Everyone wants a living room that he or she can relax and feel at home in and a lot of this starts with the right paint colors. If you’re getting ready to repaint the living room and you’re looking for ways to make the room feel warmer and more comfortable, the good news is that there are many ways to do this and they are both simple and inexpensive. Using the right color combinations and the right shades is a lot easier than you think and the best part is that you don’t have to be an expert to do it right.

The Amount of Natural Light Makes a Difference

Before you decide which colors to use for your living room, it is a good idea to consider how much natural light that room gets. Even if your windows are small or there aren’t that many of them, natural light is always going to shine through and you’ll need to consider how much is coming through before going any further. If you have a lot of natural sunlight coming through the windows in your living room, choosing white paint is an excellent option. This is because white has a calming effect but it also goes well with splotches of color that come from your furniture, window treatments, and artwork.

If you don’t wish to go with white, keep in mind that warm greys and neutral tones can produce a warm and cozy feeling in your living room but you also have to make sure that you don’t include too much of a good thing. If your sofa is brown, for example, you’ll want to avoid a wall painted in any shade of beige or brown. Instead, try a light color for your walls, such as baby blue or off-white, because this will accent the furniture instead of creating a look where all of the colors just blend together.

Creating a More Cohesive Look

If you create some type of focal point in your living room, such as a mantle or fireplace wall, you can paint this piece colors such as red, orange, or even teal. These are colors that you wouldn’t want to use for everything in the room but using them as accents can brighten up the room and make it feel more inviting. It will certainly make the room more eye-catching for your visitors. To make things look even better, try painting the ceiling the same color as your walls but one shade darker. This makes the room feel more intimate and will even help you relax more while you’re there.

The Finishing Touch

For the best “feel” for your living room, it works best to avoid high-sheen paints. Instead, use paints that offer eggshell or flat finishes because this too creates a more cohesive look and won’t call too much attention to the overall look of the room when you’re done. Colors have to work together and not clash; if you have a living room/kitchen combination area, keep in mind that all of these rules apply to both rooms.