Living Room Paint Ideas: Getting Creative in the Heart of the Home

The living room is one of the most public spaces in your home. It’s where you invite guests and where you can express your personality to friends and family alike. Whether you prefer a bold, vibrant vibe or something more relaxing and mellow, your living room should be as unique as you are.

One simple way to inject more personality into your living room is with a simple coat of paint. Paint is a versatile medium that can do so much for your overall design without breaking your budget. Get inspired by these living room paint ideas and transform one of the most important rooms in your home.

Add an Accent Wall
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If you’re in love with a bold shade that would overwhelm the room if used on all four walls, an accent wall is one of the best living room paint ideas to inject color and create a focal point in your room. The best accent walls highlight an architectural feature or frame a well-considered collection of artwork. Keep in mind that an accent wall doesn’t have to be limited to one color: stripes are a great way to tie together several colors in your decorating palette.

Create Contrast with the Ceiling
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The ceiling is a surface that is often overlooked. By adding a splash of color overhead you can create a visually interesting contrast with your walls and make the space more dynamic. The effect can be subtle if you choose a muted shade, or you can brighten a white room with a bold color. If you have low ceilings, selecting a cool shade like blue or lilac will make them appear higher so you can fool the eye into thinking the room is bigger than it really is.

Paint the Floor
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Painting the floors can open up a world of design possibilities, especially if you choose to paint or stain a concrete floor. For modern simplicity, a bold, solid color or bright white works well. You can also imitate the look of traditional checkerboard tile with two contrasting paint colors. Concrete floors look especially sleek with an ultra-shiny coat of epoxy that reflects light back into the space. Concrete can also be stained for a more subtle finish that imitates the look of quarried stone or marble for a more natural look.

Create Texture
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For a more interesting look, customize any of these paint ideas with textured paint treatments. Traditional techniques include rag rolling, stippling, and marbling to create a look with more than one color. Though faux painting techniques can take practice to master, curious DIYers can purchase specialized brushes and rollers to achieve the look in less time. Adding texture to the walls or ceiling can make your living room feel instantly more luxurious, especially if you limit the technique to an accent wall and use a neutral palette with only a fine degree of contrast between shades to keep the treatment subtle.

Create a Custom Mural
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One of the most adventurous living room paint ideas is to create a one-of-a-kind mural. A mural can be a small accent or a large, full-wall masterpiece. Choose a monochromatic color scheme or splash a rainbow across your space; there are no rules here. Emulate the work of a favorite artist, design your own theme, or hire a professional to incorporate the colors of your room and the personality of your family for the ultimate living room centerpiece. If you making your own mural is not in your skill set or you’re concerned about resale value if you plan to move someday, consider hanging a large piece of artwork instead.