How do I choose a warm and relaxing color for my living room?

Lisha Osterhout
by Lisha Osterhout

So can you help me with painting my living room. I want a gray with a hint of blue. Everything I look at seems to have green or purple in it. I’m looming for a warm relaxing inviting color. Not too dark.

  5 answers
  • Cindy Cindy on Jan 14, 2019

    Hi Lisha. I'm Cindy. You can have custom color paint made by taking a sample to the store with you. Last year I took a pillow sham to Home Depot and they made paint to match the color of a flower petal. I was very happy with results. Good luck Lisha.

  • Buy samples and try them out in your home. Color chips and lighting in your home is WAY DIFFERENT than anything in any paint store or home improvement center.

  • Wanda sinnema Wanda sinnema on Jan 14, 2019

    I agree buy some o the "sample sizes and paint several wall section, even a small board or heavy cardboard.., .. It looks different on the little paint swatch and the sunlight.. Be sure to wait a day or two to make sure you get several natural light vs evening table lamps on.You may try google searching for "WARM grey paint". You can always have the store mix it 1/2 the color in. That's what I usually do on the ceiling, if I don't want it white. You can always go back and have them add the other 1/2 if it needs to be darker. I hate choosing paint colors..... rest of decor is easy


  • 17335038 17335038 on Jan 15, 2019

    Also keep in mind that if you have the (older style) incandescent lightbulbs in the living room, they cast a yellow toned light. Florescent light will cast a greenish tone. This often changes how the colors on your walls look.


    If you are going to go to the expense and work of repainting, I would recommend switching out all your lighting to LED, which is a clear light compared with incandescent. Take your paint swatches to a store that has active displays set up, to compare the different kinds of new LED light, such as warm, cool, daylight, and bright. Choose which one you like the best.