Palette · Living Room

Emerald & Gold Living Room Color Scheme

A jewel-tone living room built on deep emerald walls, warmed with soft ivory trim and an antique gold accent. Every shade is matched to real paint you can buy.

By Jessica Williams · Color Stylist & Interior Editor
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Start with Rich Emerald on the walls and the whole living room feels deeper and a little dramatic in the best way. This is a saturated, velvety green that wraps the space and makes it cozy after dark, when lamplight catches it. It loves a room where you want to settle in, so it suits a living room you actually live in rather than one you just pass through. Give it a few good light sources and it reads as rich, not heavy.

To keep that depth from closing in, edge everything in Soft Ivory. On the trim, baseboards, and any built-ins it draws a clean, warm outline that lets the green breathe and feels far softer than a stark white. Then bring in Antique Gold as your accent, the part that makes the whole scheme feel luxe. Use it on small things that catch the eye, a mirror frame, picture rails, or a single piece of furniture. In short: emerald on the walls, ivory framing the edges, gold in the details you want people to notice.

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Every Color, Matched to Real Paint

Each color matched to the closest paint in every brand we track, by ΔE2000. Tap a swatch for its full guide. Take any code to the store, they mix on demand.

Questions people actually ask

Questions

Will deep emerald walls make my living room feel too dark?

Not if you light it well. Emerald is a saturated green, so it does soak up some light, but with a couple of lamps and good daylight it reads as rich and cozy rather than gloomy. The ivory trim around the edges also keeps it from feeling closed in.

How much gold should I actually use in this room?

Keep it small. Gold is the accent here, so a mirror frame, a lamp, picture rails, or one piece of furniture is plenty. A little goes a long way and stops the room from tipping into too much shine.

What sheen works best for emerald living room walls?

A matte or eggshell finish suits this deep green best. It keeps the color looking velvety and hides little wall imperfections, while the trim can go a step glossier in satin to frame the room.