Ellen Degeneres' living room has a new take on a neutral scheme that proves these colors will always be on trend

The talk show host's living room boasts an innovative color palette

Ellen Degeneres
(Image credit: Getty Images)

We tend to think of neutrals in two distinct categories: cool neutrals with a blueish undertone and warm neutrals with a reddish undertone, and never the two shall meet. Until now. Ellen Degeneres shared images of her living room which includes a refreshing new take on the use of neutrals in a home. The television show host's home shows that warm neutrals and cool neutrals can seamlessly blend in a space.

Ellen's living room decor is sleek and modern. In the Instagram post sharing her 12 Days at Home Advent Calendar, we can see Ellen's gray velvet sofas with dark wood bones, the black and white painting with a wood frame, and a brown, black, and ivory Persian rug. Gray walls merge seamlessly with the natural wood coffee table and lamp. The natural elements in the space are complemented by mid-century modern lighting.

Interior designers love Ellen's clever living room color scheme. Carlin van Noppen, the head interior designer and founder at Fig Linens and Home states, 'We don't need to be scared of mixing warm and cool neutrals together in the same room. Tones like gray and tan can complement each other well, especially when used in different soft furnishings. These colors together can create an understated, elegance, reminding us of the popular quiet luxury trend.'

carlin van noppen head designer at fig linens and home
Carlin Van Noppen

Carlin Van Noppen is the CEO and head interior designer at Fig Linens and Home. She has over 20 years of experience providing design expertise for beautiful homes, hotels, yachts, and private planes and now manages a boutique that has been named the Best Linen Shop in Connecticut several years in a row.

Jennifer Ebert, Digital Editor at Homes & Gardens states, 'I love the way Ellen has mixed warm and cool colors together in her neutral living room. The gray and tan together help to balance out the undertones of these colors, creating a stylish room with a good rhythm.'

Jennifer Ebert
Jennifer Ebert

Jen is the Editor (Digital) of Homes & Gardens. Before starting this position, she had completed various interior design courses at KLC Design School, as well as working across Ideal Home, LivingEtc, 25 Beautiful Homes and Country Homes & Interiors as an interiors writer.

Carlin van Noppen adds, 'If you are thinking of incorporating this kind of neutral decor, I would recommend mixing textures in the room. Using a combination of soft and smooth, metallic and matte, and sleek and organic materials helps to add depth to the room. This mixture keeps the room from looking overly flat or under-decorated.'


With Ellen's approval, we predict that we'll be seeing a lot more mixing of warm and cool neutrals in the coming year. If you love this look, read more of our quiet luxury living room ideas.

Sophie Edwards
News Editor

I am a London-based News Editor at Homes & Gardens. My interests lie at the intersection of design and popular culture with a particular focus on trends and celebrity homes. Before joining Future, I worked as a Content Writer and Communications Lead for Fig Linens and Home, a luxury linens and home interiors brand based in Fairfield County, CT. I have a BA in Creative Writing from Sarah Lawrence College in New York and an MSc from the Oxford University Department of Anthropology.