The living room decorating ideas you incorporate into your home are often a reflection of who you are. The living room is where you, well, live! At least, it will be if you decorate it in a way that draws you and your guests in to stay awhile. Yet living rooms these days seem to be suffering a bit of an identity crisis—less functional than the kitchen, more formal than the den, what’s this room’s primary M.O., anyway?
To help you decide, here are some living room decorating ideas to jump-start your muse and make this place the heart of your home.
Use living room decorating to create a conversation pit
No, we’re not asking you to go full ’70s here. Don’t dig a hole in your living room—simply arrange comfortable seating into a U shape. Then sit and wait: Friends will come and conversation will follow. Just don’t mar the streamlined, friendly look with an enormous TV unless you truly have no other options (though, you can easily hide a flat-screen TV, too).
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Make a multifunctional living room
Most homes aren’t blessed with multiple living rooms. (Really, Victorian-era architects? Does anyone need a family room, a formal living room, and a keeping room—whatever that is?!). If you’re in a two-bedroom bungalow and still need an office and yoga space, don’t be scared to subdivide and decorate the living room like an actual living room. Paired with a sleek console table, the back of a love seat makes a great divider for a space that serves multiple needs. Or cover a short wall with a long desk and add a comfy chair that doesn’t scream “office”—and your workspace will blend right in for a live/work/play room/studio.
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Make your living room decor all white…
Scandinavian-inspired minimalism is so soothing in living room decor. White walls, white trim, blond wood, wood furniture … maybe a little leather? If your living room #goals are “relaxing and comfortable” but you don’t want to sacrifice high style, paint your walls white, which is also the ideal way to open up a small space. Just make sure to add a little color (green plants are classic), otherwise you risk slipping into “bland.”
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… Or play with color
White’s not your speed? Bold, bright wall colors add punch and panache to your living room decor. Go dark with a deep emerald to create a cozy, cavelike space, or throw lemon on the wall to create a cheerful abode. Or go completely wild, creating a playful, multicolored living room that tells guests everything they need to know about your personality.
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Make the fireplace the centerpiece
Nothing beats gathering around a crackling fire in the wintertime. And even in the summer, when adding more hot air to the mix would supercharge your sweat glands, fireplaces make a grand statement. Stage a luxurious sofa and matching end chairs around the hearth so everyone feels the heat. Even if your fireplace is a nonworking one, there are plenty of ways to decorate it to inspire oohs and ahhs.
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Showcase your quirks with your living room decorating ideas
Don’t choose living room décor everyone else thinks looks great—design a room you love. And if you love odd, quirky accents, don’t second-guess yourself. Display your Rubik’s Cube collection. Use an ancient chest as a side table. And if you love that wood-paneled accent wall … well, no one’s going to stop you. The more personality you can imbue in this room, the more time you and your guests will spend here kicking back—and isn’t that the whole point?
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