Paint Colour Ideas
Wall colour ideas for bedrooms and living rooms, with tips on matching them to floors, furniture and light.
Written by the Arch.AI team · Maintained by Gio · Updated
Paint Colours
Try a paint colour on your own wall
Paint is the cheapest way to change a room's mood. But a colour that looks good on a swatch card can look different on your wall because of light, flooring and furniture.
Here you'll find colour ideas for bedrooms and living rooms and why each one works. The colour codes shown are approximate; match them to your paint brand's colour card.
The surest way: take a photo of your wall and try the colour with Arch.AI's Wall Colour feature.
Bedroom paint colours
A bedroom should feel calm. Choose soft, low-saturation colours, especially for the wall behind the headboard.
- In a 3x3 m room or smaller, use a light colour on three walls and a darker one only on the headboard wall.
- Rooms that get afternoon sun feel hotter; cool colours such as blue-grey or sage help balance this.
- Use a matt or eggshell finish in bedrooms so lamps don't reflect off the walls.
Ivory white
#F4EFE4
Light and warm, safe for small rooms
Cream / beige
#E6D8C3
Warm and calming, pairs well with wood
Sage green
#A8B59B
Natural and fresh, good as an accent wall
Soft blue-grey
#AFBFCB
Cool, suits hot or very bright rooms
Dusty pink
#D9B8AE
Soft and warm without being too sweet
Terracotta
#B86B4F
Warm and bold; use on one accent wall
Living room paint colours
The living room is seen by guests and shared by everyone, so choose a colour that is easy to match with the sofa, floor and decor.
- If the living room opens onto the dining area, use one base colour for both so they feel connected.
- Dark colours such as navy or deep green work on one accent wall, not the whole room, especially in rooms with little light.
- Follow the 60-30-10 rule: 60% base colour (walls), 30% secondary (sofa, curtains), 10% accent (cushions, decor).
Warm white
#F2EEE7
Neutral backdrop that makes rooms look bigger
Greige
#CCC3B5
Between grey and beige, elegant and easy to match
Warm grey
#B9B4AC
Modern, works with wood or black furniture
Sage green
#9FAE96
Fresh and calm, great with plants
Navy blue
#2F3E55
A bold accent wall behind the sofa
Soft terracotta
#C08A6E
Warm, suits tropical or Japandi styles
Tips before you paint
- Look at the colour on the wall in the morning, afternoon and evening; cool and warm bulbs make colours look different.
- Consider the floor and large furniture. Warm wood floors suit cream and sage; grey tiles suit white and greige.
- Work out how much paint you need with the paint calculator so you don't run short mid-job.
- For walls that get touched often, choose a washable paint.
Wall colour examples from Arch.AI
Frequently asked questions
Which bedroom paint colours are calming?
Soft, low-saturation colours such as ivory, cream, sage green and blue-grey. They are not too striking, so they are comfortable for resting.
Which living room colours make a room look bigger?
Light colours such as warm white, greige and light grey reflect more light, so the room feels more open.
Can I use dark colours in a small room?
Yes, on one accent wall and if the room gets enough light. Pair it with light colours on the other walls.
How can I try a paint colour before buying?
Upload a photo of your wall to Arch.AI's Wall Colour feature, choose a colour and see it in your room. Each result uses 1 token; new accounts get free tokens.