If there's one place in your home that really captures the essence of daily life, it’s undoubtedly the living room. It's where you unwind after a grueling day at work, where family movie marathons turn into cherished traditions, and where laughter and stories flow freely during weekend gatherings. With so much happening in this central space, making your living room feel cosy and well decorated isn't just a luxury—it's a necessity.
So, as you sit in your living room, does something feel slightly off, but you’re not quite sure what? Or maybe you’re happy with your current setup but curious if there’s room for improvement? Whether you're looking to tweak your existing space or just have some fun with a design refresh, take your living room from “good” to “great” with these tips to easily decorate your living room into a stylish, personalized sanctuary—no major overhaul needed!
Knowing your room's dimensions
Start with measuring your space even if you already have furniture in place. Knowing your room's exact dimensions helps you see if things are properly scaled and if your pieces still fit well together. It’ll also help you decide if any adjustments are needed, like swapping out a too-large rug or a coffee table that feels out of proportion. Get this part right, and you’ll save time and avoid those frustrating return trips.
Define Your Style
Look around at what you already have and ask yourself: What’s the vibe I’m going for? A cozy retreat, an entertaining space, or a mix of both? Setting a clear intention for your living room helps guide any changes or updates you make, even if you’re not starting from scratch.
These simple, yet effective steps will help you address common living room design challenges: Do you need a larger rug to pull the space together? Is your coffee table the right height for comfort? How to create more flow and seating without overcrowding?
A mood board or floor plan can help you visualize what might be missing or what could be enhanced. One great tool for refining your space is to create a floor plan for your living room.
Create A Floor Plan
The foundation of any great living room design begins with a solid floor plan. Creating a living room floor plan layout before decorating helps you choose the right sizes and proportions for furniture, rugs, and decor. This ensures a balanced, cohesive look and makes the decorating process smoother, allowing you to select the perfect pieces with confidence. If you're wondering how to arrange your furniture and decor effectively, this simple square floor plan layout (above) can serve as a helpful guide. Even if your living room isn’t actually square, the principles we’ll explore apply to any shape or size, ensuring a well-balanced and functional space.
Maximize Your Focal Point To Draw the Eyes
In any living room, a focal point serves as the anchor of the space, whether it's a striking fireplace, a bold piece of artwork, or another standout feature.
If the fireplace is the focal point, use decor like artwork or a mirror above the mantel to draw attention to this frame. Angle two armchairs towards it with a small table for drinks between them. By complementing the front of the space with this setup, you’re ensuring that the room feels inviting and spacious, showcasing your beautifully curated furnishings in the best possible light.
If you want to make artwork the centerpiece of your living room, start by selecting pieces that reflect your style—whether it's a vintage portrait, modern abstract art, or bold metal wall decor. To truly highlight your artwork, you have two main options: integrate it seamlessly with your existing decor for a balanced look, or make it stand out by creating contrast with your furnishings and color scheme. Use complementary lighting for wall art like picture lights or wall sconces to draw attention and enhance its visual impact. Be sure to hang it at eye level to ensure it’s noticed—artwork placed too high can be easily overlooked. Done correctly, your artwork will add personality and character to your living room, instantly becoming the room’s most striking feature.
When you don't have any other choice and the TV is going up in the living room, (because most times the kids are taking over the pajama room) place it so it doesn't dominate the room. You can still draw attention to other features in the living room layout even if the TV is centered. For optimal viewing, avoid placing your TV directly across from a window, as reflections can be a nuisance. Additionally, ensure it's not mounted too high on the wall, which is typically around 100-115 cm from the floor keeping it at a comfortable eye level for a more enjoyable watching experience.
If you're struggling to find a focal point in your living room, create one! A coffee table can serve as an excellent centerpiece. Start by filling a tray with a few fun and unique pieces, like a marble noughts and crosses game, a distinctive candle holder, and some small plants. This collection adds personality without overwhelming the space, leaving enough room for your teacups and maintaining a clean, minimalistic look with just the right touch of character.
FURNITURE PLACEMENT
Always a fan of swivel chairs and this one is soft with a lot of give, plus it has such a pretty modern shape.
There’s a lot of beautiful furniture available, but when decorating this space ensure there's enough space to walk around it. For smaller rooms, consider choosing more compact, small-scale pieces to optimize seating (like a couple of swivel chairs seems like the obvious answer) without overcrowding the space. Giving enough space between pieces of furniture creates a well-balanced living room where you can fit a small side table in the middle of two living room accent chairs giving both an organized and comfortable appearance.
Is there enough seating and will we be able to move around with ease?
Ensure a walkway of 76-91 cm between large furniture pieces to prevent the space from feeling cluttered; if space is limited, aim for at least 46-61 cm for easy movement and maintain an open, airy feel in your living room. If possible, pull it out your sofa at least 8-13 cm from the wall so the room can feel less cramped, and give it some breathing room.
Scale Your Living Room with Area Rugs, Lamps, and Decor Accessories
To create a balanced and visually appealing living room, mix different shapes, sizes, and heights in your furniture and decor. This will instantly bring a sense of proportion, interest, and drama to the living area. If everything is the same size, nothing will stand out. A great way to achieve this in design is by choosing one shade for the walls and the other complementary shades used in textiles, accessories, and furnishings. Use larger items (like area rugs) to anchor the space and smaller accessories for detail.
Use Rugs to Anchor the Space
Rugs add a lot of visual space to a room getting the right size rug is important. When your seating doesn't at least partially sit on the rug, it creates a sense that each piece is isolated, making the room feel disjointed and lacking in cohesiveness. Most living rooms need at least 240x300cm to larger to accommodate the room and have all the furniture floating around it. An area rug with a light color palette will open up your space and create an airy feel -while a rug with geometric patterns creates visual tricks, making the room appear longer.
Need some extra seating when guests come over, or a friend to pair up with your accent chairs, PROBLEM SOLVED this boulder stool/ottoman comes in many stylish colors like diesel pumice and forest. I think this could work in almost any home.
Ensure Your Coffee Table is the Right Scale for Your Furniture
Is your coffee table the right size for your living room furniture? When choosing a coffee table, scale is crucial to avoid awkward visuals. A table that's too far from your sofa, too high like a barstool, or too low where you have to bend down to reach it can disrupt the flow of the room. To create a cohesive look, your coffee table should be about half the length of your sofa and positioned 40–55 cm from the seating. Ideally, the height should be no more than 10 cm higher than the seat of the sofa for a balanced and functional space.
Work in Multiples with Lighting for a Cohesive Look
Without great lighting, your living room might just feel a bit in the dark. Using multiple light sources in a room can create a more dynamic and balanced atmosphere. Think beyond basics: a chic floor lamp in a corner, paired with a statement pendant can transform your space. Layered lighting not only brightens but adds depth and warmth, making your room shine. Remember, it's not just about function; it's about creating a vibe. With all those decor elements, gorgeous natural lighting, and that stylish rug, you're on your way to a very inviting, warm, and uber-stylish room.
Add Easy-to-Maintain Plants In The Living Room
Don’t overlook the potential of artificial plants, they can truly elevate your living room giving it a lush, inviting feel that’s easy to maintain. Whether you’re a fan of faux greenery (and yes, I have a soft spot for artificial plants in all their forms) or you prefer the fresh touch of real plants, there’s no denying that adding a splash of green brings life to any room. Faux trees, vibrant greenery stems, charming topiaries, and cascading hanging plants can infuse your space with color and movement without the maintenance hassle. Plants in stylish vases on your coffee table or nestled in woven baskets in a cozy corner add a pop of green but also introduce wonderful texture and warmth to your living room.