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The journey of finding the perfect paint color for the living room seems long and tortuous. We have provided some tips here to help you navigate the world of paint color theory in the living room like a professional. Whether you are looking for a hue to make a bold statement or quietly blending into the background, the perfect color is just a few steps away and can help you turn your living room into an oasis.

The best starting point is to look at what you already have. Consider items you particularly like, and pay special attention to larger items that you are unlikely to replace or redecorate. Looking closely at the various colors in upholstery, carpets, and artwork is also a good way to find neutral tones to tie things together.

Do you find that you use a lot of blue tones to emphasize your space? Are you an avid plant collector? Maybe you like materials such as jute and rattan, or cherry wood for medieval furniture. All these hues affect how the paint color is read in your space. Creating a mood board that combines images of your space with spaces that you find inspiring can help you narrow down which colors suit your style and which ones don't.

Once you have narrowed down your choice of two or three colors, go to your local paint shop and pick some swatches. If you can, try to get a card with gradient tones, which can help you better understand the undertone of the color you are looking at and how it fits in your space. We will talk more about background colors later.

When it comes to color, the most important factor is often the most subtle: the color of the light in the room. Generally, the northern lights will have softer and colder tones, while southern lights will be brighter and warmer. Pick up your color cards and stick them on the wall to see how the light in your space changes the colors throughout the day. Be sure to see how it looks at night under artificial lighting.

Especially for white paint, the background color can have a huge impact on the paint you choose to look green, yellow, pink, etc. in your space. For example, these two white paints are described as having "cool gray undertones" but look greenish and pinkish respectively. Although they may be pronounced white under different conditions, these background colors will absorb other tones in your space and can change the way they appear.

For example, suppose you have a room with southern lights and warm wooden floors. Warm white will absorb other warm colors and may start to become more yellow or beige, while cool gray white will offset some of the warmth and look whiter. Knowing the background color of your space will help you choose a color to compliment or contrast colors that already exist.

If you don’t talk about decoration and modeling, you can’t talk about walls. The color of the decoration in the space has a major impact on the way the wall color is read. Painting the trim white is the traditional way to make the wall color stand out. If you want to make a bold statement, try to paint your trim in a contrasting color, such as dark gray or even black. For a more subtle effect, choose a lighter or darker tone than the wall to achieve soft modern minimalism.

The best tip for choosing colors for any space is to draw sample patches on the wall. No matter how carefully you think about your color, each paint will vary from wall to wall, space is different from space, so it is absolutely necessary to sample your favorite to make sure you choose the perfect hue.

If possible, coat a spare gypsum board or primed plywood with the swatches of each color of your choice. Move your sample board around your space to see how different walls will appear throughout the day. If a template is not feasible, please paint squares of each color on at least two different walls. Once you have a day or two to look at the colors in the space, you should be ready to make a final choice and start painting.

Keep reading our designer's list of favorite living room paint colors for inspiration.

Decorator's White is loved by designers because of its versatility. It is a slightly off-white white that can be used almost anywhere. This is a particularly good choice if you deal with many warm undertones in the space, or like to keep things on a more modern side.

Wevet is described as "exquisite white with a hint of gray", often a bit of a chameleon color, showing the characteristics of the space in which it is located. A little brighter than Decorator's White, Wevet is also a good choice. If you want a traditional white decoration look, please choose your decoration.

This creamy warm white is a designer's favorite. Looking particularly cute in a traditional space, White Dove adds a touch of elegance and perfectly matches the rich blue and green.

Grey Owl is a cool French gray that is great as a wall color, but applied to decoration and lines adds a pleasant subtle contrast to other white walls. It works well in both modern and traditional spaces, making it an excellent choice to bridge the gap between styles.

Although it looks pink in this swatch, Cornforth White is called a mid-tone, which means it can work well with other tones, whether it's warm or cool. Soft gray can serve as a good background, while being richer than standard white.

Appropriate off-white, shaded white is very creamy, but not warm enough to appear yellow. When paired with bright white, this color tends to be a very warm gray, or a cool cream next to another, more traditional taupe.

Sometimes it's blue, sometimes it's green, sometimes it's gray, the oval room blue is perfect for those who want to add a little color but don't want to put in too much. We don't think of this hue as a soft hue by any means, but compared to the next two, it definitely tends to be on the lighter side.

A true classic, Hague Blue is deep. Slightly greenish navy blue, Hague Blue is still very much like blue, very outstanding in traditional spaces, or as a warm or creamy accent.

The dark gray Iron Mountain has a warm blackboard color. Painting the whole room in this dark color is not for the faint-hearted, but it is also an excellent accent. Paint it on a specific wall, a row of built-in shelves, or decorations and lines to get a touch of drama.

Lauren is a writer and architect who lives and works in Brooklyn, New York. In addition to being a writer for Forbes, she is also a freelance architect specializing in residential design. Through her work, she hopes to let people know more about the ins and outs of design and construction, and let others have confidence in their home renovation projects.

Samantha is an editor, covering all home-related topics, including home improvement and maintenance. She has edited home repair and design content on websites such as The Spruce and HomeAdvisor. She also hosted videos about DIY home tips and solutions, and launched a number of home improvement review committees equipped with licensed professionals.