You've spent hours on Pinterest looking at living room ideas so that you can create your own dreamy space. So what does a perfect living room look like to you?
Are you seeking a serene and tranquil place to unwind after a tiring day, or are you leaning towards a vibrant and lively area for hosting and entertaining?
A great living room is a blend of comfort, functionality, and aesthetics. Here we'll go through 15 gorgeous rooms and pick apart the nuts and bolts of what makes a great living room as well as creative solutions for things like working with small or awkward room layouts.
Get inspired with these brilliant living room ideas, no matter what your style!
Start with a color palette
If you look around your living room and it feels a bit disjointed. There's a good chance that you don't have a cohesive color palette or that your palette is too wide.
You may find it helpful to narrow down the number of colors by deciding which ones you'd like to focus on, and swap out pieces that don't fit with your new, narrow color palette.
Have no idea where to start?
Figure out your style! For example farmhouse, coastal, bohemian, and (my personal favorite) modern classic palettes are pretty muted. They focus on a few colors and repeat those colors in different, complimentary hues throughout a room. They also tend to layer textures to create more interest.
Whereas modern and minimalist designs don't use a ton of layers or accessories, so in order to create interest, they use a few bold pops of color here and there.
Another good place to start can be an area rug. If you have a rug that you love, look at all the colors in the rug, and there's your color palette! Try to repeat those colors throughout the room.
Living Room Ideas
Even if you have a cohesive color palette, you still might be thinking to yourself, "How can I make my living room look nice?". Let's look at some more ideas to elevate your space.
Window Treatments
Why you need rugs
Rugs help define and delineate different areas within a room, especially in open floor plans. They create visual boundaries for specific functions like seating areas or dining spaces.
Whether it’s a bold statement piece or a subtle addition, rugs are incredibly versatile elements that go beyond mere aesthetics, impacting the functionality, comfort, and overall ambiance of a room.
As you look through these photos, imagine what each of these rooms would look like without rugs (or window treatments). Then you can really appreciate how much they transform a space!
Layer Lighting
Great lighting makes a space feel warm and inviting.
If you haven't spent much time shopping for lighting before. Here is some basic, but essential information.
Lighting comes in different colors.
- Warm Light - Color temperature between 2,000-3,000 Kelvin. This is more cozy, calm, and intimate. Similar to candle light. Very popular for most interior spaces.
- Cool Light - Color temperature between 3100-4500 Kelvin. This color light is bright and vibrant, but casts more of a blue hue in a room.
- Daylight - Color temperature between 4600-6500 Kelvin. Daylight bulbs emit an even cooler color temperature that mimics natural daylight. While this is beneficial in some scenarios, it might not always create the warm, cozy ambiance desired in certain living spaces.
Cooler lighting (higher degrees Kelvin) might not complement specific color schemes or interior design styles, especially if you're trying to incorporate warmer tones.
Combine ambient, task, and accent lighting for depth and functionality.
Above, you can see that the room has a chandelier at ceiling height, a picture light above the mantle, and I imagine that there are likely table lamps and/or floor lamps elsewhere in this room as that would complete the look.
Plants
Humans are meant to be surrounded by nature. So bring the outside into your home by incorporating plants into your decor!
Did you know that studies suggest that being around plants can reduce stress levels, boost mood, and contribute to an overall sense of well-being?
Plants create a calming and soothing atmosphere. But what if you have a black thumb?
Research suggests that both fake plants and real plants have the same positive effects on your brain!
So if keeping plants alive isn't your jam, no worries! You can invest in faux or dried plants and still reap the same benefits.
Fresh Paint
If your willing to do it yourself, taking on a DIY painting project can be incredibly impactful.
The transformative power of paint remains significant, even when opting for a hue that isn't vastly different from the current color.
A simple fresh coat of paint on the walls has the remarkable ability to entirely revitalize a room without breaking the bank.
DIY painting offers the most bang for your buck, making it a highly cost-effective way to rejuvenate any space.
Living Room Ideas: Troubleshooting & Creative Solutions
Decor Staples
Lost on what kinds of accents to decorate your living room with? Here's a list to get you started.
- plants
- vases
- sculptures
- candles
- bowls and trays
- books
- art
- accent pillows
- throw blankets
What can I put in my living room to take up space?
If you're lucky enough to have a rather large living room, you might find yourself overwhelmed by the task of making the space feel full enough.
Regardless of whether you have a large or a small room, it is always important to size furniture appropriately.
It's typically better to have fewer pieces that are larger in size, rather than many small pieces. The latter makes a room look too cluttered.
In the photo above, you can see that a large sectional was chosen to try to fill up the large space, without making it feel too busy.
Another thing I love about the above photo is the use of stools! Using stools like this breaks up a sea of chairs while providing more seating. They are also small enough that they can be easily moved out of the way when you don't need them.
Other good things to incorporate when you're trying to fill up space are console tables and side tables.
Baskets or chests can be a beautiful addition to your room as well and make a great place to store blankets and other things you want to keep neatly tucked away, but in close reach.
Pictured below is an old blanket chest that I got from my grandfather. This piece was in his bedroom and now I'm so pleased to have it front and center in my own living room!
It makes a wonderful coffee table, but also has a ton of storage inside. Win, win!
Awkward living room layout ideas
Some houses are not graced with living room layouts that are inherently easy to work with. But, no fear! Let's talk about how to approach some of these tricky layouts.
The first one we'll look at is the entry/living room combination. It is important to try to create distinctly separate areas with this type of layout. Use hooks, seating, and rugs (definitely rugs) to delineate the entry area.
Use your living room furniture (and another rug) to create a visual barrier to separate the spaces. Check out this next example to see what I'm talking about.
Next, let's talk about the long and skinny living rooms. A tried and true design for these rooms involves a couch up against the wall, flanked on either side by a small chair.
For all rooms, but especially this shaped room, always keep the walkway in mind!
If you have an L-shaped room, or an oversized room of any shape, try to create multiple spaces.
These can be different seating areas, a craft table area, whatever works for you! Don't be afraid to break the mold a little bit.
Dividing up the space will make it visually more approachable and, ultimately, it will probably function better for you and those you live with.
Lastly, lets talk about bump outs and weird walls! My best suggestion for this is to try to pull your furniture into the middle of the room so your layout is less dictated by the walls.
Try it yourself!
I hope you feel fully inspired after looking at these gorgeous rooms and getting some of your own living room ideas!
Crafting a stunning living room that reflects your style and maximizes functionality is a labor of love. Creative solutions for challenges like awkward layouts or limited spaces only serve as opportunities to showcase your creativity!
By combining inspiration with practical tips, you now have the tools to transform your living room into a captivating haven that not only impresses but also caters to your lifestyle needs.
What are some of your favorite creative solutions that you've used in your own living room? Share in the comments below!
If you're looking for more ideas on decorating your living room, you might also me interested in:
The Complete Guide to Window Treatments: How to Hang Curtains Properly