Make Your Living Room Instantly Warmer With A Slight Paint Shade Tweak

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If you live in a new-build home or in one that has been recently renovated, you may be familiar with the feeling of living inside a sterile, white box lacking in detail or visual interest. One path some homeowners take to counteract this is filling the space with vibrant colors and patterns, creating a swirl of motion where there was previously inactivity. However, if you are a fan of a more subtle, sleek look, such as mid-century modern design or Japandi, it can be hard to know how to bring life and light into these plain white rooms without losing your natural sense of elegance and ease.

The answer may actually be more simple than you think. By swapping out the stark white paint that typically covers the walls and ceiling of modern homes with something just a touch warmer — such as an off-white, an earthy tan, or a light taupe — you can subtly introduce a sense of life to the whole room. This slight paint change can make a huge difference by making the space feel more individual and less factory-made. 

In addition, if after you make this simple alteration you feel like you want to go bolder or darker, this can easily be done since neutral shades tend to be relatively easy to paint over. This is therefore a great tweak to make if you've just moved into a space and you're figuring out how you'd like to style it, or if you've lived there for years and want to make some small changes that'll make your home feel more luxurious. So, how can you go about choosing an alternative paint shade, and, importantly, how can you style it once you have?

Choosing a paint color to cover an entire space can be tricky, especially if you're looking for a neutral shade to replace white without appearing too intense. It may be helpful, therefore, to first think about how you would eventually like to style the room. Consider the decor items, furniture, and light fixtures you naturally gravitate toward and what that says about your personal style. If you tend to prefer pieces consisting of natural materials with a handmade feel, such as this Drawncat rattan floor lamp, you could have an overall preference for the boho style. If so, you might want to opt for a neutral paint color, such as cream or a red clay shade, which play well off wood, rope, and linen. On the other hand, if you find yourself most drawn to coastal decor, you might want to try a beach-inspired neutral, such as a sandy brown or cloudy off-white.

Once you've chosen your preferred white alternative, you can begin styling. Look for decor pieces, furniture, or other elements which draw on that paint color while adding their own complementary shades. For example, if you've painted with a creamy off-white, you may want to look for throw pillows that feature some of the same shade alongside brighter colors, like blue, green, or pink. 

It can also be helpful to remember texture. Given that neutral colors tend to be relatively subdued, they can make a great canvas for layering different textures to create a visually interesting space. Remember to mix different kinds of texture as well — such as mixing soft velvet with coarser options like wood or bamboo – to stop the space looking too repetitive.