May 19th 2016
On the hunt for inspiring living room design ideas? We offer some brilliant advice on adding colour to décor and give you tips on making latest living room design trends work for you.
Don’t be Afraid of Colour
It can be very tempting to shy away from using colour, sticking instead to a very safe, neutral palette — but colourful living rooms can have a character and warmth much needed in this sociable space.
Plus, there are so many different ways that colour can be introduced — colourful living rooms need not mean walls splashed with frighteningly bright shades, there are plenty of other, less obvious, ways of adding smaller pops of colour.
Which Colour is For Me?
The colours you choose for your living room décor should be hinged on two things — what you want from your living room, and which colours you are naturally drawn to.
Certain colours can affect the whole feel and ambience of a room and in a living room, which is often used for more than one function, getting this right is really important.
Whilst vibrant, brighter shades will create an uplifting, energising mood, softer, more muted shades will lend a soothing, relaxing feel. Likewise, cooler colours can make dark or cramped spaces appear lighter, brighter and more spacious, whilst warm, rich shades have a welcoming, almost cocooning effect.
When designing your living room décor, think about which areas of the room you intend to use for what and consider using a combination of colours in each separate area — for example, a corner set aside for quiet contemplation would benefit from soft colours such as pastel or powdery blues, blush or warm greys, whilst the space intended for entertaining friends might suit bolder, more homey shades such as navy or an earthy ochre. There is no reason why this has to be an ‘either or’ choice though – take a look at the colour wheel and see which colours will complement each other well.
How to Use Colour
There is a whole host of ways of adding colour to décor, so choose a method which suits your space.
In large living rooms with high ceilings you can afford to be a bid bolder with your colour choices, using block colour on the walls for maximum impact.
However, if, as so many of us are, you are a bit short on space, reserve bolder colours for just one wall — a chimney breast, for example, to create a focal point.
Of course the colour on your walls does not have to come from a pot of paint. Expand your living room design ideas to include some texture and pattern and use wallpaper or wall art to add colour instead.
Living Room Design Trends
This spring, the hottest colour trends are, thankfully, really easy to live with, fresh and uplifting.
On the softer side of things, we have pale peachy orange and rosy pinks, as well as sky blues, aqua and caramel.
Bolder shades popular right now include sunshine yellows and the ever-popular navy blues
Those ready to really embrace some vibrant shades in their living rooms should consider the trend for fiery red and apple green — but do use sparingly.
Living Room Furniture
If you feel more comfortable keeping your walls a more neutral shade, think outside the box and look to your living room furniture and accessories as a way of introducing colour instead.
Colourful furniture will have a real impact on the room, as well as providing a point of interest. A bold sumptuous sofa in one of this season’s hot colour trends (see above) will make a dramatic statement, whilst for a quirky and highly original touch, you might like to think about using a few customised items of furniture, such as a bespoke coffee table, made in a colour of your choice to fit in seamlessly with the rest of your décor.
For a quick, easy and affordable update, pick out a few new cushions, rugs or throws in your chosen colours and make sure they don’t go unnoticed by drawing out there colour elsewhere in the form of smaller decorative objects and lampshades.
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