12 Living Room Colour Schemes & Combination Ideas

In the Chicago living room colour scheme (above; photo by Xavier Béjot), Jean-Louis Deniot applies a subdued Neoclassical palette of bluish greys and pale mushroom with an update of fresh white to the bones of the room. A pop of rich blue in the form of a velvet sloped arm sofa and contemporary artwork gives the space punch. And the rest of the room isn’t any less incredible. You can see it here.

Always inspired by the unique Memphis group, it’s no surprise that everyone’s favourite Maximalist, Kelly Wearstler, knows her way around the colour wheel. All stripes and diamonds and polka dots, this New York pad's living room colour combination is another example of how girlish colour tones can be transformed with the right accompaniments. Its coral pink colour hues are nothing short of avant-garde when used as leather and paint-splatted upholstery.

This unexpected (but oh-so-smart) living room colour combination of layered greys and whites with ginger-hued woods by London designer Peter Mikic has us wondering why we’ve never thought of it before. Part contemporary, part mid-century and fully sophisticated, this lounge colour palette brings twentieth century design seamlessly into the twenty-first century.

Greg Natale – a regular advocate of highly pigmented schemes – strikes again with this mature take on living room colour. In a luxuriously edgy scheme, a plum, grey and black palette are accented with Brutalist brass silhouette and retro prints. The statement piece – a bang on-trend curved sofa – is even more enticing thanks to its bold lounge colour choice which is undeniably sexy.

Cool with a dash of pretty, this urban room by Wendy Labrum proves that bold living room colours can be serene too. The colour combination of electric blue and a splash of cranberry works beautifully against the purple-tinged greys of the metallic wallpaper and the silver pod-like coffee tables are absolutely perfect.

Brendan Wong often creates contrast in his projects by injecting neutral spaces with vibrant accents – emerald green against white, mustard against black, electric blue against grey. Here the designer proves just how smart pink and purple can be used in living room colour combinations. The colour hues, sometimes considered to be quite saccharine, are anything but when compared with jet black and cool greys. Explore the rest of the home here.

Finally cream is coming back into action and for good reason too. Could this living room colour scheme be any more sophisticated? It’s a hard ask. The chandelier dripping in crystals, the timeless trio of sofas, the mossy sage and olives and brindle hues – it’s all very, very elegant. Katharine Pooley marries a classic arrangement with modern touches (those coffee tables à la Jonathan Adler’s Jacques Cocktail Table) to stunning effect.

British interior designer Sophie Paterson has gained a following of enthusiasts of the comfortable yet elegant look. Her ability to master tone-on-tone layers is at the fore in this airy and inviting living room colour scheme which pairs a gentle purple with warm neutrals and flecks of ochre. Considered styling – a signature element of her designs – includes a fanciful bronze octopus bowl, petrified wood sculptures, designer cushions and rattan storage baskets – finish the look.

The Lancasters, Hyde Park was a development that drew on London’s most respected design studios including Helen Green Design, Intarya and Katharine Pooley. The latter’s classy white, indigo, sapphire and black lounge colour scheme works well with the room’s double height. The contrasting wall panelling ties the airy room together, focusing the eye on the various areas of the room.

Blue and green should never be seen, except with something in between. Chosen for the front cover of her coffee table book Dazzling Design, this space by Amanda Nisbet showcases her prowess in confident colouring. Vibrant lemon yellow contrasts with navy blue and both accent the living room colour scheme’s marbled forest green fauteuils, much in the way they would if mixed together on a colour palette. The trick to such a daring space? Neutral walls, carefully planned zones and appropriate ratios.

Greys upon greys upon greys – this 5th Avenue apartment living room colour scheme by Jean-Louis Deniot is smart alternative to timeless ivory interiors. A beautiful coffered ceiling maps out the geometry of the space which sticks to a simple palette in favour of statement art pieces, a graphic rug and intricate lamps. Keep base colours light (a whisper of grey, if you will) with darker touches in the luxury furniture, flooring and art.

Although not made up of the traditionally natural colours, a surprisingly earthy vibe underpins this Helen Green Design look. The chosen blue colour shades are just dusky enough to exude a natural appeal, creating a living room which is calming but avoids being bland. The iconic Party sofa (designed by Edward Wormley) is realised in a charming pale blue which balances the light to dark ratio; a floor lamp constructed of falling rings and abstract table ornaments nod to the Bronze Age; and a full-size rug is adorned with ribbons of amber gold and smudges of inky blues.