualizer app to try your favourite shades at the touch of a button.
