Styling ideas for living rooms
71 Best Living Room Decor Ideas 2022
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1
Refresh With Accent Paint
Avery CoxWe're loving this dark blue-green color in a living room corner designed by Avery Cox. It's stylish enough to hold its own against the rich chartreuse velvet fabric as well as the layers of quirky prints. She only painted one of the walls along with the door and moldings so that a complementary wallpaper could be applied on the opposite side.
2
Put a Record On
Victoria SassVictoria Sass of Project Refuge Studio snuck a record player into the corner of this texture-rich and minimalist living room. It opens right up into the kitchen, where the side of the island facing the sitting area contains ample exposed shelving for an extensive record collection.
3
Display Old Books
Oliver ThorntonThere's just something about old books that instantly makes a room feel more personal. Whether you collect used books or you've inherited some, display them on an exposed shelving unit so they can shine. In this living room designed by Oliver Thornton, they add character and speak to the layered warmth of the furnishings.
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4
Warm Up Walls With Wood
Space Content studioDesigner Nicole Dohmen applied hardwood floors in a Hungarian point pattern in this living room. It's a complex and classic parquet flooring design that works surprisingly well with modern furniture and geometric patterns, as seen here. But the fun doesn't stop there! Dohmen also applied wood panels to the wall for an extra surge of warmth.
5
Balance Hard Materials With Soft Ones
Caroline TurnerIf your living room has hardwood floors or stone tile flooring and lots of glass surfaces like this one designed by Caroline Turner, soften it up with super plush seating and rich materials like velvet in jewel tones.
A statement light also helps bring down the scale of the high ceilings.
6
Enhance a Bakyard View
Gordon BeallWorking with landscape architect Lila Fendrick, designer Nestor Santa Cruz chose a wall of steel and glass windows and doors for this formal pool house living room that leads to the backyard. Though the glass decor, from the pendant light to the coffee table and doors, leaves a decidedly sleek impression, the plush rug and ethereal curtains make it extra cozy, too.
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7
Dabble In Nostalgia
Andrea CaloEmbrace old-fashioned trends and hand-me-down furniture, like this chaise in a nostalgic yet contemporary living room designed by Amity Worrel. Dainty florals, ginghams, and plaids are paired with modern accents and artwork, so the classic prints take on a whole new meaning.
8
Work Around Restrictions
Karyn MilletWhen designer Celerie Kemble moved into this New York City apartment, there was only one thing that prevented it from being the perfect fit: The building had a no wallpaper rule.
To work around that obstacle, she applied a light shade of pink paint in a plaster-like finish that channels the texture of wallpaper.
9
Mix Clean Lines With Casual Materials
Nicolas GourguechonIn the living room of designer Devin Kirk, a light shade of blue-gray along with clean-lined furniture makes for a polished backdrop while the woven chairs, light wood side table, and tree stump coffee table ensure a laidback atmosphere. It's the perfect balance of approachable and formal.
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10
Incorporate Fun Trees and Plants
Read McKendreeInvite some nods to nature into your living room with quirky indoor plants and trees. Designer Elizabeth Cooper placed a lush citrus tree in the corner for an extra pop of life and color and then staggered topiaries on the windowsill.
11
Create Zones With Area Rugs
Laure JolietThis sitting room is right off the open kitchen, so designer Regan Baker decided to visually separate it with a custom sectional and area rug.
A cleek armchair is positioned at a diagonal, establishing a nice balanced whole.
12
Add Personality With Texture-Rich Neutrals
Stephen Kent Johnson / OTTOA quirky indoor tree is s fun surprise in this polished and cosmopolitan living room designed by Shawn Henderson. And, instead of a classic white or warm off-white paint color, he opted for a cooler gray neutral that complements the other subtle tones throughout the room. This also allows the texture-rich accents to shine.
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13
Extend It Outdoors
Stacy Zarin GoldbergThis vacation home in Maui, Hawaii blends indoor and outdoor living beautifully. Designed by Breeze Giannasio Interiors, the two living spaces are connected by a sliding door that simply disappears when open for total connection between the open-air terrace and the indoor living room. The materials, colors, and fabrics are all coordinated for visual flow, too.
14
Transform a Generic Space With Texture
Gieves AndersonIf you live in a generic rental or simply have a small space, get inspired by this living room designed by David Frazier. Not only does it prove that size isn't everything, but it's also full of tricks that bring more dimension to otherwise simple architecture. Pops of marigold speak to the warm antique wood pieces and break up the monochromatic color scheme and the large rice paper pendant keeps things casual so it can function as a more relaxed family room. A gallery wall, large indoor plant, and ceiling-high curtain rod add depth.
Check out Society6 for affordable and stylish prints and artwork to jazz up your walls.
15
Get Weird On the Coffee Table
Romanek Design StudioInstead of decorating your coffee table with the classic assortment of stacked coffee table books, opt for something subtly quirky and unique.
Here, Romanek Design Studio covered the surface with a collection of classic pots and planters, which both enhance and juxtapose the formal, traditional elements throughout the space as well as the more modern ones, making for a fun and eclectic yet timeless sprawl.
Check out Terrain for all your indoor and outdoor gardening needs.
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16
Swap High Back Seating for Daybeds and Benches
Frank Frances StudioBring in extra seating with daybeds, settees, and window seats in smaller spaces. They have lower back profiles, which prevents interrupting the visual flow and also keeps the space feeling open. We're loving the pop of yellow in this bold living room by Courtney McLeod.
Check out Albany Park for great living room seating options.
17
Redefine "Neutrals"
Nicole FranzenIf you don't love playing with tons of patterns and bold hues but appreciate experimental pieces and tasteful pops of color, take notes on this living room.
Rather than opting for all black and whites, the anchor pieces—like sofa and tables—remain neutral, while the throws, artwork and lamp offer just a splash of color (nothing too crazy: just marigold, red, navy, and green).
Check out Design Within Reach for iconic design pieces.
18
Carve Out a Home Bar
Stacy Zarin GoldbergIn this living room designed by Carmel Greer, the paint color (Peach Blossom by Benjamin Moore) and casual jute rug set a sweet foundation while the modern, angular artwork, right fixture, seating, and throw blanket bring an edge. One built-in niche is optimized to function as a full-on home bar station while the other stores and displays firewood. The mirrored wall within the left niche also helps bounce light and gives it a swanky nightclub vibe.
Check out Huckberry for great home barware.
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19
Add Something Unexpected
Heather HilliardWhile the classic blue grasscloth wallpaper, floor lamp, and curtains set the stage for a traditional living room, designer Heather Hilliard added some unexpectedly edgy elements.
The floral sofa and the green lucite coffee table are a welcome surprise that break up the classic elements without overshadowing them.
Check out Kartell for cool lucite furniture.
20
Conceal Your TV
Nicole FranzenThis neutral-toned living room by Kristin Fine is refined and grown-up, but also family-friendly. The soft and textural upholstery mixed with cream paint, rustic wood pieces, and plenty of antique accents are partially to thank, but there's also a large television mounted to the wall for family movie marathons. Fine gave it prime over-the-mantel placement but discretely tucked behind panels that double as modern art.
Check out Samsung for clever tech television designs.
Hadley Mendelsohn
Senior Editor
Hadley Mendelsohn is House Beautiful's senior design editor and the co-host and executive producer of the podcast Dark House. When she's not busy writing about interiors, you can find her scouring vintage stores, reading, researching ghost stories, or stumbling about because she probably lost her glasses again.
Along with interior design, she writes about everything from travel to entertainment, beauty, social issues, relationships, fashion, food, and on very special occasions, witches, ghosts, and other Halloween haunts. Her work has also been published in MyDomaine, Who What Wear, Man Repeller, Matches Fashion, Byrdie, and more.
50 Inspirational Living Room Ideas
Decorating your living room? We've compiled 50 gorgeous living room ideas to use as a starting point for your next decorating project. From decor to design to furniture, if you're looking for living room inspiration you've come to the right place. You can also shop similar looks with our living room accessories.
Rachel Whiting
1 of 50
Modern rustic
This contemporary, open-plan living space embraces a modern rustic feel. The beamed ceiling is a nod to the rustic setting, while a mix of vintage pieces blend with contemporary designs including the sofa.
Read more: This modern new-build cottage feels right at home in Suffolk
Bill Kingston
2 of 50
Victorian flair
Carolyn Barber
3 of 50
Modern oriental
Tim Young
4 of 50
Rich velvets
A painterly floral wallpaper provides a delicate backdrop to a beautiful and rich deep-blue velvet sofa.
For the perfect finishing touch, add velvet cushions with a contrasting trim for a truly wonderful living room scheme.
Read more: 8 photos that will make you want to decorate with velvet immediately
Mark Scott
5 of 50
Relaxed layering
Keep it contemporary yet pared back by teaming drips, drops and splatter patterns for an impressionistic look.
Read more: 6 stylish inky blue interiors
Colin Poole
6 of 50
Small change, big difference
A simple Roman blind and textured flooring has resulted in an elegant update for this neutral living room.
• Modern, traditional or shaggy, Modern Rugs has a great selection for your floor.
*We earn a commission for products purchased through some links in this article.
Rachel Whiting
7 of 50
Go botanical
Carolyn Barber
8 of 50
Geometrical
Combine straight, curved and angular lines with splashes of colour for a graphic look, keeping the background of this living room understated.
Read more: 8 stylish ways to use pattern in your home
Dan Duchars
9 of 50
Bold backdrop
Abstract floral wallpaper creates a dramatic backdrop in this living room. The metallic ceiling pendant and table lamp bring a contemporary contrast, while the sweeping wooden frame of the coffee table and grey rug add texture and softness.
Read more: Judy Murray's Wimbledon flat makeover: from lad's pad to stylish sanctuary
Mark Scott
10 of 50
Naturally laid back
White walls, soft grey upholstery and pale wooden furniture create a relaxed and welcoming look. Choose a classic sofa as the centrepiece, then introduce pattern with a mix-and-match collection of patterned cushions and a geometric rug.
• Head to Dunelm for a range of cushions at an affordable price.
Fiona Walker-Arnott
11 of 50
A big impression
Choose eyecatching furniture and accessories to create impact in a big, airy room with high ceilings – as seen in this Regency townhouse renovation that's a perfect mix of old and new.
• Looking for a colourful sofa? Shop the most colourful ranges at Swoon.
Mark Scott
12 of 50
Rethink pink
Pink is still a huge interiors trend. Layer soft rose with grey, choose a classic sofa as the room's focal point and introduce pattern with decorative cushions and a rug. Contrast the soft colours with a statement floor lamp and coffee table.
House Beautiful/Carolyn Barber
13 of 50
Everyday luxury
For hygge vibes, add extra comfort to seating with a toning mix of patterned and plain cushions in linen and wool. It's the perfect autumn/winter look.
Read more: Scandi-style interiors: inspiration for your home
Chris Snook
14 of 50
Two-tone
This living room has a two-tone palette of grey and chalky white. The darker grey is used on the chimney breast, with the other three walls painted in warm white, which makes the room feel more spacious.
Read more: How one designer made the most of every inch of a compact living room
David Merewether
15 of 50
Cosy rustic
David Giles
16 of 50
Opposites attract
Vintage sofas bring an elegant feel in this Victorian home.
Promote a sense of intimacy in an open-plan or big room by arranging seating around a coffee table with a rug beneath. The aim is to create a cosy zone within the space.
• If you want a statement coffee table, head to Amara for some lust-worthy designs.
Susan Burnell
17 of 50
Dark and cosy
Carolyn Barber
18 of 50
Pop of colour in small spaces
In a small lounge area, a tactile velvet sofa in a golden shade and compact, rounded shape provides impact. Meanwhile, fringed and patterned cushions add individuality. Combining these tactile textures provide sumptuous depth, particularly useful for elevating small spaces.
Read more: 9 stylish ways to introduce ochre into a neutral space
David Barbour
19 of 50
Room with a view
A sofa with a low back looks contemporary and won't interrupt a great view, as can be seen in this modern farmhouse in Scottish highlands.
Jo Sheldrake
20 of 50
A country tale
This classic country style scheme is made relaxed and informal with a squashy sofa and chairs, neutral colours and natural textures.
The gilt-framed mirror and glamorous table lamps add a touch of elegance to the look.
Mark Scott
21 of 50
Artistic palette
Turn your living room into a masterpiece with painterly patterned fabrics, arty effects and a palette of soft colours. Choose fine cottons, linens and silks printed in washes of colour as a starting point for your scheme. Team highly decorative pieces with streamlined furniture for a perfect balance of form and function.
• Dress your home in faux flowers – shop some beautiful designs at John Lewis & Partners.
Lizzie Orme
22 of 50
Make it cosy
Toning grey walls teamed with upcycled furniture and vintage finds give this living room a cosy feel.
• Head to Dulux for some paint inspiration.
Richard Gadsby
23 of 50
Mid-century
This living room scheme has a mid-century feel. Bold splashes of bright yellow is teamed with sophisticated grey and white to create a striking yet very homely atmosphere.
Read more: This Victorian home is bursting with mid-century design
David Giles
24 of 50
A sense of space
Soft grey tones and crisp white details bounce light around this contemporary living room. Pale wooden furniture also helps to keep the room looking bright and airy.
• If you always forget to water plants, buy artificial ones instead. Shop a range on Amazon.
Rachel Whiting
25 of 50
Dark style
Moody greys and burnt orange tones create a welcoming, modern scheme. Offset a dark wall colour with sumptuous textures such as a wool upholstered sofa and a stylish chair in burnished leather.
Katie Lee
26 of 50
Feature walls
Katie Lee
27 of 50
Contemporary flair
Douglas Gibb
28 of 50
Neutral and light
Polly Eltes
29 of 50
Golden era
The living room in this 1950s house is a glorious example of how to indulge your love of a particular interior style or period without the scheme becoming clichéd or too kitsch.
Simply include a few modern pieces for contrast.
Mark Scott
30 of 50
Warming hues
Select a neutral paint colour with a warm tone as a backdrop for soft furnishings in rich russet shades. Team with classic patterns and choose rustic wooden furniture with simple industrial lines to complement the look.
15 stylish living room ideas
tips for choosing style, decoration and furniture - INMYROOM
The living room in the house is the place where, as the name suggests, guests are received. However, the owners themselves relax here, spending time in front of the TV or a book, with drinks, pleasant conversation and other activities. Therefore, the living room should be the most comfortable place in your home.
If your family consists of several people, it is important to consider the interests of everyone. It is quite possible that for one of the family members, when designing the interior of a living room in an apartment, they will have to give space for working at a computer, doing creative work, even sports.
All these points must be planned at the stage of designing the premises.
Determine the center of the living room
Living room design is inseparable from a competent layout. After looking at examples of photos of the living room in the apartment, you can see various space planning options. Of course, the choice depends on your preferences, as well as on the size and functionality of the room.
Place sofas and armchairs around the perimeter of the room in no case is worth it. Firstly, this is the last century, and the modern design of the living room categorically does not accept such a layout. In addition, you will clutter up the space with only recreational items, leaving no free space for other functional areas.
The best option for the interior of the living room is to highlight the central group, around which the rest of the furniture will be grouped. As a rule, a recreation area with a TV and a sofa is chosen as the center of the composition.
A fireplace can also be a central element, next to which chairs, rocking chairs or even luxurious skins for relaxation will comfortably fit.
Standard set of furniture for designing a living room in an apartment:
- sofa;
- several armchairs;
- coffee or coffee table;
- shelving for decorative objects and/or books.
If the room is large, or it has to take on a diverse functional load, of course, you should not limit yourself to this. The living room may well have a desktop for a computer, chests of drawers and cabinets, a bar counter.
In order not to clutter up a cramped room too much, give preference to the transformer models that are popular today. Such furniture is very functional and allows you to perfectly save scarce space.
Choice of colors
If your living room is located on the sunny side, then you are practically unlimited in the choice of colors for finishing and furnishing it.
The contrasting interior design of the living room will look very interesting. For example, walls and floors can be decorated in cold colors, while furniture, in contrast, in warm colors.
Many modern interior styles welcome the clean slate living room design. This technique involves decorating the walls and ceiling with plain white plaster or paint. And furniture and decor elements can be selected in a variety of colors: bright or rich dark - to create a spectacular and stylish interior, delicate and pastel - for a light, cozy and elegant design.
For north-facing living rooms with little to no daylight, choose warm-coloured finishes. Such an interior design of the living room compensates for the lack of sun, makes the room cozy and conducive to relaxation no matter what.
And, of course, if the room is a bit dark, you should take care of good artificial lighting. Well-placed spotlights are best suited to illuminate every corner of your living room.
Of course, the choice of colors for decorating a room should also depend on what visual and emotional effect you want to achieve.
If the living room is intended for stormy parties and active pastime, then it makes sense to decorate it in bright, saturated colors.
If the owners want to indulge in a calm and relaxing holiday, then the interior of the living room should be to match. In this case, you should give preference to soft light tones or, conversely, deep and calm, but in no case flashy.
Finishing materials
The choice of finishing materials should largely depend on the style in which you would like to maintain the design of the living room in the apartment. So, paper wallpapers with romantic flowers are definitely not suitable for laconic hi-tech or minimalism. And Provence or country-style interiors will not be combined with bright carpets with psychedelic prints and ultra-modern wall coverings with fur or leather texture.
In addition, the shape and size of the room is of great importance. Properly selected finishes will perfectly smooth out the flaws of the room and focus on its merits.
While a thoughtlessly chosen design can spoil even a spacious and bright room.
Walls
The classic rule is that for small rooms it is better to choose light shades. It always works flawlessly. However, if this solution seems too boring for you, you can try all sorts of interesting wall designs. Spectacular examples of wall design in the living room, photos of which are presented in our article, will help you navigate and choose the most attractive options for yourself.
For example, even smooth, light-colored walls can be made a spectacular interior detail by adding bright or simply contrasting color accents to them. See such unusual living room interior ideas in the photo below.
All kinds of plasterboard niches look very stylish. They not only diversify the interior, but also become its very functional detail. After all, they can accommodate both decorative elements and items needed in the household. And if such a niche is beautifully illuminated from the inside, this will create an interesting effect of depth.
The traditional option for decorating the living room walls is wallpaper. Fortunately, today there is a great variety of them: both classic paper, and modern non-woven, and washable, and glass, and even innovative liquid wallpaper. If you are a lover of change, then you can pay attention to the wallpaper for painting. With such a finish, you can easily change the look of the room, at least several times a year. However, please note that, as a rule, such wallpapers are designed for a limited number of repaints.
Smoothly plastered or painted walls look great in modern interiors. At the same time, if you are a fan of the original design, you can pick up plaster with all sorts of beautiful and unusual textures. With its help, you can add a twist to your design and create a truly beautiful living room interior.
One of the fashion trends in modern design is the combination of materials. It is very important to use combinations of several finishes in one room: different types and shades of plaster, paint plus wallpaper, or even a combination of two types of wallpaper with different patterns and textures.
See examples of such a living room design in the photo below.
Using this technique, you will not only be able to make your interior bright, stylish and original, but will also successfully cope with the zoning of the room. As you know, for proper zoning, it is not enough to collect several diverse groups of furniture in one room. So that all this does not look like a "hodgepodge", it is necessary to highlight each of the functional areas with its own design elements. And here, the design of wall sections in different colors and even different textures is the best fit.
Ceiling
When choosing the design of the ceiling in the living room, first of all, start from the size of the room. No matter how much you like spectacular multi-tiered structures, in a small room, packed full of necessary furniture, they will look simply ridiculous. In no case do not overload the design of the room.
If the room is small, then the best option is a simple ceiling in light colors with built-in ceiling lights.
A good design move would be a small cornice around the perimeter, it will add a sense of depth.
Another interesting solution for visually increasing the space is the so-called "floating" suspended ceilings. This is a two-tier structure with a small height difference and built-in lights mounted inside the "upper" tier in such a way that they themselves are not visible. This technique creates soft diffused light and an interesting depth effect. As a result, the room seems visually higher and more spacious.
However, remember that the design tricks you have listed are inappropriate for small rooms with high ceilings. If in such a room you try to “distance” the ceiling even more due to visual techniques, then you will feel in it like at the bottom of a bottomless well.
In narrow rooms with high ceilings, it makes sense, on the contrary, to reduce the height - through visual means or with the help of suspended structures. Then the living room will immediately seem more comfortable and suitable for a comfortable stay.
If you are lucky and your living room is spacious and has high enough ceilings, then feel free to experiment with their design.
Here, multi-level suspended structures, both laconic and intricate forms, stucco, columns, scallops, and complex lighting systems can be used.
The main thing is not to overdo it and stick to the intended design of the room. If the room is decorated in a ceremonial classical style, in the spirit of Baroque or Empire, then without a doubt, both bas-reliefs and columns will be appropriate. But for more concise modern styles, you should choose a simpler and more rigorous ceiling design.
If your living room will have several functional areas, then the zoning can be "supported" with an appropriately designed ceiling.
For example, a central seating area with a sofa group and a TV set can be highlighted with a second tier of false ceiling. Depending on the general style of the room, both strict rectangular shapes and soft rounded lines may be appropriate.
The ceiling does not have to be white. Delicate, warm pastel shades will look perfect in almost any room.
Fans of more extravagant options can experiment with bright shades. It is not necessary to decorate the entire ceiling in saturated colors. However, if you highlight only part of it or one of the tiers with a spectacular shade, you will get a chic look.
As far as materials are concerned, it is best to avoid whitewashing and painting. After all, this will take a long time and carefully level the surface. An excellent modern solution is plasterboard suspended ceilings or stylish stretch models. They are quick to install, provide perfectly flat surfaces, and in addition, allow you to create a wide variety of design options.
Lighting
Just a few years ago, when choosing lighting, the issue was always decided in favor of a large ceiling chandelier. Of course, today there are many lovers of such lighting fixtures, including those decorated with numerous "crystal" pendants.
However, you should not get hung up on this option, because modern manufacturers offer many interesting, stylish and comfortable options.
If you - due to adherence to traditions or in order to create a certain style of interior - have opted for a massive chandelier, you do not need to limit yourself to this. In any living room, additional sources of lighting will be appropriate: wall sconces, floor lamps and portable standing lamps.
Additional light sources perform several functions at once:
- They allow you to well illuminate all corners of the room without leaving any terra incognita areas in it, where it is dark in the evening, even if you gouge out your eye.
- Create separate lighting and comfort in each functional area. Thanks to a well-placed floor lamp or sconce, one of the family members with all the conveniences can read or work at a computer in the corner of the hall, while others have a “movie show” or an evening rest in the twilight on the sofa.
- Can create decorative lighting in a niche, near art objects, etc.
- They are additional decorative elements.
If you are a supporter of laconic design, then recessed ceiling lights are the best fit. They also allow you to create separate lighting in different functional areas of the living room. And besides, with their help you can always adjust the brightness and level of illumination of the room. And with all this, they remain almost invisible, do not overload the design and fit almost all interior styles.
It's safe to say that recessed ceiling lights are the best choice for a small room with low ceilings. But, at the same time, they will also be appropriate in a spacious hall.
Style Selection
Choose a style based on the tastes of the whole family. Look at photo examples of living room designs in a magazine, on the Internet, explore the various styles that are in abundance today.
Of course, the dimensions of the room must also be taken into account.
In a small room in Khrushchev, a lush baroque or any other “palace” interior will look out of place. For small living rooms, it is best to choose a laconic design in the Scandinavian style, elegant classics or strict hi-tech or minimalism. Country and Provence are perfect, as these styles suggest comfort and emphatically home furnishings.
If your living room is large, then there is room to roam. In principle, a spacious room can be decorated in almost any style that you and your family like.
When choosing the style of the living room, be sure to take into account the features of the interior of the other rooms. Maintain style and harmony.
Classic
The classic style of the interior involves the use of the most natural materials. The whole environment should breathe quality and good taste. As part of this style, traditional furniture made of solid wood or at least high-quality MDF will be appropriate.
Classic interior colors are soft, calm, usually light.
But in principle, within the framework of this style, almost any shades (except bright and flashy) will be appropriate if they are correctly beaten.
Elegant wallpaper, paintings, vases, traditional chandeliers, beautiful curtains - all this will be an excellent frame for an interior in a classic style.
Despite certain design rules, there are different directions for decorating a living room in the spirit of the classics. Within the framework of the classical style, several variations can exist at once:
- refined and rich "palace", in which discreet gilding and more elaborate forms will be appropriate;
- solid and reliable English style, suggesting solid furniture of simple shapes and unpretentious decor;
- neoclassical, meaning lighter and simpler forms, expensive elegance without ostentatious luxury.
Minimalism and high-tech
High-tech and constructivism can also be combined under this general direction.
All these styles imply laconic finishes, emphatically simple and modern furniture models, built-in lighting, and an abundance of technology.
Minimalism is characterized by soft colors, calm combinations, stylish and simple shapes.
For hi-tech, for all their similarities, saturated tones, metallic luster and a lot of glass are more characteristic. High-tech furniture or decor can have very unusual, but at the same time laconic and streamlined shapes.
Minimalist interior of the living room is best suited for young and energetic people who keep up with the times, who do not attach much importance to luxurious surroundings, preferring simplicity and elegance of lines.
However, do not think that the interior in the style of hi-tech or minimalism is something from the category of "cheap and cheerful". Such a design may well turn out to be much more expensive than some magnificent Empire style.
Country and Provence
These styles are perfect for lovers of home comfort, antiquity and rustic simplicity.
If you want to enjoy peace as much as possible, relax and forget about the bustle of the city, then these are excellent options for the living room.
At the same time, country is deliberately rough, emphatically rural, with simple, almost unfinished furniture and themed textiles. It is characterized by natural, natural shades: soft light and dark green tones, the whole range of brown, light yellow, ocher. Of the prints, a large cage, as well as various variations of floral patterns, will be especially harmonious.
The Provence style, as it should be for a true Frenchman, is more refined, distinguished by a special chic and charm. It is characterized by lighter shades of furniture and finishes: white, cream, pale blue, turquoise, beige. Decor and textiles can be very flirtatious: with ruffles, scallops, flounces, etc.
Today, these design trends are very popular not only in the design of country cottages, but also in the decoration of city apartments. Therefore, in stores you can easily find furniture, decor and finishing materials that perfectly match these styles.
Scandinavian
This style is incredibly popular right now. The secret of its success is in the harmonious combination of minimalism, comfort and homeliness. It involves a simple and concise finish, convenient and comfortable furniture of simple shapes, stylish, but at the same time soft and not defiant decor.
The Scandinavian style is characterized by calm shades: white, beige, light gray, gray-green, pale blue, dark blue. Often in the colors of such an interior there is a certain marine theme.
Living room interior in Scandinavian style is the perfect balance of functionality, convenience, modernity and home comfort. Stylish and modern upholstered furniture for the living room is perfect here, a photo of which you can see below.
Choosing furniture
Before you start choosing furniture for your living room, carefully consider which functional areas will be allocated in the room. Beautiful furniture for the living room, the photo of which can be seen below, is not all.
It is important to correctly place it so that all the inhabitants and guests of the apartment feel cozy and comfortable.
If it is intended exclusively for families, then a comfortable sofa, armchairs, a TV stand and a couple of shelving will be enough. If space allows, you can add a coffee table, as well as small cabinets where you can place various decor items.
If you often arrange parties, like to receive and treat guests, then you will need a bar counter. It looks stylish, modern, spectacular, can serve as a place to store all kinds of items and will allow you to organize the serving of drinks and treats for guests in a very small area. In addition, the bar counter can be an excellent dividing element if you need to zone the living room.
Choose the dimensions of the sofa and the number of chairs depending on the number of family members and the possible number of guests. It makes no sense to choose an airfield sofa and three armchairs if you live alone and rarely receive guests.
In this case, it is worth limiting yourself to more compact options and leaving more free space in the room - to create a feeling of spaciousness or to accommodate other functional elements.
If you expect your guests to occasionally stay overnight, then the choice of sofa should be approached especially carefully. Choose folding models, on which, if necessary, you can fully sleep. If there can be several overnight guests, then it makes sense to consider options for transforming chairs that can fold out and turn into a bed.
Modern design solutions, as a rule, do not involve the placement of solid cabinets in the hall. It is assumed that this tradition should remain in the Soviet past. However, if you don't have a walk-in closet and don't have enough space to place storage items in other rooms, no one can force you to give up a spacious closet in the living room.
In a classic interior, it can even be a solid wall. However, if you prefer more modern design trends, then it is better to pay attention to stylish wardrobes.
For a small room, models with mirrored doors are perfect, they allow you to visually expand the space, and will not weigh down the interior as much as their counterparts with solid doors.
A small room should not be cluttered with a large number of pieces of furniture. Such an "abundant" environment will overwhelm, distract, and simply interfere with free movement around the room. If you don’t have a lot of things, then you definitely shouldn’t put a massive closet in the living room, limit yourself to a light and elegant rack. If you want to create a truly light and stylish design, pay special attention to the modern style living room furniture, the photo of which can be seen below.
If you do not plan to receive guests often, it makes no sense to purchase a grand dining table in the hall. In order to drink coffee or have a snack in front of the TV, an elegant coffee table will be quite enough. To save space, you can choose a functional transforming table, which will serve as both a stand and a storage for books and magazines, and, if necessary, can be expanded into a fairly full-fledged springboard for home meals.
Fireplace in the living room interior
If you want your living room to breathe genuine comfort and hospitality, consider purchasing a fireplace. Naturally, it is almost impossible to establish a real hearth in a city apartment. But today there are a lot of magnificent imitations on sale that will emphasize the elegance of the interior, create an atmosphere of comfort in the room and even be able to heat it.
An electric fireplace is perfect for an apartment. Do not think that this is a more beautiful analogue of the heater. In fact, modern manufacturers produce incredibly realistic models that amazingly imitate real flames. There are even models with sound and aroma accompaniment. That is, in front of you there will be not only the illusion of an open fire, but also real crackles, as well as the smells of burning logs.
Fireplaces are produced in a wide variety of styles: exquisite classic, ultra-modern laconic high-tech models, mysterious gothic, luxuriously decorated with gilding and marble in the rococo style, cozy stoves in the spirit of the country.
In addition, fireplaces in the living room can vary in location: wall, corner, island.
Such a variety of models will allow you to choose exactly the option for your living room that fits perfectly into the layout and style of decoration.
Photo
See our gallery for 212 more amazing living room design ideas.
best design ideas and professional advice
The living room is an important place where many people relax after a hard day, spend time with family and friends. Therefore, it is important to pay special attention to the interior. The design of the living room is aimed at embodying the atmosphere of coziness and comfort. The area, layout, nuances of the room affect the final result. Therefore, you should take into account the existing pros and cons of the room to create a suitable design.
The living room space can be designed in one direction or a mix of different styles. All methods are good, the main thing is to find the optimally suitable option
Contents
- 1 How to design a living room in an apartment
- 2 There are several rules
- 3 Choosing a style for decorating a living room
- 4 Living room layout
- 5 Decor in the living room interior
- 6 Original fireplaces and living room interior: a few recommendations examples in photo
- 7 What wallpaper would look best in a living room?
- 8 Determine the center of the room
- 9 What kind of furniture to use in the interior?
- 10 Living room curtain design
- 11 Modern living room decoration
- 12 Video: living room interior in oriental style
- 13 Photos of successful living room interiors
- 13.
1 See also
- 13.
- Mandatory presence of the center. This is the area around which people will gather. It can be a fireplace where family members and friends can sit comfortably. The TV can play the role of the center.
Furniture should be placed in a semicircle, U-shaped or at a certain angle. Then the TV becomes the background. If you install furniture opposite, all attention will be directed to it. For the center, a table, an aquarium, an installation is suitable.
- Lighting requires special attention. It can transform a space or ruin even a perfectly designed room. Therefore, lighting should be carefully considered. There should be enough natural and artificial light.
- Bar counter. The most common option. It can act as a semi-partition, be framed as part of a wall. To organize a bar counter, it is recommended to use natural wood panels, mosaics, decorative stone or plaster.
- Wall at floor level. To realize such an idea, you should raise the level of the floor covering by 10-15 cm. As a result, a podium is formed. The advantage lies in the ability to hide pipes, wires, communications that pass through.
- Lighting and false ceiling. Properly chosen lighting will help to distinguish between several areas unobtrusively.
- Decoration of the ceiling, walls. The color palette perfectly delimits segments for different purposes. Transitions should be smooth. Follow a single palette, without sharp contrasts.
- Use of furniture. It will act as a demarcation. Shelving made of plastic, wood or glass up to the ceiling, a sofa will do.
- Combined floor covering. The way is to use a different floor design for each zone. For the dining segment, tiles are suitable, and for the recreation area, you should choose carpet, laminate, parquet. In the first case, it is important to purchase a special coating that does not slip.
- Island. It can be a dining table located on the border of several zones. Allows you to achieve the effect of order.
- Special parts for demarcation. You can use niches, columns, if there is a large space. There are special partitions that become part of the interior as a decor. There are different types of them, including completely deaf, partially, without holes and with openings for windows and doors.
- upholstered furniture, including armchairs, sofas;
- small table;
- shelving, where books and decor items will be placed.
How to arrange a living room in an apartment
Thinking about how to arrange a living room, you should carefully approach this issue. It is important to organize everything so that every member of the family is comfortable. Consider available space. It is important not to create the appearance of clutter, piling up. First you need to decide on the style. This will help to narrow down the range of suitable color palette, accessories, furniture arrangement.
Stylish looking living room decorated in two or three colors
See also Black ceiling in the interior of the living room: application, photo
There are several rules
There are certain rules when decorating a living room. Observing them, it will turn out to create a harmonious look.
To mark certain areas in the living room, directional lamps are used in addition to the main lighting
See also How to create a functional and harmonious living room design 17 sq m
Choosing a style for decorating a living room
An important stage on which further design depends. It is recommended to make a choice based on the dimensions of the room, the level of natural light. Some styles are not suitable for small spaces. There is a design that maximizes and frees up space. In the first case, it is recommended to consider minimalism, high-tech.
They are distinguished by the presence of mirror, metal, glass surfaces. It does not require the use of a large amount of furniture. A few multifunctional items are enough. A minimum of accessories allow the living room to look spacious, free. Suitable for lovers of modern design is a loft. It involves the exclusion of the use of excess furniture, decorations. Only the necessary elements, and the lines are strict, clear.
Simple high-tech living room
You can use retro design when decorating the living room. Unpredictable combinations of shades should be used, including black and pink, yellow and green. It is necessary to organize high-quality lighting by adding fringed lamps, lampshades, retro-style floor lamps. To enhance the effect of antiquity, it is worth installing a gramophone, hanging black and white photos, a rocking chair. Accessories should favorably emphasize the overall interior.
Retro style must include antiques or furniture in the style of past decades
For the embodiment of modernity, the maximum amount of free space is needed.
Therefore, it should be equipped only with the necessary, multifunctional furniture, minimizing accessories. The palette is predominantly light with the addition of gold, red, brown tones. It is worth using mainly wooden, glass parts. The decor should look simple, natural and cozy.
Art Nouveau - these are rich bright colors, but without too much aggressiveness
For a small room, an ethnic style, such as African, is suitable. Minimalism does not overload the space with unnecessary details. Differs in ease, an abundance of light. Classic is great for large rooms, especially if the living room is connected to the dining room. Inherent luxury, expensive, natural materials, sophistication.
Eco-style is rarely implemented in apartments. Suitable is a cottage, characterized by spaciousness and the presence of large window openings. Eco combines nature and living space.
When creating an eco style, natural materials are used, including live plants
You can make the design of the living room more original by choosing one of the listed styles and adding your own details.
This will make your room stand out and give it a touch of uniqueness.
See also Living room design with bay window
Living room layout
To organize a rational and functional space, it is important to think over the layout correctly. If you plan to connect to the dining room, it is recommended that you carefully consider the location of the table. It should be determined how to visually mark the boundaries between the soft zone and the dining area. It is recommended to divide the area visually across, which will create several square segments. When delimiting along, only a narrow pencil case will appear.
Furniture, color scheme or carpet can be used to zone the living room
Before decorating a living room in a modern way, it is worth considering whether the organization of the working area is supposed to be. An excellent place for him will be the area near the window, where there is a lot of natural light. Or you need to organize high-quality lighting.
If you want to allocate an area for children to play, it is worth insulating the floor and placing a lot of developing elements. You can organize a segment with karaoke by making a podium. There are many different layout options. First you need to determine what exactly is planned to equip.
See alsoCreate a modern living room interior
Decor in the living room interior
Moderation should be kept in mind when choosing decor. If you overdo it with decoration, then there will be a feeling of clutter, tastelessness. For a large area, you can pick up various decorative elements. They must be designed in the same style and combined with the overall interior. The decor includes paintings, figurines, photographs on the walls and chests of drawers, and sculptures.
Various accessories add warmth and comfort to the interior
A lamp of an original shape and unique design can act as a decoration. Sometimes chandeliers are not enough for high-quality lighting.
Therefore, they place floor lamps, sconces that match the style of the room. You should not turn a place for relaxation and recreation into a museum. It is important to create a cozy atmosphere.
Cushions, blankets, baskets, paintings, etc. are used as decorative items
How to design an interior to achieve a harmonious combination of kitchen and living areas? There are different options for how to harmoniously connect the dining area with the main room.
Niches perfectly hide the imperfections of the walls, correct the flaws in the layout and make the living room more practical and functional
See alsoDesign of a room of 18 square meters. m. Features and possibilities of the room
Fireplaces in the interior of the living room: a few recommendations and original examples in the photo
The fireplace will become a key element in the room. Therefore, you should think over every detail and the overall style in advance. A suitable place for a fireplace will be a niche in the walls or a loggia. Refrain from placing a TV nearby. He gets a lot of attention. Therefore, connecting several key items together is not recommended. It is better to leave some distance between them.
Living room with fireplace looks more original and attractive
To create a stylish, spectacular atmosphere, you should use only thematic design. This will allow all elements to present a single picture and not turn the room into a collection of inconsistent details.
Take care of quality lighting. It shouldn't be dark. Against a light background, the fireplace looks more spectacular and visually makes the space wider.
The fireplace can either be the central element of the living room, or "appear" when directly turned on
Do not over-decorate the space around the fireplace. Otherwise, it will simply be lost against the background of the decor. Add detail stands to the mantelpiece. Follow the overall style so that it does not look like a separate element. Placement of frames with photos, souvenirs is suitable. On the wall where the hearth is located, it is worth hanging a stylish picture. It will look appropriate and beautiful.
See alsoDesign of a small living room - the secrets of designers
What wallpaper will look best in the interior of the living room?
To make the right choice, it is recommended to study all existing types of wallpaper. This will help to understand the positive and negative qualities of each type.
Standard wallpaper has a paper base. They can be used for short-term decoration. If you follow the rules of operation and handle them carefully, they will last for several years, while maintaining an attractive appearance. Not suitable for areas with high humidity and where there is an open fire. Differ in low cost.
Wallpaper with a geometric pattern will give the room dynamism, visually change the configuration of the room and even be able to hide some imperfections
Wallpapers with non-woven backing are more durable. They endure mechanical stress, including scratches, dirt. Suitable for rooms with high humidity, can be long in direct sunlight.
Vinyl wallpapers may have a paper or non-woven backing. They are a good alternative to the types already listed. High strength, wear resistant, long service life. It is easy to care for, you can use detergents, the quality of the product does not deteriorate. Perfect for wall decoration due to the absence of noticeable joints when gluing.
Striped wallpapers are suitable for classic, modern and avant-garde interiors, the main thing is to choose the right combination of colors and pattern width
Glass wall papers are of one tone and have a light embossed pattern. They perfectly play the role of a background in space. Differ in fire resistance, durability, elasticity and high quality. Some models can be washed, repainted.
Bamboo wallpaper allows you to emphasize the naturalness, naturalness of the finish. Suitable for a certain interior. Not capricious in care.
Floral print creates an atmosphere of coziness, warmth and comfort
Textile wallpapers are environmentally friendly, do not contain toxic substances, they are easy to glue, easy to care for. The original appearance allows you to create a sophisticated atmosphere. Differ in high cost. Often they are pasted over an accent wall or used for inserts. They are harmoniously combined with furniture upholstery, curtains, creating a finished look.
See alsoModern window styles in the living room
Determine the center of the room
The center of the room must be determined in order to correctly position all objects. The choice depends on the size of the room. Do not place upholstered furniture around the perimeter. The modern interior is categorically against such placement. Such a distribution clutters up the space with only objects for recreation, there is no free space or the ability to install other functional elements is reduced.
The center of the living room is the place where guests most often gather
Therefore, it is worth choosing a center around which the rest of the parts will be formed. Often, the area where upholstered furniture and a TV is located becomes the central part. A fireplace can be chosen as a key area, if one is expected. Living room standard elements:
The low table can become the center of the living room. It is convenient to have a conversation behind it, and when there are no guests, the table can be decorated with fresh flowers or other decor
If the dimensions allow, the listed list can be extended. When dividing into functional areas, it is worth placing cabinets, a table with a laptop or computer, bookshelves.
If the room is small, choose transformer models that allow you to combine several functions and get rid of unimportant elements.
See also Tips for choosing the interior design of a walk-through living room
What kind of furniture to use in the interior?
A few decades ago, furniture walls were popular, which could be found in almost every home. Designers do not recommend abandoning such an item. There are many modern models that have an attractive, diverse appearance. This allows you to choose a wall for any interior. One of its advantages is functionality, spaciousness.
The right model allows you to occupy a minimum of furniture, but place a maximum of things.
For the living room, you should select functional furniture that does not clutter up the space. It is better to abandon blind cabinets, replacing them with open shelves or racks
Avoid bulkiness by choosing a modular wall. It allows you to independently compose a design by choosing the necessary elements. Periodically rearranging them, you can update the look of space. Among the furniture may be a sofa, armchairs, a table. Other items can be added depending on the size of the room, its functionality.
See also How to create a classic style living room design
Living room curtain design
The final choice of curtains depends on the overall style. For the classics, products of a dark or light range with painting and ornamentation are suitable. Length to the floor and the entire width of the opening. Additionally, it is worth hanging lambrequins with special hooks.
Light curtains allow sunlight to pass through well, thereby adding a good mood
The classic design of curtains involves straight curtains, collected in vertical folds
For a modern interior, choose laconic models of curtains, including Roman, roller blinds. To add coziness, purchase light, almost transparent curtains. Choose the color to match the shade of decorative elements or wallpaper.
Country involves the use of cotton products with an unobtrusive floral print. It is better to combine them with decor.
Linen curtains are better suited for living rooms in Provence and country styles
Do not combine cold and warm tones in the same space. It is better to choose several tones in a single range, without contrast.
See alsoKitchen-living room design features: kitchen-living room interior ideas, examples and tips
Modern living room decoration
To decorate the living room, you need to choose a style. The modern interior offers a variety of design options.
They are reflected in the table.
| Modern styles | Description |
| Loft | It is recommended to refuse additional finishing. Part of the room should look like renovations are going on. The wall can be left with brickwork. Wallpaper should be discarded. Requires space and lots of light. |
| Hi-tech | Works great in any size room. It is distinguished by the clarity of lines, the presence of parts made of glass, metal, mirror surfaces. Decor should be kept to a minimum. |
| Minimalism | Allows you to free up space as much as possible, make the house more spacious, freer. A minimum of details, rigor and the exclusion of decorations in the form of ornaments, drawings. For decoration, natural materials are used, the use of wallpaper is excluded. |
Industrial living room interior in loft style
Minimalism involves interior design without unnecessary details
Hi-tech is similar to minimalism, but with a lot more artificial materials and shiny surfaces
Modern style involves the release of a large amount of space, which is relevant for small rooms.
