Key takeaways
- Start with a focal point, then build the room in layers: rug, seating, tables, lighting, walls and finally decor.
- Use the 60-30-10 color rule: 60% dominant color, 30% secondary color, 10% accent color.
- In most living rooms an 8x10 rug works best, with at least the front legs of all seating resting on it.
- Hang art so its center sits about 57 to 60 inches from the floor, or 6 to 10 inches above the back of your sofa.
- Mix lighting at three levels (ambient, task and accent) for a room that feels warm day and night.
The living room is where you relax, host friends and gather for the holidays, so it has to work hard and still look beautiful. A well-designed living room doesn't depend on a big budget. It depends on a few design principles and pieces that tell your story. Here are 12 designer-approved ideas, the measurements professionals rely on, and pieces from House of Avana to help you pull it together.
How Do You Decorate a Living Room Step by Step?
Decorate in this order: choose a focal point, set your color palette, lay the rug, place the seating, add tables, layer the lighting, dress the walls, and finish with decor. Working from the largest pieces to the smallest stops you buying accessories that don't fit the finished space.
1. Choose a Focal Point
Every great living room has one place the eye lands first: a fireplace, a window, a large piece of art or a statement mirror. If your room lacks one, create it with a bold wall piece such as the handmade natural wood wall panels and arrange seating to face it.
2. Set a Color Palette with the 60-30-10 Rule
Choose a dominant color for walls and large surfaces (60%), a secondary color for furniture and textiles (30%) and an accent for decor (10%). Warm neutrals with wood and a touch of gold or black are easy to live with year-round.
3. Anchor the Room with the Right Size Rug
A rug that's too small makes furniture look like it's floating. Go big enough that at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs sit on it. A soft, durable option like the non-slip abstract geometric velvet carpet handles family traffic.
4. Add an Accent Chair for Personality
One chair in a richer color or fabric adds character that a matching sofa set can't. The luxurious blue velvet arm chair works as a reading seat by a window or opposite the sofa.
5. Get the Coffee Table Size and Placement Right
Your coffee table should be about two-thirds the length of your sofa and sit 14 to 18 inches from it. Round tables soften a room full of straight lines: try the modern wooden round coffee table or, for an industrial look, the antique brass industrial metal coffee table. See all coffee tables.
6. Layer Your Lighting
Combine overhead light with lamps at different heights. A wabi-sabi fabric floor lamp gives a soft glow in a corner, and a 3-way dimmable table lamp adds reading light beside the sofa. For accent light, candles in lanterns do the rest. Browse Lighting.
7. Hang Wall Art at the Right Height
Hang art so its center sits 57 to 60 inches from the floor, or 6 to 10 inches above the sofa back. A wide piece like the modern abstract neutral horizontal wall art should be about two-thirds the sofa's width. Explore Wall Art.
8. Use a Mirror to Make the Room Feel Bigger
A mirror opposite a window doubles the daylight. A beaded gold mirror adds sparkle, while a large rattan round mirror brings natural texture. See all mirrors.
9. Style Surfaces with Sculptures and the Rule of Three
Group decor in threes at varied heights: a tall vase, a medium sculpture and a low tray. A textured ceramic vase, an abstract geometric sculpture with gold leaf and a white beaded wood tray make an easy coffee table vignette. Browse Sculptures and Vases.
10. Soften Everything with Texture
Hard surfaces need softening. Layer a plush rug, woven wall pieces such as the natural seagrass wall decor, and wood accents so the room feels inviting rather than showroom-perfect.
11. Bring the Outdoors In
Plants add life and color. Hang trailing plants in macrame plant hangers or display a few pots on a 3-tier metal bicycle plant stand near the window.
12. Add a Side Table Where You Need It
Every seat should have somewhere to set down a drink. A small piece like the cobblestone wooden side table or the detachable wooden end table fits beside an arm chair.
Living Room Decor Ideas for Fall and the Holidays
Swap in warmer accents as the season turns: pillar candles in lanterns, a gold sculpture on the mantel and wood serving trays on the coffee table. For more ideas, read our Christmas home decor guide.
Common Living Room Decorating Mistakes to Avoid
- Choosing a rug that's too small for the seating area.
- Pushing all furniture against the walls.
- Relying on one overhead light.
- Hanging art too high.
- Filling every surface with small objects.
Frequently Asked Questions
What size rug should I get for my living room?
In most living rooms an 8x10 rug works best. At a minimum, the front legs of the sofa and chairs should rest on it.
How far should a coffee table be from the sofa?
Leave 14 to 18 inches between the sofa and coffee table so you can reach it easily and still walk past.
How high should I hang art above my couch?
Hang it 6 to 10 inches above the back of the sofa, with the center around 57 to 60 inches from the floor.
How can I make my living room look expensive on a budget?
Declutter, add one statement piece, layer lighting, use a large mirror and choose natural materials like wood, stone and ceramic.
How do I make a small living room look bigger?
Use a large mirror, pick furniture with visible legs, keep the palette light and choose a rug that fits the whole seating area.
Shop the Look
Ready to start? Explore Furniture & Lighting, Wall Art and Sculptures to bring your living room together.