If any space can convince you to give beige a break, it’s Jimmy Fallon’s Gramercy Park apartment. High above Manhattan in a historic Queen Anne building, his home is anything but restrained.
Designed by his wife, film producer Nancy Juvonen, the colorful living room layers vintage finds with playful tones, including a turquoise sectional, 1940s floral wallpaper, and lime floor coverings. It’s bold, but beautiful enough to convince us to search for more daring living room color ideas.
For anyone used to neutrals, introducing stronger color can feel like a big step. However, interior designer Prudence Bailey says it doesn’t have to be. ‘You don’t have to paint a whole room or buy a bright sofa to bring color into your home,’ she explains.
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Her favorite way to start is with the things that are easy to change: Pillows, artwork, lampshades, flowers, or a throw. Choose a color you already love, she suggests, then bring it into the room a few times. Repetition gives even the brightest shade purpose.
If you’re feeling brave enough, I would start with a blue modular sofa, just like this one at Wayfair. While this one is custom, this option is almost as beautiful.
Shop the Jimmy Fallon-Inspired Edit
Mercer41 Cylar Velvet Modular Sofa
If Jimmy’s sofa caught your eye for its rule-breaking shape, this is a great way to recreate his look. The low-slung silhouette is made for lounging, while grid-tufted upholstery gives the generously proportioned design a smart finish.
Wade Logan Assar Handmade Tufted Rug
I admit that this rug is a bold choice, but its lime hue is a quick way to bring Jimmy’s look into your living room. The hand-tufted texture gives the color a softer edge, making it feel considered rather than overpowering (despite its daring colorway).
Moonfairyco Velvet Pillow Covers
If you love the rich texture of Jimmy’s sectional, a velvet pillow cover is an easy way to bring that same feeling into your space. Soft and subtly luxe, it adds depth to a sofa or armchair while keeping the overall look inviting.
Italian Lacquered Lime Velvet Stool
Designer pieces can be just as bold, and this stool is the perfect example. The vivid lime velvet upholstery makes a Jimmy-approved statement, while its simple black frame gives the color a more mid-century feel.
George Oliver Sputnik Sphere Light
A statement light can bring just as much personality to a room as the furniture, and this Sputnik-style fixture mimics the one in Jimmy’s space. Its sculptural shape adds a playful mid-century touch without being overpowering.
Colorful Figurative Wall Art
As Jimmy’s space reminds us, a bold piece of art can completely change the feeling of a room. This abstract painting brings the same daring feel, with its artistic figures and tactile finish that feels at home in a colorful living room.
It’s also worth remembering that color doesn’t need to match perfectly to work together. ‘There is a big difference between matching and creating flow through color,’ Prudence says.
Some rooms can be subtler than others, while a neighboring space might be more playful. What matters is finding something that connects them, whether that’s a shared color or material. ‘I love when a home feels layered and collected, not overly coordinated.’
For Prudence, the best room color ideas are those that feel as though they were always meant to be there. ‘I don’t want a room to feel like it was designed around a trend. I want the color to feel like it belongs there.’
She looks to the architecture and natural light of a space before deciding where to introduce it, often concentrating a stronger shade on one detail, such as a vanity or piece of furniture, rather than covering an entire room.
This prompts us to rethink how we see ‘overwhelming’ color. You don’t need to go from beige to technicolor overnight. Start with one shade you love, repeat it where it feels natural, and let the rest of the room follow.
Jimmy’s living room may be an especially bold example, but the lesson is simple. A little more color can go a very long way.
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