5 Cozy Small Living Room Color Scheme Ideas

Colors play a crucial role in the decor of your living room. They create a refreshing ambiance, make it look cozy and inviting, boost your mood, and create the illusion of space.

This is why you should make an informed decision when choosing color schemes for your living room.

A perfect color combination complements living room furnishing, highlights architectural features, and reflects your style.

It can make a small living room look bigger, a dark living room brighter and a plain living room appear sophisticated.

When I rented my apartment, I implemented a color combination and scheme to make my living room look cozy and inviting and create the serene ambiance I have always wanted.

In this guide, I will show you different living room color schemes and combinations that are modern, luxurious, and cozy. The aim is to inspire you to achieve that perfect color scheme you want for your living room.

Be it neutral, monochromatic, complementary, triadic or analogous contrasts, I have you covered in this article.

Trends In Living Room Colors

Before I chose colors for my living room, I researched to identify trends to see if any fit my style and the aesthetic I wanted to create. The fact is that living room trends change over time and technological advancement, culture, and fashion are major factors that influence it.

Below are current trends in living room colors:

Vibrant and Bold Hues – Emerald green, deep navy, and rich burgundy are common bold and vibrant colors that make striking statements in a living room. Most modern houses in the US, Canada, and the UK have these colors in their living room wall and even bedrooms. Some even choose living room curtains of the same color to create a unified effect. They create a focal point and add a touch of depth to the living room.

For example, an accent living room wall painted emerald green, and complemented with neutral furniture and gold accent creates a luxurious and modern appeal. This is a color scheme I would have implemented if my living room walls were accent and painted emerald green.

Neutral Color Palette – White, gray, cream, light pink, and beige are well-known neutral colors. They are popular because of their timeless and versatile nature. If you check the living room walls of houses designed and decorated in the 1970s, you will notice that many of them are neutral colors.

The living room wall of my rented apartment is a combination of light pink and cream. I maintained it since it complements the furniture and other elements in my living room. What I like about neutral color palettes is that they offer a suitable backdrop for different styles. This makes it easy to upgrade your living room to suit any trend or season.

For example, a living room with a cream, soft gray, and beige color creates a serene warm, and inviting ambiance. Black, white, or any other furniture color can match it without one overwhelming the other.

Earthy Tones – Olive green, and warm brown terracotta are some of the colors with earthy tones which are trendy for living room color schemes. They easily ground with the environment and create a cozy appeal in the living room.

For example, a warm brown living room wall pairs well with rustic wooden furniture and light wood floor covering. This creates an earthy tone and looks inviting.

Biophilic Design – Nowadays, we have a lot of people who are conscious of the environment and do everything to protect and admire nature. Colors inspired by nature like shades of brown, blue, and green are cool and trendy to this set of people and they often prefer it for their living room walls.

It creates that refreshing and green feel and creates that mood of being connected to nature. They blend well with houseplants, natural fiber rugs, and wooden furniture. Most of the seniors in America who have gardens and raised flower beds prefer nature-inspired colors for living room color schemes.

For example, a sage green living room wall complements wooden furniture, houseplants, and natural fiber rugs, which creates an eco-friendly and serene living room atmosphere.

Moody and Dark – This type of living room color is trendy among those who want to create an intimate and dramatic atmosphere in their living room. Deep plum, charcoal gray, and inky black, are popular moody and dark color scheme colors. They promote living room meditation and boost your productivity if you are the type that works from home.

For example, a living room wall painted deep plum can complement a black leather sofa with a metallic accent to create a moody and dark atmosphere in the living room.

Musicians, writers, introverts, and homebodies like dark and moody living rooms because it helps their creative thinking and boosts their productivity.

Pastel – Soft pastel colors like baby blue, mint green and blush pink are now trendy in many living rooms because they create an airy and brighter living room atmosphere. For living rooms that are naturally dark by architectural design, pastel colors are most recommended because they attract and retain light while making the room breezy.

They are suitable for an open living room with less privacy which is good if your apartment isn’t directly facing the street or a neighbor’s apartment.

For example, A blush pink living room wall will blend well with white furniture that has a gold accent which makes the living room luxurious and cozy. Also, living room accessories and curtains with similar or related colors will boost the brightness and airy atmosphere in your space.

Popular Living Room Color Schemes

Now that you understand trendy living room color schemes that appeal to different sets of people, and how they also complement other elements in the living room, let me show you popular living room color schemes that are timeless, cozy, and can fit any type of living room decor you desire.

1. Neutral Color Schemes

Neutral colors are the most common color schemes that you can find in many living rooms in Europe and America. They are part of my living room schemes and I like them because of their versatile backdrop which makes it easier to pair them with different patterns, styles, and designs.

You can update, refresh, and upgrade your living room without having to repaint your walls or change furniture color to achieve a particular aesthetic or design. They are also adaptable to various themes. For instance, some people prefer rustic, traditional, modern, or eclectic living rooms. Neutral color schemes easily blend with them without overwhelming other decor elements.

They are timeless. If you enter the living rooms of seniors who furnished their space in the 1970s or 1980s, you will see neutral colors on their walls, furniture, and accessories. Genz and millennials in the 21st century still add it as part of their living room color schemes.

That tells you the quality of neutral colors and why they can’t go out of style. Even some real estate investors and developers go for neutral colors because they are timeless, appeal to a wider audience, and can add to the value of the houses they want to resale.

Some popular neutral color schemes are:

Gray – It is a modern and sophisticated neutral color that can range from warm to cool undertone and is suitable for contemporary and minimalist living room designs. Gray offers a suitable neutral background that enhances other textures and colors in the living room. For instance, a gray living room wall can go with any curtain color, rug, or couch.

White – This is the most popular neutral color you can find in many living rooms. Thanks to its ability to make the room airy, bright, and larger in the case of small living rooms. So If your living room is small and the architectural design makes it dark, a white color wall is your best bet to enhance it. Having white in your neutral color scheme conveys a sense of cleanliness, boosts your mood, and creates that refreshing ambiance.

Beige – It’s known for its warm and inviting ambiance. Beige blends well with cool and warm tones and provides a backdrop for different accent styles and tones.

2. Monochromatic Color Schemes

This is another popular color scheme that uses different tones, tints, and shades of a single color. The idea is to create a unified and cohesive look by sticking to one hue and enhancing its saturation and lightness to make it more interesting. The color scheme is an interesting one as it uses a variation of hue to create a harmonious appeal. It makes the living room design simple as no color can clash with the other.

Two popular examples are:

Shades of blue – A soft sky blue wall, navy blue sofa, dark blue curtains, light blue throw pillows, and patterned blue rug create a unified look in the living room without one color overwhelming or clashing with the other.

Shades of gray – Light gray living room wall, charcoal gray furniture set, gray throw pillows and dark gray curtains, and light gray patterned rug blend well and create a harmonious appeal in the living room.

3. Complementary Color Scheme

Complementary colors are pairs of contrast and vibrant colors used in the living room to enhance the intensity of the color scheme. On the color wheel, they are colors opposite to each other. The commonest ones are yellow and purple, blue and orange, red and green. They are popular color schemes in many living rooms and also create an inviting, refreshing, and cozy atmosphere if you balance them well.

If you are considering it for your living room, below are tips that will help you:

Pick a dominant color – Select one of the complementary colors and make it a dominant color. Use the other color as an accent. A dominant color is the color you want most of the elements in your living to have. Let’s assume you picked blue as your dominant color. It means your wall and furniture will feature it. While orange which is opposite it on the color wheel will be a hue for finishing touches. The aim is to prevent color clashes.

Vary tints and shades – Use various shades and tints of the complementary color to create a unified look. Let’s assume you choose blue and orange as complementary colors, a soft peach and navy blue will make sense for tints and shades.

Introduce neutral tones – Neutral tones like gray, white, and beige balance the boldness of the complementary colors and give a restful break for the eyes.

Limit bold color usage – Use complementary colors only for accessories, accent walls, and specific furniture so they don’t overwhelm the entire color scheme.

Consider texture and patterns – Add patterns and textures that blend well with complementary colors to soften the contrast and add interest.

Follow the 60-30-10 Rule: The rule states that 60% of your living room is the dominant color, 30% is the secondary color and 10% is the accent color. The goal is to maintain balance and create a cozy appeal.

An example of a complementary color scheme in the living room using Blue and Orange:

A light blue wall like Palladian Blue, navy blue furniture, burnt orange throw pillows, and orange accent chair, and a gray rug with a blue and orange pattern. This type of complementary color scheme creates a dynamic and cozy living room while maintaining a balanced and refreshing atmosphere.

4. Analogous Color Schemes

These are groups of three colors that are next to each other in the color wheel. One color is the dominant color while the remaining two complement the scheme and match well to create an interesting appeal in the living room.

Common examples of analogous color combinations are:

Purple, blue, and violet
Red, orange, and yellow
Blue, green and teal

You can use either of them to create a cohesive look in your living room by following these simple steps:

Choose a dominant color
Introduce secondary colors
Balance with neutral colors like beige, white, and gray
Use different shades and tints
Introduce textures and patterns that feature your analogous colors
Follow the 60-30-10 rules

Here is an example of an analogous color scheme using red, orange, and yellow:

analogous small living room color scheme

Warm beige wall with a light yellow undertone, burnt orange sofa, yellow accent chair and red throw pillows, and a gray rug with subtle orange and red. The outcome of this color scheme is a cozy and vibrant living room that is lively, refreshing, and inviting.

5. Triadic Color Schemes

This type of color scheme involves three colors that are spread evenly in the color wheel. The aim is to create a balanced look in the living room and have the colors complement one another even with their contrasting nature. If you are the type that likes trying new things, then you can play around with the triadic color scheme.

Examples of it are:

Orange, purple, green
Red, yellow, blue
Green orange, purple

Here is how you can use them on the color wheel to achieve a unique living room color:

Select one of them to be a dominant hue in your living room space. It will serve as the main color that you will use on your walls, furniture, and rug.
Use the remaining two as secondary and accent colors to balance it. Spread them across so they can have a touch in the dominant color.
Add neutral colors like white, beige, and cream to tone down the vibrant triadic colors.
Use shades and tints of your triadic colors to adjust saturation and brightness.
Incorporate patterns and textures that include your triadic colors to add depth and interest
Follow the 60-30-10 Rule

Below is an example of triadic color scheme in a living room:

Light purple Benjamin Moore wall, deep green sofa, orange throw pillows and green accents, and light gray rug with purple and green pattern. The effect is a stylish and bold living room, with balanced colors and an interesting look.

Simple Tips For Choosing A Suitable Living Room Color Schemes

Consider the size and nature of light in your living room
Observe your existing furniture and other decor elements in your room
Use color samples and swatches to test the color scheme in a small corner of your living room.

Common Mistakes To Avoid

When you are looking for the best color scheme for your living room, you are likely to make mistakes that will mess things up especially if you aren’t an experienced interior designer.

Below are some common mistakes to avoid:

Not considering the impact of natural or artificial lighting on the color scheme
Overwhelming the living room with many contrasting colors
Selecting colors without considering the existing furniture and other decor elements in your living room.

Final thoughts

The color scheme of your living room can make or mar your decor efforts. That’s why I have shown you different color schemes and how you can use them to achieve that cozy, sophisticated, and inviting living room you want. From monochromatic color schemes to triadic color schemes, it’s up to you to test them with color samples and swatches to see which best suits your living room.