25 Best Living Room Inspiration Ideas
Looking for the Best Living Room Inspiration Ideas? The living room is the most popular place in a house to entertain guests, and where families come together to end their day, relax after a long workweek or enjoy a TV show together.
In most cases, this room is on the main level of a home and sees a lot of activity. It’s imperative that your living room have a friendly atmosphere to ensure the comfort of visitors.
1. Mix and match patterns
This living room feels like a breath of fresh air, and it’s all thanks to the white walls and furniture. But the spaces stays true to its roots with a smattering of bohemian-inspired patterns.
The coffee table and black chair add just the right amount of contrast to the room, and the white brick fireplace makes the space feel cozy.
2. Create a conversation area
The layout of this free-flowing space allows for a natural conversation area. Two sofas facing each other are the perfect spot to have a chat with a friend and a cup of tea.
The modern coffee table is a perfect spot for a vase of flowers, a candle, and a few books.
3. Make a great room feel like two separate spaces
In an open floor plan, stake out a section for the living room with two love seats, or one love seat and two chairs, a large coffee table, and a rug. In this space, the seating placement distinguishing a living space from the dining area beyond.
4. Mix Rustic and glamour
You can mix and match styles in your living room, too. This cozy yet elegant space designed by Heather Hilliard is a masterclass in blending old and new, rustic and glamorous.
The modern brass coffee table and traditional rug are the perfect juxtaposition to the more casual seating and rustic wood ceiling. The hint of black on the sconces and the trim of the curtains helps tie the room together.
5. Create a focal point
The focal point of a living room is where your eye is drawn to when you first walk into the room. It’s the most decorated part of the space and typically where the main source of light is coming from, like a window or a fireplace.
In this living room designed by 2LG Studio, the focal point is the large, colorful piece of art over the mantel. The bright colors are carried throughout the room in the throw pillows, and the blue and pink hues are balanced by the white walls and sofa.
6. Use what you have
This is a great example of a small living room that has been made to feel bigger simply by the layout. If you have a small living room, don’t automatically assume that your sofa needs to go up against the wall. Pulling furniture away from the walls can make the room feel much more spacious, and you can still have a clear walkway around the furniture.
We also love the use of color in this living room. The soft, neutral scheme is livened up with the colorful cushions and the artwork.
7. Bring the outdoors in
There’s nothing more calming than being surrounded by nature, which is why so many of us love to take a break from our busy lives and head to the countryside. But who’s to say we can’t bring a little of that tranquility into our living rooms?
The organic shapes, natural materials and calming colors in this living room designed by Studio Ashby are all inspired by the surrounding English countryside. The designs of the furniture and decor are also nods to the great outdoors.
8. Use color to highlight architectural details
The color scheme of this living room is built around the deep blue of the built-in shelving. The rest of the room is kept neutral with white walls, a light wood floor, and a tan sofa.
The blue is repeated in the patterned rug to ground the seating area and add a pop of color. The built-in shelving is styled with a mix of colorful and neutral accessories to create an eye-catching focal point.
9. Create a cozy reading nook
If you have a large living room, consider creating a reading nook in the corner. This is a great way to add more seating without taking up a lot of space.
All you need is a comfortable armchair and an accent table for a place to set your book and a cup of tea. Add a floor lamp and a rug to define the space and you have a cozy reading nook that looks like it was made for your living room.
10. Add a pop of color
If you’re not a fan of color, you might want to skip to the next slide. But if you love color, you’re in for a treat. This living room designed by Emily Henderson is a great example of how to add color to a space without going overboard.
The base of this room is neutral, but the bold pops of green and blue give it so much life. The key to making this look work is to repeat the same colors in different patterns and textures.
11. Play with textures
If you want to create a cozy living room, it’s all about layering textures. This gorgeous room designed by 2LG Studio is a masterclass in how to do just that. The velvet sofa, the sheepskin rug, and the curtain fabric all add a warmth to the space, and the layers of color, pattern and texture give the room a lovely depth.
12. Mix modern and traditional
This living room designed by Aamir Khandwala is the perfect example of how to mix modern and traditional design. The color palette is traditional, but the pieces themselves are a mix of both styles.
The modern, organic-shaped coffee table and the traditional, rolled-arm sofa are a match made in heaven. This room also shows how to make a statement with your fireplace. The stone surround and the oversized mirror make for a beautiful focal point.
13. Add a bar
If you love to entertain, then why not add a bar to your living room? This is a great way to create a focal point and give the room a real purpose.
You could go for a full-on built-in bar, or just create a small area where you can store drinks and mix up cocktails.
14. Add a rug
Rugs are a great way to anchor a room and can help to zone spaces in open plan areas. Plus they add color, pattern and texture.
If you want to keep things really simple, just add a neutral rug that will add warmth and interest to your space without taking over.
15. Add a gallery wall
A gallery wall is a great way to add personality to a living room. It’s a spot you will want to feel inviting and homely so fill the walls with photos, prints, and quotes that make you happy.
There is no right or wrong way to create a gallery wall, but we would recommend planning out what you are going to hang before you start putting holes in your walls. You can use brown paper to cut out the shapes of your frames and stick them to the wall first so you can play around with the layout.
16. Add a mirror
Mirrors are a great addition to any room, but they work particularly well in living rooms.
If you have a smaller living room, a large mirror can help to create the illusion of more space, and it will bounce light around the room, making it feel brighter and more airy.
You can also use a statement mirror to create a focal point in your living room.
17. Add a chandelier
A chandelier is the perfect way to add a touch of elegance to your living room. This space from thesisterstudio uses a chandelier to add a bit of glam to an otherwise neutral room.
The best part is you can find chandeliers in so many styles and price points, so there’s something for everyone.
18. Create a media center
If you have a large living room, you might be wondering how to fill the space. One idea is to create a media center.
In this living room designed by Emily Henderson, the TV is mounted on the wall, but the TV stand is used to add height and depth to the space. It also helps to fill the wall and create a focal point.
19. Add a pop of color to your built-ins
If you have built-in shelves, you know how hard it can be to keep them from looking cluttered. This living room by Emily Henderson Design is the perfect example of how to style your built-ins to perfection.
The key is to add a pop of color to your shelves. Emily used a mix of white and wood accents with pops of blue to create a cohesive look. The result is a beautiful, layered design that doesn’t look cluttered.
20. Create a coastal feel
If you love a coastal feel, but want to avoid the cliche blue and white color scheme, take some inspiration from this living room. The soft, sandy colors keep the look relaxed and light, and the wood and rattan textures add to the beachy feel.
The sideboard is actually a kitchen unit, but the owners have used it as a focal point in the living room and we think it looks fabulous. If you want to create a living room that feels like an extension of your kitchen, you can find more kitchen island ideas in our gallery.
21. Add a window seat
If you have the space, a window seat is a lovely addition to a living room. Not only does it create a cozy spot to sit, but it also adds an extra design feature to an otherwise plain wall.
You could have a window seat built-in, or you can create a similar look with a bench, as was done in this living room. Then add plenty of cushions and throws to make it the perfect spot for curling up with a book.
22. Mix and match furniture
When you’re designing a living room, you don’t have to stick to one style of furniture. In fact, mixing and matching different pieces is a great way to add depth and interest to the space.
In this living room designed by Arent & Pyke, the designers used a combination of modern and traditional furniture to create a cozy and inviting space. The modern sofa is paired with a traditional coffee table, and a pair of contemporary armchairs are mixed with a more traditional side table.
The key to mixing and matching furniture is to make sure that you have a cohesive color palette and that you balance the different pieces throughout the room.
23. Use a large coffee table
If you have a large living room, you might want to consider using a big coffee table like this one. It’s the perfect size for the large sectional, and it adds a modern touch to the room.
If you have a smaller living room, you can still use a large coffee table, but you might want to get one with a glass top so it doesn’t look too heavy.
24. Add a plant
If you are thinking of how to decorate a living room, the best place to start is with a focal point. A fireplace is a classic choice, but if you don’t have one, you can create a focal point with furniture, art, or lighting.
We love how this living room uses a large plant to create a focal point. The greenery adds a pop of color and draws the eye to the center of the room. Plus, it’s a great way to bring the outdoors in.
25. Add a pop of color to your ceiling
A bright blue ceiling is the perfect way to add a pop of color to a living room without being too overwhelming.
If you’re not ready to commit to painting the entire room, focus on your ceiling, like designer Ceara Donnelley did here.
Conclusion
We hope you’ve found some inspiration for your living room. Whether you prefer a minimalist look, a traditional feel, or something in between, you can find ideas for your living room. You can also find ideas for your furniture and color schemes.
Would you like to add any living room inspiration ideas to the list? Please leave them in the comments section below. We would love to hear from you!
