102 Living Room Decorating Ideas

Materials that connect to your location are key to adding character. In this coastal Lowcountry living room, a natural sisal rug hints at marsh grasses and is also durable and easy to clean. The alligator skull speaks to the local wildlife, while palms in antique glass and fern-patterned pillows add to the room's Lowcountry vibe and carefree polish. A vintage kilim is layered over the sisal rug in a spot that is protected from heavy traffic.

An elk antler trophy is the focal point in this primarily gold-hued living room. The soft wall color and muted ceiling keep this space feeling relaxed, while a palm tree triptych and blue, green, and mulberry furnishings and fabrics provide colorful accents. Adding splashes of color in an otherwise monochromatic space makes for a more lively room.

Designer Sam Blount used the biggest rug possible to tie this blue and white space together. "I'm a big fan of large rugs in small spaces—too many bitsy ones visually chop up the floor." says Blount. The rug and upholstered chairs also have similar prints that tie them together.

These oversize sectionals allow everyone to sit with plenty of room to spare. The bench-style seat cushions look cleaner and don't shift around like multiple seat cushions do. With a furniture arrangement like this, you'll be lounging and conversing comfortably for hours.

A barn door allows the living space to be separated from the kitchen if nessessary, while taking up less space than traditional hinged doors. Close it to make your living room feel private and intimate. Then slide the door open anytime you have a free-flowing party.

The settee in this room was given a modern update with wild fabric, while neutrals were used to cover the curved vintage sofa and rounded swivel chairs. The brightly colored lamps, art, and fabrics add a punch that keeps this room from being stuffy or staid.

Achieve a luxe neutral look with white upholstery and decorative accents in a variety of soft hues to add extra depth and dimension. By using overstuffed furniture, this formal living room feels more relaxed. Try washable slipcovers if you have a high-traffic area.

The 11-foot-long vintage sofa in this living room is a mod counterpoint to a pair of traditional antique chairs. A collection of traditional and modern artwork is displayed on the walls. Even with this eclectic mix, the brown and gold color scheme unifies the room.

"I don't think fabrics have to be matchy-matchy to communicate with each other," Lindsey Ellis Beatty says of her sunroom. "If they share a similar vibrancy and color temperature, they'll look good together." The designer set the room's happy mood with a bright color palette of pink, turquoise, and chartreuse. A base of whites and neutrals helps keep the space grounded.

As your budget allows, invest in one fine antique per room. Here, a round French marble-topped gueridon table becomes a focal point and provides rich color in an otherwise ivory room. A pair of armchairs by the windows creates a secondary gathering space in this Birmingham home.

Seating shouldn't be limited to club chairs and sofas. Utilize benches, ottomans, and odd side chairs to accommodate more people. As a plus, the bench in this Sea Island beach house allows for conversation in either direction and can be moved around the room.

Modern homes often have an open floor plan in the living space. Use architectural details, like the cedar ceiling beams in this room, to help visually divide the living room from a dining area or kitchen. In this Georgia home, a rug and a pair of leather chairs also define the space.

You can mix old and new, formal and casual, neutral and bold to make an inviting and comfortable space. Here, bold stripes and a unique side table are more contemporary, while custom draperies add a touch of tradition. The furniture has contemporary lines but is upholstered in classic neutrals.

"To give Country French my minimalist spin, I avoid the expected ruffles and plaids and keep it about the painted antiques and white linens," says homeowner and designer Regina Lynch. "In this house, curtains would have been too much, so instead I painted the trim a dark gray for a similar, but cleaner, look." Soft green walls and a seashell lamp make the space relaxed and beachy.

Give a random collection of art pieces museum-worthy treatment by hanging them together on a single wall. Before committing, trace an outline of each frame and create paper cutouts that you can rearrange into the perfect position. Try these tips on hanging your own salon wall. 

Use a flat-top trunk as a coffeee table to bring a sense of history to a room. This chocolate-brown piece coordinates with the neutral color scheme of the room, and the nail-head trim is mirrored in the decorative sofa hardware.

To keep the traffic flow open, pull the furniture away from the walls and into the center of the room―a type of arranging commonly referred to as a "floating furniture plan." In this cozy den, the furniture arrangement provides easy access to an exterior door. An octagonal ottoman in a bold fabric set on a cowhide rug anchors the furniture.

Comfortable furnishings, historic moldings, and museum-quality antiques go together in this 1830s Charleston living room. "Rooms in Charleston have a personal, collected look that is rich with layers of history," says interior designer Jenny Keenan. "If you don't include those traditional pieces, such as an antique secretary, you're cheating all the people who lived in your home before you." Use antiques to anchor your room and then mix in modern touches with bold fabrics, mid-century lighting, and sculptural accessories. 

Horizontal wood paneling clads this chimney from floor to ceiling instead of the usual brick or stone. The wood material ties together with the built-ins flanking the hearth, making the entire wall an interesting feature of the room. Deeply stained wood floors and furniture add additional warmth to the space.

This Louisiana living room shows that you don't need to shy away from bold patterns or unusual colors in a small space. A loveseat is covered in an unexpected lilac, while an animal-print chair heightens the drama. A floral rug and coordinating pillows add further texture and color.

In the modern addition of this Nashville home, crown molding and decorative trim were removed in favor of simple woodwork with clean lines. Modern furniture and decor also give the room a sleek appearance. If you want a contemporary edge, you can't go wrong with the modern classics like these white-leather Barcelona chairs and Lucite coffee table.

Give your living room a focal point by creating a faux fireplace with an antique mantel. In this Georgia row house, a vintage fireplace was set on a rectangular piece of slate used as the hearth. A gray mirror inside the opening adds depth to the room.

Short on windows to capture natural light? Replace solid exterior doors with glass ones for an airy feel and pretty views of your yard. A skylight was added when renovating this 1935 cabin to make the room even brighter.

The living room of a Georgia row house was designed to resemble an early-1900s library. The room contains a wall of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Two large double-hung windows punctuate these built-ins, along with cozy window seats below. A Classical bust would fit right into the library of a turn-of-the-century home.

This modern bungalow's living area has floor-to-ceiling sliding glass doors that fill the room with light. Horizontal mullions in the glass doors are reminiscent of Japanese shoji screens and reinforce the Asian theme of the home's exterior. "They complement the space by guiding your eye around the room," says designer Jennifer Gilmer.

Don't be afraid to personalize the items you buy. Almost every chair in this North Carolina living room was refinished: Two armchairs were whitewashed, and the blue velvet chair was gilded. "Neutrals can be so beautiful, but I am always drawn to bold color because it brings a room to life," says interior designer Megan Young. "Using a variety of colors adds to the sense that furniture and objects have been collected, not just bought for the space."

This sofa with its supreme comfort, rich color and fabric, and clean lines is definitely a forever piece, so it was worth spending a little more money on. The honeycomb mirror over the fireplace was an inexpensive purchase from a chain store. It's unique enough to look like a custom-made piece.

Don't be afraid to look anywhere and everywhere for ideas. This homeowner found inspiration for her walls in a bag of gourmet marshmallows: She used the soft, sophisticated colors to dictate her palette. The plate rack that once showcased antique plates in her parents' home holds cherished photos.

This Louisiana home makes brilliant use of an often-overlooked space; the upstairs landing was transformed into a small den for an inviting, casual family hangout. Built-in shelving also made full use of every inch by incorporating a bench for curling up with a book. Bamboo Chippendale-style chairs and vibrant turquoise Moroccan poufs add more seating.

The designer of this room in a Georgia mountain home added trim to the bottom of a basic sofa to dress it up and a mix of custom pillows to pull colors from around the room. Diamond-shaped molding on the walls provides an unusual focal point, while grass-cloth walls also add interest and texture.

Keep a file of your favorite samples and inspirational images even if you can't afford a makeover yet, or haven't found the home of your dreams. This homeowner/designer kept all the fabric samples that she loved in a bag until she found the right home to settle in. She'd also been acquiring updated yet traditional pieces for just the kind of collected look she liked. See more of this designer's cottage here.

Make your living room unique and nostalgic by using heirloom pieces. This homeowner's great-grandfather owned a bungalow, and he fondly remembers childhood visits to the family home. George Krauth filled his own Tennessee bungalow with family furniture and one-of-a-kind attic finds. His family members often say, "Oh, give that to George―he'll know what to do with it."

Use bright colors and strong patterns to punctuate an otherwise neutral space. The red upholstery and fabric in this living room add energy without overwhelming the area. Boldly patterned pillows also bring in a touch of blue.

You don't have to give up style even in your high-traffic living room. Guests and kids need not reach for coasters before putting drinks down on the distressed coffee table in this lakeside cabin. Scrapes and dings only add to the character of the piece. A patterned area rug is forgiving of spills and dusty feet.

You can pull off a patriotic color scheme without being kitsch. Try hints of red with a pretty blue backdrop. Use natural linen instead of bright white. Bonus tip: Hide the flat screen. The painting above the fireplace can be rolled along the galvanized metal track in this country cottage, revealing a television.

In a restored 19th-century farmhouse, ceilings were made to look taller by painting the baseboard and crown molding the same color as the walls. The uniform wall color also allows the original mantel and wood-paneled ceiling to shine. Wingback chairs and an antebellum piano hearken to the past in this historic home.

Use a fabric pattern to inspire the color scheme and style of your room. The fabric on these armchairs pulls together the bright red and gold tones of the family room in this Georgia mountain home. The coffee table and built-in furniture provide space for storing games and books.

Since guests typically gather in the kitchen, a keeping room is ideal for overflow and comfort. They can relax while still keeping company with the cook. Consider using furniture that is comfortable and durable, as this space is sure to be one of the most used in your home.

"I'm kind of obsessed with blue French opaline glass now," says homeowner Christy Ford. The bright, almost turquoise color can be seen on table lamps and candlesticks in the living room as well as in the entry. "I would go crazy with that color, but I learned from my mother to keep the base neutral in order to let accessories really shine. She has reined me in a little bit to retain the calmness." See more of this designer's Virginia home here.

If you have space, create a separate, more intimate seating area in your living room for quiet conversations. This will allow smaller groups to gather when you're hosting an event. This conversation corner can also provide a welcome reprieve for adults away from the kids.

Ready for a change? Washable slipcovers in lighthearted new fabrics perk up old upholstery and give the furniture a longer lifespan. Stools at the counter are slipcovered in coordinating fabric.

Asymmetrical arrangements can be intimidating, but formal symmetry is easy to pull off and adds a calm balance to a room. In this Nashville home, the simple symmetrical arrangement above the fireplace is clean and elegant. The stain-treated fabrics in this formal-looking room are designed to stand up to wear and tear.

Layer a variety of patterned rugs over a neutral sisal rug covering for an exciting floor treatment.

The owners of this historic Louisiana home painted the coffered ceiling in a whimsical light blue to make it stand out. A similar approach could be used with decorative wall paneling. An Early American sofa is covered in a contrasting dusty rose silk velvet. 

This armchair is re-covered in a botanical print fabric. The legs are painted white to lighten the visual weight of the piece. Tucked into a corner of the living room and paired with a set of nesting tables, the chair is a perfect spot for reading.

Decorating is not like doing the laundry. Lights and darks go together just fine, as do primary colors. In fact, they're made for each other in this Kentucky living room.

Although less than 2,500 square feet, this North Carolina cottage feels larger because of the homeowners' clever decision to open up and connect the main living spaces. The family room is also vaulted to reveal the loft space above―yet another way of providing extra volume to a relatively modest space.

This homeowner of this D.C. apartment bucked the "matchy, matchy" rule by placing different end tables and lamps on either side of the sofa in her living room. Though one table is a white Asian-inspired look and the other is a black step-like design, both tables are the same height. A variety of bold geometric designs embellish the ottoman, the drapes, and even the mirror.

Allow your guests rather than your walls to provide any color to the space. Here a homeowner painted all of the background surfaces, including the brick fireplace, a clean shade of white. A few touches of deep blue make the whites appear even more brilliant.

If you're a frequent redecorator, keep the base neutral in order to let accessories really shine. White or off-white walls and slipcovers stay the same even as this homeowner flirts with new obsessions. You'll have the freedom to try different color schemes and change things up with pillows and throws.

Draperies do more than block out the sun. Window treatments can transform a room, adding personality and character. These ceiling-to-floor draperies of this formal Nashville home make the space seem taller and more grand.

To enhance the home's 9-foot ceilings, these homeowners upgraded to 8-foot-tall doors and 6-foot-tall windows to let in maximum light. They also aligned the doors and windows at the same height to draw the eye up and create the illusion of more space. As a result, this prefab coastal college is airy and bright.

Flip tradition and paint your ceiling a bright color while leaving your walls white. Because it's a smaller space, the brilliant ceiling color isn't too overwhelming. Bring the color down into the room with coordinating accessories like the window coverings and pillows in this Gulf coast cottage.

Tortoise and conch shells accessorize this coastal living room, while starfish adorn the mantel. Books on South Carolina's coastal area lie stacked on the coffee table and topped with shells. Vases of palm fronds simply picked up from outside complete the tropical decor.

"If you look at a piece of furniture and it screams only living room to you, skip it," says homeowner Mia James. In her classic Southern home, she intentionally uses upholstered pieces that can fit into any room. A unified color palette throughout the house also makes furniture interchangeable.

Repeating patterned fabrics in adjoining spaces is a great way to tie them together. Here, the dining chair upholstery is repeated in accent pillows on the living room sofa. At the same time, other prints on drapes and pillows keep the space from becoming matchy-matchy.

Over this fireplace, a painting by the homeowner's aunt provides playful color inspiration. Its coral hues are repeated in fabrics and accessories in this 1920s home. Wallpaper remnants placed inside the built-in glass cabinets hide DVDs and toys and provide an inexpensive, stylish fix.

Anchor a room with a traditional rug and accessories, and then juxtapose them with modern art to reflect your creative personality. The hues of the heirloom rug in this Charleston home play off of the colors of the bottle-cap portrait above the fireplace.

These homeowners flanked the hearth with bookshelves, one of which is designed to accommodate the television. They also removed a wall to open up the space into the kitchen. Now everyone can get in on the action in their Alabama home.

Don't be trapped by a light's intended use. This homeowner painted an outdoor lantern and wired it for the indoors. It's a whimsical choice for a room painted in a lighthearted pink and green.

In this living room, artwork arranged over the door casing serves to draw the eye upward. Painting the ceiling an airy blue also makes it soar. The translucent chandelier and long drapes help the room feel taller.

A sectional sofa covered in a khaki Sunbrella sailcloth floats in the center of this room. The outdoor-rated fabric won't fade and will easily shed stains. Outdoor, washable rugs can also be used in a high-traffic family room.

Mixing patterns is a great way to add interest to a room, but it can get busy. To keep the look cohesive, use patterns from the same color family and vary their scale. Here, neutral walls and upholstery allow the red sofa to take center stage.

Animals use their pelts to camouflage, so why shouldn't you try it too? The cheetah print rug in this Virginia family room hides a multitude of sins. And less mess means less stress.

This living area contains leather swivel chairs that can be rotated to face the kitchen or the TV and fireplace. The long upholstered ottoman does double duty as a coffee table and a bench. In this Tulsa, Oklahoma home, everything is designed to be family-friendly.

Bring the parlor back to your home—this one's for Mom and Dad, not the kids. Created with the feel of a warm and cozy den, the front room in this Georgia row house contains rich upholstery and textiles, dark-stained furniture, and a leather wing chair.

Above the mantel, this homeowner displays an ever-changing arrangement of artwork and accessories. An avid flea market and antique store shopper, as he finds new collectibles, he likes to bring them in as a quick way to change up the look.

See more of this renovated lake retreat here.

In this Kansas City living room, a minimal amount of furniture is sized to fill the space. For a coffee table, the homeowner had a Duncan Phyfe dining table cut down a few notches to a comfortable height for playing games or propping feet. Repurposing this piece allowed her to hold onto a family heirloom.

Designers eliminated the breakfast room in this home and incorporated it into a more casual family room that connects to the kitchen. The den wall was taken down and the space was reappropriated as a sunroom, filling the main living area with more light. A mostly blue palette sets apart the area, which has plenty of seating to accommodate a crowd.