Living Room Design Ideas

The living room is a central part of any home and has to wear many hats. While the space has to function for the people living there it should also be an inviting space. Discover three great living room design ideas to revamp your space by interior designers.

1.       Make it personal

It is important for your house to feel like a home – one great way to do this is to incorporate images and items of importance into your living room décor. As interior designers our top ways to do this are to:

Create a gallery wall: Using family photos of kids, special events or locations of significance, or even some of your existing artwork create a gallery wall.  Select a few images, an odd number of 3 or 5 works best. For a cohesive look consider printing them all in black and white or sepia tone and use the same frame for each photo.  Group the images together for maximum impact.

Curate your shelves: For a styled and personalized space use items you have a connection with – like grandma’s antique tea pot or your collection of silver candle sticks and mix them in with your other décor items.  Have those special items out on display so you can enjoy them daily. 

2.       Add colour

Colour impacts our mood and how we feel about being in different spaces.  Colour is a great way to help you create the look you are after for your living room.  Two great ways to add colour are:

Paint: One of the fastest and most economical ways to change your living room design is to change the paint colour.  If you are after a warm and cozy cocoon like feel perfect for relaxing look for moody tones.  Want the room to feel light and bright look for a warm neutral tone – so many great neutrals think outside white like a light taupe or bone colour.

Dress your sofa: Bringing in items with colour that can easily be swapped out or changed is a great way to experiment with colour.  Dressing a sofa helps the room to feel finished and give it a polished look.  Start with larger darker coloured pillows at the back of the sofa and brighter colours / patterns and textures at the front.  Add in a coordinating throw for an instant colour update.

3.       Create a focal point

If you have a fireplace this can act as a natural focal point in your living room – really play this up by dressing the mantle, adding a mirror or artwork. If you don’t have a fireplace in your living room, consider these ideas to anchor your room.

Wallpaper: Consider adding wallpaper to your living room to create visual interest.  A bold pattern or a neutral grass cloth will highlight a wall and bring attention to it.  Think of the other finishes in the room when making your selection to ensure a cohesive look.

Decorative Trim: Decorative trim is an in expensive way to dress up a plain wall.  Paint it the same colour as the wall or create panels with it and wallpaper inside of the panels for a bolder look.  Not sure if it is the look for you? Use painters’ tape to block off different design ideas before making your final selection.

Bookshelf: A bookshelf can also work to anchor the space and bring visual interest to your home.  It is also a great place to show off personal items or display special collections. Make sure the shelf is the right size and proportion to the wall and ceiling height.

Artwork: Large, oversized art can not only bring colour but can be used to create a focal point in any space.  If you have a large wall, consider two coordinating pieces placed side by side for more drama.

Interior Designer Pro Tip:

Keep paint chip samples, small fabric swatches, and photos of key pieces you have or are considering on your phone.  When you are out and find an item you like, you will be able to check quickly if it goes with your other finishes / items for the space.  This way you will have fewer trips to the store to return items that don’t match or coordinate.

Ready for some inspiration? Check out our Living Room Pinterest board.

Interested in interior design? Have questions? Book a complementary discovery call with us!