Light Wall Paint Colors for Living Rooms

White or Cream

• If you want a basic light wall color, go with white or cream. There are many shades of white and cream, probably far more than you would imagine. Brighter whites often work best in living rooms on the north side of a home, because those rooms typically get less light than rooms on the south side. Look for softer, creamier shades for rooms with southern exposure. If you prefer something more colorful for your living room, use another light color for the walls and white or cream for the trim.

Beige

• Beige does not have to mean boring. For a light, airy feeling, use beige on the walls and white or cream for the trim. For a richer, earthier feeling, use beige on the walls and a darker, warmer shade such as deep yellow or red for the trim.

Yellow

• Yellow walls make a living room on the north side of a house feel lighter and sunnier. Of course, you can use yellow paint for a living room on the south side of a house as well. The shade of yellow you select must match the floor well, whether you have carpeting or hardwood floors. Some hardwood floors, such as those made of oak, have a bit of pink in them and could clash with yellow walls.

Pink

• Some people consider pink a “girly” color and prefer something more neutral for a living room. Pink gives a room a light and airy feel, though, and you don’t have to paint all the walls pink. You could paint one wall pink and use cream or beige for the other walls.

Peach

• Peach walls provide a similar feel to a room as pink walls, but the color is considered less feminine than pink. As with pink, you could use peach on one wall and use another light color on the other walls.

Pale Blue or Green

• Pale blue or green makes a living room seem larger than darker shades of the same colors do. If you want to include some bright colors in your living room, you can use bright blue or green on the trim.