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Choosing the perfect aesthetic for your home doesn’t have to be overwhelming—in fact, it can be an exciting opportunity to express your style! If you’re ready to refresh your living room walls but are feeling unsure of where to begin, don’t worry!
Should you go for dark, dramatic tones, or stick with light, bright hues? We’ve gathered 13 stunning transformations to help guide your decision-making process. Each one showcases how a simple change in wall color can completely revamp the space!
1. Powder Blue (Before)
First, this small living space has beige walls, which, while not entirely unappealing, gives off an outdated vibe. With its yellow undertones, the warm beige hue feels a bit tired and fails to complement the furniture or flooring effectively. This combination results in a space that lacks harmony and feels less cohesive.
A great way to refresh the room would be to swap the beige for a more modern, neutral wall color, such as soft gray, greige, or a light taupe.
Alternatively, you could introduce a subtle pop of color, like soft blue or muted green, which adds visual interest without overwhelming the space. To complete the transformation, pair these updated walls with classic wood floors or rich laminate to create a timeless and inviting backdrop for your furniture.
Powder Blue (After)
Now, let’s see this transformation! This room looks stunning and makes better use of the space. Despite being small, the right wall color, lighting, and decor make it feel much larger.
The previous warm beige/yellow paint made the room look tired, while the sky blue gives it a fresh perspective. The bright modern light fixture and floor lamp add a welcome brightness.
2. Beige (Before)
Our second living room has a soft white wall paint with mix-matched furniture. In this space, you can see how it lacks a common theme, which can give it an unfinished final look.
Although the tile flooring is pretty, it also adds to the confusion. The orange, pink, and blue accents are also awkward in the living space, so choosing 1-2 main colors for your larger furniture is better.
Beige (After)
Check out this transformation! Not only is this new living room design more modern, but it also feels more open. Like our first example, a modern, bright ceiling light can be a great addition to the living room.
More light can help open up a small space. Furthermore, the new matching sofa and ottoman create cohesiveness in the living room, while the dark leather accent chair gives it the drama we always want.
3. Ocean Blue (Before)
Third, we have this traditional-feeling living room with darker beige walls. Although this space has some beautiful elements, it feels tired and outdated overall.
The fireplace blends into the background, so adding contrast would help. The patterned sofa and mismatched chairs don’t work well together. For a statement piece, limit it to one chair in the room.
Ocean Blue (After)
Wow! This transformation is truly stunning. Although ocean blue might not have been the obvious first choice, the contrast it brings to the space is nothing short of breathtaking. The deeper wall color instantly elevates the room, making the fireplace a striking focal point that commands attention.
The rich blue tones beautifully highlight the brick, while the light-colored furniture provides balance and keeps the space open and inviting. The matching seating arrangement is a subtle yet elegant design choice, adding a cohesive and sophisticated touch to the overall aesthetic.
4. Peach (Before)
Next, we have a smaller living/seating room with cream-colored walls. Here is another example of a fireplace that falls flat, so it’s best to add some contrast. Although the wood floors here are pretty, they are also a bit tired.
Peach (After)
Holy peach! This transformation is eye-catching. Even if peach or pink isn’t typically your go-to, this color combination truly shines. The peachy walls provide the perfect contrast to the fireplace, making it pop, while the lighter furnishings give the room a fresh, updated feel.
It just goes to show that sometimes, a complete 180-degree change is exactly what’s needed to breathe new life into your living room. The result is a space that feels modern, vibrant, and full of personality.
5. Army Green (Before)
Fifth, we have this simple, modern living room with minimal decor. Usually, more contemporary spaces feel unwelcoming, which is the case here. Even though the undertones of grey throughout this design create a theme, this room doesn’t quite hit the mark for us.
Army Green (After)
What a difference! Here, you can see how the design has completely changed, with army green paint on a few walls. Though unconventional, the green complements the natural elements perfectly.
The area rug livens up the flooring, making the living room feel inviting. Even though modern floor plans tend to be plainer, that doesn’t mean you have to do the same.
6. Light Blue (Before)
Coming in sixth is this narrow, plain living room concept. This living space falls flat for several reasons, including the lack of proper decorating and poor choice of paint color.
Typically, narrower spaces need a splash of vibrancy to stand out, which is apparent in this room. The window treatments could also be refreshed, and the furniture may need to be overhauled.
Light Blue (After)
Holy smokes! This is one of the most dramatic transformations on the list. In addition to a blue color scheme, the room features new furniture, window treatments, and an area rug.
As mentioned, fresh paint and a rug can make a big difference. Classic floors can be tricky to replace, but these updates work wonders. Mounting the television adds elegance, proving it’s all in the details.
7. Teal (Before)
Seventh, we have a tropical, warm living space that feels outdated. Despite the stunning view outside, the interior lacks color and style, failing to reflect the beauty surrounding it. If you’re lucky enough to have a gorgeous view, use it to inspire your design. Blue tones like soft ocean blues or rich turquoise accents could instantly breathe life into this room.
Additionally, the current furniture has an outdoor, casual vibe, which detracts from a chic, cohesive look. Swapping it out for sleeker, more polished pieces will elevate the space, creating a seamless blend between the stunning view and the interior design.
Teal (After)
They are bringing the water inside! This transformation is eye-catching and pays homage to the beautiful nature outside. As we mentioned, sometimes you want to be inspired by the outside world for your interior aesthetic.
Even though teal isn’t always the first idea for a living space, it looks very cohesive with the lighter furniture. Generally, if you choose bright, fun walls, it’s best to stick with neutral furnishings and decor.
8. Light Gray (Before)
Another living room design is this yellowish-beige one, which lacks a cohesive theme or aesthetic. The space feels disjointed, especially with the washer and dryer peeking behind the sofa, creating an uncomfortable and cluttered atmosphere.
The rollable TV stand adds to the disorganization and feels out of place, making it an eyesore. To improve this room, consider concealing the laundry area with sliding doors or curtains and upgrading to a more streamlined TV stand.
Light Gray (After)
Truly gorgeous! Here, you can see how buying new furniture and decor can transform a room entirely. Considering that the original design felt like a mistake or a last-minute decision, this refreshed version is perfect for a family movie night or even a quiet spot to do computer work.
Specifically, the modern grey wall paint gives the living area a fresh, renovated feel, which is also good for resale value. Grey also matches just about everything, so it’s worth considering!
9. Cream (Before)
Our ninth living room is this yellow, old-school design that needs some TLC. Even though this space has potential, it lacks a cohesive aesthetic and color palette.
Like many of these spaces, this room feels mismatched and unfinished. Therefore, we think it might be best to start from scratch. Especially for living rooms with great windows, why not accentuate them? After all, natural lighting is priceless.
Cream (After)
What a nice change! Even though this room is stuck with yellow paint, it feels much more cohesive. Upgrading your paint color by a shade or two can make a huge difference.
The softer yellow combined with the white furniture gives this room an airy, breathable, welcoming vibe. The darker wood elements add the perfect variety, so that’s something to consider for your space.
10. Icy Blue (Before)
Moving to number ten, we have this tiny living room with big furniture. Usually, if you’re in a smaller home or apartment, it’s better to choose smaller furniture too.
Although a comfortable lounge set can be nice, you don’t want your furniture to overpower the room it’s in. In addition, the bulky tables throughout this room don’t do much justice. Remember, sometimes going smaller can be a good thing!
Icy Blue (After)
Now, this is a transformation! As we said, you want to make the most out of a smaller living room. Using icy blue wall paint is an easy way to make a space look bigger.
On top of the fresh walls, the light furniture also looks fantastic. Just because you go with icy blue walls doesn’t mean your room needs to be boring. Adding art and colorful decor can bring a living room back to life, so we recommend focusing on that during your renovation.
11. Charcoal Gray (Before)
Here, we have a living room that feels unfinished and lacks a cohesive theme. Like many previous examples, it could benefit from a unifying element, whether through a fresh wall color, updated furniture, or, ideally, both.
The current wall color feels a bit dated and doesn’t do much to tie the space together. Switching to a more modern, sleek shade—such as a soft gray, warm beige, or even a bold accent wall—could instantly revitalize the room. Matching the furniture with the new color scheme will help create a more polished look.
Charcoal Gray (After)
What a big difference! This transformation shows how a fresh coat of grey paint makes a world of difference to this living room. Although grey can feel severe, pairing it with softer furniture will help.
Specifically, the cream seating and rug help make this living room feel more welcoming and cozy. The pops of color with the plants and throw pillows are another nice detail, so your contrast doesn’t need to be too apparent.
Explore the elegance of dark wood floors! Check out 15 Great Living Rooms With Dark Wood Floor.
12. Sage Green (Before)
Switching aesthetics, this bright, low-ceiling living room already feels more cohesive than some of the previous examples. However, it still lacks that modern flair that could elevate the space.
Considering this living area has gorgeous natural lighting, it is safe to go a bit deeper with the wall color. The brighter a room, the more freedom you have with the paint hue. Also, the furniture is a bit bulky, so try to downsize and choose more neutral pieces.
Sage Green (After)
This transformation, although subtle, is stunning. As mentioned earlier, opting for a slightly darker wall color can work wonders in this space. The deeper green walls add warmth and sophistication, perfectly complementing the smaller accent chairs and neutral couches.
The pops of blue scattered throughout the room introduce a refreshing, almost beachside resort vibe, creating a serene and stylish space. The balance of neutral tones with bold accents makes this room feel inviting and modern without being overwhelming.
13. Matte Grey (Before)
Lastly, we have this jam-packed living space that could use some refining. While the current design has an elegant touch, there’s simply too much going on, creating a cluttered and overwhelming feel.
Ideally, every living room should have a clear central focal point, but here, there’s no single element that draws attention or creates a sense of balance. Additionally, the lighting throughout the living room, kitchen, and dining area feels dated, detracting from the overall ambiance.
To transform this space, simplifying the decor and establishing a focal point—like the fireplace or a standout piece of art—along with modernizing the lighting, would bring cohesion and sophistication.
Matte Grey (After)
What a difference this is! The deeper walls work nicely here, giving this living room a modern, sophisticated final look. As we covered, too much furniture and decor isn’t always good. In this remodel, fewer pieces of furniture are throughout, which helps open things up.
The lighter sofa and accent chairs also make a big difference. Like many of these rooms, switching dark furnishings for lighter options is easy to do to make a space feel up-to-date.
To Finish Up
Knowing how theming works is vital whether you want to renovate your entire living room or change the wall color. We found that changing the wall color and furniture is an easy way to transform a living space.
From there, you can change the shade for your walls and even flooring and choose decor that fits the aesthetic of your design. If your living room is smaller, you might even want to install a modern ceiling light, which helps brighten things up.
Regardless, remember to find a color scheme that works for your home, and don’t be afraid to go with vibrant and eye-catching wall paint!
If you’re looking to transform your living room with a stunning fireplace as the focal point, check out our guide on How To Decorate A Living Room With A Fireplace In The Middle.
