50 Living Room Decor Ideas to Inspire Your Next Design Project

The best living room decor ideas are built around your lifestyle and tailored to the way you like to gather and entertain.

Style your space with furniture, lighting, textiles, accessories, window treatments, wallpaper, paint and more to create an inviting and functional gathering spot for family and friends. 

Check out these living room decor ideas in a range of styles for inspiration.  

Highlight Special Features

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Modern traditional living rooms allow you to turn up the volume when you find a piece you really love, such as this stand-out chandelier, and keep things simple elsewhere.

The simple sofa and rugs balance out the bolder pieces, like the desk chair, the ottoman, and the accent chairs.

Selecting Art for a Living Room

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Art can support the style you’re trying to achieve in your living room.

While this chaise and rug say traditional, the art, including a large contemporary piece, modernizes this corner. 

Arrange art in an organic grouping like this one, rather than a strict grid, to create a more youthful sense of movement. 

Arranging Living Room Furniture

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While the furniture in this living room is contemporary, the symmetrical furniture arrangement, designed for optimal conversation, adds formality.

Unlike the more organic arrangements of modern design, traditional living rooms are set up for optimal conversation and entertaining.

This means several types of seating arranged in a close, circular formation. 

Mixing Design Styles

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This small corner is a masterclass in mixing eras.

Every point has a counterpoint, such as the turned wood table and the bold modern chair.

A geometric lamp sits next to organic, handmade vessels.

A quiet color palette is the throughline, helping everything look cohesive.

Rustic Traditional Living Room

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In a rustic setting like this sitting room, modern elements, such as the sectional and coffee table, freshen up the space.

The traditional rug and accent chair speak more to the style of the room, and a neutral color palette ensures it all goes together. 

Painted Fireplace

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Painting your fireplace can be controversial, but it’s worth it if it allows you to express yourself more fully.

Here, a black-painted fireplace allows the whole room to become more contemporary.

The fireplace speaks to the black windows and the gray accessories, while the deep brown leather sofa and wood coffee table warm things up. 

Styling Vintage Accessories

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Traditional accessories will often have a hand-made or hand-painted element.

Pieces inspired by nature or made of organic shapes are also indicative of the style.

Juxtapose your vintage finds against a modern wallpaper for a fresh update.

Minimalist Traditional Living Room

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Notice how special details, like the antique coffee table and leaded glass windows can really sing when the rest of the room is designed very simply.

A modern sofa in a neutral linen upholstery perfectly blends old and new.

Flower arrangements and low-maintenance houseplants will add a sense of life and movement. 

Incorporate Antiques

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Antiques arranged in a very orderly, symmetrical way bring depth and soul to this room without being overwhelming.

Especially if your home is newer or modern in style, you’ll want to bring in vintage and antique pieces to get the balance of traditional and contemporary just right. 

Open Plan Living Room

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Vaulted wood ceilings and a large brick fireplace form a stunning backdrop for handsome modern furniture in this modern traditional living room.

Painting the architectural features white minimizes them somewhat and allows for an easy neutral color palette.

Still, the room feels warm and welcoming thanks to cognac leather accents and a cozy furniture arrangement. 

Layer Textures

Pin Design by Atelier Davis / Photo by Emily Followill

Layer multiple textures to your living room to make it feel comfortable and inviting.

Interior designer Jessica Davis of Atelier Davis combined warm wood paneling, eclectic artwork, a Beni Ourain rug, a chunky knit blanket, patterned throw pillows, and coffee table styled with books and decor objects in this vibrant space.

Decorate With Plants

Pin Design by Emilie Fournet Interiors / Photo by Kasia Fiszer

When in doubt, add plants.

Then lean some plant-based framed prints on a shelf or on the fireplace mantel, plus some Moroccan rugs, a pouf, and a comfy armchair, and you have this inviting boho-style living room from London-based Emilie Fournet Interiors.

Choose Coastal Elements

Pin Design by Allison Babcock Design / Photo by Matt Kisiday

A coastal living room will create a relaxed feel, whether you live by the water or not. 

Allison Babcock Design used a blue-and-white palette, rustic wood accents, and an eclectic mix of furnishings in this Sag Harbor, NY for a subtle take on the style.

Use Weathered Materials

Pin Design and Photo by Alfredo Paredes Studio

Choosing vintage pieces with a well worn patina will help make your home feel lived in and authentic, whether or not it comes with an oceanfront view.

This Cape Cod fisherman’s cabin from Alfredo Paredes Studio has an indoor-outdoor feel and rustic finishes and decor like a pair of cozy weathered leather French club chairs.

Paint It All Black

Pin Design by Caroline Andréoni Interior Design / Photo by Sophie Lloyd

Matte black paint on the walls and ceiling will create an enveloping feel.

Light oak flooring, a pale area rug, and a large, deep sectional sofa in a soft pale shade of gray create a cozy conversation area in this effortlessly chic French living room from Caroline Andréoni Interior Design,

If true black is too intimidating, consider shades of what the French call “faux black.”

This encompasses shades of gray, blue, green, brown, and other neutrals that are so deep that they almost look black, while retaining a livable and sometimes more flattering softness, depending on the room orientation and natural light.

Supersize Your Greenery

Pin Design by Michelle Gerson Interiors / Photo by Patrick Cline

While a jumble of plants always cheers up a room, a single oversized plant, tree, green wall, or other type of greenery can create added drama in a minimalist space. 

Michelle Gerson Interiors planted an oversized fiddle leaf fig tree in the corner of this modern space.

Mix Pink and Yellow

Pin Fantastic Frank

When it comes to pink, remember to think beyond blush tones and embrace the many shades of this crowd-pleasing and versatile color.

In this serene living room from Fantastic Frank, warm pink walls, a plush rose-colored sofa, mustard accents, oversized lighting, and warm woods create a soothing and inviting ambiance.

Define Space With a Screen

Pin Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer

Windows placed high on a wall can help flood a room with natural light, but they can also create an awkward feel when located above a seating area.

Marie Flanigan Interiors placed a multi-paneled decorative screen (otherwise known as a room divider) behind the sofa that creates a backdrop for the seating area and distracts the eye from the tall windows.

Try Some Mirrored Furniture

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Tessa Neustadt

Mirrored furniture can lift a living room of any style from Hollywood Regency to modern rustic.

This Echo Park cabin from Leanne Ford Interiors mixes organic, textural, and vintage pieces, like a large mirrored cube coffee table that adds sparkle, reflects light, and makes the room feel larger and more vibrant.

Use Oversized Furniture

Pin Design by Michelle Gerson Interiors / Photo by Marco Ricca

Make a statement while adding functionality with an oversized coffee table. 

Michelle Gerson Interiors chose a monumental coffee table with generous proportions and enough visual weight to anchor the large sectional in this living room.

Create Double Seating Zones

Pin Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer

In a large space, creating distinct zones multiplies the functionality of the room. 

Marie Flanigan Interiors created a conversation area on one side of this cavernous living room, with a larger seating area that is visually separated by a console table on the other side.

Choose Textural Finishes

Pin Design by Alvin Wayne

Finding ways to decorate around the TV is always a challenge.

In this New York City living room from interior designer Alvin Wayne, a long carved wood console adds storage and structures the wall housing the flat screen TV, which is finished in a rough and textural concrete-effect gray that adds dimension.

Hang an Oversized Pendant

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Amy Neunsinger

Make a small living room cozier with an oversized pendant light.

In this 1920’s California hunting cabin in the canyons of Los Angeles from Leanne Ford Interiors, an oversized round paper lantern creates an intimate feel.

Brighten Your Walls

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Josh Franer

Adding bright multicolored pops of color in a neutral room is an easy way to change the decor. 

Leanne Ford Interiors added personality by hanging a pair of eye-catching prints in all-white frames above the Chesterfield sofa.

Use Coastal Colors

Pin Design by Allison Babcock Design / Photo by Matt Kisiday

Use bright shades of blue to make a coastal living room feel modern.

In this beach front living room in Nantucket, MA from Allison Babcock Design, the all-white interior is punctuated with shades of blue and natural materials like wood and rattan to give it a clean, coastal vibe.

Hang Double Chandeliers

Pin Design by Marie Flanigan Interiors / Photo by Julie Soefer

If you’ve got a room with soaring vaulted ceilings that results in a giant volume of airspace overhead, hanging a decorative pendant light is an obvious choice to help bridge the space between the roof and the floor.

Marie Flanigan Interiors hung a pair of black metal chandeliers in this spacious living room.

Split Your Sectional

Pin Design by Andrea May Interiors / Photo by Jenny Siegwart

Customize your living room with modular furniture.

In this living room from Andrea May Interiors, a small table between two sections of a modular sofa helps to elongate it so that it fits the wall, while providing space for books and a small light that wouldn’t fit on either side of the wall.

Repurpose a Bar Cart

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Josh Franer

Swap your end table for a vintage bar cart if you don’t have space for a larger home bar. 

Leanne Ford Interiors stocked a round vintage metal and glass rolling cart with everything you need to pour a cocktail around a brass-toned lamp.

Use Rounded Furniture

Pin Design by Jessica Davis of Atelier Davis / Photo by Heidi Harris

Choose furniture like a large sectional with rounded corners to help it feel less imposing without skimping on seating.

In this living room from Atelier Davis, red wall paint adds life to a long, rectangular shape of the space, and a large sectional sofa with rounded corners softens the sharp linear lines of the room.

Choose Sculptural Furniture

Pin Design by Michelle Gerson Interiors / Photo by Marco Ricca

A focus on varying shapes adds interest to this gray-and-white living room from Michelle Gerson Interiors.

A sculptural coffee table anchors the space with soft curves that aids circulation without bashed shins or stubbed toes.

Display Plants on a Plinth

Pin Design by Tyler Karu Design and Interiors / Photo by Erin Little

For a twist on the usual plant stand, use a vintage plinth like this Maine living room from Tyler Karu Design and Interiors.

It’s a fun way to add height that makes your living room layout more interesting while helping make sure that your plant gets the requisite amount of light.

Build In Seating

Pin Design by Jessica Davis of Atelier Davis / Photo by Emily Followill

You can remedy an awkward living room with custom built-in furniture for a tailor-made look. 

Atelier Davis outfitted a built-in banquette with throw pillows to create an additional seating area by the window.

Blacken the Fireplace

Pin Design by Laquita Tate Interior Styling and Designs

In this spacious and light-flooded living room from Laquita Tate Interior Styling and Designs, painting the tall brick fireplace in a shade of matte charcoal black anchors the room and complements shades of green.

Add a Giant Floor Mirror

Pin Design by Alvin Wayne

There are multiple ways to decorate with mirrors in your living room.

Here, NYC-based interior designer Alvin Wayne leaned a giant floor mirror against the wall that bounces around light and makes the room feel doubled in size.

Choose a Statement Pendant

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Amy Neunsinger

A simple way to bring life to a minimalist living room is to focus on a statement piece.

In this living room from Leanne Ford Interiors, an extra-tall rattan pendant light is hung above the coffee table between opposite sofas, adding a sculptural element and soft ambient lighting.

Stack Pieces of Art

Pin Fantastic Frank

Take the stress out of hanging your artwork and stack it casually on the floor against the baseboards instead, like this Barcelona, Spain apartment from Fantastic Frank.

Be sure to vary shapes and heights, and if you prefer, use this same technique to stack vintage mirrors of varying sizes and shapes, and frame styles instead.

Update Your Retro Space

Pin Design by Laura Brophy Interiors / Photo by Hugo Landa Garcia

Incorporate retro pieces to add authenticity to a renovation.

This desert living room in Rancho Mirage, CA from Laura Brophy Interiors features a pair of acrylic armchairs that suits the midcentury modern style home and mixes well with contemporary furniture and decor in warm shades of caramel and beige.

Choose Bright Wall Paint

Pin Design by Studio Peake

Yellow is a versatile shade that plays well with other colors.

This cozy British living room from Studio Peake takes a stand against the gray skies of London with acid yellow wall paint that bring the sun and the good vibes, energizing the classic architecture of the room.

Overlap the Art

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly

To help fill the wall space behind a long sectional sofa, Leanne Ford Interiors layered two large-scale pieces of simple, unframed abstract black-and-white art that is in keeping with the neutral tones of the room.

This informal approach to hanging art on the wall creates a casually chic vibe that’s easier to arrange than a gallery wall.

Wallpaper the Built-Ins

Pin Design by Caroline Andréoni Interior Design / Photo by Sophie Lloyd

Wallpaper the backs of fireplace built-ins for a layered feel.

In this Parisian living room from Caroline Andréoni Interior Design, built-in bookshelves flanking the period fireplace are wallpapered in a dark pattern that adds subtle interest and dimension.

Hang a Gilded Mirror

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Erin Kelly

An ornate gilded vintage or antique mirror will add cachet to a modern living room.

This all-white space from Leanne Ford Interiors has curvy, chunky, sculptural furniture and a vintage mirror on the wall that creates a focal point.

Tile the Fireplace

Pin Design by Studio Peake

This London living room from Studio Peake is a joyful mix of cool and warm tones, decor objects, and patterns.

But black-and-white zigzag tiling on the classic fireplace surround adds a graphic modern touch.

Skip the Curtains

Pin Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Photo by Margaret Austin Photo

Window treatments like curtains, drapes, and window shades can come in handy for privacy, light, and temperature control.

But if your windows face a private backyard, you might decide to leave them naked instead to maximize light, like this midcentury modern living room from Cathie Hong Interiors.

Display Your Art Collection

Pin Design by Tyler Karu Design and Interiors / Photo by Erin Little

Treat your living room walls like an art gallery to show off your collection. 

Tyler Karu Design and Interiors displayed a collection of colorful art on white walls, adding plenty of pattern and cozy textiles and furnishings on the rug and furniture.

Play With Art Display

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Tessa Neustadt

There’s no reason you have to hang a painting over the sofa or the fireplace.

Displaying art in unconventional ways can help you pay more attention to it and create more of a dialogue between a piece of art and its surroundings, like this living room from Leanne Ford Interiors.

Repurpose a Vintage Trunk

Pin Design by Tyler Karu / Photo by Erin Little

In this Spanish Colonial style living room from interior designer Tyler Karu, a repurposed vintage trunk doubles as a coffee table, complementing the earthy brown tones of the room.

Highlight a Design Classic

Pin Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Photo by Margaret Austin Photo

Elevate your living room with a design classic like a lamp or chair.

In this Mountain View, CA living room in a 1956 John Calder Mackay home from Cathie Hong Interiors, a reproduction Grasshopper lamp from legendary midcentury designer Greta Grossman adds a period-appropriate and sculptural decor accent that looks just as modern as it did when it was first designed in 1947.

Hang a 3D Gallery Wall

Pin Design by Leanne Ford Interiors / Photo by Max Kim-bee

Hang a gallery wall with added dimension by mixing art and objects.

This living room wall decor from Leanne Ford Interiors features an eclectic mix of photos, prints, and objects, while a bust posed on the bench in front of it creates a 3D effect that gives it added dimension.

Define Space with a Pendant

Pin Fantastic Frank

In this open plan Swedish living room from Fantastic Frank, a simple triangular-shaped pendant light is hung low over the coffee table.

It helps to define the seating area while providing ambient light that makes the space feel cozier after dark.

Add a Book Tower

Pin Design by Cathie Hong Interiors / Photo by Christy Q. Photo

Set up a reading corner to create space to grab some alone time as well as socialize.

This San Francisco living room from Cathie Hong Interiors features a stylish book tower nestled in a bank of windows next to a comfortable reading chair, allowing reading material to be right at hand without compromising the minimalist feel of the room.

Play with Ombre

Pin Tina Ramchandani Creative

Change the feel of your living room with a custom wall paint treatment.

The star feature of this living room from Tina Ramchandani Creative is the blue gradient paint on the walls and ceiling that creates a calming atmosphere and is more memorable than flat painted walls.