14 Modern Design Ideas for Living Rooms
The living room is the other room in your house, besides the kitchen, that is meant for friends and family. Even if you don’t do any entertaining, you likely want it to look comfortable and pulled-together. Here are 14 decorating ideas that will satisfy you, in a range of styles from relaxed family room to a formal living room.
1. Forgo Chairs
If you need a lot of seating, consider forgoing the idea of chairs altogether. If your space allows, get two oversized sectionals that face each other.
2. Use a Barn Door
If you want to be able to separate the living space from the kitchen, a barn door allows for this, and takes up less space than a hinged door. Paint the barn door in a neutral to match the wall, or make it a pop of colour.
3. Use White to Lighten Up
It’s easy to achieve a luxurious, modern, and neutral look with white fabric coverings and wall paint. Choose decorative accent pieces in light colours to add some dimension and extra depth.
4. Mix of Traditional and Modern
Who says furniture of the same style and period have to go in the same room? Pick the living room furniture you want for your living room, even if it’s a long vintage sofa across from some antique chairs, with a modern glass coffee table between them. Remember: if the fabrics don’t go well together, you can always get pieces recovered.
5. Unite Your Space With a Big Rug
In small spaces, one large rug under the furniture will help tie it all together rather than chopping it up with small rugs.
6. Modernize Older Pieces
If you have an heirloom piece, or fall in love with the shape of a settee but don’t like the fabric, give it an update with modern fabric. Go with a wild pattern and keep other pieces in the room neutral.
7. Go for a Mix of Fabrics
Choose the accent colours first, and remember, they don’t have to match. As long as they have the same or similar colour temperature and vibrancy, they’ll work. Choose furniture in neutral colours and patterns to bring it all together.
8. Make an Investment in Antiques
As your budget allows you to do so, purchase one fine antique per room. This could be a piece of furniture or an accent piece. Make the antique item the focal point of the room.
9. Mix Up the Seating Options
Don’t limit your living room space to sofas and club chairs; use benches, odd side chairs, and ottomans as seating options.
10. Divide the Room
If you have a big open-concept space for a great room, you can use furniture placement or even cedar ceiling beams to help visually define and divide the rooms into separate areas.
11. Get a Relaxed Look with Layered Neutrals
Get a minimalist and relaxing look with white linens and chalk-painted antique furniture. Paint the wall and window trim in a darker gray and opt for un-adorned windows instead of curtains, or choose a roll-up blind to keep it simple.
12. Hang Art Like in a Gallery
It doesn’t matter if your art collection is eclectic or formal; hang all your art together on one wall to achieve a gallery-like feel.
13. Use Historic Elements as Accessories
Instead of a typical coffee table, consider a flat-top trunk. Choose a pice that coordinates with the colour scheme of your room, and bring in a sense of history to your living room.
14. Open Up the Room
Pull furniture away from the walls and towards the centre of the room to keep traffic flow open.