Drawn In
Make a wide open space feel homey by arranging chairs and sofas close together and away from the walls. Just make sure you include plenty of space for traffic flow. Add a central piece, such as this checkered area rug , to help define the area and eliminate "floating" furniture .
Make a Statement
Dress up a neutral room with accessories. Look for statement pieces, such as this sunburst wall sculpture , to create a sophisticated vibe. Keep furniture simple, but accent it with a boldly patterned rug. Soft pink accents add a needed punch of color but don't distract from the statement pieces.
Video: Living Room Makeover
Get ideas for redecorating your living room, one step at a time.
Room to Change
If you like to refresh your decor frequently, stick with neutral walls, flooring, and furniture . Neutral pieces flow from one design style to the next, making redecorating on a budget a snap. Orange and aqua accents are the colors of the moment in this neutral living room, but they can be changed out over time as tastes change. Up the trend factor by throwing in some fun patterned pillows.
All Grown Up
Pink and blue aren't just for the nursery anymore. The colors look chic blended with rich brown and dark wood in this living space. The flirty polka-dot throw pillows and floral chair covers keep the space looking youthful and fun.
On Safari
A touch of animal print goes a long way in this vintage-inspired living room. Fun zebra-pattern pillows and an upholstered ottoman accent soft blue walls. Other furniture and accessories remain neutral, allowing the pattern to shine.
Fireside Chat
A fireplace is the perfect place to create a gathering area. Here, the heavy stone fireplace shines among neutral walls and furniture. Dark accents, such as the ottoman and side table, provide contrast so the room doesn't look washed out.
Pack a Punch with Color
Join two small living spaces together with a strong color palette. Here, reds dominate in the back room but act as accent pieces in the front room. Vintage chairs blend perfectly with the youthful and playful vibe created by area rugs and patterned pillows.
Colorful Contrast
If you don't wish to paint (or rent a spaceyou cannot paint), contrast all-white walls with bright accents. In this living room bright blue curtains and patterned pillows prevent the open space from looking barren. Pairing light colors with dark furniture , such as the coffee and end tables , plays up the hue and grain of the pieces.
Whiteout
All-white rooms need a dose of personality. Bright red and blue patterned throw pillows pack a punch of contrast while keeping the space calm and relaxing. Dark wood furniture prevents the space from looking washed out.
Close & Cozy
Convert a small basement room into a cozy living room. Soft cream walls prevent the space from feeling cavelike. Bright artwork and patterned throw pillows keep the space feeling youthful and fun. A comfy oversize couch provides the perfect spot to unwind after a long day.
Perfect Arrangement
A unique room shape can make arranging furniture tricky. For a narrow space, try placing a couch along the back wall. Flank the right and left sides with love seats or chairs. Keep accessories simple and create symmetry by placing end tables on both sides of the sofa .
Designing with Basics
Keep the basics in mind as you start to decorate. Purchase versatile seating in neutral colors and add character as you go. The large Oriental area rug and subtle touches of blue go a long way toward making a statement in this neutral room. The classic silhouettes of these armchairs and sofa will endure through trends and decor changes.
Optical Illusion
Prevent a small living room from looking cramped by choosing the right furniture . Exposed chair legs and airy coffee tables make even the smallest spaces look larger. Keep accessories simple so they don't overtake the delicate feel of the furniture.
Kid Haven
Even the littlest members of your family need a place to relax and unwind. Contrast neutral walls with bold patterned fabrics and brightly colored accessories. Make organizing easy by placing baskets for books and toys at kid level.
Sophisticated Beauty
Make a statement with dark walls and bright white molding. In this living room, the beautiful coffered ceiling echoes the lines of the fireplace mantel and creates a sophisticated vibe. Traditional furniture with classic lines blends perfectly into the stylish living space.
Tied Together
Open floor plans present a decorating challenge: balancing the need to unite spaces while giving each zone a distinct vibe. Try tying spaces together with a soft accent color . Here, a soft blue from the living room's ottoman and throw pillows flows perfectly onto the stools lining the kitchen's breakfast bar.
Patterned to Perfection
Bring a canvas of neutral walls to life with pattern and texture. This living room packs a punch of character with vintage-inspired chairs and throw pillows . The contrasting accent rug adds another complementary splash of pattern.
Cottage Cozy
Create a country cottage feel with wood-paneled walls and classic cottage hallmarks, such as gingham, plenty of blue, cheery neutrals, and a bouquet of textures.
Simple & Clean
Soft white walls and modern furniture make up the backbone of this Zen-inspired living room. Low-lying furniture with simple lines creates a streamlined look. Bright orange and green accents keep the space looking crisp and clean.
Classic Sophistication
This living room looks chic as it blends modern comforts with traditional pieces. Cozy chairs with exposed legs and velvet upholstery recall furniture of the late 19th century. Aged dark wood tables add an air of formal elegance. All of the vintage accents shine through a casual vibe offered by the white walls and dark flooring. Placing classic furniture and accessories within a space that is inheritably casual creates a unique look that will service both formal gatherings and day-to-day relaxing.
Vintage Beauty
Funnel a passion for everything old by creating a vintage-inspired living space using pieces purchased from consignment stores and antiques shops. Reupholster worn-out cushions with modern fabrics to keep the room looking up-to-date. Mix and match wood frames to give artwork an eclectic feel.
Art Show
A monochromatic color palette allows artwork to shine. In this living room photos and paintings stand out against brown walls and dark furniture. Prevent the room from looking too dark by adding splashes of bright color and white lighting .
Dynamic Duo
The duo of brown and blue is always popular for decorating . To give the classic combo a more personal look, use hues that suit your design style. Here, shades of bright blue and sepia brown lend a traditional yet casual persona to this family-friendly living room.
3-in-1
Don't be afraid to mix themes within a single space. This living room embraces a charming combination of cottage, boating, and travel, which reflects the homeowners' styles and interests. Floral-print pillows add a touch of cottage comfort. Boat- and fish-inspired wall decor brings in a splash of the sea. And suitcases used as a coffee table make the space look traveled and eclectic.
Keeping It Simple
Create a relaxing living space by painting the walls a soft shade of green. The color will blend perfectly with almost any accent color or design style you choose. This living room keeps it simple with traditional neutral furniture , dark wood accessories, and a splash of blue accents.
Patterned to Perfection
Use a statement-making piece of furniture as the starting point for your living room decor . With neutral walls and flooring, this room gets it character from the boldly striped chair. Other patterns throughout the room feature the same color palette and echo the vertical stripes. Furniture with modern lines ensures that all of the pieces look cohesive.
Homey Neutrals
Wake up a neutral color palette with touches of pattern and texture. Paisley-print pillows in a soft blue stand out against the neutral-color love seat. The dark wicker coffee table and window shades add depth and richness to the soft space.
Traditional Meets Contemporary
Mix modern and contemporary furniture styles to create a room that's all your own. This living room houses a cozy, traditional sofa and modern chairs with simple, clean lines. Keep contrasting furniture styles in a similar color palette to tie the pieces together.
Nature's Beauty
Bring the outside inside by painting your walls a soft, dreamy shade of sky blue. In this living room, bright shades of buttery yellow and fiery orange echo colors found in flowers and sunlight. Reflective surfaces such as the coffee table and picture frames enhance the plentiful sunlight streaming in from outdoors.
Collective Effort
Give your room a collected, eclectic look with varied patterns and wood finishes. Bright red and blue patterned pillows stand out against a neutral sofa . Bold blue-and-white ikat curtains complement the large Oriental rug . The dark wood coffee table provides a subtle contrast against the lighter wood floors and bookcase.
Bold & Beautiful
Pack a punch with pattern and color against all-white walls. Bold coral and just a hint of blue are the colors of choice for this living room. Complementary patterns on the chair and ottoman blend perfectly with the solid-color sofa . The blank white walls emphasize the grain and hue of the dark wooden accents.
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