Welcome to our guide to living room or family room décor ideas!
Decorating your living room can be a little bit of a trying task sometimes, particularly if you are starting from scratch.
There’s a lot to decorating, including furniture, accessories, and all those little things that make a house a home.
[toc wrapping=”right”]But we’re not going to talk about those things right now. Right now, we’re going to show you how to build your design from the ground up; from the foundations of your room.
That’s right–the walls, the floor, the lighting, built-in features like fireplaces and storage options. Once you have these design foundations perfect, you can easily add furniture and accessories to match.
That’s the trick to design: start with the things that are the most difficult to change, and then choose furniture and accessories to match. It’s easier to replace a rug that looks ugly than to purchase all new flooring to go with your rug!
So let’s get started checking out some really fantastic ideas to make your home beautifully unique and definitely the envy of your friends and family!
Flooring Ideas
Picking the right kind of flooring is essential to creating the right atmosphere and capturing your design style. Whether it’s dark hardwood floors, rich marble tiles, carpet, or wood-look porcelain tile, your floors are literally the foundation you build your living room’s design style on.
Check out our guide to choosing living room flooring!
To make an incredible statement in any living room, opt for ornate marble tiles. Paired with rich wood details in the French doors, fireplace, and coffee table, the tiles become the focal point.
Love the feel of a cozy rug? Check out our gallery of living rooms with area rugs!
Even regular tile floors are gorgeous, particularly when paired with more modern designs. The white walls, sofas, and sharp angles of this modern living room make the warm natural tones of the tile even more impressive.
pillows pull warmth from the floors.” src=”https://www.homestratosphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/13-Living-Room-Decor-Ideas-iStock-Floors-Wide-Wood-Planks.jpg” alt=”Rich multi-toned hardwood floors are an excellent choice. They add visual interest and texture to a mostly contemporary modern room, and the orange accent pillows pull warmth from the floors.” width=”797″ height=”1000″ />
Rich multi-toned hardwood floors are an excellent choice. They add visual interest and texture to a mostly contemporary modern room, and the orange accent pillows pull warmth from the floors.
Short, narrow planks in various shades add to the natural, earthy color palette of this casual living room. Soft green furniture and plenty of houseplants contribute to the natural, earthy effect.
Check out living rooms with light wood floors!
Ceiling Ideas
The ceiling is often overlooked when it comes to design. Other than lighting, most ceilings are plain and featureless. Give your living room some architectural texture and interest by changing out your boring ceiling for options like exposed beams, concrete tiles, skylights, cathedral ceilings, or other ideas.
Check out a whole lot more ceiling ideas for living rooms!
Concrete ceiling tiles have the effect of modernity, which is perfect for an open living room with floor-to-ceiling picture windows and a muted color scheme.
This modern living room features a drop ceiling, which adds texture and interest to the otherwise straight, geometric lines of the space. Bold splashes of marigold and crimson brighten the space.
We typically think of coffered ceilings as square, but this unique sunburst style is an incredible example. The ceiling is rimmed with a metallic material that reflects the furniture below.
The lighting in the tray ceiling above the contemporary, small living room takes full advantage of the usable space while adding architectural interest to the space.
Exposed beams are a classic way to add architectural interest to a room and are popular in traditional and craftsman style homes.
Storage Ideas
The key to an uncluttered living room is having plenty of storage; the sneakier the better! Bookcases work well in large spaces, as do entertainment centers with drawers and cabinets to hide wires. Storage ottomans and other sneaky items are a great way to take advantage of otherwise unused space.
Find more great storage ideas for living rooms!
Built-in bookcases and hiding drawers in the coffee table are great ways to take advantage of wall and floor space for organizational purposes.
For a more ornate take on built-in shelving, these marble, lighted, wallpapered ones are the perfect example.
blankets or pillows when they are not in use.” src=”https://www.homestratosphere.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/21-Living-Room-Decor-Ideas-iStock-Storage-Chest-Coffee-Table-870×573.jpg” alt=”Even in open concept homes, storage can be designed into the space. Storage is at a premium in this space, so a storage coffee table with a hollow chest is just perfect for storing blankets or pillows when they are not in use.” width=”870″ height=”573″ />
Even in open concept homes, storage can be designed into the space. Storage is at a premium in this space, so a storage coffee table with a hollow chest is just perfect for storing blankets or pillows when they are not in use.
Glass shelving is a great way to add storage space to a modern style living room without disrupting the clean lines. Just be careful not to clutter the shelves!
Fireplace Ideas
Nothing beats the warm crackle of a fireplace for a cozy focal point in a living room. There are tons of designs to choose from: everything from mantle designs to fuel source.
Get the low-down on fireplace styles at our fireplace guide!
The marble face of this traditional style fireplace directs the eye to it as the focal point of the room. An elegant wooden mantle painted white completes the design.
Corner fireplaces have the appeal of being able to be presented to more than one angle of the room. Painting this one a bold color enforces its effect as a focal point.
Stacked stone fireplaces have rustic appeal, and when paired with a rustic wooden mantle and wrought iron fireplace screen, it cuts an imposing figure.
Electric fireplaces tend to be much less imposing, but are still available when you’d like to turn them on.
This fireplace surround is in travertine tile, a gorgeous material that meshes perfectly with the muted color scheme yet draws the eye.
Wall Décor Ideas
Don’t underestimate your walls as a source of decoration inspiration. Textures, patterns, and colors are awesome ways to add visual interest or atmosphere to your living room.
Check out more great ideas on how to decorate your walls!
Adding a colorful accent wall to a living room draws the eye towards that wall, and in this case, to the television.
Layered stone on the walls adds texture and color to any space. Mix with wooden sections for maximum effect.
A coat of fresh paint makes any room look cleaner and brighter. Here, the stripes lead into a darker blue-gray section behind the living room.
Wallpaper is a less common design element today, but the right textured wallpaper can make a big difference in a room with muted furniture and lots of glass.
Exposed brick walls can be an amazing focal point! Check out the many different ways to use brick in a living room!
Lighting Ideas
Having proper lighting in your living room is incredibly important, so you should layer your lighting sources to make sure your room is as light and bright as possible during any part of the day or night. Whether you choose to have an ornate fixture surrounded by tiny recessed lights, or rely on rope lighting around the perimeter matched with table lamps, lighting is something you definitely need to invest in.
Check out more great lighting ideas!
Chandeliers are an elegant way to light a room, although they usually require recessed lighting or table lamps to offset the central lighting.
Recessed lighting is perfect for rooms with low ceilings or for when you desire a clean look without any hanging lights.
Pendant lighting above a coffee table is a great way to create a focal point in the center of a seating area.
Colored lighting hidden behind molding is a unique way to light a singular area, particularly in rooms that get so much natural light.
Love natural light? Check out living rooms with skylights!
Related Galleries & Living Rooms You May Like:
36 Elegant Living Rooms that are Beautifully Decorated | 47 Beautiful Small Living Rooms (Diverse Designs) | How Much Does A Living Room Cost? | 25 Ways to Make Your Living Room Cozy (TIPS AND TRICKS)
