10 Best Paint Colors to Seamlessly Connect Your Living Room & Kitchen
If you have an open floor plan with your living room flowing into the kitchen, picking paint colors that work cohesively can be a decorating challenge. While it creates a spacious, airy feel, an open concept needs a unified color scheme so the spaces don’t clash. The key is choosing complementary hues that seamlessly connect the rooms.
Read on for tips that will help you create a cohesive palette.
Color Theory Basics
Before diving into paint choices, it helps to understand some basic color theory. This provides the foundation for combining hues in pleasing ways.
Primary Colors
The primary colors are red, blue and yellow. These hues can't be created by mixing other colors - they are the purest pigments and serve as the building blocks for all other hues.
Secondary Colors
When you mix two primary colors, you get the secondary colors of orange, green and purple. These are extremely vibrant shades.
Tertiary Colors
By mixing a primary and secondary color, you get the tertiary colors. These include tones like red-orange, yellow-green, blue-violet.
Color Wheel
Arranging colors in a circle based on their relationships creates a color wheel. This shows how colors relate to and transition into others. It's a useful visualization for understanding color schemes.
Color Harmony
Color harmony refers to color combinations that complement each other. Certain schemes are especially pleasing and work well together in interior design.
Popular Color Schemes for Open Floor Plans
Some types of color schemes are particularly suited to open floor plans between a kitchen and living room. Here are some of the most popular options:
Analogous Colors
These are hues located right next to each other on the color wheel, like blue, blue-green and green. Analogous schemes use hue with shared undertones for a cohesive look. Some examples are:
- Soft blue, teal blue, blue-green
- Beige, tan, taupe
Complementary Colors
These are color pairs located opposite each other on the color wheel, like blue and orange or red and green. When placed together, they create high contrast and vibrancy. Examples include:
- Blue and orange
- Red and green
Neutral Colors
Whites, grays, browns and black are considered neutral colors. They don't have strong undertones, so provide a muted base for bolder accent colors.
Tones, Tints and Shades
You can create variations of any hue by manipulating it with black, white or gray:
- Tones - Color with gray added
- Tints - Color with white added
- Shades - Color with black added
10 Best Paint Colors for Living Room and Kitchen
Now let's explore 10 specific paint colors that work beautifully in open concept living rooms and kitchens:
1. Greige
This trendy mix between gray and beige gives you the best of both worlds - gray's modern appeal and beige's inherent warmth. Greige serves as a gorgeous neutral backdrop for accent colors.
2. Cloud White
Opting for a bright, clean white instantly freshens up a space. Cloud white feels contemporary but also illuminates rooms with its uplifting clarity.
3. Dove Gray
For a softer alternative to white, dove gray has a gentle, warm vibe with a calming effect. It serves as a lighter neutral option for open floor plans.
4. Linen
This pale tan has beige undertones but feels a bit fresher. The neutral linen color effortlessly works with any accent hue you wish to incorporate.
5. Eggshell Blue
With its subtle green undertones, eggshell blue is a peaceful color that conjures serene skies. It pairs beautifully with warm orange accents.
6. Silver Sage
The soft green-gray of silver sage complements wood cabinetry. It serves as a versatile backdrop color for open kitchens and living areas.
7. Taupe
Earthy taupe has gray, brown and reddish undertones. This cozy neutral grounds a space with a feeling of nurturing warmth.
8. Heather
With purple-gray tones, heather is a unique color that feels soothing yet sophisticated. It allows for creativity with accent colors.
9. Latte
This rich, creamy tan brown conjures welcomed comfort. Latte's inherent warmth makes it ideal for inviting open floor plans.
10. Smoke Blue
As a hazy bluish-gray, smoke blue has a relaxed vibe perfect for everyday living. Its softness beautifully connects rooms.
Tips for Painting Open Floor Plan
Once you've selected complementary wall colors, here are some tips for seamlessly painting your open concept:
- Use wall colors to help define spaces for natural separation
- Tie rooms together with matching trim or accent wall colors
- Repeat accent colors from one space in artwork or decor in the next
- Use multiple, layered lighting sources for cohesion
- Add architectural details like wainscoting or built-ins to connect rooms
Open floor plans can present decorating challenges but using complementary color schemes helps rooms flow together seamlessly. Analogous, neutral or accent colors are pleasing options.
Greige, dove gray, eggshell blue and latte are just some of the best paint colors for open living areas and kitchens. With a cohesive palette and strategic use of accent colors, you can beautifully connect these special spaces.