Design A Living Room With A Neutral Wall Color And Dark Accessories

Dark accents complement a light wall color.

If you're a fan of dark colors but don't want your living room to seem small or depressing, using a neutral wall color can help solve the problem. The neutral color, particularly in a lighter shade, allows light to reflect, making the room seem more open and cheerful. As you add dark accessories, you highlight other colors without overpowering the room. Dark colors can include deep purples, blues and greens. A benefit of designing your living room is that you can experiment with different color combinations before actually painting the room.

Instructions

1. Think about the atmosphere you want to create with the room before beginning the design process. A reading room might be better suited to a deep purple and brown combination while a living room full of windows looks lovely with a white and navy blend.

2. Look over any items you currently have that will be in the room. Try to work with your current furniture and accessories rather than purchasing an entirely new living room. Remember as well that shelves can be painted and furniture slip-covered to match the design.

3. Decide what color combination you want to use after establishing what existing items you're working with. A green and beige combination is nice while blues and white open up a room. Purple blends well with black or brown depending on how strong a contrast you want to make. The possibilities are only limited by your imagination.

4. Choose your wall color before moving to accessories. Most neutral colors work with any dark color so you'll want to compare paint samples and swatches before moving on to décor.

5. Choose additional accessories once your colors are established to help the shopping process. You can bring color into a room through more than just furniture and wall décor. Add small knick-knacks to book shelves or a vase of flowers to a coffee table to highlight your color choices.

6. Accent the dark accessories with a lighter color that also complements the wall color. This will give the room a natural feel, rather than an overwhelming two-tone look. Large dark items, such as a couch or bookshelf, especially benefit from brighter pillows or decorations.

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