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Decorating living rooms with sectionals


How to Style a Sectional Sofa to Perfection

Sectionals are equal parts comfortable and versatile, allowing you to create the perfect sofa configuration for your unique living space and lifestyle. They’re also typically the biggest pieces of furniture in a room, so how you style yours can help to make or break your aesthetic.

Fortunately, these expert-informed tips make styling this comfy piece of furniture a breeze, helping you determine everything from the right colors and upholstery material to the perfect placement.

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What Is a Sectional?

In a nutshell, sectional sofas consist of at least two sofa pieces, aka sections, that you can join together and use to create various configurations for your space. Below, professional interior designer and founder of Dōr Design House, Bri Ussery, shares easy tips for how to buy and style the perfect sectional sofa for your living space.

18 Sectional Living Room Ideas

1. Place it Against a Wall

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t need to have a huge living space to enjoy a new sectional. If you have a small living room, you can often get sectionals to fit beautifully with the right furniture arrangement and sectional shape.

“If your living room is small, choose a configuration that doesn't take up too much floor space,” advises Rohr. “A good option is to place the sectional against a wall to save space; L-shaped and U-shaped sectionals are ideal for this purpose.”

2. Pair with Statement Art

Statement art is typically bigger, bolder, and/or more vibrant than other art pieces, making it a great fit for the large footprint of many sectionals. Placing a compelling piece of art above your sofa will create a strong focal point while helping to solidify your living room design.

“You can choose a big statement art piece to elevate the sectional, or you can opt for an asymmetrical art display to help balance the room,” recommends Rohr. And when it comes to art and design, there are no wrong answers so, “don't be afraid to get creative with your styling; mix and match different shapes and sizes.”

3. Use Throw Pillows

Throw pillows are an easy way to add texture and color to your sectional. They’re also relatively inexpensive compared to many other home decor pieces, so you can swap them out for new ones when a new season (or design mood) strikes.

But you don’t have to take our word for it. According to design expert Swanzy, “It is an absolute must to fill up the sectionals with pillows because sectionals tend to have a deeper seat than normal couches.”

Karen Rohr also shared some tips for styling sectionals with pillows:

4. Add Some Leather

Burrow Nomad Sofa in Leather

Review: Check our Burrow Nomad review here

Leather upholstery never goes out of style, and it comes in nearly infinite colors, so you should have no trouble finding a leather sectional that perfectly aligns with your aesthetic.

High-quality leather sectionals are also highly resistant to peeling, sagging, and cracking. And cleaning them is often as easy as simply wiping them down. This means they tend to last longer than many other upholstery types, so it’s a great investment for your next living room makeover.

5. Float the Sectional

Credit: CutlerSchulze

If you have an expansive living room you’re looking to fill or an awkwardly shaped living room, consider floating the sectional, aka placing the sectional at least a few feet from the wall. “In large rooms, we like to float sectionals in the center to create a buffer,” said Cutler. “Almost like a room within a room.”

Floating it off the wall also means you can add furniture pieces behind it to optimize your style. “If you are floating a sectional, you might want to consider adding a low console or bookcase to the back. Doing so can create a more attractive presentation, especially as you enter the room,” recommends Cutler.

6. Go Grey

We love a bold statement couch as much as the next person, but some spaces call for a more subtle sectional, especially since these sofas are often the largest pieces of furniture in a room. Grey is an amazing sectional color because it won’t overwhelm your look.

Grey sofas serve as sophisticated yet neutral foundations that will complement all kinds of color schemes and interior designs. You can pile on colorful throw pillows and blankets to give it a bolder look or more neutral pieces in rich textures to give it an organic, textural feel.

7. Frame a Space

Credit: Darlene Halaby, Design by SKD Studios.

Have an open floor plan? Sectionals are awesome when it comes to framing and defining uncertain spaces. “In a recent Newport Beach, California, project we used sectional couches to frame the living room from the dining room,” said Swanzy.

And you can use thoughtful styling elements to further define the space. For instance, if you want to turn your sectional frame into a cozy reading nook, you can take advice from Swanzy, who “added lamps in the corner of the sectional so our client could cuddle up and dive into a great book.”

8. Add a Rug

Speaking of defining spaces, placing a rug under your sectional is an easy way to do just that. Rugs also have a knack for making a room feel more complete, warm, and intentional. When pairing a sectional and a rug, you have a few options.

A popular option is to choose a small, vibrant rug that fits right in the middle of an L-shaped or U-shaped sectional. This is a fun way to add colors and patterns to your look without taking up too much visual real estate. You can also purchase a very large neutral rug that sits under all of your sectional’s legs. Doing so will help make your living space feel warm, cozy, and welcoming.

9. Use a sectional to anchor your space

Credit: CutlerSchulze

A sectional’s large size allows it to anchor your entire design. You can use it to soldifiy an already well-honed aesthetic or as a stylistic reference point that can inspire the rest of your look.

For instance, if you have a minimalist style sensibility, then a sectional featuring a pared-back silhouette and long airy legs can help punctuate your look. And if you’re at a loss for how to design a space, consider investing in a sectional that already has a strong design point of view, such as a luxe velvet sofa, that you can use to inform your aesthetic.

10. Embrace Flexibility with a Modular Sectional

Inside Weather Modular Bondi Sofa

Review: Read our Bondi Modular Sofa review here

Modular sofas are customizable by design, allowing you to pick the perfect configuration for your space, whether you want an expansive U-shaped sectional or a smaller L-shaped couch. But the right configuration for you largely depends on your existing space and lifestyle.

“No matter what arrangement you choose, make sure the sectional fits well with your space, and avoid compromising the good flow or closing too much of the area,” advises Rohr. For example, if you have a sectional in a living room that connects to the kitchen, you probably don’t want to configure your sectional in such a way that it blocks the path between these two rooms, since people naturally tend to flow to and from them.

11. Make a Statement

Looking for ways to make your living room makeover pop? Consider creating a statement-making focal point out of your sectional. You can easily do this by choosing upholstery in a bold color or vibrant pattern.

Or you can opt for a sectional in a more neutral color, such as beige or gray, then dress it up with all kinds of fun throw pillows and blankets. This option is perfect for anyone who wants to make a major style statement but isn’t keen on the idea of committing to a bold design style long-term.

12. Pair it with an Armchair

Interior Define Sloan Sectional with armchair.

Sectionals basically epitomize cozy, so they’re a great match for armchairs, which also have a special ability to create a relaxing environment. Armchairs work particularly well for L-shape sectionals since they can turn the L into a U-shaped seating arrangment.

But you can also pair an armchair with a U-shaped sectional, transforming the U into a circle that serves as a welcome invitation to enjoy conversations with loved ones.

13. Create a Pit

Kova Pit Sofa.

Review: Check out our review of the Kova Sofa here

If you really want to step up your relaxation game, consider creating a cozy pit out of your sectional. Pit sectional sofas feature at least two lines of seat cushions that are parallel and adjacent to each other as opposed to a single line of cushions.

The result is a bed-like appearance that will make movie nights that much more comfy and inviting. And if you don’t want to commit to a 24/7 pit, you can invest in a large modular sectional that allows you to create the ideal arrangement for any given situation.

14. Add an Ottoman

A potential drawback of L-shaped sectionals is that there’s only room to put your feet up on one side. Fortunately, this is a super easy fix—all you have to do is place an ottoman on the other side to create a makeshift chaise lounge.

Not only will an ottoman increase the comfort factor of your sectional, but it also provides additional styling opportunities. You can incorporate an ottoman in a different style than your sectional to create compelling contrast, or you can match the ottoman to add cohesion to your look.

15. Embrace Beige

You can pretty much never go wrong with beige living room furniture. The timeless hue is at once neutral and sophisticated, and you can incorporate it into virtually any aesthetic, from minimalism to maximalism and everything in between.

A beige sectional will add warmth to your look while offering a blank canvas for your living room design You can pair it with funky side tables, colorful throw pillows, and a vibrant area rug to create an eclectic look. Or you can pile on other neutral colors and textiles for a soft, organic appearance.

16. Go Low-Profile


Few pieces of furniture are more inviting than a great low-profile sofa. Featuring low-slung backs and an often deep-seated design, low-profile sectionals are endlessly comfortable and relaxing.

Plus, they’re super on trend and come in a variety of different styles. You can opt for a low-profile sectional with soft rounded edges for an organic, cloud-like look. Or choose a sectional with sharper lines and airy legs for a more futurustic feel.

17. Pair it with a Circular Coffee Table

Have a small space that you want to makeover with a great sectional? Consider adding a circular coffee table to the mix. “A circular coffee table is perfect for small spaces. It will fit in the small nook of the sectional, keeping circulation open,” advises Rohr.

But you can absolutely enjoy the benefits of a circular coffee table in larger spaces as well. Tucking it into your sectional’s nook means you’ll have even more room to play with other home decor elements and pieces of furniture.

18. Go Bold with a Chesterfield

Ms Chesterfield Sofa by Interior Define

What’s better than a classic Chesterfield sofa? A classic Chesterfield sectional! These pieces combine the ornate details for which Chesterfields are so beloved, like button tufts, with the comfort and flexibility of a gorgeous sectional.

Incorporating a Chesterfield sectional into your living room design also means you’ll have an instant statement piece around which you can create the rest of your style. These beauties are killer conversation pieces and can help elevate your design from good to unforgettable.

22 Sectional Living Room Ideas That Will Inspire You

By

Sarah Lyon

Sarah Lyon

Sarah Lyon is a freelance writer and home decor enthusiast, who enjoys sharing good finds on home items. Since 2018, she has contributed to a variety of lifestyle publications, including Apartment Therapy and Architectural Digest.

Learn more about The Spruce's Editorial Process

Updated on 10/07/22

Marisa Vitale for Amy Peltier

If your living room is large enough in size to accommodate a sectional, you're in luck! Sectionals are great for hosting guests for game nights and movie marathons, and they're super comfy to plop down and nap on, too. If you've been wondering just how exactly to station a sectional in your space, you'll want to keep reading. These 22 sectional setups are worth exploring as you consider sectional layout, color, size, and much more.

Living room wall design

Living room, the most important part of the house. Gathering in a narrow family circle, or inviting someone to visit, we naturally do all this in the living room. The living room is, as it were, the face of the house, demonstrating the taste of the owner. At the same time, it should be a comfortable and cozy place where every member of the house should feel as comfortable as possible. When renovating the living room, you should take into account all these factors, not forgetting about presentability, but you should not forget about convenience either.

Contents of the article:

color scheme for walls

Choice of the color scheme for the walls in the living room, one of the most important things is to make it look complete and harmonious. A lot matters in the choice, from the personal preferences of the residents and its furnishings, to where its windows open and consecration during the day.

A small amount of sunlight, due to the non-sunny side or obstacles in its path, will require correction on your own. In this case, warm pastel shades of summer will come to the rescue: yellow, orange, peach. Such colors seem to fill the room with light from the inside.

The abundance of light in the living room requires the opposite. Excess, compensated by darker and colder colors.

In a living room setting, the color scheme of the furniture will also play an important role. If you want to focus on it, or any separate part of the interior, then the color of the walls of the living room is chosen as contrasting as possible. Dark furniture will stand out against the light colors of the living room, and light furniture against the backdrop of bright rich colors.

Another way out will be to attract the attention of guests and household members to the interior of the walls in the living room. If you choose photos on the walls of the living room, paintings, an exceptional carpet as the main detail in the interior, then the contrast between the walls and the decoration of the room will not be appropriate here and you can make them in one color scheme. One color scheme will perfectly complement the living room and highlight exactly what you want to highlight.

With all these details, the main thing is still the opinion of your family. The solution that everyone is happy with will always be the best one, even if it doesn't meet any of the requirements.

As a compromise, if the opinions of the family are very different, a combination of colors in the interior is perfect, where one wall or part of it is presented in one tone, and the other in another.

Painting or wallpaper in the design of the walls of the living room

Today, the market for finishing materials is extremely rich and varied and it will be quite simple to choose what you like, just for you. Wallpaper for walls in the living room or paint, choose not forgetting the whole living room environment as a whole. Both wallpaper and wall paint color can be selected based on the same principle as mentioned above, either shading or emphasizing the interior as a whole.

Expressiveness of the walls of the living room

When decorating the walls of the living room, you can emphasize the ceiling line and visually solve the problem of too low ceilings, through moldings. Walls can be designed as geometric sections, rectangles, squares, or the like. Such an approach will give the design a touch of aristocracy. For those who love lightness and some airiness, the design of the walls in the living room should be approached minimalistically, without overloading it with details.

Decor

The decoration of the living room gives you a wide range of possibilities to express what you see fit in it.

If you want to show your unity with nature and solidity, use stone and wood in the design of the living room walls.

Do you want comfort and warmth? At all times, such a detail in the decor of the living room walls as a fireplace symbolized all this. Is it not possible or does the layout of the house not allow? Drywall will help install an artificial fireplace.

In addition to all this, drywall can also be used simply to make any beautiful and functional souvenir shelf or illuminated niche.

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Living room color - 140 photos of perfect color harmony in the interior beautiful walls for the living room
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Living room kitchen - 105 best photos in the interior of the kitchen combined with the living room
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100 wall designs in the living room

Living room interior in light colors: advantages and basic principles

10/16/2019

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Often, modern designers offer to design a living room in bright colors. The use of pastel shades indicates the openness and readiness of the owners to communicate. In addition, light colors allow you to relax after work and relax. The living room is a place where the whole family gathers for communication and relaxation, so it is advisable to make it in a light color.


Advantages and disadvantages of white

This color is combined with any shades and can be used in various style solutions. This tone is able to visually increase the space of the room, massive light-colored furniture will be less noticeable. In addition, it is easy to choose finishing materials and decorative elements. The benefits of white also include the following:

However, the living room in white has a number of disadvantages, among which are the following:


Living room Country