Decorate sitting room
85 Beautiful Living Room Ideas with Attractive Decor Choices
Lincoln Barbour
Whether you barely have room for a loveseat or regularly host dozens for movie night, the living room is one of the hardest-working spaces in your home. It's where you sit down with family, host guests, read a book and more, so it's only natural that you'd want it to be as comfortable and inviting as possible. That's why this collection of fresh living room ideas will come in handy as you decorate.
No matter your decorating style — from midcentury to farmhouse, modern to minimal — we have you covered. After choosing the best paint colors for the space (it's okay to pick a trendy paint hue too!), you can revamp the area with a wide range of architectural features and smart decorating choices. Add exposed wood beams to high ceilings, build custom shelves for color-coded books, or make the fireplace your focal point with brick or stone. You'll also find inspiration for decorating with statement rugs, which can define areas within a room and add a pop of color to an overly neutral layout.
Overall, these living room ideas are budget-friendly and easy to recreate on your own. And since decorating is all about having fun, we've peppered in some of the top interior design trends of the year that can do wonders for a living room.
Aimée Mazzenga
1 of 86
Vintage-Inspired Gallery Wall
A living room is the perfect place to show off vintage finds and unique family heirlooms that have been collected over time. Make your arrangement of paintings and curios stand out even more by going for a dark-colored backdrop. Designer Alexandra Kaehler chose a deep green shade for this basement clubhouse.
SHOP BENJAMIN MOORE'S ESSEX GREEN
Phil Crozier
2 of 86
Classic Navy Blue and White
Go for a timeless blend of white and navy hues to pull a living room together. Here, Reena Sotropa In House Design Group paired elegant navy seating with crisp white walls and patterned curtains for contrast.
Bless'er House
3 of 86
Picture Frame TV
What's more unique than a TV that doubles as decor? Swapping your old television for a Samsung Frame TV allows you to display stunning artwork on screen.
Plus, it's easy to replace images to keep them on theme with the room's ever-changing design.
Follow Bless'er House for more »
Brittany Ambridge/OTTO
4 of 86
Tray Ceiling
Don't forget the "fifth" wall! This New York City apartment, crafted by Kati Curtis Design, features a tray ceiling that beautifully accentuates the Sputnik globe chandelier and adds depth to the layout. What's more, the mix of light and dark hues create a striking 3D effect.
SHOP CHANDELIER
Sinan Tuncay
5 of 86
Color-Coded Wall Bookcase
If you have an ever-growing book collection, put it on full display! The best spot? Framing the television. Arditi Design added a navy blue custom bookcase to this inviting living room. The color-coded books and matching accessories make it the room's focal point.
Sara Essex Bradley
6 of 86
Dynamic Patterns
Don't be afraid to make a living room pop with dynamic patterns and colors.
This lively setup feels like a work of art, thanks to the graphic green and yellow wallpaper, cane storage cabinet, floral upholstered chairs and that chandelier!
Benjamin Moore
7 of 86
Add Comfort with a Daybed
Making the most of every inch is key for designing smaller spaces. A built-in daybed — complete with drawers — creates extra seating with a view, along with a place to read and lounge in style.
SHOP BENJAMIN MOORE'S MAN ON THE MOON
Jill Weller
8 of 86
Design a Cheerful Playroom
Alice Arterberry and Barrett Cooke of Arterberry Cooke Architecture designed this living room in an airy Pasadena, CA, pool house. The hints of yellow, alongside white tones, add a dose of cheer to the design scheme.
Laurie Kilgore Photography
9 of 86
Elevate With Green
Greenery never fails to bring a room to life. Designed by Stephanie Stroud Interiors, this stylish setup features a dark grass color, which charmingly highlights the gold decor and light furniture in the room.
Troy Thies
10 of 86
Rotating Bookshelf
Can't decide where to put your TV and bookshelves? Martha O'Hara Interiors designed this white space with a custom rotating cabinet that holds the screen as well as shelving for decorative finds. It's a brilliant arrangement for switching up the living room's theme from season to season.
Stephen Karlisch
11 of 86
Green and White Stripes
Unsure of how to spruce up your living room walls? Give them a cool yet eye-catching contrast with green and white stripes. Tori Rubinson Interiors amped up the coastal vibe by choosing framed nautical art, paired with woven lighting and storage baskets.
One Kings Lane
12 of 86
Shades of Red
If you love the color red, but you can't choose which design will suit the walls, rug or overall look, don't stick to one pattern. Pick a red-and-white striped rug and use red-flowered wallpaper to complement the look.
Justin Krug
13 of 86
Luxe Aesthetic
This beautiful living room features hardwood floors, a luxurious fireplace and a large set of windows with views of lush greenery.
Implement some of these style elements to give your area a timeless feel.
Paul Versluis
14 of 86
Entertainment Section
Similar to how designer Tamara Day styled this sitting area, you can add bean bags instead of regular seating to turn the space into the perfect game room or entertainment setting for kids and guests.
SHOP BEAN BAGS
Stacy Zarin Goldberg
15 of 86
Rattan Hanging Chair
Adding a rattan hanging chair is a functional, unexpected addition to an interior. Hang one in any corner of the room where you or guests can casually lounge or read.
SHOP HANGING RATTAN CHAIR
Hulya Kolabas
16 of 86
Rustic-Modern
Transform your area with a rustic-modern appeal using wood beam ceilings, a stone fireplace and crisp white slipcovered furniture.
Eric Piasecki/Otto
17 of 86
Match Walls to Furniture
Whether you want to create a moody, bright or minimalist feel in your living room, match the color of the walls to your furniture.
This will pull the room together in a seamless and unique way.
Rachel Whiting
18 of 86
Green Couch
When in doubt, choose the color you love the most and use it everywhere, from your furniture to your window treatments.
Silke Zander Getty Images/Picture Press RM
19 of 86
Pretty in Pink
Pink is said to symbolize love. Bring a light and loving atmosphere that your guests will enjoy with pink furniture and walls. Use a lighter shade for the walls and a darker hue for the couches, stools and tables.
Mike Garten
20 of 86
Statement Fireplace
Make the fireplace your focal point by opting for one made of stone or brick. Keep the walls white and choose brown leather furniture to complement the room's semi-rustic feel.
Rikki Snyder
21 of 86
3D Wall Design
Designer Maryline Damour of Damour Drake collaborated with fiber artist Sienna Martz to give this living room a calm and forest-green atmosphere using a 3D leaf installation.
Recreate the sense of greenery or design an installation that would better match your personality or room's aesthetic.
Peter Molick
22 of 86
Cool Gray
Thanks to designer Maureen Stevens, the airy living room in this 1920s Victorian home is full of style. The space features Benjamin Moore’s Gray Owl, which balances the century-old bright white trim and coffered ceiling.
Beatriz da Costa
23 of 86
Versatile End Tables
Searching for a way to boost your living room's functionality? Not only can end tables be easily moved around the space, but you can also use them as a work surface or spot for kids to tackle homework. When they're not in use, place books or flowers on top as you would with traditional coffee tables.
SHOP END TABLES
Randy O'Rourke
24 of 86
Built-in Bookshelves
If you don't have a dedicated library, installing built-in bookshelves right in your living room is the next best thing. Keep a rolling ladder handy to make it easy to access the higher shelves.
Michele Lee Willson
25 of 86
Multipurpose Space
When it came to designing this living room, interior designer Heather Hilliard opted for a multipurpose approach. This space is suitable for tackling work, eating, lounging, you name it.
SHOP OTTOMANS
August Oliver
26 of 86
Classic Black-and-White
Lifestyle influencer Anna Mae Groves' Cincinnati home leaned into a timeless black-and-white palette for her living room, complete with DIY geometric wall art.
Jessica Delaney
27 of 86
Graphic Walls
Speckled wallpaper, paired with an emerald velvet sofa, enlivens this living room setup by New York City-based designer Megan Hopp.
SHOP WALLPAPER
Brie Williams
28 of 86
Cool Cyan
Built-in firewood storage and deep cyan-colored walls — Sherwin-Williams' Endless Sea — adds character to this living room in a 1970s Dutch Colonial-style home.
Jessica Bordner
29 of 86
California Cool
Create & Cultivate founder Jaclyn Johnson teamed up with interior designer Ginny Macdonald to arrange this stylish black-and-white outdoor living room.
The design is an extension of her California home's interiors.
Spacecrafting
30 of 86
Striking Monochrome
If you love a monochrome look, you're sure to find inspiration in this living room that features Benjamin Moore's Knoxville Gray on the walls and fireplace.
How to Decorate a Living Room: 11 Designer Tips
Whether your style is traditional or modern, relaxed or formal, bold or subdued, your living room should be a place where you can feel comfortable, let down your guard and spend quality time with friends, family or just yourself. There’s an art to decorating a room that looks great and works well for you. So before you dive into a living room redesign with your pro, arm yourself with a few designer tips and tricks. Here are some of my favorites.
Urbanology Designs
1. Mix Light and Dark
When a living room is all white and bright, it can feel too “clean” and unapproachable.
When it’s all dark, it can feel like a cave. But mixing dark and light colors creates a dynamic look that has depth and balance. The design of any space benefits from the inclusion of at least a little white and a little black.
Osborne Construction
2. Contrast Your Neutrals
Beyond including some white and some black, decorating a living room with a variety of contrasting neutrals goes a long way toward making it feel rich and welcoming. In this example, the white walls, caramel leather, brass hardware, gray sofa and blue-gray cabinets all contrast with one another, which highlights their different finishes and undertones. This makes the palette feel rich even before other key elements, such as color, pattern and texture, are added.
Shop for sofas on Houzz
Tamara Rene Designs
3. Play With Texture
Texture is easy to overlook when decorating a living room, especially since we don’t see it so much as touch it.
But it’s important for making a living room feel cozy, and that goes for plush textures that appeal to the touch and harder textures that add contrast. Include leather, cotton, wool, metal, stone, glass, plant life and as many other textures as you can.
Find an interior designer to help you decorate your living room
Cohesively Curated
Pillows are a great place to start, especially if you’re decorating a living room on a budget. Look to other accessories and furnishings to add new materials to the palette, even in small doses.
Shop for decorative pillows
Johnson Squared Architecture + Planning
4. Work in Some Wood
We can’t talk about texture without talking about wood, one of the top materials for bringing a sense of warmth to a living room.
There are so many ways to add wood, any of which will make a space feel a bit more inviting.
Consider wall paneling, side tables, movable stools, picture frames, sofa legs and carved pieces of art as just a few of the many options.
Mark D. Williams Custom Homes, Inc.
5. Mix Up Your Upholstery
Sure, most furniture stores give you the option of purchasing an entire living room set in matching upholstery, but that doesn’t mean you should do it. In a formal seating area, matching upholstery can give a sense of maturity and order, but if you want a living room to feel cozy and welcoming, mix and match your upholstered pieces to give the design a bit more personality.
Lawless Design
One of the safest ways to do this is to mix leather chairs with a fabric sofa or vice versa, so the materials contrast in an obviously intentional way. It gives the living room design some diversity, which can also give members of the family different options to suit their seating preferences.
Croma Design Inc.
6. Choose Practical Fabrics
Speaking of upholstery, it’s especially important for living room seating to be not only comfortable but durable. What this means will depend on your family. You may have babies or small children, pets or not, and they may be messy or tidy. In general, mid-tone fabrics are the safest bet, as very light or dark shades will readily show soil and wear.
KELLY + CO DESIGN
Leather is a great material for avoiding stains because it can be easily wiped clean when a spill occurs. However, it’s usually more easily scratched than most fabrics, so it may not endure animals as well. A leather that already has a broken-in look or a pattern can age especially well.
See how to clean leather furniture
VAS Construction Inc.
Denim and corduroy are two other materials that can be inviting yet durable.
Plus, they add an unexpected twist compared with the typical plain cotton or wool upholstery you often see in stores. When choosing fabric for your living room furniture, look for a material with a blend of natural and synthetic fabrics to get the practical features of both, and if possible do a bend test of a fabric swatch to make sure the weave appears tight and doesn’t reveal the backing material. A tight weave will be more durable than a loose one (which leaves lots of space for dirt to hide), no matter the material.
LDa Architecture & Interiors
7. Add a Dash of Color
While you can create a beautiful space without any vivid hues, adding even a little bit of color to a living room can go a long way toward creating a relaxed and inviting atmosphere.
LDa Architecture & Interiors
When in doubt, look to a cheerful blue — it’s a hue that usually everyone can agree on.
It perfectly contrasts warm elements such as leather and wood, and it feels just neutral enough to work with basically any other future accent colors.
Shop for blue sofas on Houzz
Studio K Inredning
8. Add a Patterned Rug
Pattern is a powerful design tool, infusing a living room with energy and minimizing the appearance of stains or wear. A patterned rug brings these benefits to the “fifth wall” — the floor — simultaneously anchoring a seating area and giving the whole room a sense of life. Even if you already have carpeting, consider adding a rug to your seating area. The first time you roll it up to go to the cleaners after a big spill, you’ll be glad you had it there.
See 11 area rug rules and how to break them
ML Interiors Group
9. Choose Movable Tables and Stools
Lightweight tables, stools, ottomans and even side chairs that can be moved around easily make a living room much more comfortable, giving you and your family lots of options on a daily basis for putting your feet up, setting a drink down or seating an extra guest.
Use a few smaller pieces, such as the upholstered footstools seen here, to allow for movement of pieces closer to and farther from the main seating as needed.
Katie Monkhouse Interior Design
10. Consider Conversational Distances
No matter how big your living room, there’s a limit to how large a seating group can be and still make sense for intimate conversation and cozy gatherings. A good distance between seats to facilitate conversation is about 8 feet, meaning if you have several sofas or a sofa and side chairs, the seating area should have a diameter of 8 feet, or 4 feet out from the center.
A huge, 12-seat sectional sofa may look great and be perfect for a party, but if you’re looking to create a cozy living room, it’s usually best to use fewer, smaller seating pieces and push them a little closer together.
Imbuia Construction Inc.
11.
Don’t Take It Too Seriously
A living room is a great space to embrace thoughtful disorder, such as through an artistic gallery wall, mix-and-match throw pillows, open storage baskets and fun furniture like this tepee-inspired tent.
Trying for perfect order will mean that anything out of place will stick out like a sore thumb, whereas accepting a bit of controlled chaos will mean the occasional dropped toy or draped blanket will look right at home.
Your turn: Have you decorated a small living room to make it feel more welcoming spacious? Or have you made changes to a big living room to make it more cozy? Please show us your makeover in the Comments!
More on Houzz
Key Measurements for Designing the Perfect Living Room
Lay Out Your Living Room: Floor Plan Ideas for Rooms Small to Large
Get more living room ideas
Find an interior designer
Shop for living room furniture and accessories
Feeling Inspired? Shop for Similar Products
PreviousNextItem 1 of 7
How to decorate a living room? 92 photos of stylish design.
Tips from the pros Your dream has come true: you have renovated your living room. The only thing left to do is to arrange a cozy and ergonomic space that would gladly bring together a loving family, a friendly company and at the same time could become a great place to discuss important issues and make constructive decisions.
This can be done with the right selection of accessories. They will allow you to change your cozy nest when you want updates. nine0003
Just change the curtains, sofa cushions, add a couple of new touches to the lighting fixtures - and your living room will sparkle with new colors.
We are happy to share with you the nuances of decorating stylish living room interiors in this article.
Simple secrets of decorating a living room
Accessories are an integral part of any interior.
Wanting to update the living room, you can focus on changing the lighting, textiles and carpets, decorating the walls.
nine0003
At the same time, it is important to observe the main rule - decorative elements should not only be fashionable and modern, but also go well with the main style decision and furnishings.
Do not forget about the sense of proportion.
Let's take a closer look at the main secrets of decorating a living room.
Style selection
Before you go shopping for accessories, decide on your style. This will greatly simplify the choice and will not allow you to purchase too much, saving the family budget. nine0003
When selecting attributes, remember that they must first of all complement and combine with the furnishing of the space.
Deciding on a color
The color scheme is perhaps the most important moment in decorating a living room, on which even the emotional state of the owners depends.
When deciding on a palette, do not forget about the rules of three colors: one is the main one, the others are for decorating accessories, flooring and furniture.
nine0003
Choosing a center
Every room needs a centerpiece that draws attention.
Anything can be used as such an object: furniture, accessories, fashion design tricks.
It is important to arrange the elements correctly so that they complement and decorate the interior, and do not interfere with each other.
Decoration of window openings
The choice of clothing for windows on the modern market is huge: you can stop your eye on various types of curtains or blinds. The most important rule that you should be guided by is matching the style of the living room interior. nine0003
Also, you should not forget about such a nuance as color and lighting.
To maintain harmony in the design, consider these points and remember that properly selected curtains will not only become a decorative element, but will also allow you to hide the flaws of window structures.
Flooring design
You can focus on the initial stage of the living room renovation: choose tiles, linoleum, self-leveling structures, parquet with a pattern.
It will become a reasonable and stylish decoration. nine0003
Carpets are a real decoration of the floor in the living room.
In addition, they also have an aesthetic function: they insulate and protect from dust and dirt.
Carpets can be used in different ways: cover the entire floor or zone individual corners.
Lighting
Lighting fixtures are multifunctional. They are used not only for their intended purpose, but also serve as decorative elements. With it, you can place accents and create functional areas. nine0003
The main purpose of decorative lighting is to highlight beautiful accessories and create a special mood.
The best choice is to use several types of lighting while respecting the overall style of the room.
Make the most of furniture surfaces
Countertops, shelves, chests of drawers, window sills are a great place to place various decorative elements.
Vases, indoor flowers, photographs, pictures, figurines - not a complete list of items for interior decoration. nine0003
With a sense of proportion and harmony of style, decorative details will allow you to breathe fashion trends into your living room interior as often as you wish.
Decorate the walls
It is generally accepted that the best wall decorations are paintings of various types. Feel free to use them to decorate the living room. They will help maintain the balance of furniture and other interior items.
Decorating the walls with photo wallpapers has become a fashionable trend. Remember to respect the same interior style. nine0003
Use plants
Indoor flowers will give freshness, originality and liveliness to the interior. Choosing plants, you can show creativity and imagination.
The existing variety of decorative planters and pots will be the perfect complement to classic and trendy designs.
Stylish and discreet flower arrangements have proven themselves well.
Pillows
Sofa cushions are a universal decorative element of any living room style, creating a cozy and relaxed atmosphere. nine0003
Important points when choosing these decor items are moderation, proportionality, contrast, shape, pattern.
Usually they are selected in combination with curtains, furniture upholstery, accent elements.
When designing a living room, first of all, think about convenience and comfort.
The main rule is to try to make the ordinary unusual, and then your living room will play with new colors every time.
- 1 of 1
Pictured:
Anyone can drive a nail into a wall. And choosing a place for this nail is much more difficult. How to decorate the living room, where to hang pictures and wall shelves? Something to think about.
..
Light
Unusual chandelier. Modern lamps themselves can serve as decoration of the room, act as a style-forming element. Carefully approach the choice of "bright" sconces and chandeliers in design: for example, crystal pendants are out of place in a country interior. The design of the living room should be harmonious - try to combine the color of the lampshade with the overall color scheme of the room. nine0003
- 1 of 7
Pictured:
Choosing an unusual chandelier for the living room is not so difficult. Another thing is how much it will cost. Among economy class models, original solutions are rarely found.
Floor and wall light. Remember that lamps are not only wall and table lamps. They will find a worthy place on the floor! This will bring a twist to the design of the living room. Light sources located in the floor or low on the wall create a mysterious, intimate atmosphere in the living room: faces remain in partial shade, it is easier to have intimate conversations. nine0003
Modern lamps can be placed anywhere in the room: on the wall, ceiling, floor and even on the sofa!
Furniture
Original models and lighting. nine0257 How to decorate a living room with furniture? It's simple: buy an item that attracts as much attention as its contents. A CD rack in the shape of a picture with a gilded frame or a bookshelf swirling in a whimsical spiral - why not decorate an empty wall? An unusual design move can be to use a contrasting color scheme: try hanging, for example, bright red shelves on a light plain wall. The models “with a spark” are also interesting: both old folios and cute souvenirs can be stored on the illuminated shelf. nine0003 Your living room can be transformed with just one piece of furniture or accessory created by a famous master.
Pictured:
There will be something to show the guests!
Change for the better. The appearance of the living room can be changed - according to the mood or when the seasons change. Draperies will help you with this. For example, chairs can be covered with covers of different colors, and dark and heavy, then light and light curtains can be hung on the windows. With the help of textiles, the style of the interior can be easily changed: tighten the leather furniture with a checkered fabric, and the ethno-living room will turn into a country variant. nine0003
Vibrant contrast. The easiest way to decorate your living room is to buy some throw pillows and place them on the sofas and armchairs. In a modern cold interior, bright multi-colored models are especially appropriate, contrasting with the upholstery of upholstered furniture. And it’s not at all necessary to choose plain items: feel free to combine floral, striped and plaid pillows. But here it is important not to overdo it: very colorful does not mean very beautiful.
Accessories
Striking clock. Grandfather clock can become the main element of living room decor. Tall as a closet, they successfully fit into a classic interior. But remember that the clock is a very delicate mechanism, and you should not move it.
Vases and planters - on the floor and tables. By itself, a beautiful and unusual vase is already an interior decoration. To keep it from being empty while waiting for a bouquet, place a planter with a houseplant in it. And keep in mind that a vase less than 40 cm high will not look good on the floor - it must be placed on a shelf or stand. The same can be said about planters with low plants. nine0003
A vase is a win-win accessory for decorating your living room. Choose an original vase and put it in the most prominent place!
Aquarium on request or without water. If you cannot choose one of the ready-made models from the huge range offered by manufacturers, then you can always order an aquarium of any size according to an individual project. To avoid unnecessary trouble, you can not start the fish. Water with decorative algae looks interesting without them and (a big plus) does not need food. Moreover, it is not necessary to pour water into the aquarium. Spiders, lizards, snakes can live there. nine0003
Souvenirs: place wisely. Often cute little things from distant countries do not decorate, but clutter up the interior. Find a place for them so that they become full-fledged decorative elements. Collect interior compositions: under the transparent top of the coffee table, on a separate shelf between books, on the mantelpiece. Create islands of memories united by a common idea. For example, collect all the shells and pebbles in one aquarium and "settle" it next to a ship in a bottle, a piece of rope and your own photographs on the beach.
