The living room is perhaps the only room in the house where “anything goes.” Because it’s a multipurpose area, there’s no need to choose a color specifically to help you relax or stimulate your appetite- although you can if you want to.

One of the most fool-proof ways to decorate a living room is to use neutrals for the wall color and furniture and create “pops” of vibrant color with art, accessories, or an accent wall. This is the most versatile option for decorating this type of space; it’s easy to change out accessories or update your look by changing the color of the accent wall. Neutral living room wall colors, like beige, tan, and gray also allow architectural details (elaborate crown molding, a unique fireplace, or fabulous built-ins) to take center stage.

Of course, living room color schemes can make use of more exciting colors as well. By choosing neutral furnishings, you open up the possibility of using bold color on your walls and ceiling.

Consider the lighting in a room before making a decision. If the space gets lots of natural light from a glass door or lots of windows, cool shades are perfectly acceptable. In darker, more closed off spaces, however, blues, greens, and purples can make the room feel cold.

Check out online galleries or decorating magazines to get ideas. The type of furniture you have might well influence the colors you choose, as well. Here are some general guidelines to choosing appropriate colors for themed rooms:

• If you have a lot of mission-style furniture, try creating a lodge feel with hunter green, maroon, or navy, mixed with small amounts of black and tan. Rustic furniture also goes well with these colors.
• For a country look, combine distressed, painted furnishings with shades of yellow, blue, or dusty reds.
• White and navy create a pleasant nautical feel, while combining a paler shade of blue with white and sandy shades evokes a beachy theme.
• Glass, chrome, and black furniture go well with clear, bright colors (think sunshine yellow, true red, and aquamarine) and with gray. This type of décor creates a very clean, minimalist look that has become very popular in recent years.
• Elaborate Victorian furniture is offset beautifully by restrained colors like faded reds, dusty blues, and subdued golds. These shades are especially well suited to classic and formal interiors.
• A common theme today is an earthy or natural look. Choose golds, terra cottas and other earth tones, and greens- shades of olive are particularly appealing in small doses.

Living Room Paint Color Tips:

• You may want to consider color’s effect on mood when choosing a wall color for your living room. Your intended use of the room can be enhanced by the right color.
• Beware of very deep or dark colors. They can be oppressive and make the room seem smaller. If viewing TV or movies is the main use for this room, however, they can actually enhance your viewing experience by minimizing glare.
• Painting the ceiling white (or a lighter shade of your wall color) will make it appear higher.

Above all, make sure to choose living room paint colors that reflect your own personal tastes. After all, you and your family will probably spend a lot of time in this room; it’s important that you choose a color scheme that will make you feel comfortable, relaxed, and happy.