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9 fabulous modern colour schemes for living rooms

If you want to give your living room a new look, there’s no better way than with a fresh new colour scheme. Whether you’re looking for something bright and contemporary or subtle and sophisticated, we hope that you’ll feel inspired by some of these inviting and stylish colour combinations. From warm autumnal tones to fresh pastels and minimalist neutrals, read on for some of our favourite colour schemes for living rooms.

1. Pared down neutrals

If you prefer a pared-down approach to interior design, a neutral living room colour scheme might be right for you. Warm amber tones and shades inspired by honey are particularly on-trend right now. If you’re concerned about using such a rich colour on your walls, think about incorporating honey hues in other ways, try adding in a honey-coloured leather sofa that will look striking against a cream-coloured wall.

Grey is an ever-popular neutral, and key to many modern colour schemes for living rooms. Use it on walls, or in key pieces of living room furniture. Stone shades are also popular, and greys and stone shades combine well for a restful scheme. Consider keeping your space tonally consistent by choosing a fabric sofa in a similar shade – contemporary sofa styles work particularly well. Tie the key colours in your living room together with a rug combining all the subtle shades in your sophisticated, understated living room.

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2. Gorgeous greens with tonal greys

For an especially restful living room colour scheme, pale sage green combined with soft grey shades is a stylish choice. Modern and fresh, green and grey tones work together to create a tranquil room that is both on-trend and timeless. We’ve got a thing for houseplants right now – as does anyone who’s worth their salt in interior design, it seems – and what better way to add lush greens to your living room.

To add warmth, think about adding a classic brown leather sofa and natural textures, such as an oak coffee table or bookcase. Or choose a textured or velvety fabric sofa or cuddle chair in gorgeous green to create a beautiful style statement.

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3. Bright teals and coral tones

Coral is a bright shade which is welcoming, stylish and timelessly elegant. To incorporate it into your living room colour scheme, think about marrying this hue with shades inspired by the sea. Deep teal tones work well to provide a contrast to vibrant coral, and these colours create a fun – yet welcoming – ambience to your living room. You might want to consider a sofa in a neutral shade to anchor these vibrant shades, perhaps piled with cushions in a mix of teal and coral.

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4. Soft blues and forest hues

It’s easy to see why so many colour schemes for living rooms incorporate nature inspired forest green hues. This deep shade is perfect for larger spaces, creating a stylish yet comfortable ambience. To really keep your lounge on-trend, pair this rich shade with muted blues (colours similar to faded denim work especially well). A blue fabric sofa against a deep green wall will look exquisite, or a statement chair in green paired with a blue rug.

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6. Rich browns and terracotta shades

Understated yet timelessly stylish, brown shades are really coming into their own for living room interiors. For a contemporary take on brown, marry these rich tones with warm terracotta hues to create a cosy vibe in your home. If you’re nervous about painting your walls brown, think about pairing deep brown leather sofas and dark wood furniture with pale terracotta wall colours. The best colour schemes for living rooms are timeless like this one.

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6. Deep purples and cherry reds

Opulence is the definition of this rich colour palette. For a luxurious contemporary colour scheme for your living room that’s both inviting and beautiful, consider combining deep purple tones with rich cherry reds. To ensure cohesion, choose purple colours with a warm undertone and don’t be afraid to mix bold shades and pale pastels. Try to choose sofas and furniture in keeping with this opulent look; minimalism won’t look right here. Go for a statement chesterfield sofa to add a sense of sumptuous elegance to your space.

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7. Perfect pastels

Pastel shades bring colour into your space without being overly bold. For a contemporary take on the pastel colour palette, consider unusual hues that work together. For example, soft apricot, muted strawberry and pale lilac will create an understated style statement. One of our favourite modern colour schemes for living rooms involves on trend ice cream shades. Pick colours halfway between pastels and sunny brights, such as bubble gum pinks and pistachio greens. Then combine them, perhaps adding in splashes of cream, so they’re neither too ‘matchy-matchy’ or overtly clashing.

Adding a statement armchair in a contrasting colour or a pastel-coloured rug is a great way to experiment and find what works for you. Accessorise with rose gold metallics and sprays of white flowers for a look that feels light, airy and full of colourful character.

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8. Dusky pinks

Dusky pinks are a must in colour schemes for living rooms. This chic, on-trend shade is versatile and works well with a wide range of complementary colours. To keep your space up-to-date, consider pairing this hue with grape-inspired purples. This colour combination will add depth to your interior design and create a space that’s both stylish and welcoming. To truly make a statement, think about incorporating furniture with a metallic finish to accessorise your space, a marble coffee table with metal legs will complement your design beautifully.

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9. Glorious golds

Bringing bold bursts of gorgeous gold into your home is one way to not only get with the times but actually to get ahead of them – whether you go for a tarnished, rustic vibe or prefer gold that looks glossy and new. It’s all about bringing that air of decadence into your home that simply can’t be achieved with other metals (silver and chrome, we’re looking at you!). Think heavy set, metallic-gold lamps, gold-framed mirrors and even golden wallpaper (granted, for a feature wall only). Pair your lashings of gold with rich, navy velvets, geometric rugs and dark, gunmetal walls for one of our most characterful colour schemes for living rooms.

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