40 Living Room Color Palettes You've Never Tried

Living room looking a little dull? Spice it up with one of these stylish yet unexpected color combos.

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April 14, 2020

By: Kristin Guy and Chelsey Bowen

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Canary Yellow & Indigo

Feeling courageous? Make bold canary yellow your living room's focal color! Indigo tones down this powerful hue while giving it an inviting feel. Try adding texture and pattern to your palette by introducing a shibori throw or pillow as your indigo accent. For extra impact, paint a complementary statement wall for a unified, well-rounded look that shines.

From: Noz Nozawa

Hot Pink & Turquoise

Surprisingly versatile, this bold color combo works well with a number of design styles. Think a bold pop for southwest patterns, or a striking splash in a midcentury space. This combo is playful and bright, yet a trend you’ll still love mixing and matching next season.

From: Sarah Wittenbraker

Crimson & Sage

Soothing earth tones get a jolt of energy when paired with a bright red rug. This contrast creates a happy balance, especially when there are patterns and textures involved. The key to this color combo is to anchor the floor with the bolder color so the room doesn’t feel too busy, keeping the walls airy and light.

From: Justin DiPiero

Vibrant Blue & Yellow

More hip than highlighter, this electric pairing makes a big impact without being overwhelming. This duo looks especially stunning when paired with neutral tones such as black and white.

From: Sarah Wittenbraker

Mustard & Salmon

Warm, golden mustard gets a punchy pop when paired with salmon. These colors work well together when combined with a cool tone such as navy. When playing around with a triad of tones, try choosing them from a large statement piece, such as an area rug, for a pulled-together palette.

From: Caitlin Murray

Grass Green & Tangerine

When paired with other bold tones like blue and tangerine, grass green walls evoke the feeling of a tropical getaway. In this space, these vibrant hues bring a contemporary look to a built-in bookcase and a mix of traditional furniture pieces upholstered in unlikely textiles.

From: Ann Lowengart

Periwinkle & Fuchsia

Add a fun splash of color to an all-white room with this pink and purple palette. Bright fuchsia pops against the soothing periwinkle, making this room feel energetic yet refined.

From: Jenn Feldman Designs

Emerald & Cantaloupe

Pale yellow and orange can sometimes feel drab and lost in a room - that is, until you give them a daring backdrop of luscious emerald. These colors contrast in a dynamic way, making for an energetic sitting area that exudes creativity.

Bubble Gum & Black

Precious pink gets a modern makeover when paired with a striking black wall. These colors set the stage for neutral tones and a mix of eccentric patterns that make this room feel exotic but not overly wild.

From: Ana Donohue

Blush & Sky Blue

Popularized by Pantone in 2016, this blush and blue pair feels serene and stylish while playing nicely with warmer tones such as orange and yellow. This look is as mellow as modern can get, and we love it!

From: Caitlin Murray

Olive & Magenta

Olive no longer feels stuffy when matched with lively magenta. This punchy pink brings new life to the classic green and feels especially playful when mixed with bold patterns like chevron and stripes.

From: Phara Queen

Cobalt & Berry

Playful yet sophisticated, these colors will instantly infuse personality into any room. Not into purchasing such a bold piece of furniture? Try out the look with a colorful tapestry tacked to the wall and make over your room in minutes. For extra punch, showcase these colors with a few additional throw pillows.

From: Sarah Stacey Interior Design

Granite & Green

Grays and greens are quite a handsome duo! Whether you’re looking to create a light-filled lodge or a dapper reading nook, these colors can bring on the cozy without feeling tired.

From: Cortney Bishop Design

Navy, Coral & Goldenrod

Playful fabrics and finishes in a trio of stimulating colors make this eclectic living room feel stylish, not stuffy. Try echoing one of the colors around the entire room with accents (in this case navy), which will tie the whole look into a more cohesive, less chaotic space.

From: Lucinda Loya Interiors

Lilac & Leopard

Let it be known that animal print is indeed a neutral, and it should be considered its own color as well! It pairs well with almost every palette but looks especially elegant when layered over lilac, a hue that can immediately wake up even the smallest of spaces.

From: Stefani Stein

Emerald & Cadet Blue

A wash of blue makes this room - and its elegant emerald chairs - feel more relaxed. Use this color palette to bring a casual look to traditionally formal fabrics such as velvet.

From: Caitlin Murray

Citrus, White & Chrome

Minimalist rooms boasting mostly white and chrome can feel cold and stark. Create a softer surrounding by bringing airy tones of citrus into the mix. Like the perfect golden hour moment that lasts all day long, this combo is as chic as it is calming.

From: Willem Racke Studio

Primary Pop

Liven up a space by introducing bright, bold primary colors in the form of repeating patterns. By splashing one or two of the colors on statement window treatments or artwork, you’ll create a cohesive look that’s not too intense.

From: Bronwyn Poole

Rust & Rouge

Rust is having a major moment in design, and we can see why. Warm and inviting, this color looks dashing when paired with complementary hues of pink and orange. Modern monochromatic at its best!

From: Alain Pinel Realtors

Sage & Ivory

A palette of pale sage and crisp ivory can transform a room into a spa-like sanctuary. If painting the entire floor sounds intimidating, try layering light green rugs for a similar effect. The key to achieving this serene look is to keep the furniture and accents neutral, while allowing a few plants to add movement to the space.

From: Cortney Bishop Design

Slate & Marigold

A moody backdrop of slate blue gets a pick-me-up from pops of warm marigold. This room proves that you can go minimal with your color accents while still making a big impact.

From: Rachel Seldin

New Wave Neutrals

Who says neutrals can’t be dramatic? Brighten up beige and wood tones with a brush of sky blue, proving that even the subtlest color additions can make a stylish statement.

From: Hillary Thomas

Poppy & Robin’s Egg Blue

Cool, robin’s egg blue cabinets perfectly balance the bold, poppy-colored accent chairs and wallpaper in this room. This warm red is best used as an accent to not overwhelm a space.

Violet & Gunmetal Grey

Vibrant violet wakes up this room, while moody gray adds a sophisticated edge. The color combo brings out the hues in the bold floral accent wall, creating a space that’s eclectic yet pulled together.

From: Caitlin Murray

Sherbet & Sea Glass

Shades of sherbet spring to life when paired with green and blue hues of sea glass. Whether you introduce these cool tones as artwork, accessories or even a tiled fireplace mantel, they’ll bring a refreshingly hip touch to a posh parlor.

From: Coddington Design

Ballet Slipper Pink & Teal

The lightest of pinks balances out the colorful palm wallpaper that blends shades of teal together. Keeping the wallpaper to one accent wall allows the pattern to enhance the space without overwhelming it. Natural woods and warm tans add warmth to the palette.

From: Michelle Gage

Midnight & Scarlet

One step into this moody abode and you're instantly enveloped in a sea of blue from floor to ceiling. Breaking up the primary hue, but with no less intensity, is a deep, saturated red. Oversized florals punctuate the walls, and a scarlet armchair and throw pillows create a noteworthy juxtaposition to the sectional and ottoman.

From: Jenn Feldman Designs

Orange & Blue

As complementary hues on the color wheel, orange and blue are favorites of sports teams and kids' spaces — though not typically seen in sophisticated living areas. However, this living room shows how shades of blue and just a touch of orange make for an elegant and inviting palette.

From: Vernich Interiors

Lime & Egyptian Blue

Brilliantly bold, this living space not only combines two striking shades — bright yellow-green and radiant blue — but it also pulls in vibrant ikat and graphic prints. Large windows and white walls flood the space with natural light to neutralize the abundance of color and pattern.

From: Grace Blu Interior Design

Mauve & Dusty Blue

Although nothing may be more unexpected than a giant buffalo head above your fireplace, this vintage color combo shows it can still pull off a fresh, modern vibe. Low-slung furniture with unconventional silhouettes give the entire space an eclectic, yet unified atmosphere that's a fun mix of cozy and retro.

From: Jennifer Visosky

Shamrock & Tan

The two-toned chaises longues grab your attention with a shocking jolt of green. Typically, the vibrant shade would be paired with white to create a counterbalance, but this rustic living room uses hues of tan and brown to offset the eye-catching green.

From: Ana Donohue

Chocolate & Pastels

The thought of chocolate and pastels may conjure up visions of Easter baskets, but here the combination equates to a warm-meets-light living space. The deep brown of the fireplace surround is picked up in wood detailing and the window treatments, while soft hues of pink, blue, gray and cream round out the rest of the scheme.

From: Lauren Nelson

Rose & Prussian Blue

Jewel tones abound in this dramatic living room. The deep blue sofa paired with rose red armchair create a striking combination. The color scheme is continued on the wall with a dramatic floral wallpaper paired with a painted blue ceiling.

From: Jenn Feldman Designs

Teal & Garnet

Notes of blue-green and dark red infuse the whitewashed brick and neutral sofa with color in this living space. The cool and warm shades play off each other and create a lively energy.

From: Duet Design Group

Aqua & Gray

Soothing shades of aqua and gray are a cool combo, especially for a sun-drenched living space like this beachside escape. Moments of navy blue throughout the room add depth to the color scheme.

From: Kristina Crestin

Daffodil & Black

The never-ending versality of a black-and-white scheme means it works with any hue. We love how this spot takes inspiration from the bumblebee by incorporating a subtle yellow into the contrasting palette.

From: Breeze Giannasio

Indigo & Teal

Panels of indigo-dyed fabric establish wavy backdrops to stunning black-and-white photography in this cushy theater room. To keep the room from feeling too neutral, graphic-patterned teal armchairs take the overall energy of the space up a notch.

From: Blackband Design

Royal Blue & Gold

Board and batten walls, woven furniture and driftwood decor are all hallmarks of beachy design – as is anything in blue and white. To glam up the traditional take on nautical style, try chic metallics, such as these hammered gold coffee tables.

From: Terracotta Design Build

Chartreuse & Pink

The perfect mix of green and yellow, chartreuse is a cheerful pairing with classic pink. In this contemporary living space, the ebony walls really allow the artwork and furniture to pop.

From: Sarah Wittenbraker

Merlot & French Gray

Blue-gray walls set the scene for this calming sitting area, while the jewel-toned sofa strikes a contrasting note. Geometric pillows deliver the two hues to the elegantly cozy armchairs, and a faux animal-hide rug grounds the space in natural texture.

From: Amy Elbaum

40 Living Room Color Palettes You've Never Tried

Related To:

Shop This Look

Canary Yellow & Indigo

Hot Pink & Turquoise

Crimson & Sage

Vibrant Blue & Yellow

Mustard & Salmon

Grass Green & Tangerine

Periwinkle & Fuchsia

Emerald & Cantaloupe

Bubble Gum & Black

Blush & Sky Blue

Olive & Magenta

Cobalt & Berry

Granite & Green

Navy, Coral & Goldenrod

Lilac & Leopard

Emerald & Cadet Blue

Citrus, White & Chrome

Primary Pop

Rust & Rouge

Sage & Ivory

Slate & Marigold

New Wave Neutrals

Poppy & Robin’s Egg Blue

Violet & Gunmetal Grey

Sherbet & Sea Glass

Ballet Slipper Pink & Teal

Midnight & Scarlet

Orange & Blue

Lime & Egyptian Blue

Mauve & Dusty Blue

Shamrock & Tan

Chocolate & Pastels

Rose & Prussian Blue

Teal & Garnet

Aqua & Gray

Daffodil & Black

Indigo & Teal

Royal Blue & Gold

Chartreuse & Pink

Merlot & French Gray

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