Sharing some of my favorite living room ideas to inspire your living and family room spaces. Living rooms are a main focal point of your home, use these ideas to help plan and put together a space that everyone will love spending time in!
If you’re anything like my family, you probably spend a lot of time in your living room. Our living room is where we read, talk, play games and rest. I’m always looking for living room ideas to add life, color, storage and functionality to our space.
Today, I’m sharing lots of living room ideas to give you inspiration for designing your own living spaces. You’ll find ideas for layout, design, storage and more! Let’s get started…
Layout
There are as many ways to arrange your living room as there are minutes in a year. In short, though, you’re looking for 2-4 pieces to create an area for sitting and talking. If you have a TV in the space, you’ll want at least a couple of the pieces to face it.
Scale of furniture is important. We don’t have a huge living room, so I try to find smaller pieces that can do double duty (for example, a bench that can be used as storage as well as seating). If you have a larger space, you can get away with larger pieces of furniture.
Here are nine easy and doable living room arrangements. Don’t feel like you have to use of these, though. The trick is to move your furniture again and again until you find something you like.
Personally, I love a sofa (or two, if there’s space) plus a pair of chairs for a relaxed seating area. A coffee table in the middle makes a nice addition, plus a side table or two if you have the space.
When in doubt, symmetrical furniture arrangements always work. Also, try to leave between 2-3 feet around furniture for walkways.
Design & Color
The key, in my opinion, to a cohesive living area is deciding on a set color palette, and adding texture through pillows, throws, rugs, and curtains. I recently wrote a post about color palettes to try other than gray and white, which may be a good starting point for your own room’s color palette.
Personally, I tend towards lots of white, with pops of blues, greens and grays in my decor. I also love combining wood and white together for a fresh and modern look. I love to include plants for color, texture and life–both real and faux. Place your plants in fun baskets or DIY planters for an eclectic look.
image via bhg
Not quite sure of your design style and looking for ideas? I love the look of Joanna Gaines Inspired Decor (and if you love Fixer Upper style decor, too, this post has Farmhouse Decor Wall Art Ideas you’ll love).
Storage
A functional living room requires some storage solutions, especially if your space is on the smaller side. Baskets are my go-to for living room storage. I use them to store books, pillow and throws. You can find them inexpensively online, or in stores such as Homegoods, Target, or TJ Maxx.
Also consider a storage bench that can double as seating; it’s an easy and functional option, and you can find styles to match any design style. When I have empty floor space and I’m not quite sure what to do with it, I always consider a bench. Add pillows or throws to your bench to help tie in your color scheme.
Built ins are another great small space storage solution and one of my favorite room decor ideas. Decorate them with books, baskets, photos, or favorite mementos. We’re currently in the process of building built ins for our family room, and I already know we’re going to love the storage and display space they’ll give us!
image via
Rugs and Ceilings
Don’t forget your floors and ceilings when looking to design your living room. Both are a sometimes forgotten part of the space, but are helpful in tying a room together.
Choosing the right rug for your space can help tie all of your décor and accessories together into one perfect display. Rugs add coziness, warmth and texture to a space. You can find well-priced rugs from Target, Rugs USA or Overstock. I share here all about how to decorate with rugs!
Once your floor is covered, you may want to consider design elements for your ceiling. Yes, they exist! Here are some ceiling ideas and inspiration you may want to consider. From ceiling beams to stenciled ceilings to coffered ceilings, there’s a ceiling idea for everyone to add architectural interest to your home.
Personal Touches
I can give you a thousand living room ideas, but the most important will always be this: adding personal touches is the best thing you can do to give your space personality and make it feel like home. No one wants to feel like they live in a museum; adding some DIY and personal touches makes a home feel warm, comforting and welcoming.
I shared the above window pane decor, and it’s one thing everyone comments on when the enter my house. Purchase a boxwood wreath, or make your own magnolia wreath out of felt for inexpensive and personalized decor.
You can also consider a canvas painting tutorial to add some color and style to your space. Take your canvas and craft paints in the color of your living room, and in no time, you’ll have a custom designed piece for much, much less than anything you can purchase.
Free printables are another way to add inexpensive art to your home. We have a full collection of name art and alphabet printables, perfect for spelling out a monogram or favorite word. Alternatively, choose your last name initial and include it in a gallery wall for instant personalized decor.
One great feature you can incorporate into your living room ceiling design is a ceiling fan. Ceiling fans have excellent function in circulating air and keeping your living room cool in the summer, but they don’t have to be seen as only a utility. The right fan can provide an aesthetic centerpiece for your ceiling. Finding fans with natural wood styles is one great way to accentuate wooden features in your living room, but clean metal designs can also play well off of clean whites or deep blacks. Ceiling height can be a common issue for ceiling fans, and particularly low ceilings will usually be better off without fan installations. However, many modern options feature low profiles and mount closely to the ceiling. If ceiling height is a concern, look into low profile or flush mount fans to see if there’s an option that would work alongside the style of your living room.
Many ceiling fans also double as light fixtures, and this added bonus can provide the perfect way to offer a central light to your room. If you’re designing a living room from the ground up, it’s often best to consider a ceiling fan before planning the rest of the room’s lighting, as it may prove integral to the lighting setup as a whole. A fan with exposed bulbs offers direct illumination. On the other hand, many options feature frosted glass that will naturally diffuse the light and maintain a seamless ambience in your living room. Regardless of your preference, there’s sure to be something that’s the right fit for you.
So tell me, what did I miss? What are your favorite living room ideas and decor tips? Hope this post helped inspire your own living room and home decor!
Thanks for reading all about my Living Room Ideas {Room Decor and Living Room Inspiration for Your Home}! Have a lovely day!
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Wednesday 14th of March 2018
Excellent piece. Keep up the great work!