Last Updated on November 16, 2024 by Kimberly Crawford
Choosing the right color palette can make a huge difference in updating your living room. While trends come and go, some colors tend to make spaces feel dated rather quickly.
Here are outdated living room colors to avoid alongside suggestions for more current alternatives that will keep your space looking fresh and stylish.
1. Muted Beige Abundance
Beige was once a popular neutral color, but utilizing it as the primary color on all walls can make a room appear lifeless and uninspired. The monotone beige appearance may lack the warmth and contrast required to create a comfortable yet lively environment.
If beige appeals to you, try matching it with warmer tones such as creamy whites, or add depth with accent colors in soft browns or muted greens.
Choosing a “greige” (a combination of gray and beige) might also assist modernize the style. Greige combines the refinement of gray with the warmth of beige, making it more flexible when paired with contemporary or classic furniture types.
2. Bright Lemon Yellow
Yellow is recognized for creating a cheerful and sunny feeling in a room, but too bright or lemon-yellow tones can overwhelm a space, making it feel chaotic and restless. Such a vibrant color can be startling on walls and easily conflict with other décor elements.
Instead, consider softer, more modest colors like mustard or golden yellow. These tones add warmth to a room without dominating it, and they look great in modest accent areas (such as a single wall or doorway) as well as throw cushions or drapes.
You’ll still have that brilliant energy, but without the overwhelming effect of a bright lemon color.
3. Excess of Terra Cotta
Terra cotta along with other burnt orange tones were quite popular in the 1990s and early 2000s due to their warm, earthy tone. However, if utilized excessively, these hues can make a room feel heavy and antiquated.
To add a more modern twist, use deep sienna or muted rust in smaller amounts, such as a single accent wall, a velvety area rug, or smaller décor items such as vases and pillows. These revised colors provide warmth and style while feeling fresher and less overwhelming.
Pairing with lighter hues like as white or sage green can also assist to lighten the appearance.
4. Dusty Mauve and Pink Pastels
While gentle and charming, mauve and dusty pink tones might appear out of date in a living room, particularly when covering big surfaces such as walls.
These colors were formerly admired for their relaxing and feminine appearance, but they do not merge well with many current furniture types or neutral palettes. If you enjoy pink, consider a blush or rose quartz color.
These colors are softer, more airy, and provide a hint of warmth without being overpowering. Blush tones go well with both neutrals and bolder accents like navy or dark green, making it simple to get a balanced style that seems current.
5. Dark Hunter Green and Forest Green
Dark greens were formerly used to create a pleasant, rich atmosphere in living rooms, but these colors can today feel unduly heavy and outmoded, especially in smaller spaces where they can make rooms feel darker.
If you like green tones, choose lighter shades like sage or olive green. These hues evoke a sense of nature and peace, but they are gentler on the eyes and more adaptable.
Sage or olive green also complements natural textures, such as hardwood furniture or woven accents, adding the modern, organic mood without making the space feel cramped.
6. Vibrant Red Accents
Red walls or decor were frequently utilized to create powerful, statement-making settings, but a bright red may rapidly dominate a room and make it appear outmoded. Today’s more modern interiors like tones that are both warm and not dominating, such as burgundy or rich terracotta.
These darker, subdued reds exude a rich and comfortable atmosphere, with a hint of refinement. For a grounded, contemporary look, pair this tone with warm neutrals like cream or ivory, as well as natural textures like wood and leather.
Each of the above alternatives maintain the appeal of familiar colors while giving your space a fresh, modern twist. Which shades do you agree are outdated and which alternative are you most drawn to? Let us know your thoughts in the comments and make sure you share this list with your friends!
