It’s one of the most used rooms in your home. Regardless of whether it’s a spot to relax and catch up on the latest Netflix series or spend time with friends and family, it’s important to make it a comfortable yet functional space.
Here are over 60 living room ideas to turn it into a retreat that you simply can’t wait to come home to:
Sort out your storage first
Before you start the fun job of decorating, it’s time to reduce clutter in the living room and get organised. Whether you have limited space or not, these easy living room decor ideas are sure to assist in hiding your stuff with style.
1. Entertainment units
If you tend to accumulate a lot of stuff, it’s worth investing in a multi-purpose entertainment unit. You have to put your TV somewhere anyway, right? Consider low cabinets with ample drawer space so they don’t take up much room.
2. Baskets
Baskets are perfect for storing toys, remote controls, spare blankets and all those bits and pieces that end up on the couch. Best of all, whether you choose wicker or woven baskets, trendy crates or cool storage boxes, they’ll look great in your living room.
3. Chest of drawers
With so many options available, you’ll find a chest of drawers to suit your unique style. This is one of the neater small living room ideas that’s easy to incorporate. Use it as a feature furniture piece in your living room, and no one will ever know it’s full of household clutter.
4. Under window storage
Adding window benches are a great way to use what could be dead space. It provides another way to keep books, toys, and all the extra clutter hidden. This little area could even be a cosy reading or lounging space.
Work like this is best left to the professionals who can create furnishings with the right dimensions to suit your home. So if you want some custom shelving, check out who is available in your neighbourhood to help out.
5. Trunk
Need to hide things? You can’t do better than a trunk with a lid. It means you can throw things in there last minute when a guest buzzes the doorbell. It’s great that you can keep moving them around the home wherever you need that extra bit of storage.
If you’re struggling with clutter, you can get professional home organising done to keep your space spick and span effortlessly.
6. Toy storage
Implementing permanent toy storage is the perfect solution if you want to keep your children’s toys hidden away. It’s also a good way to teach your kids about tidying up after a good play session.
7. Built-in shelves
If you’re dealing with a lack of space in your living room, built-in shelves might be a good option for you.
Get a custom design, so the shelves are big enough to hold baskets and boxes for storage, as well as books or ornaments.
There are plenty of carpenters nearby on Airtasker, ready to help build the right shelves for you.
8. Wall-mounted TVs
Bring a sense of sophisticated style by elevating your TV. Not only will you be freeing up space on your console table, but you’ll also be able to display accent pieces like candles, coffee table books, or small houseplants.
Need help putting up the TV? There are plenty of TV wall mounting experts near you who are ready to help!
9. Tiered coffee tables
Coffee tables have so many uses, and they can become the central focus of your living room. Opting for tiered coffee tables gives you room for visually interesting conversation pieces like magazines, vases and candles.
10. Bookcase shelves
Have a lot of headroom in your home? Make the most out of your vertical space with bookshelves. You don’t need to fill each tier with reading material, of course. Add plants, art pieces, and photos – it’s a great place to house your favourite things.
Get creative with colour schemes and themes
Once you’ve decluttered and organised your space, it’s time to revitalise it with a new colour scheme or theme. These palettes are sure to breathe life into your living room.
11. Monochromatic
A monochromatic colour scheme is a beautiful way to create a harmonious look. Basically, it means using different shades, tints and tones of the one colour family.
Blues, greens, creams and greys work well. If you’re keen, you can bring in an accent colour like yellow for a throw pillow.
12. Nature colours
Colours inspired by nature help you feel calm, relaxed and refreshed. Living room ideas include using greens and earthy browns for feature items, like couches or painted walls. Light pine, white walls, plants and plenty of natural light also create the look.
13. Calming blues
Blues, whites and seafoam greens are your best friends if you’d like to transform your space into an abode reminiscent of the beach. Explore decorating your walls with framed art for that shack vibe. A textured carpet can also add to that feeling of waves rushing in.
14. Bright and bold
The key to decorating with bright, bold colours and avoiding that ‘garish’ look is to use just two or three bold colours.
You can do an accent wall paired with a central piece of furniture that uses a complementary colour.
Add elements that match these colours while also making sure you have neutral-coloured furniture to balance out the room.
15. Vintage
Vintage can be interpreted in many different ways. Ultimately, however, it’s all about having those wooden floorboards on a predominately white backdrop. Add splashes of colour, elegant floral detailing, textures, and eclectic shapes on cushions for that lived-in homey vibe.
16. Hygge
One of the most popular modern living room ideas is the Danish concept of Hygge — the art of inviting cosiness and intimacy into your home, with a focus on minimalism. Soothing colours and textures are used to evoke serenity, such as browns, blues, greys, pink neutrals, creams, and whites.
17. Country-style
Do you love the rustic, warming feel of yellows, oranges and creamy beige? A country-style colour palette might suit you. Paint the walls in buttery yellow and match it with wooden furniture or bright pops of colour, and faux fur rugs.
18. Modern sophistication
Classic black, white, gold, silver, and grey instantly make a space look more modern. To achieve the look, place sleek black furniture on a backdrop of white and shades of grey to soften and streamline the look. Incorporate slim and elegant lighting, tables and frames.
19. Pretty pastels
Pastels give your room a fresh, soft and feminine feel. Dusky pinks, light purples, powdery blues and mint greens are just some colours you can play around with. Stick to pastel shades on a neutral grey, white or cream backdrop, and you can be as colour-happy as you like.
20. Zen
Do you need more peace and a feeling of spaciousness? Bring zen to your home with all-neutral shades of beige, white, brown or grey. Introduce colour and texture in the form of nature, with plants, wooden furniture or elegant sculptures.
Let’s enhance those walls…
Are you ready to fill up that empty wall space to highlight your style and create a living space that’s unique to you? See how with these living room ideas…
21. Feature walls
Painting a feature wall is one of the easiest ways to streamline your colour scheme, create a focal point and add excitement. If you haven’t found your inner Picasso yet, you can always find an experienced local painter near you.
22. Mirrors
Mirrors instantly increase the appearance of size, so they’re perfect wall hangings for small spaces. You can also showcase your design theme with colourful frames, different shapes and charming styles.
23. Artwork
In terms of living room ideas, artwork is a ‘must have’. One striking piece can transform the entire look of your space. It doesn’t have to be expensive, either. Simply find something you love looking at, with colours that enhance your design.
24. Photo galleries
Photo galleries on the wall offer an ideal way to showcase your memories while adding an endearing decorative element. Play with different layouts to see what works best and remember that asymmetrical designs often work well.
25. Large potted plants
One of the best living room ideas is to fill a blank wall space with large potted plants. Some great options include Kentia Palms and Bird of Paradise.
26. Fireplaces
You don’t need a Santa Claus chimney to decorate your living room wall with a cosy fireplace if that’s not a possibility. Electric fireplaces look lovely too, but without real flames or smoke.
27. Wallpaper
Wallpaper has made a huge comeback in recent years, to add interesting colour, texture and design. In terms of art, you can even buy photographic-look wallpaper.
It can be tricky to install wallpaper yourself. Connecting with a wallpaper contractor near you gives your walls a well-deserved refresh in no time.
28. Tapestries
Do you have a long-lost tapestry in a cupboard somewhere, that you bought on your travels or received as a hand-me-down? Drag it out and see what it looks like on the wall.
29. Texture walls
Texture-rich walls add depth to an otherwise flat and lifeless room. You could use existing bricks for natural texture or add texture with painting techniques.
Moving around furniture and painting can be a bit of a hassle so lucky there are lots of painters nearby to help you.
30. Wall clocks
Being able to see the time is obviously useful in the lounge room, but wall clocks are just so much prettier than digital devices.
Living room ideas to light it up
Lighting is everything when it comes to creating a wonderful ambience in any room. While it isn’t always as simple as plugging in a lamp, there are local professionals who can install lights quickly to illuminate your space.
31. Floor lights
Floor lamps have a number of uses and throw diffused light that’s perfect for relaxation. They also add to decorative appeal and practicality in lighting-specific areas.
32. Side table lights
Table lamps create an intimate atmosphere and come in various styles to enhance your design. They’re also a prime decor feature to lift the appearance of the whole room.
33. Pendant lights
Pendant lights are mounted on the ceiling and dangle down from a chain or rod. Apart from looking ultra-stylish, they offer concentrated light in one area, for ambience.
34. Wall sconces
When you want to add something extra to your room or want to highlight some beautiful artwork, wall sconces are the way to go. Consider dimmable sconces for cosy nights in.
35. Chandeliers
The blandest of lounge rooms can be enlivened by a chandelier. Modern chandeliers aren’t necessarily the fancy ones of old. You’ll find contemporary designs that offer that ‘wow’ factor.
36. LED strip lighting
If you’re looking for something different in a contemporary living room, LED strip lighting can add that wow factor to any room.
37. Ceiling fans
Ceiling fans are a great energy-saving solution and a godsend in summer. Up until a few years ago, there was a limited number of choices for these fixtures. But nowadays. there are quite a few unique options to suit different interior stylings.
If you’re unsure of how to go about adding this fixture, you can always start by getting the correct measurements for ceiling fans fit for your interiors.
38. Downlights
To make your living room feel bigger, consider installing downlights, which take up less visual space than light fixtures.
39. Decorative lights
It’s amazing what just one string of fairy lights can do for a room. Look for pretty light bulb casings, like flowers, stars, hearts and rattan balls. Pop a string on top of a curtain rod or around a picture.
40. Natural light
Nothing really beats natural light, so check if you’re making the most of it. Do your window coverings allow light in? Are furniture items blocking light from streaming in? Clear the way for the sun to shine through.
Decorate with displays
Do you have a wealth of knick-knacks, ornaments, photos or collections to display? Here’s how to do it, without overwhelming your living room with clutter.
41. Unique shelving
Shelving comes in all shapes and sizes, so consider custom-made options to suit the size and style of your particular displays.
42. Side tables
Side tables are functional, but they’re also perfect for styling displays. Use side tables to highlight pieces like vases, large photo frames, plants or statues.
43. Bookcases
Rethink your bookcase and clear out some space to house your knick-knacks among your favourite reads. Doing so also breaks up the visual monotony of books to create a rejuvenated design feature.
44. Glass display cabinets
You’ll find glass display cabinets in secondhand stores or garage sales, which are easy to refresh. If you have a lot of ornaments or collectables, make them a feature and keep them safe by putting them all in one spot.
45. Coffee tables
If you’re currently using your coffee table as a purely functional piece, it might be time to rethink its design value. Style yours with candles, flowers, small stacks of books or a treasure or two.
46. Console tables
Console tables are thin enough to fit in small spaces, and they’re excellent for highlighting displays neatly.
47. Decorative desks
Are you a stationery fan, who also needs a comfy space to rest your laptop? Decorative desks store your stationery paraphernalia, with a practical purpose too.
48. Window sills
When was the last time you really looked at your window sills? Dust off the surface and create a charming display of herbs, small books, candles or ornaments.
49. Reading nooks
If you have space to create a little reading nook, you’ve got the perfect excuse to display books, reading lamps, vases and photo frames alongside your comfy chair.
50. Vignettes
In design, a vignette is a small, visual picture, created by grouping a few objects together in one spot, to draw the eye to the area. Aim to create vignettes with all of your displays for impact.
All-important accessories
Living room ideas just wouldn’t be complete without discussing the most important accessories. Here’s how to complete your look.
51. Throw pillows
Using throw pillows on the couch or chairs is one of the best ways to streamline your colour scheme. Match pillows to a standout colour in artwork or furniture. Don’t be afraid to mix and match patterns and shapes either.
52. Floor rugs
A well-placed floor rug really enhances the artistic appeal of a space, with colour, texture and style. In a practical sense, rugs help to reduce noise on hard floors, while adding to comfort underfoot.
53. Plants
The value of a few indoor plants in your living room can’t be overstated, and it’s not just because they’re beautiful. As natural humidifiers, plants improve air quality and just looking at them can reduce stress.
54. Window blinds & curtains
Your window coverings make a big difference in terms of the quality of natural light in a space and the overall design appeal. Often, changing your blinds is all it takes to revitalise the living room.
55. Throw blankets
There’s just something about a throw blanket placed strategically on the arm of a chair. It evokes instant relaxation. Cosy materials for throw blankets include wool, faux fur and knits.
56. Serving trays
Be prepared for winding down with drinks by keeping a decorative serving tray handy. Pop one on the coffee table or a funky tray on wheels. Complete the serving station with glasses, cups, ice, and snacks.
57. Coasters
Haven’t you ever wanted an excuse to buy all those pretty coasters you see at the markets and home decor stores? Go on, splash out and use them as a design feature on coffee and side tables. They’ll also protect your table tops.
58. Occasional chairs
Providing you already have chairs for comfort, an occasional chair could be that one piece that finishes your design. Options include rocking chairs, swivel chairs and French provincial chairs.
59. Antiques
Antiques range from intricate sculptures to musical instruments and retro turntables. Just one quirky piece that fits your style can take your living room from average to design success.
60. Candles
Candles are often overlooked in living room design, as they’re just so common. However, there’s nothing common about the effect candles have on your senses. Visually, they’re lovely when lit, but you can also smell scented versions and hear them crackle, which adds to the overall feel of a space.
Mix and match many of the items on this list, or just pick out one or two living room ideas to refresh your space. No matter what you choose to do, it’s easy to design, decorate and paint your way to that retreat you can’t wait to come home to.
So what’s next on your renovation hit list? Perhaps it’s the bedroom, and you’re in luck because we’ve curated over 65 bedroom ideas to spark your creativity.
Do you have some more ideas to share? Let us know in the comments below.
