Popular Paint Colors for Living Rooms

Whites and Creams

Shades of white and cream are popular because they help a room appear larger and brighter. This is important for smaller spaces such as apartments. Whites come in many different shades with tones of every color of the rainbow. White can be used as an accent to a bolder color as well. The practice of painting molding, doors and windows white has been used since the Federal period of the late 1790’s. White and cream are often popular for new homes or homes that are for sale because it is neutral and the purchaser can more easily decorate in their own personal style after moving into the home.

Vivid Colors

Vivid colors have been used in living rooms for many years. Queen Anne-era homes often have red walls in the parlor, or living room of that time. Different colors create different moods. Red is the most dynamic color, brown suggests comfort, yellow suggests warmth, green suggests life and blue brings tranquility. Choose a color that suits the desired mood of the room as well as the furnishings.

Modern homes often use two colors in a living room, a bold color and a lighter accent color. However, bold colors can date a room as the ‘popular’ color of the moment changes frequently. It is more important to choose a color that works well for the desired mood and style of the room than one that is currently popular.

Choosing the Right Color

Colors on the walls of any room set the tone for the mood of the room. Many interior designers advise choosing colors that already exist in an element in the room. For example a striped couch with blue and rust accents can suggest blue walls with rust accents on the molding and windows. Once a few colors are chosen, look at the darkest sample on the paint chip at the store. If that color is acceptable, then any of the lighter versions will also be acceptable. Before painting the entire room, paint a large, 4 ft. by 4 ft. area in the chosen color and live with it for at least two days. If the color works in the different lighting of daytime and nighttime, then paint the room as planned.

Painting the Wall

It is vital to properly prepare the wall for painting to ensure the color that ends up on the wall is the color seen on the paint chip. Pain the wall with a primer first, then paint the desired color per the package directions. Add a second coat as necessary to darken the color to the desired hue.