When it’s time to wind down at the end of a long day, there’s no better place than a comforting, cosy living room. A place where you can relax properly, somewhere to curl up with a good book or escape with a gripping TV show.
A warm colour scheme can transform your living room into an uplifting, inviting space. The right warm shade can make your living room feel instantly more welcoming. The kind of room where guests feel comfortable enough to sink back into the sofa rather than perch on the edge.
Warm colour schemes are surprisingly varied too. You could go for versatile warm neutrals or dark, enveloping tones; earthy shades or joyous brights. We’ll help you to choose the best warm paint colours for your living room to create a space that feels inviting, comfortable and full of character.
How to add warmth to your room
The obvious way to warm up a space is with natural light. If your living room’s south facing or has sunlight streaming in through the windows, it can feel warmer. North-facing rooms tend to have less natural light, so need more help to feel warm.
You can introduce warmth yourself with the right paint colours. Warm colours contain red, brown or yellow undertones. Blue and green tones tend to feel cooler. You may think that red, brown and yellow aren’t your colours, but they underpin a wide range of colour schemes, beyond those three.
Warmth isn't only about colour, it’s about finish too. A soft, matt paint finish absorbs and diffuses light rather than reflecting it. So, for example, a matt or silk eggshell red will feel plush and enveloping, whereas a glossy or shiny red doesn’t.
Colour schemes to warm up your living room
Wondering which paint colours to choose? Take a look through our living room colour ideas for inspiration.
Warm neutrals
If you love the soothing sophistication of a neutral living room, opt for paint colours with red, pink or yellow undertones for added warmth.
Instead of a brilliant white, go for a warm white. White Clay is one of our most popular colours. Its warmer undertones mean it doesn’t feel stark or clinical. Instead, you’ll create a serene and calming zone that’s ideal for a bit of quiet time.
Warm grey, stone or greige (grey-beige) colours are ideal for a relaxed, cosy lounge. Tom’s Bakery is a warm neutral colour. Sometimes it looks beige and other times it’ll look more grey. It all depends on the light. That’s why it’s a good idea to test out the colour with a sample pot first, to see how it looks at different times of day.
A soft, blush pink is a cheery and welcoming colour for a living room. Pink isn’t just reserved for bedrooms and dressing rooms. Keep it subtle for a neutral colour palette. Try Ballet Shoe - is it pink or is it cream? Or Piglet, a soft white with just a hint of pink.
Earthy tones
Muted, earthy colours are particularly grounding and calming. The tones of nature work well in a living room. Think of colours like a soft sage green, warm umber or terracotta red. Earthy shades team well with warm wood finishes and furniture, giving a nod to the natural environment where these colours are found.
Oliver Twig is a modern olive green that works well in living rooms, particularly when paired with a warm white or grey. And Sunday Stroll is an easy-going green that’s wonderfully calming.
There’s nothing more comforting than a cup of tea and a biscuit. You get a hint of that feeling with Little Rascal, our biscuity colour. It’s a warm and cosy beige that adds softness to your room. For a slightly deeper, fawny brown, try Muddy Boots.
For something more vibrant, Three Bears is a mustard tone that lands between yellow and brown. Or the ever-popular Humpty Dumpty, an earthy ochre, derived from the clay that it contains. Freckle and Flower Pot both bring a soft, sun-warmed terracotta character. All of these are reminiscent of the natural landscape and bring soothing properties.
Sumptuous, rich colours
Looking for colours that pack more of a punch? Go bold with deep, dark but warm tones that ooze sophistication. These dark colours can make a particularly cosy lounge, more like a snug. You can create a feeling of being cocooned, like the room’s giving you a hug, and you can’t help but curl up and relax.
Embrace rich colours like burnt orange, deep teal, or even a strong burgundy or violet. These radiate confidence whilst remaining warm and inviting.
In this striking living room, Bobble Hat - a deep teal colour - is used on the walls. The opulent, velvet furnishings, in an equally deep and dramatic blue, add to the sophistication and bring a soft texture too.
Rich and warm, burgundy is a sumptuous colour for a living room. You can pair the deep red colour with a contrasting warm neutral for timeless elegance. Or you could envelop your room in the earthy red colour for ultimate cocooning cosiness. In this photo, dark red Lady Bug is teamed with the light and gentle Peach Baby for a refined and sophisticated look.
Sunshine brights
Nothing says warmth better than sunshine. Adding sunny, bright yellow and orange colours can be truly uplifting.
Remember that the colours will appear differently throughout the day as natural light changes. The vivid intensity of bright colours will diffuse slightly as the day goes on. Pale, warm colours like light yellow or orange will have a soft glow especially later in the afternoon.
Vibrant Daisy Chain will liven up even the darkest corner. It’s great as a splash of colour on furniture, window frames or bookshelves. Jemima’s a more subtle yellow that will also bring warmth and a smile to your face.
Time for a new chapter for your living room?
If your living room’s feeling a bit tired or dull, you can transform it with a warm colour scheme. We always recommend you try out paint colours in your home as a starting point. You can order sample pots to see how a colour looks in your living room’s light before committing to painting an entire wall.
If you’d like more inspiration, take a look at our guide to paint colours for large living rooms.
