The ultimate guide to styling living room décor includes current trends to try and how, style rules to follow, and some quotes from well-known interior designers on their personal philosophies when it comes to décor.
American interior designer Albert Hadley once said “The essence of interior design will always be about people and how they live.” A truer sentence has never been spoken, particularly when it comes to living rooms and living room décor.
This work-horse room typically fulfil multiple roles within the average Australian household. It’s a place to entertain guests, a place to relax, a place to do homework or a place to play. With that in mind, a living room needs to be set up to cater to all those purposes, as well as be functional and pretty.
The 7 rules of styling living room décor
1. Be true to your own style
“Be faithful to your own taste, because nothing you really like is ever out of style,” said Billy Baldwin, New York-based interior designer. In your living room, choose colours, fabrics and furniture that you truly love, because then you’re guaranteed to have a room that not only makes you happy, but is uniquely you, and that will never go out of style.
2. Find a focal point
Every living room has a focal point, be it a dominant wall, television, art work or fireplace. Find the focal point of your room and orient the rest of your living room décor around it. It’s important that your room have an identifiable centre.
3. Layout the room according to function
It’s incredibly important that this room be functional, so take the time to really plan the layout of your living room so that it effectively serves every purpose you need it to. Make sure it’s laid out in such a way that encourages conversation, that there’s an area the children can play and everyone can see the television.
4. Pick multifunctional pieces
For living room décor that serves every purpose, multifunctional furniture is the way to go. Choose a hardy coffee table so you won’t worry about the children if they use it for drawing. Pick ottomans with extra storage to hide away board games or throw blankets, and choose furniture that can either be easily moved around, or comfortable accommodate the whole family and guests.
5. Make sure you living room décor uses scale
For a living room that looks perfectly styled, make sure you pick pieces of furniture in different sizes and height. This way, you’re living room décor will loom interesting and balanced. Think a low coffee table, a tall floor lamp, some medium-sized indoor plants with heavy pots. Try a pendant light to draw the eye towards the ceiling and the centre of the room.
6. Add texture and depth
Interior design David Hicks said “The best rooms have something to say about the people who live in them,” and that’s incredibly true when it comes to picking your living room décor. You need to add texture and depth by way of accessories and soft furnishings such as cushions, throw blankets, rugs, lighting, and decorative items. Try to incorporate different fabrics and textures. Look for velvet, linen, wool and leather, and combine it with quilted, crocheted or patterned finishes.
For lamps and decorative items, now is the time to pull out those beloved trinkets and family photos and put them on display.
7. Pick your colours wisely
Picking the paint colours for your living room décor is a highly personal choice. If you live in a home with kids and pets, you might be best choosing a colour that is easy to maintain, and will hide minor dirt or fur. If you’re looking for a timeless palette, neutrals such as white, grey, cream, beige and navy are classic selections. If you want to make a personal statement about your style, be bold and try bright colours that reflect your energy.
