skip to main content
Photos
Photos
Kitchen & DiningKitchenDining RoomKitchen/Diner
BathroomBathroomCloakroomEnsuite
LivingLiving RoomGames RoomConservatory
OutdoorGardenBalconyPatio
BedroomBedroomKids' BedroomNursery
Small SpacesSmall KitchenSmall BathroomSmall Garden
More RoomsHallwayStaircaseUtility RoomHome OfficeEntrance HallPantryHouse ExteriorWalk-in WardrobeView All
Stories
Stories From Houzz
Most PopularHouzz ToursKitchensBathroomsMore RoomsGardensRenovatingDecoratingStorage & OrganisationSmall Space LivingTips for ProsView All
Houzz Discussions
Design DilemmaBefore & AfterPollsKitchensBathroomsLiving RoomsGardensRenovatingDIYHome DecoratingSmaller HomesPaint
Houzz Research
Advice
HOUZZ DISCUSSIONS
Design DilemmaBefore & AfterPollsKitchensBathroomsLiving Rooms
GardensRenovatingDIYHome DecoratingSmaller HomesPaint
Sign In
Join as a Pro
History of Houzz
Houzz Logo Print
Decorating
Decorating
How Can I Plan the Perfect Kitchen Storage?
Top Ideabooks
How Can I Plan the Perfect Kitchen Storage?An Expert Guide to Designing Hallway LightingHow to Create a Colourful Yet Calm BedroomAn Expert Guide to Lighting a Bedroom
Appears in
Latest from Houzz
See also
StylingTrendsLightingColourRented HomesSeasonalBudget DecoratorCraft
Colour
Colour
How to Create a Colourful Yet Calm Bedroom
Top Ideabooks
How to Create a Colourful Yet Calm Bedroom6 Ways to Colour Drench Your Living Room6 Ways to Colour Drench Your BedroomHow to Warm Up a Neutral Living Room
Appears in
Decorating
Living Rooms
Living Rooms
9 Ways to Add Character to a New-build Living Room
Top Ideabooks
9 Ways to Add Character to a New-build Living Room6 Ways to Colour Drench Your Living Room7 Design Mistakes You Could Be Making in Your Living RoomAn Expert Guide to Designing Living Room Lighting
Appears in
More Rooms

10 Ways to Use Jewel Tones in Your Living Room

Embrace the trend for bright gemstone hues and find out how these colours can lift your living space

Sophie van Winden
Sophie van Winden29 January, 2017
Houzz Contributors, interior designers and founders of Owl Design, which works primarily in the hospitality and residential sectors. Owl's designs are creative and eclectic with an injection of fun, using texture and colour to make spaces which invite and inspire.
More
Jewels aren’t just for dressing up – their rich tones can add a touch of drama to your interior, too. From sapphire blues to ruby reds and emerald greens, they work on their own or all together, across full walls or on the smallest cushion. Check out these ideas and be inspired to incorporate rich colour into your home.
Period Property Store
Paint your flooring
Coloured flooring is a big trend for 2017 and pretty much any jewel tone would look fantastic underfoot. To achieve a vibrant floor, wash, dry and sand your existing floorboards, then paint with primer followed by a couple of coats of specialist floor paint. To keep them in good condition, clean them weekly and repaint every now and again.

For a more luxurious feel, go for a soft, jewel-bright carpet. Alternatively, a large rug would have the same effect without being as permanent.

Discover more ways to transform your floorboards
Ingrid Rasmussen Photography
Frame with moody greys
Grey is a fantastic backdrop for vibrant colours. The emerald chair, turquoise sofa and citrine ceramics look brilliant in this dramatic living room. Complementary pieces, such as the green and yellow painting, bring the scheme together.
Cathy Phillips & Co
Scatter some cushions
An easy way to start you on your jewel-tone journey is with some cushions. A mix of amethyst, sapphire, ruby and gold velvets brings this minimalist white interior to life.

If you think this mix of colours is too bold a statement, you could pick your favourite jewel tone and have a selection of cushions in that colour instead.
Jessica Buckley Interiors
Mix things up with pattern
Jewel tones don’t have to be solid colours. Mixing patterns in the same shade softens the colour slightly, while adding depth and texture to your room. You can afford to be bold with patterns and mix geometrics with stripes and ikat designs, as long as the colours are from the same family.
Georgina Gibson Interior Design
Bring in a statement sofa
Add a bright shot of colour with a rich velvet sofa. A piece like this works as well in a rustic environment as it does in a more contemporary setting. Make it your statement piece, and allow it to take centre stage by keeping the rest of your furniture neutral.

Find ideas to work around an on-trend blue velvet sofa
Domus Nova
Go for zingy hues
In this cheerful room, the two aquamarine sofas are the focal point, while the yellow, burnt orange and green accents complement them. It’s a bright and cheerful space that lifts the spirits, proving jewels tones don’t always have to be dark.
Owl Design
Add a block of colour
If you want to add some jewel tones to your walls, but are reluctant to cover the whole room, how about a block or bold stripe instead? It’s more interesting than painting one full wall, and not too difficult to change should you tire of it.

Adding another item to the room in the same colour will bring the scheme together. Here, the yellow wall has been complemented by some logs and cushions in a matching hue.
Chris Snook
Contrast with monochromes
Richly toned walls add character and a touch of drama to any room. This deep turquoise works well, as the rest of the scheme has been left neutral.

To add depth to a room with walls in a solid colour, accessorise with mix and match patterns in neutral tones, such as grey, white and black. Here, the geometric monochrome rug works brilliantly without looking too busy.
Hudson Interior Design
Design with your books
You might not even have to buy anything to add jewel tones to your living room. Simply rearranging your books in colour order creates blocks in gemstone hues. It’s the perfect combination of fun and organised.

Look around your home for more opportunities to group objects by colour – you could do the same with ceramics or even your children’s toys.
Domus Nova
Give furniture a boost
Update an old piece of furniture or an area of shelving with a lick of bright paint. It will give new life to the item or zone, and add a focal point to the room. The sapphire bookcase here looks striking and works well with the glass and metallic elements elsewhere in the scheme.

Are you a fan of using jewel tones in your décor? Share your thoughts in the Comments below.
Explore Related Topics
DecoratingColourLiving Rooms
Sponsored

Reload the page to not see this specific ad anymore

  • Ireland
  • ABOUT
  • CAREERS
  • MOBILE APPS
  • PROFESSIONALS
  • BUTTONS
  • ADVERTISE
  • Terms
  • © 2025 Houzz Inc.