Choosing a living room style can be tough – it’s a room that you want to feel comfortable in no matter the season, and it needs to be suited to entertaining and chilling out. As a living room designer, I know it’s a tall order! But with some savvy design ideas, you can enjoy the ideal living room for your lifestyle. Have a read of these top ideas to help you decide on the look that’s right for you.

Colourful living room ideas

There are a range of popular colours for inspiring living rooms at the moment… and some might surprise you. Of course, there’s the perennial favourite – grey – but did you know that black living room ideas are gaining traction? It might seem a bit daring, but black living rooms can be especially powerful when you’re dealing with a small space. Black can also work well in a room that lacks natural light, accentuating a sense of cosiness for evenings. However, if you use a light-starved living room during the day, you may want to keep black to just one wall – you don’t want to be reliant on artificial lighting in the daytime. Alternatively, use black details on fireplaces, mirrors, alcoves or furniture.

Warm coloured living rooms can provide a sense of cosiness, with gold being a rising star in the colour trends. Warm colour paints, such as cream, for living room designs featuring gold are ideal. Natural wood and timber look especially good against a warm caramel or gold wall – after all, gold is an organic material, too!

The gold accents in this client’s living room add a warm vibe and sense of cosiness.

A blue living room will provide a tranquil, calming space that you’ll love to relax in. If you’re looking for blue living room paint ideas, I recommend Farrow & Ball Hague Blue – I love the deep, dark, inky tone of this paint, which works with almost any space. It’s a great alternative to black when you want a dark hue that isn’t overly dramatic.

If you’re looking for other painting ideas for living room designs, I’m a big fan of green. When thinking of a bright colour paint for living room styles ranging from the minimal to the opulent, the versatility of green is unparalleled. Here are a few of my favourite green paint living room ideas: dark emeralds and forest greens to provide a sense of luxury; rose pink with forest green for a stunning combination alongside golden or brass details; and mint green for coastal or farmhouse spaces to play with as much natural light as possible. Monochromatic green living rooms can also look incredibly modern – pair green walls with a green sofa in a similar tone.

Styles of living room decor

We all want a cosy living room, but this can be achieved in a number of ways. You might prefer to luxuriate in a glam living space, and adopt some art deco living room ideas, with brass details, opulent lighting, animal print and bold colour, or you might prefer a more modern, minimalist take.

For those that live in traditional style houses, modern country cottage living room ideas can really impress. Expose brick or wood for a more rustic look, try wall panelling, and mix textures and finishes within the room. For bonus sustainability points, add antique or heirloom furniture. With this style, you can opt for neutrals or bright colours – patterns look especially good in a country cottage setting.

Living Room Home Interior Design by Howson Design — This modern country living room I created for a family in Nottingham features exposed brick and wooden beams balanced with soft hues.

Another modern style that’s seen a resurgence is the Japanese style living room, with bedroom design from this part of the world also becoming popular. If you’re lucky enough to have large windows and patio doors in your living room, let all that natural light flood into your living space for a true appreciation of nature. Serene, uncluttered living is the name of the game here – so think carefully about whether this is practical for your family. Neutral colours, with plenty of indoor plants and natural textures, are key to the Japanese aesthetic. Low, organic-shaped furniture is preferred for this style: try a curved coffee table and floor cushions to nail this look.

Scandi living room

One trend that’s here to stay is a Scandi boho living room look. Thanks to IKEA, this minimalist, laid-back style is easier to emulate than ever: opt for light, bright walls, linen curtains and rattan or lightwood furniture. Woven accessories like macrame hangers and rugs will look great with this style. Bohemian living room ideas are also popular, and aren’t too dissimilar to the Scandi boho style. However, there’s more room to play around with colour and textures here – bright, sunny colours such as orange, red and yellow can transform furniture, and patterned rugs and accessories can be added wherever you fancy.

Vintage style living room

If you live in a period property, a Victorian living room design or vintage living room will look just right. By keeping period features intact, such as fireplaces, you can merge the modern with the original to elevate your space. For simplicity, opt for monochrome styling: white, grey and black is a surefire way to keep things classy. With big, open sash windows, you’ll have plenty of natural light, but you might just want some luxury curtains when you need to hide away.

Georgian living room ideas, including marble surfaces and stone flooring, provide a truly opulent experience. Classical era decor, such as busts and ornate vases, will help to decorate your space. Green walls were a particular favourite of early Georgians, while pastel shades skyrocketed towards the Regency era. Opt for pinks, mauve, pale grey and creams – and of course – Regency Blue.

In addition, Edwardian living room ideas centre around colour. Patterned wallpaper and tiling was incredibly popular in this era, and is certainly worth emulating. Wooden floors were a staple feature, too – ideal if you’re not a fan of tiles. Pastel shades were ubiquitous – an easy way to keep things looking fresh and modern in an Edwardian home, while dark woods with ornate designs were chosen for furniture.

Modern living room ideas

For a modern house, a minimalist living room can look striking. An industrial style living room, with pared-back design, can elevate your interiors when contrasted with cosy furnishings. An open floor plan across the downstairs level of your house will enhance industrial design elements: think a mixture of exposed brick, wood and metal used anywhere ranging from the kitchen, to the stairs and lounge. Use pendant lighting with Edison bulbs, and opt for wooden flooring – or even concrete if you’re feeling brave!

If you’re looking for modern living room wallpaper ideas, bold floral designs amidst dark walls can really make colours pop. Photorealistic wallpapers are also becoming more popular, and can act as an easy way to bring the outside in, embracing biophilic design. Arts and Crafts wallpapers can also bring some statement wow factor to your lounge – it’s hard not to find yourself mesmerised and lost in the dark, absorbing patterns!

Living room furniture

It doesn’t take a genius to work out that the most important piece of furniture in any sitting room is the sofa. Above all others, a grey sofa is often the most popular choice, fitting in with a variety of colour schemes. However, I prefer a more vibrant seating area. A red sofa can become a dramatic centrepiece of your living room, while a black sofa can similarly make a bold choice, but beware: they can show up a lot of fluff and dust.

Blue sofa styles are increasingly popular, with dark navy proving to be a favourite colour. When it comes to fabric, a velvet sofa is often chosen as the ideal luxe piece to showcase in a lounge.

When choosing other furniture, ensure it works for the style you’ve chosen. Wherever possible, re-use or upcycle existing pieces to cut down on waste, but if it’s really time to bid farewell to your items, consider selling them as secondhand furniture.

Room size considerations

Is your living room interior on the cosy side? That’s not a problem – there are plenty of modern small living room ideas that can provide the illusion of space. For on-trend decorating, try a monochromatic look using a single colour. One solid colour on the majority of surfaces, such as blue walls with a similar-toned sofa, soft furnishings and home accessories will create a seamless look that makes everything seem bigger. Opt for furniture that doesn’t look bulky, and try to use a single statement piece of art instead of cluttered, gallery-style wall art.

As you may have noticed, the options for your living room are almost endless! Pick a style that works for your home, day-to-day practicalities, and your personal taste, and work to this aesthetic. Don’t be afraid to go for bold, dark colours to enhance a sense of cosiness, but be mindful of how and when you’ll use the room. I hope you find the soothing space you’ve been searching for!

Living room interior design