Sometimes, interior design is guided not by a specific style or decor piece but by a single color.
Selecting a dominant hue for a room and pulling the tonal look together with paint, furniture, and accessories is an efficient and highly effective way to reimagine a space. Plus, colors can affect more than just ambiance. It’s widely known that certain shades of red can stimulate appetite, for example, while blue can soothe us into a state of serenity.
But which single-color looks are best suited for the living room?
We found five monochromatic living rooms that are trending on Instagram and asked designers to share their best tips for recreating these color-coded spaces.
1. Bright white
An all-white living room isn’t for everyone, but for those who are interested in pulling off the crisp vibe of a blank-page space, this pristine design from @minimalistics.designs offers some inspiration.
“Battling the daily chaos of modern life has left a lot of folks craving quiet, calm, and simplicity, and that’s just what an all-white room promises,” says Seattle-based designer Rebecca West, of Seriously Happy Homes.
When it comes to creating a beautiful all-white living room, it’s important to invest in quality furniture of varied shapes and textures.
“In this case, the curves of the chair, the texture of the ottoman, the veining of the marble table, and even the piping along the edges of the sofa all elevate the room,” says West.
Get the look: Create a beautiful white room with pieces like this boucle armchair and this marble coffee table.
2. Burnt orange
Looking to bring some casual warmth to your living room decor? Then you might like this burnt orange theme from @cozywonderspots.
“Color psychology tells us that using orange in a gathering space like a living room encourages conversation,” says West. “While many orange hues are a little too loud and intense, burnt orange brings in warmth without screaming at you to have fun.”
The best part about working in this color scheme is the assortment of funky furniture choices you can use to complete the look.
“Get creative with how you bring it in—try a cognac-colored leather chair, rust-colored velvet sofa, or an ochre accent wall,” West says.
3. Spring green
If you’re looking to create a relaxing living room that’s still bursting with color, you can’t go wrong with this organically beautiful, spring-green theme from @myvictorianhouselove. Enrich your verdant living room with houseplants such as Monstera, ferns, or fiddle-leaf figs.
And while the goal is to have primarily green decor permeate the space, smaller pops of beige, brown, or gray will pair well with the soft green, seen in the post above, and still maintain the monochromatic look.
Get the look: Freshen up your living room with this olive branch wreath and area rug.
4. Candy pink
For the playful home—and its owner who is unafraid of bold color choices—this daring, candy-pink look from @homeofcharl is a great starting point.
“We’re seeing a lot of influence coming from fashion brands such as LoveShackFancy, where everything pink reigns supreme,” says designer Ana Cummings, of ANA Interiors. “This doesn’t necessarily limit you to girly designs. I’ve seen many men’s homes embrace this bubblegum hue.”
To prevent your blush-hued living room from veering into Barbiecore territory, select a few key spaces to showcase the color—a wall, piece of furniture, and a few pieces of artwork. Then work in a complementary darker hue (like the navy blue sofa seen above) for balance.
Get the look: Bring some rose-tinted romance into your space with Benjamin Moore’s Palazzo Pink and this ceramic pot planter.
5. Sky blue
Another color so cool it deserves an entire room is sky blue. We’re in love with the dreamy living room design seen above, from a post by @ricosluxurydesigns.
“Sky blue is a classic,” says West. “It’s light, airy, and calm—just what stressed-out professionals and parents need in the midst of their busy lives!”
To succeed in your blissfully blue endeavor, West recommends selecting the right paint color.
“If you’re going to paint your walls sky blue, try to choose a slightly muddy or slightly gray tone,” she advises. “Pale blues turn into little-boy-nursery blue, if you’re not careful!”
Article originally appeared on Realtor.com.
