Should Foyer And Living Room Be Same Color?

It's time to paint, and you are curious if your foyer and living room should be the same color. You want your home to be inviting and know that paint colors can make a difference. Well, you've come to the right place. We've researched and found some answers and options that should answer your question.

Your foyer and living room don't have to be the same paint color if they are not one big room. If your foyer is just a section of your living room, then it's probably best to keep it the same color. If your foyer has a partial wall or nook that separates it slightly from your living room, then you have more options.

We're going to look at these options in-depth below. We'll also suggest colors that work well for a foyer if one color is more welcoming than others, what colors can make a room seem bigger, and if your paint colors should flow from room to room. So please continue reading for a more detailed analysis of paint colors for your foyer and living room.

Interior of a huge two story mansion with a gray foyer, spiral wooden handrail staircase and patterned white tiled flooring, Should Foyer And Living Room Be Same Color?

What Color To Paint Your Living Room And Foyer

Your foyer is the entryway to your home. It can be grand or as simple as a piece of furniture and a few hooks for hanging coats. What type of foyer you have can affect your paint choices, so let's take a look.

When Your Foyer Is Separate From Your Living Room

Rustic kitchen with light yellow colored walls, wooden dining tables and chairs matched with wooden flooring

If you have an entryway that is partially walled off from the adjoining living room, you have a wider range of options. You can choose to paint it in the same shade as an adjoining room. This foyer above matches the adjoining dining room and the living room on the far side. The living room is unique because the homeowner has added a live plant on the wall to break up the color.

Interior of a huge two story mansion with a gray foyer

This large foyer is painted a medium-toned terra cotta. The living room to the right is painted in a soft beige. The two colors relate well to each other while still defining distinct spaces.

A Mediterranean themed foyer of a house with black hardwood French door and white painted window casing

Here's another foyer where the homeowner has chosen related but slightly different colors. The foyer walls are a very light beige, whereas the walls on the two adjoining rooms are more of a light cocoa color. White trim ties them all together, but the design has incorporated a separate flooring choice to distinguish the foyer from the living space.

When Your Foyer Is Part Of Your Living Space

Sometimes our front doors open directly into our living rooms, and we don't really have a true foyer. Homeowners are very creative in their ways of separating this space from the larger seating area. But what about paint color? Let's take a look at some examples.

In this small living room, the front door opens directly into the living room. Because there's no separation between the spaces, the homeowners chose to keep the paint colors all one color. This creates a more soothing space, while the hooks, rug, and furniture space create a foyer idea.

Another option you might choose when you don't have a true foyer but don't want everything the same color is to consider an accent wall. Here a wall of white shiplap runs perpendicular to the front door. The other wall is painted a soft neutral cream, and the front door is bold forest green. White trim that runs throughout ties the two paint colors together.

If you are certain you want a bit of extra color in your living room but don't have a stand apart foyer, one way to get it is your door. Consider painting the interior of your entry door either a bold color like the green in the previous image or something relative to your wall color. Here a mid-tone bluish grey works well with the softer bluish-grey walls.

(See our post here for more thoughts on this interior arrangement: How To Decorate A Living Room With No Entryway)

What Color Should A Foyer Be?

Your foyer is the entryway to your home. It should set the tone for what the visitor can expect when they walk in the doors. If you're into drama and bold design, consider rich jewel tones like red, blue, and emerald green. These bright colors say that you're not afraid of style and a whole lot of fun.

If your home is your sanctuary full of natural light and calming vibes, lighter tones will set that stage. Soft whites, delicate greys, pearl pinks, and the barest of blues will create a sense of relaxation and peace. Anyone entering your home will know this is a place of tranquility.

If you have a contemporary vibe, choose an accent wall of a bold and unusual color to go with your white walls. Here a lime green door adds that spark of special in a room without a formal entryway.

What Color Is The Most Welcoming?

A bright living room with a white painted brick wall, dark gray colored sofa and notebooks laid on the floor

Probably the most welcoming colors are the more neutral colors. Soft whites and greys create a soothing environment when entering a home. They appeal to many people and therefore make many people feel welcome. Second to that, blues and warm yellows tend to make people feel welcomed. Maybe it's because some people associate blue with the beauty of the sky and yellow with the sun that warms our skin. 

But don't worry, if you love big, bold colors, people will still feel welcomed because they'll recognize it as your style and feel welcome because of it.

What Colors Make A Room Seem Bigger?

A light themed living room with bright pastel colored sofas, a white couch and a vintage designed coffee table

In rooms with lots of natural light, lighter colors will create a feeling of largess. Think stark whites, soft beiges, even blush pinks. These colors will reflect the natural light streaming in and make everything feel more expansive.

Gray sectional sofa with stripped throw pillows, round coffee tables and dangling lamps

Conversely, in rooms with little to no natural light, dark wall color can give a feeling of depth. Keep furniture colors light or choose colors that closely match the paint color to blur the lines between wall and furnishings.

Should Paint Colors Flow From Room To Room?

Picking paint colors can be super taxing, and if you're not a lover of this task may seem daunting. Should you paint every room a totally different color, all the same, or what?

If you're looking for an easy way to choose colors for your home, we suggest going to your local paint store and looking at suggested palettes. They will often have a palette of two or three neutral colors, one bold color, and one medium color. You can work with these palettes from room to room. Use the neutrals for the majority of walls. Use the bold color for doors or an accent wall. Use the medium color for your nooks or bathrooms. 

If you still can't decide, buy a sampler can of each color, paint some pieces of poster board and after they've dried, hang them on the walls to help you decide. 

Paint Can Be Fun, Not Painful

You can always choose the same color for every wall in your home, and that includes your living room and your foyer. But if you enjoy the process of finding the perfect shades, mix things up a little. Let your foyer speak for your design vibe and let it flow visitors into your home. 

If you enjoyed this post here at HomeDecorBliss.com, please check out a few others below:

How Big Should An Entryway (Foyer) Chandelier Be?

Standard Entryway Table Dimensions [How Deep, High and Wide]

One comment

  1. Question…I have a center-hall colonial and painted living room stonington gray. I decided I want to add warmth to the house and paint foyer and stairwell greige. Can I have adjacent walls where one is cool gray and one beige?

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