10 Easy and Unexpected Living Room Decorating Ideas

1 Celebrate the Architecture

You can give your old home a modern facelift but still keep cool details. Here, Carli of Made By Carli updated an old-school ceiling medallion with a contemporary ceiling fan. Pairing two opposites ends up being a match made in heaven.

2 Embrace Color

Don’t be afraid to introduce dramatic bursts of color. Take a cue from Bells+Whistles design and pair statement furniture pieces with clean lines and white walls for balance.

3 Play with Pattern

Feeling nervous about introducing a pattern? Alexis Garrett of Alexis Garrett Design makes it look easy in her own living room. Pairing the color in the gingham pattern with the rest of the colors in the living room helps it all feel cohesive.

4 Take a Seat!

Get clever about how you add ample seating to a living room, especially if you love to entertain.

Mackenzie & Co. uses poufs and benches for flexible seating that can be moved around as needed—or serve as an impromptu footrest.

5 Up the Contrast

A neutral living room gets a bit of contrast from black window frames. The designers at J. Miller Interiors are masters at making clean lines and tone-on-tone texture feel relaxing and calming, yet still fresh. One unexpected element can elevate a simple living room design.

6 Make It Personal

If you’re over gallery walls, Tiffany at Pretty Real offers an inexpensive solution for showing off your favorite art and family photos. Use a photo ledge instead. It makes it easy to swap new things in and out, too.

7 Hang a Statement Light

A dining room isn’t the only place for a wow-worthy lighting fixture. This living room from North Fork Design Co. uses the most beautiful multi-bulb display piece to make the entire living room feel elevated and unique.

8 Try a New Sofa Shape

Not into a traditional L-shaped sectional? Try a different shape, like this subtle curved version that K Interiors used here. Not only does it look more custom, it creates more room for people to put their feet up and get cozy.

9 Add Unframed Art

Don’t be afraid to go bold with an eye-catching piece of art that feels less formal than a framed version. It makes this living room from Banner Day Interiors feel a bit brighter, more fun, and a little less proper.

10 Fresh Accent Wall

Want a low-budget, high-impact living room decor idea? Add an accent wall, as Dabito did here in this colorful living room.