If you’re stumped on how to craft a stylish space, see our roundup of 20 standout living room ideas. You’re sure to find the perfect design idea to revamp your home.
Much like the kitchen, the living room is the heart of the home. It’s where you enjoy family movie nights, unwind with a good book, or even help your kids tackle their homework assignments. Since it’s used in so many different ways, it’s important for your living room to be outfitted with the right furniture, including a comfortable sofa, and decorative pieces. It also presents the opportunity to show off your design aesthetic.
Here’s a list of amazing living room decor ideas:
1. Rustic Flair
Wooden beams and decorative pieces can add texture and play up a living room’s rustic flair.
2. Collected Look
An all-white living room doesn’t have to be boring. Achieve a collected look by displaying potted greenery, decorative trays, and an assortment of vessels on your mantel.
3. Colorful Light Fixture
Refresh an unsightly light fixture with a few simple coats of paint, round bulbs, and pom-pom fringe for a whimsical touch. Bold colors overhead pull together the room’s eclectic vibe.
4. Streamlined Shelves
Upgrade your storage by removing the jackets off old books (you can load up at yard sales) to expose the stitching or covering your collection with coordinating papers.
5. Tilted Mirror
For a relaxed mantel look, rest a sturdy style against the wall – no hammering required.
6. Lush Leaves
Fill any underused nook or corner with an oversized plant to make it the focal point of the room. Tuck the pot in a woven basket for an extra punch.
7. Painted Brick
Update an old-school brick fireplace (or wood paneling) with a coat of cream-colored paint. Take that, ’70s-era decor.
8. Soothing Palette
Let the vibes flow from room to room with another clever paint tip. “I often paint a home one color throughout,” says Susana Simonpietri, interior designer and cofounder of Chango & Co. “Or, I’ll try the softest hue in the room that gets the most natural light, then work through the rest of the home with deepening shades of blue and gray.”
9. Slate and Copper
Pair metallic accents (we see you, adorable end table) with traditional wood pieces to add depth and visual interest to your living room.
10. Streamlined Screen
Don’t let your primetime viewing habits impede your style. “Go for a slim TV (mine is a Samsung), and use a thin mount that lets it sit flat against the wall,” says lifestyle blogger Carley Knobloch. “Then have the wires threaded through the wall so it looks uncluttered.”
11. Dual-Purpose Bar Cart
Setting up a booze station on your bar cart is a no-brainer — but using it as an end table (especially when space is limited) to showcase blooms, art, and coffee table books is just brilliant.
12. Navy Walls
Give beige a break. Dramatic hues can drench a large living room, like this inky wallpaper. The deep blue provides a surprisingly neutral backdrop.
13. Chic Storage
Need space, stat? Swap boring shelving for more decorative options, then load up on fabric boxes or baskets to hide an overflow of knick-knacks.
14. Family-Friendly
Yep, white furniture can work in a house with kids. Just choose durable fabrics (a leather couch) and surfaces (the plastic rocker, the lacquer table) that wipe clean easily.
15. Fast Fixes
Makeover a room by rethinking the pieces you already have. Use up leftover wall paint on the frame of an old chair or refresh curtains and pillows by sewing fancy trim along the edge.
16. Sheer Curtains
The quickest way to let light in starts at the source. Replace heavy fabric curtains with gauzy ones, making sure the panels go all the way to the floor. To accentuate a tall ceiling, mount the drapes about a foot above windows and doors.
17. Second Surface
Change up tired decor with this quick DIY. Add old wood planks to a coffee table as a bonus shelf. And skip painting — the weathered finish has more character.
18. Easy Access
An open floor plan like in this Connecticut cottage creates one large space for entertaining. Two columns (garage-sale finds from years ago) stand at the corners of the kitchen, anchoring the room.
19. Sneaky Furniture
Steal a space-faking secret from this tiny Brooklyn apartment. Choose a few full-size furniture pieces instead of cramming in lots of smaller ones. The living room will feel larger, and you’ll have a sofa you actually like to sit on.
20. Natural Textures
This Connecticut farmhouse nails country style. Underused neutrals rust and charcoal echo throughout with woodsy elements like oak, cedar, stone, and leather.
