Living Room Style Tips

Designing your living room is about both form and function. Once you’ve got the function down, it’s time to integrate style into your space.

Design, in all formats, is about balance. In designing the layout of your space, you will have to consider the size and scale of large living room furniture as well as texture, color, art and living room decor. Read on to get more tips to creating and effortlessly style living room.

Creating Dimension With Texture

When it comes to style, it’s important to be strategic about how you incorporate texture into you living room. In general, you should use textiles, such as pillows, throws, curtains, and even rugs, to soften up the hard edges of your furniture, especially metal and glass pieces.

Depending on the season, you should use different materials to incorporate texture and add dimension to the space. In spring and summer, flat, crisp materials like cotton, voile and linen will lend a cool feeling to your living room—not to mention keep you comfortable in the heat. In fall and winter, cozy textiles like chunky blankets, plush rugs, and cashmere, wool and faux-fur throws will warm up the space (and you!), and give it snow day-worthy seasonal style.

Warming Up With Natural Elements

In addition to layers of textiles, using warm, natural elements in your living room is a great way to balance out the rougher edges and colder materials of your furniture. Integrate botanicals, plants, and flowers throughout the room on console tables, side tables, and pedestals. Fill empty corners with fiddle leaf fig trees or rubber leaf trees for instant style. Sprinkle decorative accents like natural weave baskets and bowls through the space, and warm up your floors with natural fiber rugs.

Adding Personality in Small Doses

A living room filled with only furniture feels like a showroom, but decorative accents are what makes it feel like home. To infuse your living room with personality, mix new and old accessories. Place a couple stacks of your favorite books on your coffee table. Dress tables with decorative pieces like framed photos of family and friends, boxes, bowls, and vases. Decorative boxes, in particular, are a must-have for your living room, as they can hide clutter (like remote controls), add height, and you can use them on any surface. Look for vases with interesting shapes and finishes, so you can display them empty as art objects, or with fresh or dried flowers and botanicals. Try corralling your accents on decorative trays to neaten things up; Large trays are a shoo-in for coffee tables and ottomans, while smaller trays are at home on dressers, consoles, and countertops. And for the perfect finishing touch, that appeals to the senses, a candle is a must.

Art for the Living Room Wall

No living room is complete without engaging wall decor. From prints and canvas to photography and artwork, there’s no shortage of wall décor to suit your space. Not sure what works? The answer is simple—just buy or collect what you love and everything will fall into place. Try one or two oversized art pieces or arrange several gallery wall style for added impact.

Changing With the Seasons

When the weather changes you’ll want to freshen up your living room to keep things comfortable. But don’t worry: You don’t have to completely redecorate. Try making simple adjustments to the color palette, such as with a simple change of throw pillows, lamp shades, and decor. And don’t forget your mantels! Freshen up the look of your living room by highlighting favorite accents on your mantel or displaying different fresh flowers, botanicals, or branches throughout the year.