9 colors designers won’t decorate living rooms with in 2025
Redecorating a living room is a joyous task that can breathe new life into your space. Whether you’re opting for a lick of paint or fresh furniture, color has a wonderous power to dictate how this convivial room feels. If you plan to spruce your space this spring, however, you’ll want to know the shades that designers won’t be decorating with in 2025.
Since the pandemic there’s been a seismic shift in the way we use color as we all seek to curate nurturing spaces. But, five years on, some of those shades feel worn out, or just don’t have the same relevance as they once did. If you want a living room that looks fresh and enticing in 2025, designers are steering clear of these overused hues to ensure they deliver contemporary, exciting spaces.
Our living rooms see a lot of use and, as such, they should reflect the mood of the moment. Any colors you use, be it your wall color or a decor accent, should be on-trend or – better still – have a timeless quality. If you’re on the hunt for new living room color ideas this spring, here are the key colors to avoid and what to use instead for a beautifully decorated space.
1. Cool gray
A warmer neutral, like taupe, will bring more comfort to a living room
(Image credit: Photography: Matti Gresham / Design: Urbanology)
By now you’ve heard of ‘millennial gray’. This cool tone dominated living rooms last decade, and while you’re probably wise enough to steer well clear of an all-over gray interior that’s devoid of color (as was de rigueur among millennials), designers won’t be using this shade altogether in 2025 (no, not even as an accent).
‘The overly cool, blue-based grays are losing relevance,’ says Ginger Curtis, founder and CEO of Urbanology Designs. ‘They often make a space feel sterile rather than inviting. It’s also strongly associated with the farmhouse movement that took the world by storm, which is now kitschy and dated.’
Instead she suggests a warm taupe or mushroom beige, as pictured above. ‘This soft, organic neutral makes a space feel more comforting and layered,’ she says. Designer Nina Lichtenstein is in agreement, adding that ‘A warm, taupe-leaning neutral, offers the same versatility with added depth and a cozier undertone’.
2. Pure red
The brown undertones of this red give it a more liveable feel
(Image credit: Future)
Saturated reds enjoyed some hype with 2024’s viral ‘unexpected red’ color trend (pockets of primary red that bring a surprising, zesty element to a room). But while it’s a palatable shade when used in small doses, pure reds aren’t on designers’ radars in 2025 – especially not the living room.
‘A bold primary red can feel overwhelming and difficult to style in a modern living room,’ says Nina. ‘Instead, burnt sienna – a deep, earthy red with brown undertones – offers a more refined take on warmth, adding depth without overpowering the space.’
This earthy tone feels far more grounding and liveable, and unlike invigorating red with its overpowering qualities, it can still be used as an all-over shade without feeling too intense (and even lends itself well to color drenching).
3. Navy blue
Like navy, the smoky blue tone on this ceiling has a sumptuous quality but with added nuance
(Image credit: Design by Studio Lawahl (studiolawahl.com) / Photography by Kristofer Johnsson (kristoferjohnsson.com))
Navy and white has been a stalwart color combination for many years, but over-reliance on this pairing has given way to dated living room designs. ‘While classic, navy can feel heavy and overused, especially in small living rooms where it can make the space feel closed in,’ Ginger explains.
If you want a similar old-timey feel to rich navy, or you want to lean towards a coastal decor theme, Ginger suggests a inky blue-black that’s several shades darker. ‘A deep, moody blue with green undertones feels richer and more current,’ she says.
Nina concurs, adding that living rooms need more softness and adaptability than navy can provide. ‘A smoky teal retains the depth of navy but with an added complexity, blending blue and green tones for a fresher, more nuanced feel,’ she notes.
4. Sage green
Olive has a more moody feel to it than sage, making for a more mature, refined space
(Image credit: Lick)
Sage green has been inescapable for nearly a decade. This calming color will always have relevance in our homes, owing to its natural origins, but it’s no longer steering the ship when it comes to fresh and enticing living room color trends.
‘While sage green has been everywhere in recent years, its muted softness is starting to feel predictable,’ Nina explains. ‘In 2025, designers are favoring deep olive green, a richer, earthier alternative that brings sophistication and a grounding presence to a living room.’ Something about this slightly darker shade, with its brown undertones, feels more luxurious and expensive compared to pastel-aligned sage – something many of us are searching for in our interiors.
5. Dusty rose
A tonal pink scheme can feel fun and fresh, but consider using natural terracotta tones as the foundation
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
In the last few years, pink has earned its stripes as a neutral in its own right. Dusty rose and playful pinks have been used to bring warmth to once-sterile spaces, replacing white as an all-over room color idea. But, while we all welcomed this romantic shade with open arms, designers agree that it’s starting to feel overdone already.
‘The popularity of dusty rose was fueled by its soft, romantic aesthetic, but in a living room, it can often feel too delicate or outdated,’ says Nina. Ginger also notes that pink living rooms are starting to feel nostalgic and tired already. ‘They lack the depth or freshness needed for modern living spaces,’ she says.
That’s not to say that pink living room ideas don’t have a space in our homes, however. Both Ginger and Nina recommend a more natural terracotta blush instead; ‘a warm, earthy take on pink with a grounding effect, adding richness and a more sophisticated feel,’ Ginger summarises. Think: the color of raw plaster or baked clay, used as a foundation on your walls.
6. Bright white
An off-white will look far less sterile than a pure white
(Image credit: Design: Nina Lichtenstein/Photographer: Brian Madden/Contractor: Bernardini Builders)
It goes without saying, but stark pure whites are not on the agenda for 2025, especially in relaxing spaces like living rooms. ‘Stark, crisp whites can feel too clinical and uninviting, lacking the depth that today’s living rooms need for warmth and character,’ explains Ginger.
That said, plain white is a classically timeless wall color choice, especially in small living rooms where it can make a confined space feel larger. If you want walls that offer a simple, clean slate, swap stark white for an off-white instead, be it a hint of yellow, gray, or brown. Nina and Ginger recommend a chalky bone white to add warmth. ‘Creamy off-white tones add subtle richness, creating a more inviting and layered look that pairs beautifully with natural textures,’ Nina explains.
Slipper Satin, Farrow & Ball
7. Hunter green
A deep green-black tone is a contemporary choice to pair alongside leathers or wood tones
(Image credit: Photography: Matti Gresham / Design: Urbanology)
Splashes of hunter green have been cropping up across many high-end designs, often seen alongside wood tones for an organic-inspired space, but the color can feel a little contrived. While undoubtedly alluring, Ginger notes that this mid green has run its course as a result. ‘In some spaces, like the living room, it can feel heavy rather than fresh,’ she says.
Instead, she suggests decorating with earthy colors using a deep green black, like the one seen in the space above, or a rich earthy juniper. ‘A softer, earthier green with a natural, organic feel connects beautifully with biophilic design,’ she says.
Nina agrees on the overuse of saturated emerald-y greens. ‘They can be energizing but often feel too intense for a space meant for relaxation,’ she says. ‘A muted forest green offers the same connection to nature but with a softer, more timeless elegance that blends effortlessly with other design elements.’
Bavarian Forest, Benjamin Moore
8. Mustard yellow
The sophisticated honey tones seen in this space feel more current than mustard yellow
(Image credit: Design: Paris Forino / Photography: Garruppo)
Mustard has been another millennial favorite, often favored as an accent color alongside the aforementioned cool gray, so it can give a rather dated impression in a modern living room. Nina also notes that it’s not as versatile as you’d expect. ‘Vibrant mustard yellow can quickly overwhelm a space, making it hard to pair with other tones,’ she says.
If you want to incorporate it into your space, we prefer this tone used alongside similar warm earthy shades like ochre and burgundy, or swap it out entirely for something richer and more caramel-toned. ‘Soft honey gold delivers warmth and vibrancy in a more refined, livable way, working beautifully with natural woods and earth tones,’ says Nina.
Middle Buff, Little Greene
9. Eggplant purple
This deep mulberry tone of these cabinets oozes sophistication
(Image credit: Farrow & Ball)
Lastly, designers won’t be decorating living rooms with eggplant this year. The rich shade was long-revered for feeling both playful and luxurious all at once but, like hunter green, it lacks the nuance we crave from color in 2025, especially in a living room.
‘Deep purples have struggled to find a lasting place in interiors, especially a living room, often feeling too moody or hard to pair with neutrals,’ adds Ginger. ‘Instead, try mulberry brown, a softer, red-based brown that brings in warmth and depth while staying refined.’ Likewise, you could lean more towards the red side and embrace a sumptuous oxblood or burgundy. When it comes to application, these suggestions all lend themselves well to a high gloss finish on millwork and trim.
Color is the best way to update your living room for a more contemporary, enticing feel. For a space that feels welcoming, exciting, and effortlessly stylish in 2025, follow designers’ lead by steering clear of these now dated paint colors.
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