Color Trends in the Living Room

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

By Jennifer Haupt

Warm and Inviting Neutrals

The New Neutrals, one of the 2008 palettes being introduced by the Color Marketing Group (CMG) isn't like those non-descript beiges. "These soul-satisfying earthy tones are great to relax in, and enjoy the company of friends and family," explains Jack Bredenfoerder, president of the CMG. He says earthy browns and tans, reflecting the colors of rock, stone and soil, will be trendy into '08.

Sherwin-Williams' neutral color palette includes warm and inviting "mid-tone" shades of mocha, taupe and camel. Sherwin-Williams' Ralich Spak suggests accenting these colors with cool grays, like metal and nickel, that have been gone since the '80s. Pantone calls its 2008 palette of neutrals "Nuances," and suggests using unexpected and intriguing accents or combinations such as rose paired with earthy browns or reddish plums, highlighted with a green-tinged bronze tone.

"I tell clients to choose furniture and upholstery that are neutral, then get bolder with the colors of the walls, accessories and fixtures," says designer Sonja Brisson. "Red is a great accent color for living rooms because it's warm and cozy, and makes people want to stay in a room longer. It's also energizing, so it encourages people to talk."