When it comes to designing any space, it really is the little things. The right piece of art, a pair of curtains, or a well-styled shelf can have an outsized influence on the overall look and feel of an interior. And so, when it comes to picking decor for your living room, it’s important to consider the effect that you want it to have.
Maximalists might err toward a more-is-more approach, but even when you’re going for an eccentric vibe, a bit of order is necessary. As such, our favorite living room decor ideas are those that have rhyme and reason; they consider crucial design principles like scale, harmony, and color-coordination to create spaces that look perfectly balanced. Understanding why, exactly, these spaces work can help you to recreate their magic in your own home.
So, Havenly designer Kelsey Fischer is here to unpack 23 of her favorite living room decor ideas, which you can borrow and translate in your space as you wish. Happy decorating!
1. Living Room Decor Ideas: Statement Collectibles
Personal elements — like trinkets picked up on travels, hand-me-down treasures, and family heirlooms — are what really make a space feel like home. Arranged in an eclectic vignette, they get pride of place.
2. Living Room Decor Ideas: Plant Wall
If you’re fortunate enough to have ample sunlight filling your living room — and happen to have a green thumb — a wall filled with plant life has a much-welcome greenhouse effect. Clean, uncomplicated furniture like this sofa from Interior Define pair wonderfully with all the leafy greens.
3. Living Room Decor Ideas: Layered Mantel Mirrors
Some dried florals, quaint pottery, and elongated candlesticks bring sweet cottage style to this classic living room. Two mirrors layered on the mantle make a perfectly unstudied focal point, while some slipcovered armchairs add to the room’s charm.
4. Living Room Decor Ideas: Symmetrical Bookcases
A bit of symmetry can work wonders in balancing out a living room. Two brass bookcases in this space echo the twinned armchairs, without creating too much sameness. Varied decor on each shelf gives each one a distinct look that adds variety to the interior as a whole.
5. Living Room Decor Ideas: Layered Textiles
Need to liven up a minimalist space? A few layered textiles can do the trick — as evidenced by the throw pillows in this space, which make the long sofa especially welcoming.
6. Living Room Decor Ideas: Leaning Oversized Artwork
All you need is one oversized piece of artwork to make a living loom more intentional. Behind a sleek L-shaped sectional, a framed photograph invigorates this space. Instead of hanging, it leans against the wall, propped up on a credenza, for a more casual look.
7. Living Room Decor Ideas: Eclectic Color
The hodgepodge of vibrant hues and patterns in this living room lend it a cool, eclectic feel — without it looking unplanned or chaotic. A vibrant gallery wall sets the extensive color palette and a few simple details, like white walls and a walnut credenza, keep the space balanced.
8. Living Room Decor Ideas: Color-Coordinated Books
Sometimes the best decor is what you already have — just arranged differently. Shelves filled with color-coordinated books make this otherwise neutral living room playful and distinct.
9. Living Room Decor Ideas: Stylish Ledge
Every blank surface is an opportunity to create a memorable design moment. The vignette styled on this ledge turns what would otherwise be an awkward spot into a refined focal point.
10. Living Room Decor Ideas: Basket Wall Decor
To add dimension to a space, consider three-dimensional wall art. A collection of sisal baskets styled as a makeshift sculpture brings a one-of-a-kind touch to this living room.
11. Living Room Decor Ideas: Art Sets
Coordinated — but not exactly matching — art prints make for thoughtful wall decor. Here, they’re styled in a delightfully unexpected way, overlapping with a column deep blue on an accent wall.
12. Living Room Decor Ideas: Soft Table Styling
A narrow console table, positioned along the back of a sofa, naturally lends itself to accessorizing. Two woven baskets, positioned on its lower shelf, make a soft, natural contrast to the more sculptural decor on its top.
13. Living Room Decor Ideas: Library Vibes
Pair a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf with a ladder, and you’ll create a wall design that’s straight out of a childhood fantasy. A few decorative busts, a dark navy paint color, and some gold-framed artworks add to this interior’s stately appeal.
14. Living Room Decor Ideas: Max Gallery Wall
Calling all maximalists: Consider this the go-ahead to go all-out. A cheery yellow wall lays the perfect foundation for a fully-filled gallery wall. The secret to making it work? Opt for varied frames that aren’t overly detailed.
15. Living Room Decor Ideas: Pattern Play
Wallpaper is seldom not one of our favorite living room decor ideas. The striped walls in this room help a chartreuse sofa pop and pair nicely with more eclectic decor, like vintage rackets and a modern sconce.
16. Living Room Decor Ideas: Symmetry
Call it the mirror effect: a few moments of perfect symmetry in this small living room give it an outsized sense of style. A lack of wall art keeps all the focus in this interior on the statement-making furniture, like the striped sofas, burl table, and modern floor lamps.
17. Living Room Decor Ideas: Media Console Bookcase
For a living room decor idea that’s as practical as it is stylish, opt for a media console that doubles as a more artistic element. Neatly arranged shelves, filled with colorful books and objects, make this glass-door console a statement piece.
18. Living Room Decor Ideas: Funky Lamp Styling
Never underestimate the power of a good accent lamp. The wicker shade of this table lamp brings a subtle bohemian element into this space, while also standing as a dynamic sculptural detail.
19. Living Room Decor Ideas: Basket Planter
A touch of texture always makes a difference. Nestled between a sleek, mid-century-inspired sofa and a bouclé armchair, a large plant in a basket planter looks delightfully unexpected and lively.
20. Living Room Decor Ideas: Statement Drapery
If wallpaper’s not an option, consider printed drapery instead. The linen curtains in this living spce complement the coral velvet sofa that sits right in front of them, and they bring in a bit of traditional charm thanks to their floral print.
21. Living Room Decor Ideas: Cottagecore Classic
Shiplap walls, brass candle sconces, floral throw pillows, and woven baskets — all the details in this charming living room lend it a sweet cottagecore appeal. A classic sectional has a timeless look that pairs well with the more traditional decor.
22. Living Room Decor Ideas: Radiator Decor
Make your living space work with you, not against you — that means making the most of features you can’t change without an extensive renovation. Framing a radiator with a column and a shelf turns what could be an eyesore into an artistic element.
23. Living Room Decor Ideas: Back of Sofa Classic
In a small living room, you’ll typically only have space to align a sofa against the wall — but you still have space to slip a narrow console table behind it. That shelf provides space for decorative books, art objects, and fresh or dried florals. The result is romantic and perfectly charming, especially paired with a modern pink sofa.
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