The color of the living room interior is of enormous importance. Bright colors in the living room as an accent will improve the mood and create a pleasant and inspiring atmosphere. Rich colors are optimistic and stimulating tones that will help enliven a modern interior that often looks too impersonal and trivial. However, decorating a living room with bright colors is not easy. The wrong choice of bright colors can ruin even a room with an ideal layout and chic furniture. Have you ever seen a room that seemed to be designer furnished, but one question arose in your head: “What were the owners thinking?! This is bad taste!” Admit it, this happens all the time. Perhaps the colors were chosen incorrectly? Or did the designer try to combine too many bright colors? You need to figure out how to correctly approach the issue of creating a bright living room and not fall flat on your face.
Bright blue furniture against the background of yellow joyful days
The benefits of bright color in living room design
If you want to create an unusual and original living room interior, then bright colors will help in this regard one hundred percent. There are a number of reasons to indulge in a bright palette:
- It's stylish. Bright shades are the easiest and most effective, bold way to create a stylish and beautiful living room design with its own character and history.
- Corrective effect. Bright colors will help transform a room with irregular geometry or defects into an ideal space, since all the attention will be focused on the color. For example, if there are unevenness on the wall (which is an integral characteristic of any apartment in Khrushchev) and it is impossible to level the walls without reducing the area of the room, then hide this defect with a bright picture or paint.
- Feeling expensive. Rich colors are visually perceived richer, and the interior in such colors looks much more expensive. The use of a bright palette also demonstrates an inquisitive nature for experiments and a readiness for change at any second.
- Special character. A colorful palette in the interior will saturate the living room with positive energy, liveliness and cheerfulness. In such a room there will always be a cheerful mood and a thirst for innovation.
- Increased space. Bright colors will visually help expand the space of a small or narrow living room. And the use of a geometric print on walls and furniture will look original and impressive.
Features of interior styles
Against the backdrop of a number of positive aspects of the black and white living room interior, one “but” inevitably appears, namely the choice of style. Not every environment will look organically in monochrome. The most suitable stylistic solutions would be:
- Minimalism is the ideal canvas for the juxtaposition of black and white. Simple dark furniture against the background of light walls will always look stylish and organic;
- Classics in monochrome will look no worse. The same light background and black furniture in a classic style will give the room coziness and some luxury;
- The peculiar and original boho style - an island of bohemia in your apartment - can also be decorated in black and white, but there should be bright “spots” one way or another;
- A simple, unsophisticated Scandinavian interior would be perfectly suited to a black and white living room design - white walls and ceilings will fill the room with light and air;
- High-tech looks great in a simple palette - high technology requires simplicity and laconic color design.
Monochrome room design in loft style.
Strict black and white living room interior in high-tech style.
Living room with a panoramic window in a modern style.
Pay attention to the interior in black and white for different rooms.
Black and white postmodernism.
Credit: @
Cozy living room in Scandinavian style.
Credit: @
Classic colors for a classic style.
Interesting and bright color combinations in the living room
Bright colors in the interior will create an atmosphere with special charm. But most people are afraid to experiment with variegated tones, preferring neutral shades to them, because they are afraid of oversaturating the space with color or choosing the wrong color pair. It is the right color balance and duet that will create a fresh and inspiring atmosphere. The most popular color combinations today are:
- Lime green and cobalt blue. This is a classic and elegant duet for all times. It combines the color of young foliage and the luxury of sky blue. Moreover, such a tandem can be easily diluted with another accent color, for example, purple, which will not spoil the interior, but rather will advantageously emphasize the brightness and liveliness of the environment.
- Emerald green and bright orange. This combination will stand out effectively against a neutral background. This duo will look great in both large and small doses. For example, use an orange tone on an accent wall, and emerald on the rest of the walls and in the decor - sofa cushions, carpet, vases with fresh flowers. Or, in a pastel living room, place an orange sofa with an emerald-colored armchair. To prevent these two elements from standing out too much, complement the decor with sophisticated curtains with emerald-orange tints. This will make the interior look seamless.
- Turquoise and gold. The winning bid will be a tandem of turquoise and gold colors. Use the first shade as a background shade, and the second as an accent shade. The gold tone will look great in artwork, rugs and other decorative items, while turquoise makes the perfect backdrop.
- Salmon and light blue. Salmon is a universal shade that can be used not only in wall decoration, but also in furniture upholstery. This color plays especially well in combination with icy blue.
- Purple and red. Incredible, right? This is the most original combination of bright colors and it will not disappoint you. For example, a bright red accent wall with deep purple soft furnishings surrounded by neutral shades will have a very powerful effect. This incredible contrast will amaze with its beauty and style.
These color duets are not the only ones, but they look the most impressive. They can be used in any style direction - from modern to classic. Bright colors stimulate sensuality and activate creativity. When choosing a color pair, rely on your favorite shades or start with one of your favorites. And don't be afraid to experiment.
Bright textiles in the living room interior
Irina Smyshlyaeva: “There are no rules when decorating the interior with accent furniture”
Architect Olga Kotlovaya, designer Irina Smyshlyaeva, artist Anna Soluyanova.
Photo: Alexander Lavrentiev.
Architect Olga Kotlovaya, designer Irina Smyshlyaeva, artist Anna Soluyanova.
Photo: Alexander Lavrentiev.
“I really love bright accent furniture. I love it so much that I designed several interesting chests of drawers and dreamed of seeing them in real interiors! And I was lucky: the author of the SHOWHOUSE+166 project, architect Olga Kotlovaya, was looking for something completely unusual for her space, making a statement, confusing, shocking, but able to fit into the architectural proportions of the interior of the historical hall of the Serebryakov mansion.
The inspiration for creating the chest of drawers was the famous painting by K.S. Petrov-Vodkin “Bathing the Red Horse”: we were interested in exploring the transformation of man over 100 years, but not in drawing serious conclusions, but in an ironic approach to the challenges of our time. Our hero let go of the horse - he is present only as a color. We are talking about the fact that a person is still defenseless and beautiful, nothing has changed. But we also troll the hedonism of modern man. However, we believe that the hour will come and everything will change - the horse will come to life, and the rider will again bathe him in the spray of sun and water.
Dresser design. Author: Irina Smyshlyaeva. Photo: Alexander Lavrentyev.
Dresser design. Author: Irina Smyshlyaeva. Photo: Alexander Lavrentyev.
As for the rules when decorating the interior with accent furniture, there are none. Each specific interior has its own story. Well, perhaps there shouldn’t be too many such items, otherwise it will turn out to be eclectic.”
Interior fragment.
Architect: Olga Kotlovaya. Designer: Irina Smyshlyaeva. Artist: Anna Soluyanova. Photo: Alexander Lavrentiev.
Interior fragment.
Architect: Olga Kotlovaya. Designer: Irina Smyshlyaeva. Artist: Anna Soluyanova. Photo: Alexander Lavrentiev.
Bright walls and ceiling in the living room interior
Start with the simplest thing - paint the walls a bright color. If the living room is a large room, then feel free to paint the walls in a flashy shade. This will create a dramatic effect. In a small living room, bright walls may look too provocative. In this case, opt for a neutral or pastel palette, but fill the room with bright decor.
Bright curtains and carpet in the living room interior
Brightness can appear not only in a single color of the walls, be bold. Choose extraordinary wallpaper with rich patterns. This will add style and elegance to the living room.
Modular blue cabinets against a yellow wall
Traditionally, the ceiling is painted in inconspicuous colors, considering that it is not particularly noticeable and plays virtually no role in the interior. However, this is a misconception. Even the height of the ceiling does not matter, but the color can radically change the overall appearance of the room. Even a miniature living room with a colorful ceiling will immediately show all its originality. Despite the fact that colored ceiling decoration visually reduces the height of the walls, this does not detract from the individuality of the design, which is much more valuable.
Bright soft corner of green color
Colorful interior doors
Unconventional doors painted in red, yellow and other bright colors will add unusualness to the living room interior. This technique is like a rare book that has fallen into the hands of a skilled treasure connoisseur. This solution will be very interesting, especially if the room is a walk-through room and has more than two doors. If the entrance to the bedroom and kitchen opens from the living room, then you can paint the doors in different colors, for example, light green and pink.
You can decorate a boring yellow wall with regular black plates
If such drastic measures to use a bright palette can be intimidating, then transform only one side of the door and leave the other in a neutral color. This technique will allow you to saturate the room with color as needed. If you get tired of cheerful shades, you can simply open the doors and hide the colorful shades.
Bright and colorful textiles in the fuchsia living room interior
Irina Krasheninnikova: “Most often, customers want to see basic furniture in neutral colors”
Designer Irina Krasheninnikova.
Designer Irina Krasheninnikova.
“Most often, customers want to see the main furniture in neutral colors, and bright accents are allowed only in details that are easy to replace (decorative pillows, ceramics or an armchair; in extreme cases, if the color becomes too tired, you can reupholster it).
For example, a kitchen is built-in furniture, and one of the most expensive items in the furnishing budget; it is only replaced along with the apartment... Therefore, a bright kitchen is an option for brave, extraordinary customers. Such as the owners of this Moscow penthouse.
Interior fragment.
Author of the project: Irina Krasheninnikova. Photo: Alexander Volodin.
Interior fragment.
Author of the project: Irina Krasheninnikova. Photo: Alexander Volodin.
Why did we choose this particular color for the kitchen? It was important for me to emphasize the special view from the windows of this apartment. Panoramic windows overlook two sides, and at any time of the day it is filled with beautiful light and a huge sky. The entire color scheme of the project is related to the view from the windows: a rich color was chosen for the kitchen facades, combining with the blue-green City towers, which are visible from the kitchen window.”
Interior fragment.
Author of the project: Irina Krasheninnikova. Photo: Alexander Volodin.
Interior fragment.
Author of the project: Irina Krasheninnikova. Photo: Alexander Volodin.
Picturesque furniture in a bright living room
If you want bright colors to be as impressive as possible, then choose furniture in bright colors. Since such elements are very voluminous, they will become the central accent of the living room. Furniture in a cheerful palette will forever drive boredom out of the room. Choose orange-colored facades, a ripe cherry-colored coffee table, and fuchsia-colored upholstered furniture—this living room will be lively and energetic.
Bright furniture in a gray dining area
Fashionable colors
Dark, deep and muted shades of all colors have remained in fashion for quite a long time, and they will not lose ground in 2022. The most popular will be considered restraining colors, which form a calm background and create a feeling of comfort.
The philosophy of the current fashion trend, followed by most famous designers, is that in a modern space there should be as few bright (poisonous) shades as possible. This is necessary so that the comfortable atmosphere gives a feeling of calm and cleanliness of the room, which is fully consistent with the canon of stylish living room interior 2022.
Colored accessories for a colorful living room
The easiest and simplest way to bring liveliness to the interior is to fill the living room with picturesque decor. It could be an abstract bright painting, a red lamp or colorful colorful decorative pillows - any such detail will contribute to the bright design of the living room. Don't be afraid to combine elements of different colors and unusual prints. If the shades are combined, then they will look great in all their manifestations.
Bright striped walls in the living room
Bright living rooms - photos
Get rid of the gray everyday life in your apartment. Fill your living room with brightness of thought. Show your creativity, and the bright design will repay you handsomely. Variegated colors will help create the most comfortable, pleasant and homely environment, radiating positive energy, liveliness and sensuality in the play of shades.
