Home Design / The Cool Colonial

Living Room Makeover: Designing a Colorful Hollywood Regency–Meets–Organic Modern Space

When we moved in, the living room was painted entirely greige, with the ceiling, trim and fireplace painted white. While neutral spaces can be beautiful, they didn’t reflect our style. We’re known for our love of color, personality and quirky design touches. Because the living room is the first room you see when entering the house, I wanted it to set the tone immediately.

Here’s how I transformed the space to reflect the overall concept behind The Cool Colonial, a Hollywood Regency–meets–Organic Modern design style that blends bold and colorful decor with natural materials and organic shapes.

The Design Concept: Hollywood Regency Meets Organic Modern

For the overall design of The Cool Colonial, I’m combining the flamboyance and glamour of Hollywood Regency with the organic forms and natural textures of Organic Modern design.

This approach guides every room in the house. The goal is to create spaces that feel:

• Bold and expressive
• Grounded by natural materials and neutral colors
• Visually layered with color and texture

The living room became the perfect place to introduce this concept.

Layout Challenges and Planning the Living Room

The layout of the living room presented a few design constraints that influenced the final plan.

On one side sits a working fireplace, while the other side is the larger seating area. These two spaces are interrupted by a walkway connecting the front door to the cased opening of the kitchen and dining room.

There were several additional considerations:

• The living room also functions as the entryway
• There’s no built-in spot for keys, coats or shoes
• A radiator and staircase limit furniture placement
• The design needed to complement our berry pink front door

The two most important choices for the living room makeover were selecting a statement sofa and choosing the right paint color for a cohesive color palette to anchor the entire design.

Choosing a Colorful Sectional Sofa

We started with the sofa.

I knew I wanted something that felt unique and sculptural, so I searched for a curved sectional instead of a traditional L-shape. The sofa also needed to meet practical requirements of being available in a variety of color options and being a sleeper sofa.

After testing several fabric swatches for both color and texture, we chose a Kelly green curved sectional from Dream Sofa with a pull-out, queen-sized bed. The color immediately brought life and personality into the room.

Finding the Perfect Paint Color

While we waited for the sofa to arrive, I began testing paint colors that would work with both the green sofa and the pink front door. I wanted a color that would:

• Add drama and warmth
• Highlight the natural light from the windows
• Complement bold furniture without overwhelming it

The final choice was Tidewater by HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams*. Because blue and green are analogous colors, Tidewater’s subtle green undertone works beautifully with the Kelly green sofa while still allowing the sofa to remain the focal point.

To create a more dramatic and cohesive look, I chose to paint the walls, ceiling, and crown molding the same color. I left the window and door trim and the baseboard the white they were already painted for some contrast. Instead of changing colors, I used different paint sheens to create visual depth:

• Flat finish on the ceiling to help it recede
• Satin finish on the walls for soft reflection
• Semi-gloss on the crown molding to highlight architectural details

This subtle shift in sheen creates dimension without introducing additional colors.

Painting the Fireplace for Contrast

Once the sofa arrived and we had time to live with the room’s new palette, it became clear that the fireplace needed its own moment. We chose Naval by HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams, a rich navy blue. The darker color helps:

• Ground the room visually
• Balance the green sectional
• Complement the berry pink front door
• Add depth against the lighter Tidewater walls

The result is a layered palette that feels bold yet cohesive.

Adding Organic Shapes and Cozy Materials

Because the space in front of the fireplace is limited, I added a semi-oval off-white rug with an organic shape. Paired with our brown leather Eames-style lounge chair, it creates the perfect spot for cozy afternoons by the fire. For the larger seating area, I chose a taupe rug with a soft, fur-like texture. It’s easily the most comfortable rug I’ve ever stepped on and adds warmth to the room.

The room focuses on repeating colors and organic materials throughout the space. Key pieces include:

• A DIY brass headboard repurposed as wall art
• A DIY wooden console table I built years ago
• A mid-century modern coffee table with brass details
• A wooden Haitian tableau near the fireplace
• A vibrant photograph by Luciano Fileti featuring a bright pink flower

Together, these pieces create a mix of vintage, handmade and modern elements that reinforce the room’s eclectic personality.

Living Room Makeover

This living room makeover transformed a neutral, greige space into a colorful, personality-filled entry point for our home. By blending Hollywood Regency drama with Organic Modern textures, the room now feels welcoming, full of life and comfortable. Most importantly, it sets the tone for the rest of The Cool Colonial.

 

*Disclaimer: HGTV Home by Sherwin-Williams is a client of my PR agency.