10 Ways to Add Color to Your Living Room

By
Coral Nafie
Coral Nafie
Coral Nafie is an interior design expert with over 25 years of home decorating experience. She has authored the book "The About.com Guide to Home Decorating." Her expertise covers every aspect of home decor projects, including budget makeovers and extensive renovations.
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Updated on 06/05/20
Elegant retro living room with design grey sofa, coffee table, lamp, plants and furniture. Mock up posters frame on the white walls. Minimalistic room with brown wooden parquet and design lamp.
FollowTheFlow / Getty Images

Not everyone has the time or money for a full makeover of their living room. But, there are small and creative ways you can use color to freshen up your space so it feels almost like an entire redo. Read on for our 10 favorite ways to breathe new life into a living room purely with the use of color.

  • 01 of 10

    Paint One Wall

    Orange lamps above grey couch in black living room interior with poster above cabinet. Real photo
    KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images

    Add a punch of color by accenting one wall of your living room with a coat of paint. Look for a niche to add extra color, or choose a larger wall that will get noticed. Pick a bold, contrasting color from a fabric in your living room. Or, go for a subtle accent by painting the wall in the same color family, but a tone darker than the rest of your walls.

  • 02 of 10

    Toss in a Few Pillows

    colorful cushion on sofa
    ben-bryant / Getty Images

    Add bursts of color with strategically placed and well-chosen toss pillows. Choose solids for floral furnishings, patterned pillows for solid pieces, or mix and match patterns for a dazzling array of color. Have fun with experimenting with patterns, and add in a solid to soften the look if you prefer.

  • 03 of 10

    Bring Mother Nature Indoors

    Close-up of potted plant on glass table in living room
    Photo by Alex Tihonov / Getty Images

    Nature has the most glorious colors to add to your living space. Choose greenery that's meant to thrive in indoor low-lighting conditions. But if your thumb isn't the greenest on the block, opt for realistic artificial florals. It's easy to fool the eye with today's lifelike artificial flowers and plants.

  • 04 of 10

    Light Up a New Lamp

    Interior of a luxurious living room
    Onzeg / Getty Images

    A new lamp, revamping a lamp, or just updating a shade adds color and personality into a living room. For noticeable pops of color, add a pair of lamps flanking a piece of art or furniture. Try your hand at designing your own lamp by upcycling items or salvaged pieces into fixtures that will bring a new level of personality into your home.

    Continue to 5 of 10 below.
  • 05 of 10

    Spread Color Underfoot

    Beautiful living room interior with colorful area rug, large couch, and abundant natural light
    hikesterson / Getty Images

    An area rug softens up a room and makes it cozy. But a bold area rug strategically placed in front of a chair or under a coffee table also adds color and texture to a living room. Try layering an area rug on top of carpeting or simply over hardwood flooring in a contrasting color. If you have a rug that's neutral in color, paint it for a custom striped design.

  • 06 of 10

    Freshen the Cushions

    Navy blue living room
    KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images

    It's easier than you think to reupholster a chair cushion. Even changing out the smallest cushion makes a dramatic difference in your living room. Consider starting with a small side chair that could use an update. Remove the cushion, strip off the old fabric, and reupholster with a colorful textile remnant using a staple gun.

  • 07 of 10

    Reflect Light and Color

    Decorative accessories on white sideboard
    in4mal / Getty Images

    Do you have an empty wall in your living room but don't know how to fill it? Try placing a large mirror on that big bare and boring wall. Choose a mirror with an artful frame. If your mirror's frame is too plain, embellish it with cording or braid, paint it a bright color, or if you have a large round shape, customize it into a DIY sunburst design. The mirror will reflect large swaths of color and light from around your living room, and you didn't even have to paint a thing to add more color to the space.

  • 08 of 10

    Bring in Bold Art

    Gold mirror above shelf with plant in grey living room interior with sofa and flowers on table. Real photo
    KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images

    One large and colorful piece of art placed in a living room introduces hues and shapes into a large area. Get the same effect with a grouping of framed photos with colorful matting and bright frames. There's no need to buy a new collection of art when there are plenty of hacks to enlarge and refresh your existing artwork.

    Continue to 9 of 10 below.
  • 09 of 10

    Paint a Bookcase

    Open plan of modern kitchen and living room
    Halfdark / Getty Images

    Take a bland bookcase and use paint to make it into a work of art. There are multiple ways to approach painting a bookcase. Paint each shelf a different color, paint the interior and exterior two contrasting colors, or just paint the back interior walls a pretty color to add dimension to the piece and your room. Use books with bright covers and items of decor to add another level of color to your bookcase.

  • 10 of 10

    Throw on the Color

    Orange pillows and blanket on grey couch in living room interior with wooden table. Real photo
    KatarzynaBialasiewicz / Getty Images

    Quilts, throws, and blankets aren't just for bedrooms anymore. A soft handmade quilt or oversized faux fur throw or blanket adds depth, color, and cozy comfort when draped over the back or arm of a neutral sofa or chair in the living room. Choose a standout color for this must-have living room accessory that accents other pieces in the room.