What are the Best Tips for Painting a Living Room?

One of the best overall tips for painting a living room is to take your time to choose the right color or colors. Rather than painting all of the walls the same color, consider varying an accent shade with a neutral to create more interest. Also consider the style and how much light the space gets when painting a living room.

While light paint colors can make a small living room appear larger and airier, you don't have to give up a dark color you love. Rather, choose an accent wall or two in which to paint the dark color, but have adjoining walls in a coordinating, lighter neutral shade. For instance, navy blue accent living room walls may look attractive with other wall surfaces painted a light to medium taupe. A lighter shade of the accent color, in this case, light blue, could also be brought into the color scheme. Another option when painting a living room is to choose a complementary color such as an attractive pale orange to compliment the deep blue.

For an elegant living room, consider gray paint. Its richness can complement any other color in a style from traditional to modern. When painting a living room that's more informal in its style, think of the mood you want to create and that certain colors tend to evoke. For example, the right yellow paint can create a sunny feeling to a living room.

If your living room is adjacent to a dining room or hallway, make sure that when using different paint colors, they all flow together well. Rather than changing paint colors by stopping part way on a wall, use your living room or other room's natural layout to determine the change. When painting a living room, stand in the room's center. The walls that you can see from every side should create an interesting yet cohesive effect in color with the living room. Notice how much light filters into the living room from the windows; the paint color you choose should be attractive in the space night and day.

Using good quality painter's tape can help you have clean lines between walls that are painted different colors. If you aren't sure you can do a neat job painting a living room in your home, consider starting in a less high profile area such as a laundry room or basement. Alternatively, you may want to hire a professional house painter to paint your living room. Be sure to cover or remove living room furniture and accent pieces so they don't become ruined by any stray drops of paint.