The Best Living Room Paint Colors, According To Designers

Struggling to pick the perfect living room paint color for your space? Take a look at these seven tried-and-true suggestions from designers as you work to narrow down your list. Whether you crave a subtle pop of color or are seeking a classic neutral hue, the pros have many excellent picks that are sure to inspire you. 

Farrow & Ball Light Blue (No. 22)

Anna-Wooten Loggins, the founder of A.Wooten Interiors in Atlanta, Georgia says that she’s drawn to this color’s ever-changing appearance. “It’s unique in that sometimes it will come off blue, sometimes light green, and in the evening it can even have a gray hue,” the designer shares. “The light throughout the day and the items you use with it can completely change the color.” Loggins particularly likes how the paint color looks alongside warm brown case goods. She says, “It's a beautiful compliment to antiques.” 

Farrow & Ball Dimity (No. 2008)

Another hue that evolves throughout the day, Dimity is a “beautiful, barely-there pinky taupe” that Callie Windle loves to utilize when clients crave a warm, neutral backdrop in their living rooms. “Dimity is a color that grounds a room in warmth while allowing the art and furnishings to shine,” adds the founder of Callie Windle Interiors in the Dallas/Fort Worth, Texas, area. 

Benjamin Moore Glacier White OC-37

There’s nothing wrong with sticking to a tried-and-true classic. “Call us boring, but our favorite living room paint color is white,” says Anna Still, who, with Marguerite Johnson, co-founded Still Johnson Interiors in Birmingham, Alabama. Sill appreciates that Glacier isn’t too stark, warm, or cool. “Because of the neither-here-nor-there hue, it avoids hemming us into one color palette and isn’t so bland that any bare walls seem undecorated,” she explains. The designer also appreciates how wonderfully the shade complements a range of design styles, having incorporated it into both modern and vintage-inspired homes. 

Sherwin-Williams Shoji White SW 7042

Andrea Seymour is also a fan of using white paint in the living room, citing this Sherwin-Williams hue as a top pick. “It has the perfect amount of depth and saturation, and feels so soothing and calming,” says the co-founder of Springdale Custom Builders in Charlotte, North Carolina. “It is stunning with a neutral color palette where you don't want to use a stark white.” She particularly likes how the color pairs with white oak. 

Benjamin Moore Swiss Coffee OC-45

Those who appreciate warm white will want to gravitate toward this cheerful shade. “Swiss Coffee is perfect for the client seeking a traditional vibe and wanting to stray away from a crispy white,” says Rachel Houser, the co-founder of Intuitive Design in Annapolis, Maryland. “It’s creamy and looks beautiful with wainscoting.” 

Benjamin Moore Chantilly Lace OC-65

This is another warm white that Houser loves to use in living rooms. “It picks up natural light well without reflecting any yellow hues,” she says. 

Benjamin Moore Balboa Mist 1549

Leaning toward more of a gray hue? Suzanne Manlove, the founder of Manlove and Company Interiors, has a suggestion for you. “We love neutrals with gray in the undertone,” she says, citing Balboa Mist as her go-to pick. “It's important that the color works with the natural light and evolves with the sun throughout the day,” the Arlington, Virginia, based designer adds. “Also, the wall color shouldn't compete with the art in the space.”