Your living room is the heart of your home, witnessing endless foot traffic and serving as a communal hub for family gatherings and entertaining guests. Whether you practically live in it or welcome visitors often, your living space should evoke joy every time you enter. If your love for your living room is waning or you've simply been tolerating your decor, we've gathered a plethora of ideas bound to reignite your passion.
Design trends may come and go, yet they offer valuable insights into our decorating preferences and can revive timeless design concepts like the enduring appeal of stripes. With our array of resources, ranging from choosing paint colors to sprucing up ceilings, you're equipped for any project. But before delving into specifics, peruse our curated list below for a dose of general living room decor inspiration. Whether you're exploring modern aesthetics or minimalist designs, our designer-approved ideas and decorating tips are sure to captivate your imagination.
1. Choose Pastel Paint:
A pastel paint job isn't exactly revolutionary, but it's a great way to add some color to your space if you're a bit nervous to add too much. It's also a great color option when the rest of your items are extremely bold, like in this living room by Melissa Colgan. The lavender helps to balance the colors of all these books.
2. Stick to a Color Palette:
If you're struggling to figure out what your aesthetic is, start with a color palette and go from there. In this jewel-toned sitting room by Fran Keenan, a traditional, eclectic design style emerges from the colors in the space.
3. Show Off Your Special Interests:
If you're a huge fan of animals, find decor that fits your interests and use it to decorate your living room, as Tom Scheerer did in this Florida den. The designer found woven animal heads made of straw in France and just knew that his clients, a family with two equestrian daughters, would love them.
4. Hide the Ugly Bits:
There are some parts of a house that simply aren't aesthetically pleasing, but you can do your best to make them so by thinking outside the box and covering them up in unique ways or decorating on top of them. Take a note from our 2023 Whole Home, specifically from Rasheeda Gray, and cover a less-than-pretty radiator with a custom window seat.
5. Decorate for Sensory Sensitivity:
Choose calming colors, soft lights, pleasant textiles, and soothing scents when planning how your living room will be experienced, especially if there's someone in your life with sensory sensitivity. While this living room by Studio Plow wasn't designed with someone who has a sensory processing disorder in mind, it's a good visual example of how plush furniture, mellow colors, and soft textures can look elegant together.
6. Take Inspiration from History:
You can do more than admire historical decorating styles from afar. Choose your favorite time period, and remake your living room in that style. It's your home—you can do what you want! For the 2023 Whole Home, Caitlin Wilson took inspiration from Downton Abbey. Sure, the family in the television show is fictional, but the time period was not.
7. Take a Modern Approach:
Curved couches, statement accent chairs, and oversized mirrors add up to a modern living room—even if it's in a 1920s-era San Francisco townhouse. Brit Epperson of Studio Plow remade this home, which had recently been renovated with more traditional materials, to suit her clients' contemporary aesthetic by filling it with undeniably modern furnishings.
8. Add Bohemian Accents:
Add an accessory with boho vibes, like a tasseled chandelier, to make your living room more playful and cozier. Cortney Bishop wanted to make this new build feel lived-in and give it a sense of place by incorporating natural materials and tones. This soft light fixture is a beautiful way to bring in natural yet modern energy.
9. Paint the Fireplace:
If you're not a fan of the color of your fireplace, simply painting it a different color can transform your living room. Amanda Jacobs had this red brick fireplace painted white to make the beautiful woodwork stand out even more.
10. Choose a Scandi Aesthetic:
If you want a living room with clean lines that's still cozy to lounge in, start researching Scandinavian design. Brian Paquette's goal was to give his clients a living room "they could sink into," he says. To do that and please the fans of Nordic design, he chose warm patterns, light woods like oak, crisp whites, and varied textures.
11. Use Neutrals:
Textures are the secret to giving a soft white living room a refresh. Take it from Sharon Rembaum, who dressed this living room in textured neutral pieces to boost its overall coziness.
14. Reach for the Sky:
This magnificent double-height living room, crafted by Liz Hoekzema, boasts a chimney treated with hand-applied limewash, infusing it with warmth and texture. "We adore the wabi-sabi casualness it brings, especially against the opulence of the soapstone fireplace surround," remarks Hoekzema.
15. Deepen the Palette
For a living room exuding a sultry and enigmatic aura, eschew bright hues. Take inspiration from this gem of a space by Rupp Studio, blending olive limewash walls, a terra-cotta velvet sofa, and captivating teal accents.
16. Introduce Unique Seating
A versatile classic, a nap bench can elevate the style of your living space twofold. Here, Zoë Feldman employs a Serena & Lily rattan piece to divide the expansive living area of the 2022 Whole Home without obstructing the sculptural window. A cushion upholstered in Sanderson fabric lends it a bespoke touch.
17. Strike a Chord with the Piano
Sometimes, your beloved piano can feel like the elephant in the room due to its size. Instead of relegating it to the basement, grant a grand piano the spotlight it deserves. Corals, grays, and brass tones harmonize beautifully in this living room by Mona Hajj, infusing it with a dynamic yet approachable color scheme.
18. Craft a Home Bar
Maximize the potential of your living room with a home bar stocked with your favorites. John Fondas transforms a shallow closet into a discreet bar nook with ample wall storage by removing the doors and integrating cabinets and shelves. The nautical and aquatic motifs are perfect for a Palm Beach party house.
19. Revitalize with Accent Paint
Embrace the allure of dark blue-green hues in this living room corner by Avery Cox. Its stylish demeanor holds its ground against the lush chartreuse velvet fabric and eclectic prints. Cox opts to paint only one wall, along with the door and moldings, allowing for complementary wallpaper on the opposite side.
20. Spin Some Records
Victoria Sass of Project Refuge Studio subtly incorporates a record player into the corner of this texture-rich, minimalist living room. Adjacent to the kitchen, the side of the island facing the sitting area features ample exposed shelving for an extensive record collection.
21. Showcase Your Library
There's an undeniable charm in a wealth of books that adds a personal touch to any room. Whether you collect used books or inherit them, display them on open shelves to let them shine. In this living room by Oliver Thornton, they infuse character and complement the layered warmth of the furnishings.
22. Enrich Walls with Wood
Nicole Dohmen opts for hardwood floors in a Hungarian point pattern in this living room, a complex and classic parquet design that surprisingly complements modern furniture and geometric patterns. Additionally, Dohmen applies wood panels to the walls for added warmth.
23. Balance Hard and Soft Elements
If your living room features hardwood or tile flooring and abundant glass surfaces like this one by Caroline Turner, soften the space with sumptuous seating and rich materials like velvet in jewel tones. A statement light fixture can also foster intimacy.
24. Elevate the Backyard Vista
Collaborating with landscape architect Lila Fendrick, Nestor Santa-Cruz selects a wall of steel-and-glass windows and doors for this formal pool house living room, seamlessly connecting it to the backyard. The glass elements, from the pendant light to the coffee table and doors, exude sophistication, while the plush rug and ethereal curtains add softness.
25. Embrace Nostalgia
Celebrate bygone trends and hand-me-down furniture, like the chaise in this nostalgic yet contemporary living room by Amity Worrel. Worrel juxtaposes classic florals, gingham, and plaids with modern accents and artwork, breathing new life into the prints.
26. Navigate Design Restrictions
When faced with design restrictions like the "no wallpaper" rule in this New York City apartment, Celerie Kemble devises a workaround. Kemble applies a light shade of pink paint in a plaster-like finish, simulating the texture of wallpaper.
27. Marriage of Clean Lines and Casual Materials
In Devin Kirk's Chicago living room at Jayson Home, blue-gray walls provide a refined backdrop for clean-lined furniture, including woven chairs and a light wood side table. The tree stump coffee table fosters a relaxed ambiance, striking the perfect balance between approachable and formal.
28. Integrate Playful Foliage
Infuse your living room with nods to nature through whimsical indoor plants and trees. Elizabeth Cooper introduces a lush citrus tree in the corner for an extra burst of life and color, complemented by staggered topiaries on the windowsill.
29. Define Spaces with Area Rugs
Adjacent to the open kitchen, this sitting room by Regan Baker is visually separated with a custom sectional and area rug, establishing a distinct yet cohesive space. A sleek armchair positioned at a diagonal adds to the balanced arrangement.
30. Infuse Personality with Textured Neutrals
A quirky indoor tree serves as a delightful surprise in this polished and cosmopolitan living room by Shawn Henderson. Opting for a cooler gray neutral instead of a classic white or warm off-white paint color complements the subtle tones throughout the room, allowing the texture-rich accents to take center stage.
31. Extend Your Living Space Outdoors
This Maui vacation home, masterfully designed by Breeze Giannasio Interiors, seamlessly integrates indoor and outdoor living. Connected by a sliding door that vanishes when open, the open-air terrace and indoor living room become one harmonious space. Coordinated materials, colors, and fabrics ensure a seamless visual flow between the two areas.
32. Elevate Your Living Space with Texture
In a generic rental or cozy small space, take inspiration from architect and designer David Frazier's New York City living room. Despite its size, this space showcases clever tricks that add dimension to simple architecture. Vibrant marigold accents complement warm antique wood pieces, breaking up a monochromatic color scheme. A large rice paper pendant keeps the atmosphere relaxed and family-friendly, while a gallery wall, indoor plant, and ceiling-high curtain rod add depth.
33. Get Creative with Your Coffee Table
Ditch the traditional stack of books on your coffee table and opt for something subtly quirky and unique instead. Romanek Design Studio offers a fresh approach by covering the surface with a collection of classic pots and planters, creating visual interest and impact.
34. Embrace Low Seating Options
In smaller spaces, consider incorporating low-profile seating options like daybeds, settees, or window seats. This approach, seen in Courtney McLeod's bold living room, adds extra seating without interrupting the visual flow of the space, keeping it feeling open and inviting.
35. Redefine Neutrals with Splashes of Color
If you prefer experimental pieces and tasteful pops of color over bold patterns, take cues from this living room design. Anchor pieces like sofas and tables remain neutral, while throws, artwork, and lamps introduce subtle splashes of color—think marigold, red, navy, and green—for added interest and personality.
36. Create a Stylish Home Bar
Transform your living room into a chic entertaining space with a designated home bar. Carmel Greer's design features a modern, angular aesthetic with a built-in niche optimized for bar essentials, while another niche stores firewood. The addition of a mirrored wall within the bar niche adds sophistication and reflects light, giving the room a swanky nightclub vibe.
37. Add Unexpected Elements for Visual Interest
Heather Hilliard's design demonstrates how classic elements can be enhanced with unexpected touches. While traditional elements like blue grasscloth wallpaper and floor lamps set a traditional stage, the inclusion of a floral sofa and neon Lucite coffee table adds a contemporary twist, infusing the space with personality and style.
38. Add Texture to Your Walls for Depth and Warmth
To achieve the soft look and feel of upholstered walls without a major renovation, consider using fabric-effect wallpaper or grasscloth. Gail Davis Design demonstrates how these textured wall coverings can beautifully complement warm leather and brass pieces while providing visual interest. In this design, the addition of blue painted accents further enhances the room's ambiance by cooling things off.
39. Branch Away From Neutrals for a Unique Look
Redmond Aldrich Design showcases a living room that effortlessly blends uniqueness with versatility, colorfulness with understated elegance. The eclectic mix of frames, light wood-paneled walls, classic carpet, and colorful sofa creates a dynamic and inviting space. For those who typically stick to neutrals but crave a touch of color, consider introducing hues like dusty rose, forest green, or navy—they're the new neutrals that add personality without overwhelming the space.
40. Make a Statement with Statement Lighting
Elevate your living room's ambiance with eye-catching lighting that adds a touch of glamour without overpowering the space. Studio DB's design illustrates how a striking metallic accent light fixture can instantly transform the room, making it feel special and inviting, even in smaller spaces.
41. Hang Modern Art to Define Your Style
Transform your minimalist living room with bold statement pieces of wall art. Abstract photography, like the piece featured in this design, can set the tone for the room's aesthetic and serve as a focal point. Use the colors from the artwork to guide your choice of throw pillows, creating cohesion and visual interest.
42. Consider Your Surroundings for Cozy Comfort
Studio Razavi's modern mountain home strikes a balance between classic cabin aesthetics and contemporary design elements. By incorporating plush textures, like a sheepskin throw and a soft rug, alongside modern furniture and neutral colors, this living room exudes warmth, comfort, and style, creating a calming and inviting environment.
43. Spruce Up Your Fireplace for Artful Impact
Tiling your fireplace can add a customized touch to your living room, reminiscent of kitchen backsplashes. Leanne Ford's design demonstrates how this approach adds an artful element to the space without overwhelming it, especially when opting for neutral or black-and-white tiles.
44. Mix and Match Patterns for Visual Interest
Apartment Therapy founder Maxwell Ryan showcases expert pattern mixing in his living room design. By sticking to a tonal blue scheme and incorporating various patterns, such as those seen on the couch and rug, the space feels cohesive yet visually dynamic. Mixing patterns adds depth and personality to the room's decor.
45. Take Advantage of All Usable Space for Functionality
Corey Damen Jenkins optimizes all usable space in this formal living room by incorporating luxe touches and practical elements like built-in seating between the fireplace and window niche. This approach maximizes functionality without compromising on style, creating a glamorous yet inviting space.
How to Create Room Designs for Free?
Use our AI interior designing platform DreamDen for interior revamp.
1. Share your space photos.
2. DreamDen offers designs across trending styles—contemporary, traditional, and minimalistic. Our process is quick, convenient, and tailored.
3. Once your moodboard is done, receive a task checklist.
4. Choose products and services; your details are instantly shared with relevant vendors nationwide.
5. Our aim: help you plan your home within hours.
6. Our app ensures real-time notifications to vendors.
7. Get tailored product suggestions based on your design board.
8. Design your dream home stress-free and swiftly within hours.
FAQs
· What is the significance of these inspiring room designs? These room designs serve as a source of inspiration for revitalizing your living space. They offer creative ideas and design concepts to help you transform your living room into a more functional, aesthetically pleasing, and enjoyable space.
· How can these room designs help in revitalizing my living space? By providing a diverse range of design ideas and decorating tips, these room designs offer practical solutions to common design challenges. Whether you're looking to update your decor, optimize space utilization, or enhance the ambiance of your living room, these designs can spark creativity and guide you through the process.
· Can I implement these design ideas in my own living room? Absolutely! These room designs are meant to be adaptable and can be tailored to suit your personal style, preferences, and budget. Whether you prefer modern aesthetics, minimalist designs, or eclectic decor, you can draw inspiration from these designs to create a living room that reflects your individual taste and personality.
· Are these room designs suitable for different styles and preferences? Yes, these room designs cover a wide range of design styles, from contemporary and traditional to bohemian and Scandinavian. Whether you're drawn to bold patterns, soothing neutrals, or vibrant colors, you'll find design ideas that align with your unique style and preferences.
· How do I determine which design concept works best for my living room? Consider factors such as the size and layout of your living room, existing decor elements, and your personal preferences when selecting a design concept. Experiment with different ideas, and choose the ones that resonate with you and complement the overall aesthetic of your space.
· Can I mix and match different design ideas from the list? Absolutely! Feel free to mix and match different design ideas to create a customized look for your living room. Combine elements from various designs to create a unique and eclectic space that reflects your individual style and personality.
· Are there any budget-friendly options among these design suggestions? Yes, many of these design ideas offer budget-friendly solutions that allow you to refresh your living room without breaking the bank. Look for DIY projects, thrifted decor items, and affordable furniture options to achieve the desired look within your budget.
· How do I ensure that the chosen design aligns with the existing decor of my living room? Take into account the existing decor elements, such as furniture, color palette, and accessories, when selecting a design concept. Choose design ideas that complement the existing decor and enhance the overall aesthetic of your living room.
· Can these design ideas be customized to accommodate specific needs or preferences? Yes, these design ideas can be customized to accommodate specific needs, preferences, and lifestyle requirements. Whether you need to optimize space for entertaining guests, create a cozy reading nook, or accommodate pets and children, these designs can be adapted to suit your individual needs.
· Are there any professional services available to assist in implementing these design concepts? Yes, if you need assistance in implementing these design concepts, you can enlist the help of professional interior designers or decorators. They can provide expert advice, create customized design plans, and oversee the execution of the project to ensure that your vision is brought to life seamlessly.