Learning how to decorate a living room can totally transform the feel of your home. From working with what you already own to picking the right art for the walls, this quick guide will show you exactly how to decorate a living room—the easy way!
If I had to pick the room we hang out in most, it would be hard to choose between our living room and kitchen. Yes, the kitchen is the heart of the home, but the living room is too. Since we spend so much time there—and it’s so central to the house—it’s one of my favorite places to decorate.
I got the chance to redecorate my living room one summer not too long ago. In fact, a lot changed in there that summer. Our fridge had a faulty water filter, which sounds minor except that it leaked everywhere and badly damaged our floors, so they all had to be replaced.
Plus, our drywall got damaged too (super fun), so everything had to come off the living room walls so they could be repainted. The silver lining is that while I wouldn’t call the flood “fun,” some good has come of it. Namely, I get to decorate my living room all over again.
UPDATE: Since I shared this, we moved to a new home and I got to decorate a new living room using these same tips!
Right now, our gallery wall is gone, and so is the clock over the TV. We have new flooring in here and a larger new TV that will be mounted on the wall as soon as our new sectional arrives in the next few weeks. In a lot of ways I’m back at square one with my living room, rethinking the art on the walls as well as the furniture arrangement.
So I thought it was the perfect time to write a “how to decorate a living room” post, since I’ve been working through it myself. Here are some of my favorite living room decorating ideas.
How To Decorate A Living Room
We all know styles come and go, but these are solid living room decorating tips that will work for the long haul. Don’t feel overwhelmed or stressed about adding character and charm to your space. It will all be fine, and the result will be a relaxing oasis you get to call home. Let’s dive into your new project with these tips and ideas to inspire you:
Step #1: Arrange Your Furniture
Choosing and arranging furniture is one of the most important steps when decorating a living room. Why? Because how you arrange the furniture sets the stage for how much room you have to work with.
The best place to start is by looking around the room. What catches your eye? Is it floor-to-ceiling bookshelves, a picture window or a beautiful fireplace? Whatever your answer, decide to make that the focal point of all your decorating.
Next, think about the flow of traffic. Don’t place a chair or table right in front of an area people normally use to get to another room. If your living room is large enough, pull the furniture away from the walls. In my opinion, that feels much more welcoming. When you place your couch, chairs, coffee tables and other pieces around the room, it feels more intimate when they sit closer together.
For more detail on how many inches to leave between furniture pieces or how many pieces to put in a room, check out my post “How to Choose and Buy New Furniture.”
I’m a big believer in working with what you have, so even if you don’t want to replace any furniture, you don’t have to! Swapping a sofa for a few chairs and moving the coffee table around can make all the difference.
Before you buy any new furniture, measure the space! I’ll go into detail shortly, but this step matters so much that I wanted to mention it a couple of times. Jot the measurements down in your phone or in your home binder, and keep them handy as you shop!
Pick the Size of Area Rugs Carefully
Choosing the right area rug size can feel baffling, but it really matters. You don’t want a tiny 3 x 5 rug in a huge room, or it will just feel strange. On the other hand, a large area rug in your living room can make the room look bigger than it is.
Always find an area rug that truly fits your space. Leave enough room for 18 inches between the edge of the rug and the wall.
It’s completely fine to have the front legs of your couch on the area rug. Otherwise, the rest of the furniture (except the coffee table) should either be large enough that everything fits on it, or small enough that nothing sits on it. (See the diagram above.)
Choose a color that complements your color scheme. Don’t be afraid to add a little pop of color for extra character when you decorate a living room with a rug, either.
Read more about choosing the right size rugs for your home HERE!
Where To Hang Artwork in the Living Room
Art is a lovely way to add color and texture to your space. Plus, if you don’t have a natural focal point, a large painting or another art piece can serve as one.
In the living room, you don’t have to hang all the art really high. Your living room should feel inviting, and most of the time people will be seated. So feel free to hang pieces lower here than you would in other rooms.
If you hang a large piece of art above your couch, keep in mind it should be at least two-thirds the width of the sofa. Otherwise, if a piece is too large or too small, the whole room can look off. One way around this is a gallery wall that fills the space, rather than a single piece. Learn more about how high to hang art HERE.
Add beautiful art on the sides of your windows. A general rule is to leave at least 4 inches between the window and the piece, but sometimes rules are meant to be broken, like Bre from Rooms for Rent and her gorgeous mirror above her couch that overhangs the window trim. LOVE!
Either way, you want to add a stunning piece that makes an impact on the space!
When it comes to hanging a group of art, measure your space before you begin. Then make mock-ups of your art with paper and painter’s tape. You can arrange and rearrange the “art” as you like until you land on a design you love. Then put the real pieces in place.
Odd numbers always look better than even ones because they’re more naturally pleasing to the eye. Place any large pieces in the center of your arrangement, then fill in the spaces with smaller art.
Need help decorating a large wall in the living room? Check out my DIY Wall Decor Ideas HERE!
Set The Stage With Lighting
Lighting is more than just an accent piece; it’s essential and inviting. The living room shouldn’t be too bright, since it’s a space for relaxing, watching TV and visiting with friends and family. Give it a romantic feel with lights that can be dimmed. They’re also best for watching TV.
Use lamps for extra light that isn’t harsh. Accent lighting is fantastic for nighttime. During the day, natural light is best. If you like, you can even spotlight art pieces with light so they stand out in the room.
We do have a beautiful ceiling fan that I love – with lighting – but we rarely turn on the overhead lights. Instead we use the lamps every single day, even having them set to turn on and off via our Amazon Echo. We can control them with our voice (switching them on and off and even dimming them), and it’s one of my favorite features in the room.
Choosing Paint Colors
When it’s time to choose a paint color or colors, keep in mind that you’ll be looking at it for a long time. (Unless you decide to repaint, of course!) So choosing something you love is very important. No pressure. Ha!
I usually gravitate toward more neutral tones, but I definitely have a soft spot for brighter shades now and then. If you prefer a bright, bold color, I recommend using it on just one wall and toning down the others.
White is always fabulous because it adds natural light and gives the room a sleek, stylish feel. Grays (like this one), tans and taupes are timeless neutrals that go well in most spaces. A good middle ground between color and muted tones is a pale blue – it looks great in most homes and is naturally calming, which is always a win for a space with lots of children in it!
If you have an especially closed-in living room, I’d steer clear of dark colors. They can make a room feel dark, small and unwelcoming unless there’s plenty of natural light. Larger rooms, or rooms with lots of natural light, can handle dark colors much better and create a cozy atmosphere.
In the end, the decision is yours, and there aren’t any wrong answers. As long as you love it, that’s what counts. Go with soft or vibrant colors, whichever you enjoy most.
Space Planning & Measuring
Finally, planning your space and measuring your living room is one of the key pieces of any makeover. You need to know your space and how much of it you have. The most important step is measuring accurately. I suggest measuring more than once and writing down each result. Make sure they match, and you’re good to go.
So what will you do with those measurements? Depending on your preference, you can either sketch the room on graph paper at a smaller scale, then measure your furniture and see where everything fits best.
The second option is to try a virtual room website that gives you a 3D view of your room. Use whichever one is easiest for you.
When it’s time to decorate a living room, don’t be afraid! Remember, there are very few things in a living room you can’t easily undo or change. Happy decorating!
