Purple room

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2. Ask Yourself 2 Questions
You may have the perfect color in mind for your living room, but there are two factors that can impact which shade you choose: (1) when you'll be using the room the most; and, (2) what mood you want to create. "If you know you want a lively dining room with lots of activity, you might want warmer, more stimulating colors," says Sharon Grech, a Benjamin Moore color expert. Someone who uses the space primarily for brunches and lazy weekend meals might favor light, bright wake-me-up colors; whereas someone who tends to host evening dinner parties might find deeper, darker tones more suitable.

Photo: Roger Davies/Dazzling Design (Abrams)