Designer Living Room Decorating Ideas

From modern and bold to traditional and cozy- here are some neat ideas from House Beautiful for decorating your living room, designer style.

Glamorous blue

There’s never such a thing as too much blue according to designer Tobi Fairley. She wrapped this glamorous Fayetteville, Arkansas, living room in layers of pale blue tones. For a hazy and serene look, the walls are a powder blue Venetian plaster.

Bright pink living room

In the middle of the long, narrow living room, which designer Jonathan Berger broke down into three seating areas, an Italian gilt-brass game table is surrounded by chairs covered in pink leather. The family dines, plays board games, and does homework here.

California living

With a breathtaking view of the coastal California countryside, this living room is an ideal spot to entertain. The multiple seating areas accommodate either a large or small crowd. Designer Suzanne Tucker chose warm colors for a cozy feel even on a foggy day.

Small living room

The soft, creamy gray color running through this small living room helps it feel bigger, since the eye doesn’t focus on it and goes straight to the windows. Designed by Ginger Barber.

Wine country farmhouse

Chardonnay grape vineyards surround this contemporary California farmhouse. Designer Jean Larette wanted this living room to have a seamless indoor-outdoor flow. Two walls of foldable, glass-paned doors take the place of solid walls so the owner can feel the breeze and enjoy the view.

Hollywood regency style

Designer Melissa Warner’s rental living room is formal without being too stiff. She energized the soft color palette using a variety of patterns like an animal print, a floral, a geometric print, and an appliqué.

Rustic and refined

Designer Shawn Henderson updated the living room of this 1830s colonial farmhouse in Hillsdale, New York, by painting the wood walls white but leaving the ceiling beams dark. Then he filled the space with furniture picked up at yard sales and antique stores.

Room with a view

In this living room, designed by Jeffrey Bilhuber, one side of a back-to-back sofa faces the room, and the other side looks out through folding glass doors toward the swimming pool. The club chair has ivory-and-gray strapwork that echoes the crossbeams of the architecture.

A mix of modern and rustic

In this gracious, pared-down living room, designed by Kay Douglass, an unstained concrete fireplace surround highlights the golden patina of natural wood. White tufted chairs, creamy linen window treatments, and an abaca carpet present a neutral backdrop for red slipcovered wing chairs. A black Yuan Dynasty glazed urn and antique cutting boards are displayed in the simplest manner on a French console.

Light-filled room

“I wanted to make everything light and airy, because I want your eye to go right out the door to the view, not be dragged down by furniture or rugs,” says Allison Caccoma.