Living Room Ideas That Will Never Go Out of Style

Timeless Tips For Living Room Furniture, Decor, Paint Colors, and More.

Living Room Design 

Living room ideas are only helpful if the basics of living room design are understood.

The Process

Every design process is unique to the project and client at hand. Therefore, the design process of a living room will be different each time. 

The most important part of designing a great living room, or any room for that matter, is that its design is functional to the lifestyle of the people who will inhabit the space.

Steps and Stages

While the exact order of steps may differ in each living room design process, the following can be expected at one point or another:

• Consultation

• Space Planning

• Paint Color Selection

• Furniture Shopping and/or Customization

• Decor Details/Finishing Touches

Again, there may be many more steps or many less. 

Consultation

The consultation stage is the one stage that should never be skipped. It is at the consultation stage in which all of the other steps and stages can be determined; here the living room ideas can start to flow and a more concrete vision can be created. It all starts by asking the right questions.

Questions to Keep In Mind

• Is the space meant for entertainment?

• Does the space need to accommodate more intimate moments?

• How often is the space going to be used?

• Are there children that will also be using the space?

• Is there a sought after design aesthetic? (For example, modern, transitional, contemporary, traditional, and more.)

Once these questions are out of the way, the fun can begin. Now, the imaginative living room ideas can become reality.

Living Room Ideas 

Living Room Furniture

The right living room furniture can set a room apart from other plain, stale, and boring living rooms. 

The biggest obstacles people face when choosing furniture for a living room are determining both size and color. 

It is harder than people think to see and a piece of furniture and know if it will fit properly in a space. Most of the time, people over or under-compensate which leaves a living room feeling cramped or completely bare.

Additionally, colors are not always as they seem when either in a fabric book or in a showroom. It takes the right eye to understand what colors will translate correctly. Similarly, it takes the right eye to know which colors can coincide harmoniously in the same room without being too much of the same or too jarringly different. 

The Options Are Endless…

Couches

These are staples in most living rooms. Couches provide a place to sit for a multitude of people and are usually the most used item in the entire room. 

The perfect couch will range in size depending on the room. Sectional couches with chaises on the end ensure comfort for larger groups and are the ultimate living room couch choice, provided there is space for one. These are great for families with a lot of members or for people who love to have friends over to watch something special or host game nights frequently.

Loveseats

There is nothing like a good loveseat that feels like a big hug as soon as it is sat in. Loveseats work in addition to a couch when a living space’s purpose is mostly for snuggling and viewing. 

This type of seating is also a great option to replace the large sectional couch when the living space is for a couple that wants to keep things a bit more intimate.

Chairs

A simple chair done right can make all the difference in a living space. These are the underrated pieces in living rooms and often are left off the typical “living room idea” lists. 

Think big! The days of stuffy, excess dining chairs sitting sadly in the corner of a living room are over. Chairs can range from reclining chairs, swivel chairs, hanging chairs, and more. Living room chairs provide that one extra seat when needed or when paired with more chairs around a cocktail table, they make the perfect spot to chat with close friends over a nice cocktail.

 Moral of the story, do not underestimate the power of a good chair!

Cocktail Tables + Side Tables

Much like a good chair, great cocktail tables and side tables are not to be taken for granted. These are essential items for a living room.

Choose wooden tables for a more rustic and earthy feel.

Marble tables are great for elevating the elegance of the space.

Go for glass tables when trying to keep a space open and light.

Personal Shopping or Custom Furniture

This is an important question to answer...is shopping at a store good enough for the living room vision? 

There is nothing wrong with shopping at a furniture store, but in many cases it is easiest to shop alongside a designer.

If the budget permits, custom designer furniture is always the way to go. Designers work with vendors and know different fabric lines in and out. A great interior designer will be able to put together a custom chair, sofa, etc. with all the right colors and patterns to make a living room unlike any other.

Living Room Colors

Paint colors set the tone of a room. Therefore, the colors of a living room should reflect and enhance the energy that is wanted from the space. Here are some colors to think about: 

• Earth Tones — These colors will include greens, beiges, and browns. When used in a room, earth tones bring a sense of grounding and warmth.

• Monochromes — Often used in modern and contemporary rooms, monochrome colors include greys, whites, and blacks. These colors give spaces an air of  sophistication..

• Pastels — These can be tricky to navigate because too much of the wrong pastels will make a living room feel like a nursery. Nevertheless, the right balance of pastels is perfect for exuding a cheerful energy in a daytime living room.

• Dark Tones — Much like monochrome colors, dark tones can give a room an air of sophistication. Yet, dark tones can be any color as long as they are on the darker side of the spectrum. Keeping this in mind, a dark toned living room is exceptional for creating a mature feel with a little bit of spunk.

Of course, there are many more color palettes to choose from. Not to mention, many of these color palettes can overlap for a perfectly customized room. 

Living Room Decor

Details, details, details! Design is in the details and decor is an essential detail. Be careful not to think of decor as an afterthought because then that is just how it will look. 

Decor can become junk that ends up in the garbage or decor can become the detail in the room that makes it feel like home. Choose wisely!

Call an expert designer for assistance or create a pinterest board to get inspiration for the right items to enhance the space, rather than impulsively buying items that will simply fill the space.

Get a Designers Opinion

New living room ideas will come and go as time passes and new styles come in and out of popularity.  If confused, it is always best to get a designers opinion to ensure the longevity and functionality of a space.