26 Living Room Decor Ideas
It’s time for a refresh!
Are you moving into a new home or looking to refresh your current one? For trendy and timeless living room decor ideas, you’ve come to the right place. Continue reading to discover inspiration for your next home makeover, and transform your living area into a relaxing space full of personality.
1. Focus on Throw Pillows
Throw pillows are an easy swap while also providing comfort and visual interest to the room. Match your throw pillows to the color or patterns in the room, or add a decorative pillow to introduce a pop of color that will complement your sofa.
Area rugs are a great way to make a big statement in your living room while requiring little effort. A large area rug automatically transforms your living space by creating a cozy zone around which to arrange your furniture. Choose colors from your existing furniture and decor to incorporate in the area rug and tie the room together for a cohesive look.
Tip!
Looking for the perfect area rug for your living area? Check out our guide Area Rug Buying Guide: How to Choose a Rug That Meets All of Your Criteria for tips.
3. Swap In Decorative Pouf Ottomans
Forget the coffee table and swap in a pair of decorative ottomans, instead! Ottomans can bring soft texture, a pop of color, and additional storage to any living space. They also provide the perfect spot to prop up your feet for ultimate relaxation.
Decorating with wall art is a great way to define the theme of your living room while adding interest to your walls. Colorful abstract art and 3D wall sculptures are vibrant options that help liven up neutral spaces. Choose one large piece to make a statement above the sofa, or opt for a curated collection like the gallery wall shown above.
Blankets and throws add another layer of comfort to your sofa, helping your living room look stylish but lived-in. You can match the blanket’s color to complement your sofa or your throw pillows or opt to make it a pop of color. Blankets are the perfect accessory to add both style and function to your living space and give it a cozy ambience.
Curtains come in a variety of colors, designs, and patterns, which makes them a must-have for your living room. Plus, the height at which you hang curtains can also help add vertical height to the room. Instantly refine your living room with floral-patterned curtains like the ones pictured above.
Tip!
Review our guide on How to Hang Curtains for tips to get started, or jump right to Your Guide to Styling Curtains for more inspiration.
7. Elevate Your Theme With Plants
Plants, whether real or faux, have the power to enhance living room aesthetics. The lush diversity of green foliage adds life to the room and can even help further your design aesthetic. Ferns, pothos, and ivy work well as decor in traditional living rooms, while orchids or tropical plants add a hint of sophistication to glam spaces.
Wall mirrors are a decor option that looks great in any living room. Wall mirrors come in many styles and colors to match your style, whether you want a simple mirror with thin borders or a decorative mirror that is the centerpiece of your room. If you have a small living room, wall mirrors will make your room look more spacious as they bounce light around the room.
Light fixtures provide functionality and style, making them a smart decor choice for any living room. From statement lighting overhead to ambient lighting interspersed throughout the space, there are plenty of ways to make living room lighting work for you. Start with overhead lighting, such as a pared-back flush mount or an eye-catching chandelier, for general illumination. Then, fill in the gaps with a mix of task and ambient lighting, like chic wall sconces or table lamps, that’ll provide a cozy glow.
Color drenching is when the walls, trim, ceiling, and doors of a room are painted the same color for a relaxing, monochromatic environment in your home. Consider bringing this style trend to your living room to create a unique but timeless statement with your decor.
Tip!
Read What Is Color Drenching? A Comprehensive Guide to This Timeless Technique to learn more about this bold design trend.
11. … Or Use Wallpaper to Transform the Room
Instantly transform your living room with wallpaper. The floral wallpaper above is just one example of wallpaper designs you can choose from to complete your living room. Opt for faux brick, embossed designs, geometric patterns, or faux shiplap wallpaper to help bring your vision to life.
Tip!
Check out Wallpapering 101: How to Install Wallpaper to discover how easy it is!
12. Bring New Life to Your Fireplace
Give your living room fireplace a glow-up with a decorative fireplace screen. Fireplace screens come in a variety of styles and finishes. The golden branch design pictured above adds a fun twist to the space and elevates the pared-back fireplace. Fireplace screens also come in a variety of other patterns and nature scene outlines to bring character to your living room.
If you want to fill your living room walls and increase storage space, shelving is the perfect option for you. You can use shelves to display your favorite decorative items, family photos, or books. If you want to add more storage space, try freestanding shelves, or if you want a smaller display space, stick with wall shelves.
The right coffee table can transform your living room and act as a statement decor piece! Center your living room around a mirrored coffee table to bring a bit of glam to your space. Or opt for a coffee table with a live-edge wood base to add a natural flair to modern living rooms.
Layer multiple area rugs in your living area to add depth and warmth. Start by setting the tone with a large area rug featuring a solid color or muted pattern. Place a smaller area rug with a bold pattern directly on top for a fun dimensional look. This idea works in small and large living rooms alike to anchor furnishings and add personality to your space.
Tip!
If you love this layered area rug look, read our guide How to Layer Rugs for tips on recreating it in your home.
16. Add Intentional Pops of Color
Use living room decor to add a bit of color to otherwise neutral living rooms. Take brown leather and gray upholstery to the next level with bold yellow decorative pillows and a blue throw blanket. Spread notes of color onto the walls with a yellow abstract art print, and ground the neutral palette with a blue area rug. Accent colors are highly customizable, so it’s easy to swap out these colors for other shades that speak to you.
Dress up your coffee table with a display fit for a French country or farmhouse aesthetic. Start with a few stacks of books you want to have on display. Elevate the look with a trio of decorative candlesticks. Leave room for a floral arrangement and decorative vase with your favorite seasonal flowers – or faux ones.
If you’re looking for decor that doubles as a practical piece, wall clocks are an excellent addition to your living room. They come in a variety of styles, from industrial to glam, so you’re sure to find one that’ll be the center of attention.
Separate books and decor by color for a simple yet striking way to add decorative accents to your living room. The TV stand pictured above demonstrates how effective and easy this idea is to recreate. You can easily translate this idea to your coffee table or living room bookshelf – anywhere you’d like to add a controlled pop of color.
Create a cohesive look with living room decor of the same pattern. For example, a black-and-white striped area rug acts as a base, while striped throw pillows carry the theme onto the sofa. A striped jar and abstract art print add subtle notes to the theme to tie the room together.
A decorative bowl can go a long way in enhancing your home aesthetic. Fill a metallic bowl with colorful ceramic baubles to create a one-of-a-kind centerpiece. There are a variety of decorative bowl designs that can stand on their own without fillers. This includes blown glass designs, faux shell configurations, hammered metal styles, and more.
Decorate your window seats to create a cozy spot to read, enjoy a cup of coffee, and soak up some natural light. Start with a long seat cushion to cozy up the spot and add a few decorative pillows so you can lean back and relax. Grab a decorative tray to hold your reading materials. Don't have a spacious window seat area? Create your own using a bench!
Keep things simple yet impactful with oversized wall art for living room decor. A four-panel set of abstract artwork instantly adds character to a neutral living space and enhances the modern aesthetic. Hang large prints above your sectional or above the fireplace mantle for a big impact.
Stack decorative trunks or baskets for a quirky alternative to a living room side table. You can also use a large decorative trunk as a makeshift coffee table with plenty of storage space inside. With vintage-inspired appeal, decorative trunks work well in coastal, farmhouse, rustic, and traditional living rooms.
Gingham patterns go with a variety of decor styles including traditional, farmhouse, and coastal. A pair of blue gingham accent chairs create visual interest while providing a cozy place to sit. They also create a cozy contrast to the stone fireplace. For a more subtle look, you can swap in gingham pillows, throws, or even an area rug.
Mix things up by bringing topiaries into your living room. Topiaries can pair with modern and traditional aesthetics alike thanks to their shape and design. Traditional topiaries look great on either side of the fireplace or framing a sofa. You can also place topiary balls in a decorative tray or opt for a pre-made arrangement.
