When I first mentioned wanting to bring burgundy into our living room, my husband immediately pictured our old college apartment with its maroon futon and wood-paneled walls, and he was not on board.
It took actually showing him a few rooms — a deep burgundy velvet sofa against warm white walls, brass accents catching the light — before he understood that burgundy done right has almost nothing in common with the dated version either of us grew up around.
The color itself isn’t the problem. It’s usually the execution, paired with the wrong materials and too much of it at once.
Burgundy is having a genuine moment in interior design again because it reads as sophisticated and warm rather than loud, especially when it’s balanced against lighter neutrals and the right metal tones.
The key is treating it as a rich accent or anchor piece rather than drenching an entire room in it the way people did decades ago.
Here are 32 ways to bring burgundy into a living room that feel current rather than like a throwback.
1. A Burgundy Velvet Sofa as the Anchor Piece
Pro tip: Keep the rest of the room’s large furniture pieces — rugs, curtains, and any additional seating — in neutral tones so the burgundy sofa has room to stand out instead of competing with other bold colors.
2. Burgundy Accent Wall With White Trim
Painting one wall a deep burgundy, with crisp white trim and baseboards left intact, creates contrast that keeps the color from feeling like it’s swallowing the room.
3. Brass or Gold Accents Paired With Burgundy
Warm metals read significantly better with burgundy than cool-toned silver or chrome — brass lamp bases, gold picture frames, and bronze hardware all deepen the richness of the color scheme.
4. A Neutral Base With Burgundy Throw Pillows
If a full burgundy sofa or wall feels like too much commitment, starting with a neutral sofa and layering in two or three burgundy throw pillows is the lowest-risk way to test the color.
5. Burgundy and Emerald Green as a Jewel-Tone Pairing
Burgundy and deep emerald green are both jewel tones that play off each other beautifully, creating a rich, layered look when used together in pillows, art, or upholstery.
| Element | Pairing Color | Effect |
|---|---|---|
| Burgundy Sofa | Cream or warm white walls | Rich focal point |
| Burgundy Accent Wall | White trim, light wood floors | Grounded, not heavy |
| Burgundy Pillows | Neutral linen sofa | Low-commitment accent |
| Burgundy + Emerald | Brass accents | Jewel-tone layered look |
| Burgundy Rug | Light gray or beige sofa | Grounding, foundation color |
6. A Burgundy Area Rug as the Grounding Element
Rather than starting with furniture, using a burgundy area rug as the foundation of the color scheme lets you build the rest of the room’s neutrals around it.
7. Burgundy Curtains Against Light Walls
Floor-length burgundy curtains against light-colored walls create a dramatic frame for a window without requiring a single piece of burgundy furniture.
8. A Tufted Burgundy Accent Chair
A single tufted accent chair in burgundy velvet adds color and texture as a focal point without the commitment of a full burgundy sofa.
9. Burgundy Paired With Warm Wood Tones
Warm wood furniture — walnut, mahogany, warm oak — pairs naturally with burgundy because both have inherent reddish undertones that complement rather than clash.
10. A Gallery Wall With Burgundy Frame Accents
A gallery wall of mostly neutral-framed art, with one or two pieces framed in burgundy, ties the color scheme together without dominating the wall.
11. Burgundy and Black for a Moody, Dramatic Look
Pairing burgundy with black furniture or accents creates a moodier, more dramatic room, well-suited for a space meant for evening use rather than bright daytime gathering.
12. A Burgundy Ottoman as a Flexible Accent
An ottoman in burgundy velvet or leather gives you a functional piece of furniture that doubles as a bold color moment, and it’s easier to swap out later than a full sofa if your taste changes.
13. Burgundy Leather for a More Masculine, Library-Like Feel
Burgundy leather, rather than velvet, shifts the mood toward a more traditional, study-like aesthetic — think leather armchairs and brass reading lamps.
14. Burgundy Lampshades for a Subtle Pop of Color
Swapping standard neutral lampshades for burgundy ones is a small, easily reversible way to introduce the color into a room’s lighting fixtures.
15. Burgundy and Blush Pink as a Softer Pairing
Pairing burgundy with soft blush pink tones down the drama of the darker color and creates a softer, more romantic overall palette.
16. A Burgundy Velvet Headboard-Style Bench at the Foot of a Sectional
A tufted bench in burgundy velvet, placed at the end of a neutral sectional, functions as extra seating or a coffee table surface while adding a color moment.
17. Burgundy Floral Wallpaper on an Accent Wall
A burgundy-based floral or botanical wallpaper pattern on one wall adds depth and pattern without committing to a completely solid, saturated color block.
18. Mixing Burgundy With Mustard Yellow
Burgundy and mustard yellow, both warm and rich, create an autumnal, cozy color pairing that works especially well in a room with a lot of natural light.
19. Burgundy Bookshelves or Built-Ins
Painting built-in bookshelves or cabinetry in burgundy, rather than the walls, contains the color to a specific architectural feature and adds depth to the room.
20. A Burgundy and Cream Striped Rug
A striped rug in burgundy and cream introduces the color in a pattern that reads more casual and transitional than a solid burgundy rug would.
21. Burgundy Velvet Throw Blankets Draped Over Neutral Furniture
Simply draping a burgundy throw blanket over the arm of a neutral sofa or chair is one of the easiest, lowest-cost ways to test the color before committing to anything larger.
22. Burgundy Paired With Navy for a Deep, Layered Palette
Burgundy and navy together create a deep, rich, almost regal color story that works particularly well in a room with limited natural light, where you want to lean into coziness rather than brightness.
23. A Burgundy Console Table
A console table in a burgundy-stained or painted wood finish, placed behind a sofa or along a wall, introduces the color through furniture rather than fabric or paint.
24. Burgundy Vases and Ceramics as Decor Accents
Small decorative pieces — vases, bowls, candle holders — in burgundy ceramic or glass let you sprinkle the color throughout a room’s shelving and surfaces without a major commitment.
25. Burgundy and Sage Green for an Earthy Pairing
Burgundy paired with sage or olive green creates an earthy, grounded palette that feels less formal than the burgundy-and-navy combination and works well in a more casual living room.
26. A Burgundy Accent Door
Painting a single interior door leading into or out of the living room in burgundy is an unexpected, architectural way to introduce the color at a smaller scale than a full wall.
27. Burgundy Velvet Pillows on a Black Leather Sofa
If you already own a black leather sofa, burgundy velvet pillows add warmth and softness to what can otherwise feel like a cold, hard surface.
28. A Burgundy Statement Light Fixture
A pendant light or chandelier with burgundy glass or fabric shades introduces the color from above, drawing the eye upward and adding dimension to the room’s color story.
29. Burgundy Paired With Terracotta for a Warm, Southwestern-Leaning Palette
Burgundy and terracotta together lean into warm, earthy tones that work especially well in a room with a lot of natural wood and plant life.
30. A Burgundy Velvet Pouf as Flexible Extra Seating
A small burgundy pouf, easily moved and stored, adds a flexible pop of color and extra seating for when the room needs to accommodate more people than usual.
31. Burgundy Curtains Paired With Sheer White Underneath
Layering sheer white curtains under heavier burgundy drapes gives you flexibility in light control while keeping the dramatic color statement at the window.
32. A Burgundy Piano or Statement Furniture Piece
If the room already has a large statement piece like a piano, finishing it in a burgundy stain or paint turns a purely functional object into a central design feature.
FAQs
Does burgundy make a room feel smaller or darker?
Used as an accent — a wall, a piece of furniture, or textiles — burgundy doesn’t meaningfully shrink a room’s perceived size. Used across every surface without balancing neutrals, it can feel heavy, especially in a room with limited natural light.
What wall color pairs best with burgundy furniture?
Warm white, soft cream, or light greige walls let a burgundy sofa or accent chair stand out as the room’s focal point without competing for attention.
Is burgundy a dated color for a living room?
Burgundy itself isn’t dated — the heavy, maroon-everything look from past decades is what reads as dated. Used as a rich accent against lighter neutrals and warm metals, it reads as current and sophisticated rather than retro.
If I had to pick the single change that actually convinced my husband, it was the brass accents. Once we added a brass floor lamp and swapped our picture frames to a warm gold finish, the burgundy stopped reading as “that old apartment” and started reading as the rich, intentional color choice it was supposed to be all along.
Hi, I’m Ashley Miller, a wife, a busy mom, and someone who loves to share all the things that make life a little more fun and beautiful.
From easy DIY projects, delicious recipes, and chic hairstyles to nail ideas and home decor tips, I share everything I’ve learned and love.
My goal is to inspire other women to explore their creativity and make their homes even more special.
