Designers' Go-To Living Room Color Palettes

A monochromatic color palette can be used in living areas to create a room with timeless appeal. Designer Matthew Patrick Smyth has covered the walls, furnishings and accessories in this living room in similar shades of blue. The monochromatic color palette creates a calm and sophisticated living room design, where the wood and brass elements provide a soft pop of color.

For high contrast in the living room, interior designer Danielle Colding likes to stick with the classic palette of black and white. "Nothing illustrates the impact of contrast better than the combination of black and white," says Colding. "In this [space], I decided to pair jet black walls with white picture molding. For those who want the impact without the intensity, the same contrast can work with deep navy or teal."

Just a little bit of brown can go a long way in a living room’s design. Cocoa brown and soft pastels are pretty accents in this living room that’s grounded by white walls. Designer Mariah O’Brien loves using white as a backdrop for a room with a variety of other elements like rich shades. “The white really makes an impact, as it’s a perfect backdrop for the other design elements we brought into the living experience," O'Brien says. Cocoa chairs and curtains add just a touch of brown to a room filled with pretty pastels.

Shades of brown are an excellent way to accent feminine details in a living room’s design. In this living space designed by Mariah O’Brien, the seating area has soft and organic details, like purple florals, that are grounded by warm tones of light brown and chocolate.