Color Trends in the Living Room

Paint new life into your family room with the latest color collections from the industry.

By Jennifer Haupt

Living rooms are where the stories of our lives are, well, lived, and the easiest way to revise those stories is with color. "Bringing updated color into your decor is all about adding that unexpected 'aha' with an accent wall or cushions, rugs and other accessories," says Leatrice Eiseman, director and color forecaster of the Pantone Color Institute, an industry leader in color trends. Inject new life into your living room — and your life — with these five color trends.

Hollywood Glamour

Next: Sensual and Sultry

The tradition and elegant Hollywood glamour of the '30s and '40s is coming back into style, and can be seen in living room colors and fixtures. "Vintage Hollywood glam was decedent, with lots of gold, crystal and metallic lacquers," says Los Angeles-based designer Felicia Bushman. "Now, we're adding more contemporary elements such as textured wallpaper with metal threading instead of shimmery paint."

According to Bushman, a little glamour goes a long way: a crystal chandelier over the dining room table or an ornate gilded mirror over the fireplace mantel can transform a room. The colors are muted and more restrained; for example, baby blue is out and gray-blue is in. "Gray is big, but there are a thousand variations, from pink to blue to purple," Bushman says.

"I often look for things that add a bit of glamour and contemporary elegance to a space, and also reflect the colors to open up the room," says Los Angeles-based designer Diann Valentine . "A crystal lamp in a corner, or a mirrored table against a wall, can add light and depth to a room." These illusions of space can do wonders for a small living room, where you don't want guests to feel crowded.