Apartments
Living room Colour Palette for Apartments
Choose colour against the surfaces that will stay. Test it on a large sample at the room's brightest and darkest points.
Explore the ideas
Compare the options
- Set the brief
- Collect samples of permanent finishes, upholstery and hardware before picking a paint or laminate.
- Compare
- Assign a background colour, one wayfinding or feature colour, and contrast where people need to distinguish edges.
- Before buying
- Check painted or laminated samples vertically beside the same light source the finished room will use.
Worked example
A north-facing lounge makes a cool gray sofa and wall paint appear flat through the day.
Test large paint and textile samples in morning and evening light, keeping the permanent floor visible beside them.
How to test it
Compare the samples in daylight and artificial light, and check that handles and door edges remain easy to distinguish.
Apply it to this space
- Layout
- Keep a direct entry-to-balcony route clear; group seating around conversation rather than across the walkway.
- Detail
- Use a low media unit and layered ambient and reading light to keep sightlines open.
- Trade-off
- A larger sectional increases seats but consumes flexible floor area.
- Map door swings and walking paths
- Check glare on the screen at daytime
The Elixir portfolio
Details worth a closer look
