21 Monochromatic Living Room Ideas That Are So On Trend

blue monochromatic living room — Tyler Karu Design

We’ve gone through most of our lives believing that more color is better when it comes to decorating. And while that might be true with some spaces, we can’t help but think that a monochromatic color palette can be inextricably chic in its own right — especially in living rooms. Just think: a crisp all-white room that's clean without even trying too hard or a gray parlor that exudes style from floor to ceiling.

And it's not just white or gray monochromatic color schemes that we're loving on: it's the all-over reds, blues and unexpected pinks that brighten up a room and transform the space into something entirely new.

In pursuit of the best monochromatic living room inspiration, we searched Instagram high and low. Below, we rounded up 21 of our favorite spaces that are convincing us to color coordinate our homes ASAP.

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Play With Texture

Without even trying, a neutral color palette can instantly transform an inside space, with the right styling. Here, we love how the decor plays into the leafy green nature of the color by accenting the room with gold accents, sleek lines, and cleverly hidden animals.

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Go Crisp and Clean

crisp white living room — Esther Schmidt

The secret to a room that looks truly clean is the right shade of white: not too blue-toned, but definitely not cream. The payoff of finding this clean white color is a space that looks completely effortless and put together. After that, you just have to remember to keep it clean.

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Try Greige

If we had to pick our favorite neutral, there would be a hard tie between gray and beige — both flattering in their own ways. That’s why we love “greige,” the perfect blend between the two shades. The shade matches perfectly with other subtle tones, like soft sage greens and creams. But when it takes over an entire room on its own, it’s pure magic.

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Think Blue

playful blue monochromatic living room — Dazey Den

Nothing quite exudes the essence of importance more than deep, royal blue. In a monochromatic room, its best accented with large paintings, thick drapery, velvet touches, and, of course, classic chandelier lighting. If you ask us, after 5 minutes in this room, we’d feel on top of the world.

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Try a Warm White

We’ve said it before, and we’ll say it again: we love white rooms. But off-white rooms that use shades of cream are just as good (if not better). The neutral color palette is relaxing and soothing, as if any stress floats away the second you sit down on one of the comfy couches.

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Go Green

olive green living room — Home and Spirit

It's hard to pick which shade of green is our absolute favorite—but it's no secret that any are welcome to transform a space. Opting for green shades as the dominant hue throughout a room gives a spacious, nature-filled vibe. We love how this room implements an olive green for the walls, a slightly darker shade for the couch, and naturally an abundance of plants to tie everything together. The wooden accents help add an earthy, natural feel.

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Keep Brown Interesting

brown/beige monochromatic living room — Corner House Creatives

As far as colors go, brown has never had the best reputation. But where some see limitations, we see opportunity. It’s all about mixing and matching textures: bronzed metals, light woods, plush tans. The result—a monochromatic room that’s anything but basic and boring.

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Lean Into Grays

gray monochromatic living room — JLA Designs

While the idea of "cloudy" hues may bring to mind something dreary, this living room is proof of quite the opposite. Light gray covers the walls and ceiling, creating a cozy atmosphere. The gray hue doesn't stop there, though— the chest, accent chair, and rug all boast a similar shade. Pops of gold accents give a chic appearance and keep the space from coming across as gloomy.

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Brighten Up With Blue

powder blue monochromatic living room — Tyler Karu Design

On another note, there is nothing wrong with adoring crystal clear blue hues. Rather than sticking to painting the walls in the same shade, painting your built-ins is the perfect monochromatic feat that allows for more dimension. This delightful cornflower blue space is accentuated with gray accent chairs, as well as a floral rug boasting a deeper blue shade that complements the rest of the room.

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Bring in More Hues

We love how this monochromatic living room showcases a full range of blues across the space. The deep blue on the left gradually lightens until it reaches an almost gray tone on the opposite wall. In the middle, furniture in hues that reflect the walls, as well as neutral-colored statement lighting for that extra modern touch.

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Pick a Theme

teal/sky blue monochromatic living room — Casa Watkins Living

Somewhere between green and blue lies a seafoam color that is undeniably appealing as an interior design color palette. To play into the idea of lush underwater feeling, incorporate plants, luxurious fabrics, and twinkling lights.

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Use Pink as a Neutral

Pink can, and should be, considered a neutral. Dusty, blush pink acts more like a neutral beige than it does an accent color. With that said, a neutral blush pink color theme is just what a room needs. Add in a pink sectional couch and luscious pink curtains, and a room feels completely sophisticated.

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Keep It Sleek

When it comes to gray decor, the hardest debacle is between warm or cool tones. But this slate color palette has us convinced that cool-toned gray is the way to go. The best part? It pairs wonderfully with clean white — so you can work it into an open floor plan with white kitchen cabinetry.

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Be Bold and Bright

Red is one of those colors that evoke a lot of emotion: romance, excitement, drama, power. And in a room, this means there’s a massive flow of energy. Rather than incorporating this color palette with paint (which we would normally do right off the bat), go for accent furniture, fun wallpaper, and accessories to bring this deep color to life.

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Stay Minimal

There is something elegant about gray tones—even more so with the right accents. This elegant apartment setup is proof—an upholstered couch opposing two plush chairs and a marble coffee table in the center scream chic. But you don’t have to live in a high-rise apartment to replicate the feeling of this apartment. The golden accents on the chair scream luxury without going too far out of your budget.

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Play With Cool Tones

cool tones monochromatic — Lilijenzcrantz Design

While there is totally a place for warm whites, cooler versions have a place in our hearts as well. The walls, window treatments, curtains, and even the door in this living room are all aligned in the same bright white, allowing your eyes to effortlessly move across the space without interruption. The light wood floors warm the room up ever so slightly, but it's clear that the ivory tone is taking center stage here.

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Add a Moody Feel

deep blue tudor living room — Erin Williamson Design

There are very few times when we don’t love midcentury modern decor in the living room. Case in point: this cerulean blue living room has everything we could ever want. Besides the white leather couch and matching sconces, the blue walls and shelving bring everything together.

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Think About Tones

We’ve waxed poetic about gray. But this cool-toned gray has to be one of our favorites. The way the charcoal walls complement the leather couch and cozy throw invite guests to sit down and stay for a while. Not to mention, the playful geometric patterns on the walls and dećor liven up the space and keep it from appearing flat or uninteresting.

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Highlight Your Architecture

Another stunning example of painting built-ins to create a cohesive space can be found right here. The emerald entertainment center and accent chair are a match made in heaven, with green giving off a calming quality. Allow your eyes to move around the room and notice how plenty of the smaller dećor choices also integrate shades of green as well—from the artwork to small vases on different shelves.

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Stay Nice and Neutral

beige monochromatic living room — Yael Weiss

We can't get enough of beige tones, especially in living rooms. This space has an almost seamless match between the walls and the sofa, creating plenty of unity throughout the room. From the wooden and wicker accents to even the artwork on the wall, there is plenty of texture and interest to capture your attention without invoking other colors. And that natural light flooding into the room? Absolutely ideal for a neutral palette room.

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Start Simple With Soft Whites

Love white but are afraid of appearing too clinical? Softer whites can solve that problem with ease. Opt for whites that lean a little to the warm side—without fully crossing over into beige. Adding textures like sheer linens and cozy throws can add to the space and create a welcoming environment you'll never want to leave.

22 Rooms That Do Monochromatic Color Schemes the Right Way

Updated by

Lacey Ramburger