Dainty With an Edge: 20 Pastel Living Rooms to Inspire Your Design

DAZEY DEN

DAZEY DEN

Dainty but edgy, timeless, liveable, and trendy all at once, pastel living rooms are the fairest of them all. There's just something about this romantic quality that exudes a simultaneously inviting and sophisticated energy. And though the colors are decidedly soft, living room pastel décor can have plenty of variety to suit any style. Whether you want to lighten the mood, introduce new contrast, or just love the design, using shades like blush, rose, mint, sage, and more can upgrade your space.

Get inspired by designer ideas for pastel-colored living rooms that all anchor their spaces in soft, delicate hues.

01 of 20

Use a Grounded Sage

BESPOKE ONLY

BESPOKE ONLY

One of the most decidedly-earthy pastels, sage is a color that soothes. This faded green with yellow undertones can make your space feel inviting and calming alike. To blend sage paint into a seamless living room design, pair it with natural tones in your furniture like dark leather, warm wood, and soft white hues.

02 of 20

Mimic the Sky

DAZEY DEN

DAZEY DEN

The light lavender and pale sky blue hues introduce a welcome sweet side to this living room. Bursting with color between a gallery wall, a blue ottoman, and brightly-colored décor, these contrasting elements create a unique and personalized whole. The mid-century and maximalist roots of this design make it feel laid-back and practical without missing a drop of character.

03 of 20

Warm With Buttercream Yellow

KENDALL WILKINSON DESIGN

KENDALL WILKINSON DESIGN

Living room color doesn't have to start with the walls: Make a statement by incorporating your color scheme into large artwork. If you're decorating with rich earth tones, introduce some edge with a more grounded color like this buttercream yellow. Darker accents in the furniture punctuate the deep warmth in this room, while brass accents break up the softer materials to add a shiny, elegant flair.

04 of 20

Be Romantic With Rose

DAZEY DEN

DAZEY DEN

We love how the angular wall art and modern coffee table embody the softer elements of this room, playing on its rich, pastel pink walls and bold sofa. To create even more depth, the designer chose to work with brass accents that stand out against natural wood floors. This one-of-a-kind texture scape is filled with exquisite proportions that tie the space together with personality.

05 of 20

Liven up Neutrals

JC DESIGN

JC DESIGN

This living room with a beige pastel tone on the walls is focused on the neutrals, blending warm hues from the floor to the ceiling with depth and visual interest. To add a pop of variety to the room's natural accents, lush houseplants and lively wood grains bring texture to the calming space. With its simple color scheme and calming vibe, this living room feels like a den we could spend a lifetime in.

06 of 20

Stay Sleek in Frosted Hues

CHELIUS HOUSE OF DESIGN

CHELIUS HOUSE OF DESIGN

The juxtaposition between the light, icy walls and brighter accent colors in the throw pillows make this space appear perfectly balanced. Sleek gray furniture and a textured stone fireplace bring vibrance to this living room while keeping its airy vibe cohesive. Raw wood materials introduce a more relaxed vibe without compromising the sense of formality, as this designer creates plenty of dimension without making it feel busy.

07 of 20

Refresh With Mint

DAZY DEN

DAZY DEN

This living room makes a strong case for going maximal with your favorite color. The color-blocked fireplace introduces deeper greens to contrast its pastel mint upper wall, and an array of furniture brings in a boho, unique character. Paired with bright patterns in the rug and floor pillow, these soft colors work together with a variety of décor.

08 of 20

Try a Soft Pistachio

URSULA CARMONA OF HOME MADE BY CARMONA

URSULA CARMONA OF HOME MADE BY CARMONA

If stark white feels like intense contrast in your otherwise warm-hued living room, opt for a nice pastel shade that still introduces contrast without feeling jarring. We love the barely-there pistachio undertones of these walls against the burnt orange hues in the rug. Styled with natural woven baskets and minimal décor, the hint of color in this living room paint adds just enough to the palette to keep things feeling fresh.

09 of 20

Be Blushing

RIKKI SNYDER

RIKKI SNYDER

If you're a lover of rose gold, pale pinks, and soft warming hues, this blush-themed living room is for you. A hint of faded coral pink along the room's trim contrasts ivory walls while blending the tones together. Bold, dark colors in the far sofa add an elegant touch that stands out against the rest of the space.

To exaggerate a pastel accent color, paint your trim a shade or two darker than the walls for a cohesive, polished look.

10 of 20

Blend Earthy Tones

MICHELLE BOUDREAU DESIGN

MICHELLE BOUDREAU DESIGN

For a true pastel vibe, choose a few different earthy tones to spread throughout your living room's décor. The combination of pale pink and olive green armchairs with one dark accent piece adds depth to this space, while warm wood ceiling rafters create visual interest. The textures in these geometric wall designs bring an abundance of personality to the room, which still feels sleek and clean thanks to its neutral color scheme.

11 of 20

Curl Up to Creamy Beige

RIKKI SNYDER

RIKKI SNYDER

If you're not a fan of too much color, opt for pastel hues like this creamy beige living room that feels as inviting as it is elegant. Woven materials and a rustic wood fireplace mantel bring out some serious cabin vibes in this space—but at the same time, they complement its traditional style. Minimal tones in the wall art and throw blankets bring a pop of color to the classic design.

12 of 20

Get Natural

HOME BY POLLY

HOME BY POLLY

To introduce natural elements, opt for a pastel tone like this clay-painted fireplace that stands out as a statement wall in the all-white room. Small pieces of décor in a blush shade complement the terracotta accent color, which bounces through the room while blending into its overall design. A plush, fluffed rug and patterned hearth tile bring texture and personality to the space without overwhelming its neutral style.

13 of 20

Add a Pop of Contrast

DAZEY DEN

DAZEY DEN

These soft pastel walls and ceiling set the stage for a major contrast in this living room's accent color. With a warm, inviting backdrop in faded hues, the brighter orange shades found in the floor, wood furniture, and sofa are able to burst with color while finding the balance between minimalism and maximalism. The designer keeps to a simple color scheme with small accents of bright yellow and blue found throughout the space.

14 of 20

Soothe Through Ivory

TARA KANTOR INTERIORS

TARA KANTOR INTERIORS

These ivory-peach walls are smooth, soft, and elegant. The polished finish of this room gives it a traditional vibe, but two muted green accent pieces contrast its otherwise neutral tones. Texture is everywhere: From the three-tiered fireplace to the velvet chair, upholstered ottoman, and patterned rug, this living room is dynamic from floor to ceiling.

To liven up a neutral color scheme, introduce bold, dark accents minimally throughout the design to draw the eye around the room.

15 of 20

Focus on the Furniture

HOUSE 9

HOUSE 9

If you're not ready to commit to pastel paint, start by introducing a few statement pieces to your living room's design. The softness of these woven materials absorbs the intensity of the room's faded coral sofa, stark white walls, and metallic accents. By incorporating a variety of unique accents throughout the space, the design accomplishes a sense of cohesion blended with unique taste.

16 of 20

Neutralize Sandy Tones

PHOTO: RAQUEL LANGWORTHY; DESIGN: CHRISTINA KIM INTERIOR DESIGN

PHOTO: RAQUEL LANGWORTHY; DESIGN: CHRISTINA KIM INTERIOR DESIGN

Pastels are abundant throughout this fresh, airy room, from its sandy-colored walls to its soft gray sofa. Light blues and beige tones carry the design while keeping to its inviting style. Small white accents are found in each corner of the space, brightening up the living room for a clean finish.

17 of 20

Freshen Airy Blues

KJ DESIGN & MORTAR STYLING

KJ DESIGN & MORTAR STYLING

To combine a soft tone with a big statement, paint your walls and trim the same color. This shade of blue brings out an ocean-inspired vibe that feels calming at first glance. With darker shades of blue in the living room's accent décor, brighter hues found in the yellow flowers and throw pillow bring depth to the space while complementing its cool-colored theme.

18 of 20

Keep Your Head in the Clouds

HOME BY POLLY

HOME BY POLLY

This space feels like it belongs inside a home on a cloud. The pastel accent wall behind the stairs was painted in the perfect shade to tie this design together: Soft white trim, plush pillows, and plenty of natural light filtering in make this living room as airy as it can be. An inviting rug and feathered décor bring a light, clean texture to the room's soft character.

19 of 20

Make an Olive Statement

HOME AND SPIRIT

HOME AND SPIRIT

Faded olive paint adds a statement to this living room without going too bold on color. Soft green furniture, accent pillows, and houseplants carry the green theme throughout the space. Paired with a wood slat wall and natural desk, this earthy room blends classic with cozy for a dynamic design.

20 of 20

Be Pretty in Pink

NOELLE RYAN INTERIORS

NOELLE RYAN INTERIORS

Pink is a staple when it comes to pastels, and this living room does it just right: Bright walls with just a hint of the color in their undertones make the space feel warm against white furniture and décor. When styled with bold black window trim and an upholstered leather ottoman, these slightly-pink walls add depth to the space for a soft finish.