This is a sponsored post about how to decorate a neutral living room written by me on behalf of CORT Clearance. All opinions are 100% mine.
Remember a few weeks ago when I shared 5 budget-friendly furniture shopping tips? Well my family and I partnered with CORT to kick off our redecorating process and I’m here to share it with you. Our old living room furniture was dark and uninviting. With our new furniture we wanted to choose something that was neutral and modern so that it would never go out of style. When shopping in CORT Clearance Furniture Center, there were so many options to choose from. It was hard narrowing down our favorite choices to just one sofa but in the end we knew that we needed a sectional.
We decided to go with a beige microfiber sectional that is so comfy and perfect for entertaining. I love neutral colors for the simple fact that it is easy to find coordinating pieces to decorate with. Some people think that neutrals are boring. I disagree. Neutral rooms can be plain and boring but they can be fun and inviting too.
Before you begin thinking about how to decorate a neutral living room, there are a few things to keep in mind.
How to Decorate a Neutral Living Room with Pops of Color
1. Choose a color palette.
Once you’ve got your furniture delivered, you’re ready to start decorating. The first thing that I like to do before I get started is to pick out a color palette. A neutral palette is my base but then I choose colors that will compliment our neutral shades. I like to choose bright colors because even on the gloomiest days the room will be inviting. I decided to go with blush, teal, and white with pops of gold as my color scheme for our neutral living room.
2. Find inspiration
Before I went shopping for pieces to decorate with, I hit Pinterest for some inspiration. I searched neutral living rooms to find what colors I liked and what accent pieces I wanted to decorate with. Scour your favorite magazines or even visit your local home decor store for inspiration.
3. Start with pillows.
Pillows are every man’s worst nightmare. My husband can’t stand them on the couch but we all know they look so amazing. Once he realized how comfy they were that was the end of that battle. If you’re not sure how to decorate a neutral living room with pops of color, start small with something simple like pillows. The right pillows can instantly transition any neutral living space and make it inviting. When shopping for our pillows, I knew I wanted bright colors but I also wanted to mix textures and throw in a few patterned pillows. We’ve got velvet, suede, and polyester on our couch. Opting for pillows that coordinate in color but differ in texture will add a fun element to your living space.
4. Incorporate flowers or plants
If you’ve been following me for a while then you know that my green thumb is non-existent. However, I love having flowers and plants in my home. It’s been proven that plants in the home have shown to reduce stress. There’s something about flowers that just make me happy. It makes my home more inviting and adds a nice, soft touch to the room. When choosing flowers to add to your home, think about the color. I chose blush pink roses because they complimented the pops of color in our living room. Hydrangeas are a second option that I love for our space as well. Decorate your coffee table with your favorite flowers for a little extra pizazz.
5. Snuggle up with a throw
Any room in our home isn’t complete without a throw. Friday nights are movie nights in our home. Guess where they happen? Right on our new favorite sectional from CORT Clearance Furniture Center. Coupled with our favorite pillows and flowers, throws are the perfect addition to our decor. Pick a throw color that will compliment the rest of the decor in your space. I chose to go with blush because pink is my favorite color and I have to sneak it in where I can.
6. Add a personal touch.
Personal touches are a must in any home. There’s not a room in our home where there isn’t something that represents our family. Whether it’s a family photo, a golden giraffe, or a souvenir from our latest travel destination – each room is personalized. Photos are a great way to add the personal touch that your neutral living space has been missing. Pictures bring so much color and emotion into any room. Think about personal touches as the final piece of the puzzle when decorating your space.
A few other ways to add pops of color to a neutral room is with side chairs, window treatments, and even an area rug. You could even ditch the white walls and opt for a fun color too!
With these tips, you can forget about the interior designer and decorate your space yourself. Do you have any tips for how to decorate a neutral living room with pops of color?
Head over to the CORT Blog for some serious design inspiration.
Amber Myers says
You have a beautiful living room! I need to brighten mine up. It’s kind of dark. I think I’ll get some bright pillows to start with.
Bianca Dottin says
Thank you. Pillows are a great start! That’s where I started too.
Jenn@Engineermommy says
That’s such a pretty color palette. I love the pop of blue against the more muted soft pink and gold.
Melissa Chapman says
I just got a new couch and it has added so much to our living room. I need to add some more pops of color with pillows or chairs to complement the pink couch.
Bianca Dottin says
Oh, you’ve got a pink couch? That’s my favorite color! Some textured pillows and a rug would make the space pop even more.
Kelly Reci says
I love how you’ve added coffee table-style books to add that pop of color. Your living room looks absolutely stunning!
Bianca Dottin says
Books are a big part of our lifestyle so they were an absolute must!
Sarah Bailey says
I love this we try and have a neutral coloured lounge and then use accessories to add in colour as it means we can change it as and when we want which is awesome.
Jeanette says
This is exactly what I need! My living room is very neutral and it is very boring. I need to put some color in my living room.
candy says
I was always told the easiest way to add color is with throws and pillows. Plus it is the least expensive way to make a change.
Bianca Dottin says
Throws and pillows are the perfect way! It’s easy to change them throughout the seasons.
Lisa says
Blue isn’t a color I would have thought about before, but I love the way it looks in your living room! I need to add some color to mine also, neutrals are my go-to, but some color is perfect for this time of year.
Gemille Sleweon says
The blue, pink and gold look lovely together. I would’ve never thought to use that color combination!
Stacie says
I love these tips. My favorite part of a neutral room is that it provides the perfect canvas for having some fun with accessories!
Tasheena says
Love your tips! Your space is gorgeous, love the colors you’ve used and how you added the perfect pop of color.
Jaclyn Anne says
Wow, your living room looks amazing! I love the pops of color. My living room is very neutral and could use a color pop as well. I am thinking of trying a coral color throw pillow… I will have to let you know how it goes 🙂
Sherry says
We will be getting a new couch at the end of the month and I will be going with a neutral color as well. I can’t wait to apply your tips for decorating.
Jeni Hawkins says
How pretty! I love the bright pops of color in a neutral room. It really does brighten and livin’ it up! That blue is absolutely stunning, too.
Reesa Lewandowski says
Oh I love the pop of blue! I never thought to do something like that in a neutral space.
Gena says
I LOVE those blue pillows and the giraffe!
Krystel | Travel on a Budget says
I’m a huge fan of neutral colors but you definitely need to add some flavor. I usually go with blue
Jodi says
That is a gorgeous living room! I love how you added the pops of color. That blue pillow is such a pretty shade, and looks perfect with all the other decor.
Kristi says
Love how the pillows change things up so nicely, just a nice pop of color.
Toni | Boulder Locavore says
I love this look! The combination of colors is absolutely gorgeous!
Ricci says
I love neutral furniture with fun pops of color!! Right now I have a black and white theme with pops of turquoise!!
Bianca Dottin says
Black and white is a good choice. You can easily switch things up whenever you want to.
Chubskulit Rose says
I love the colors you chose, they popped! Well done in decorating and oh, I love your sectional!
Bianca Dottin says
Thank you!
Gisele says
My living room needs to be redecorated and these are great tips. I’m also working on doing a “New Orleans” room in my home.
Bianca Dottin says
A New Orleans room sounds like fun!
Jeanine says
Oh my gosh I love all the pops in these photos. So gorgeous and works so well together. Love it! I’m terrible at decorating!
Pam says
I love this neutral room with pops of color. I was thinking of decorating my living room a bit like this, actually.
Bonnie G says
I have been wanting to redecorate. This is a really great post and very helpful with ideas.
Peter says
I love that room. It so elegant and peaceful. I love the way how everything flows
Carol Cassara says
I think you did an amazing job decorating your living room! Adding pops of color can really help. It’s good to have a color palette to follow, it’s going to help you keep track of your progress as well.
kristin says
My house doesn’t get the best light. Its good as it keeps it cooler, but I would love to have a brighter home. I use a lot of mirrors.
Alice Carroll says
I agree when you mentioned that I should start with pillows if I want to improve the color of my living room decor. My walls are colored beige and most of my furniture are wooden there’s much to be done if I want a splash of color in the room. Perhaps going for pastel pink throw pillows will make a good middle ground between bright colors and the rustic feel of my living room.