It doesn’t matter if your personal tastes are modern or traditional, formal or relaxed, subdued or bold, your living room needs to be a space where you’ll feel comfortable, and be able to let your guard down, and spend time with your family, friends, or even just yourself. There’s a sort of art to decorating rooms to make them look fantastic while also being functional. So, before you just dive right into a redesign of your living room, arm yourself with a few tricks and tips.
Texture, Pillows and Throws
Texture can be simple to overlook when you’re decorating your living room, especially since we touch it as opposed to seeing it. However, it’s critical that you make this space comfortable, and that means plush textures that appeal to the skin, as well as harder ones that will add a bit of contrast. Include things like leather, wool, stone, plant life, cotton, metal, and as many other types of textures as possible.
Pillows and throws are a fantastic place to begin, especially when you’re attempting to remain under your budget. Look to other furnishings and accessories to add a few new materials to your texture palette, even in miniscule doses.
Rugs
Patterns can be a terrific design tool, infusing your spaces with energy while minimizing the appearance of wear and stains. Patterned rugs bring benefits such as these to your ‘fifth wall’, aka the floor. They simultaneously anchor your seating area while also giving the living room a real sense of life. Even if there’s already carpeting in that area, adding a rug can bring things together. It can also protect your expensive carpet from spills.
Light and Dark
When you have a living room that’s bright and white, it might feel too clean and even unapproachable. If, by contrast, it’s all dark, it might seem to be akin to a cave.
However, mixing light and dark, or even warm and cool colors, can create a more dynamic look with more balance and depth. The design of any space can benefit from a bit of contrast in colors.
More Contrast
If you’re going with white and black in your living room, adding in a variety of contrasting neutrals can go a long way towards making it appear richer and more welcoming. If you have white walls, try going with caramels, grays, blue-grays, and other contrasting neutrals. This can highlight various undertones and finishes. It can make the palette feel richer, even before adding other elements, such as texture, patterns, and colors.
Wood
Texture can’t be discussed without talking about wood, which is one of the more popular materials when it comes to bringing more warmth into your living room. There are quite a few ways to add a bit of wood to this space, and it will make it appear to be more inviting. You might think about wall paneling, maple stools, side tables, sofa legs, picture frames, and even carved artwork as just a few of the options out there.
Why So Serious?
Finally, don’t take it too seriously. Your living room is a great space for you to embrace a bit of thoughtful chaos, like through a single artistic gallery wall, throw pillows that are mixed and matched with your throws, open storage baskets, and some fun furniture.
Attempting perfect order will result in anything that’s out of place sticking out like a sore thumb. However, if you accept a little controlled chaos, any of those occasionally dropped toys or draped throws will appear right at home.
