A fresh batch of living room inspiration from the pros awaits you.
Your living room sees more foot traffic than any other space in your home. Whether you're reclining on your sectional sofa to watch TV or entertaining guests, the way you use this space constantly means it not only needs to look great but also work hard. To curate a living room that lasts, your design focus should be function, style, and quality. As trends come and go, it's important to create a living room that prioritizes your comfort and aesthetics.
We know every living room has its own decorating challenges. Are you aiming for a cozy living room your family can enjoy? Is your small living room too cozy to accommodate your big ideas? Maybe you want to highlight some incredible windows with a view, or you have a tricky fireplace or French doors to work around. Meeting all of your criteria can be stressful without a plan, no doubt, so we've rounded up the best living room examples to inspire your decorating project and make the process of pulling it off a whole lot easier.
From modern and elegant spaces to inviting and rustic environments, there's a living room idea you can easily envision yourself thriving in. Keep reading for 77 stylish designer living room inspiration, tips, and tricks you'll copy ASAP. You'll find solutions to making your space look twice as big and ideas for painting your living room in a color that never goes out of style.
š” Love looking at designer spaces for inspo? Us too. Let's obsess over them together.
1
Play With Neutrals
Textures are the secret to giving your soft white living room a refresh. Take it from designer Sharon Rembaum, who dressed this living room with textured pieces in a neutral color palette to boost its overall coziness.
2
Aim for the Sky
This grand double-height living room designed by Liz Hoekzema features a hand-applied lime wash treatment on the chimney to introduce warmth and texture. "We love the wabi-sabi informality it lends, especially compared with the richness of the soapstone fireplace surround," Hoekzema says.
3
Deepen the Tones
Skip brighter hues for a living room that exudes a sultry and mysterious air. If you want a break from bright colors, this treasure of a space contains olive limewash walls, a terra-cotta velvet sofa, and eye-catching teal accents.
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4
Add Unique Seating
A multifunctional classic, a nap bench can make lounging in your living room look twice as chic. Here, designer Zoƫ Feldman uses a Serena & Lily rattan piece to divide the large living area of the 2022 Whole Home without blocking the sculptural window. A cushion covered in a Sanderson fabric gives it a bespoke look.
5
Play the Piano
Sometimes your favorite piano is the elephant in the room due to its large size. Instead of hiding it in your basem*nt, give a grand piano the spotlight it deserves. Corals, grays, and brass tones work well to give this living room designed by Mona Hajj a more dynamic yet also more approachable color story.
6
Build a Bar
Get the most out of your living room with a home bar stocked with your favorites. Designer John Fondas turned a shallow closet into an out-of-the-way bar nook with tons of wall storage by removing the doors and building-in cabinets as well as side shelves. The nautical and aquatic motifs are perfect for a Palm Beach party house.
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7
Refresh With Accent Paint
We're loving this dark blue-green color in a living room corner designed by Avery Cox. It's stylish enough to hold its own against the rich chartreuse velvet fabric as well as the layers of quirky prints. She only painted one of the walls along with the door and moldings so that a complementary wallpaper could be applied on the opposite side.
8
Put a Record On
Victoria Sass of Project Refuge Studio snuck a record player into the corner of this texture-rich and minimalist living room. It opens right up into the kitchen, where the side of the island facing the sitting area contains ample exposed shelving for an extensive record collection.
9
Display Old Books
There's just something about old books that instantly makes a room feel more personal. Whether you collect used books or you've inherited some, display them on an exposed shelving unit so they can shine. In this living room designed by Oliver Thornton, they add character and speak to the layered warmth of the furnishings.
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10
Warm Up Walls With Wood
Designer Nicole Dohmen applied hardwood floors in a Hungarian point pattern in this living room. It's a complex and classic parquet flooring design that works surprisingly well with modern furniture and geometric patterns, as seen here. But the fun doesn't stop there! Dohmen also applied wood panels to the wall for an extra surge of warmth.
11
Balance Hard Materials With Soft Ones
If your living room has hardwood floors or stone tile flooring and lots of glass surfaces like this one designed by Caroline Turner, soften it up with super plush seating and rich materials like velvet in jewel tones. A statement light also helps bring down the scale of the high ceilings.
12
Enhance a Bakyard View
Working with landscape architect Lila Fendrick, designer Nestor Santa Cruz chose a wall of steel and glass windows and doors for this formal pool house living room that leads to the backyard. Though the glass decor, from the pendant light to the coffee table and doors, leaves a decidedly sleek impression, the plush rug and ethereal curtains make it extra cozy, too.
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13
Dabble In Nostalgia
Embrace old-fashioned trends and hand-me-down furniture, like this chaise in a nostalgic yet contemporary living room designed by Amity Worrel. Dainty florals, ginghams, and plaids are paired with modern accents and artwork, so the classic prints take on a whole new meaning.
14
Work Around Restrictions
When designer Celerie Kemble moved into this New York City apartment, there was only one thing that prevented it from being the perfect fit: The building had a no wallpaper rule. To work around that obstacle, she applied a light shade of pink paint in a plaster-like finish that channels the texture of wallpaper.
15
Mix Clean Lines With Casual Materials
In the living room of designer Devin Kirk, a light shade of blue-gray along with clean-lined furniture makes for a polished backdrop while the woven chairs, light wood side table, and tree stump coffee table ensure a laidback atmosphere. It's the perfect balance of approachable and formal.
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16
Incorporate Fun Trees and Plants
Invite some nods to nature into your living room with quirky indoor plants and trees. Designer Elizabeth Cooper placed a lush citrus tree in the corner for an extra pop of life and color and then staggered topiaries on the windowsill.
17
Create Zones With Area Rugs
This sitting room is right off the open kitchen, so designer Regan Baker decided to visually separate it with a custom sectional and area rug. A cleek armchair is positioned at a diagonal, establishing a nice balanced whole.
18
Add Personality With Texture-Rich Neutrals
A quirky indoor tree is s fun surprise in this polished and cosmopolitan living room designed by Shawn Henderson. And, instead of a classic white or warm off-white paint color, he opted for a cooler gray neutral that complements the other subtle tones throughout the room. This also allows the texture-rich accents to shine.
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19
Extend It Outdoors
This vacation home in Maui, Hawaii blends indoor and outdoor living beautifully. Designed by Breeze Giannasio Interiors, the two living spaces are connected by a sliding door that simply disappears when open for total connection between the open-air terrace and the indoor living room. The materials, colors, and fabrics are all coordinated for visual flow, too.
20
Transform a Generic Space With Texture
If you live in a generic rental or simply have a small space, get inspired by this living room designed by David Frazier. Not only does it prove that size isn't everything, but it's also full of tricks that bring more dimension to otherwise simple architecture. Pops of marigold speak to the warm antique wood pieces and break up the monochromatic color scheme and the large rice paper pendant keeps things casual so it can function as a more relaxed family room. A gallery wall, large indoor plant, and ceiling-high curtain rod add depth.
Check out Society6 for affordable and stylish prints and artwork to jazz up your walls.