Beautiful living room ideas to create a relaxing retreat

What you want to achieve in your living room will be unique to you and your household and so it is really important to start the process of designing a new space by thinking about exactly who will be using this room, what you need from it and your lifestyle.

"The living room is one of the most used spaces in the home, so it’s important to create a design scheme that works for the whole family," explains Sally Denyer, digital marketing manager at Shutterly Fabulous.

You really need to ensure the space is fit purpose, whether that means incorporating plenty of built-in storage ideas for a family-orientated living room, or creating a broken plan layout that can accommodate areas for working from home, for example.

1. Use light wall colours in to add a spacious feel

Your living room paint ideas will form a key part of the overall look of the room, but they can also play a role in what the space feels like to spend time. Pay attention too to the orientation of the room as the way natural light enters the space will massively affect how your chosen colours work.

"When designing a living room, look at the impact of light on your colour choices. If your room is filled with light, most colours will work well," advises Bailey Oates, colour expert at Earthborn. "If it’s a darker or north-facing room, this could limit the colours you may want to use depending on the feel you’re trying to create. Lighter colours will create a sense of spaciousness, reflecting light and adding sophistication." 

This bright and airy room has been painted using a combination of Crocky Road on the main section of wall with Milk Jug above, both from Earthborn.

2. Achieve an individual look by mixing styles

For a space that looks as though it has evolved according to your own personal tastes and alongside your lifestyle, you should aim to incorporate plenty of different colours, textures and materials.

"Layering textures throughout the home is key for creating a warm, welcoming design scheme with a focus on tactility," says Sofie Flachs Melson, director and partner at Color & Co. "When these different elements are incorporated into one, a sense of flow and tranquillity is achieved – resulting in a calming and timeless look that will stand the test of time. Consider using sustainable materials like bamboo, paper and jute for a natural and organic feel, fusing natural textures with simplicity and functionality."

This living room features Scandinavian-designed natural roller blinds from Color & Co.

3. Create a cosy cocoon with darker shades

If you are searching for small living room ideas and are swerving dark colours for fear of them overwhelming the space then think again – bolder shades can work really well in compact rooms.

"Dark colours can achieve a cosy, cocooning space that is beautiful in small living rooms," confirms Bailey Oates.

"Cool colours such as blues, greys, and icy whites, as well as materials like metal and glass, tend to impart a sense of chilliness to a living room," advises Debbie Leigh, design manager at ILIV. "These hues and surfaces can create an atmosphere that feels sleek and modern but might lack the warmth needed for a cosy living room idea. To create a more inviting feel, choose warmer tones like earthy neutrals, warm greys, or soft browns, along with materials such as wood and plush textiles. This harmonious blend can transform the room into a more comfortable and inviting haven." 

Debbie Leigh

Debbie is an expert in creating beautifully coordinated fabric collections that can be easily combined to create harmonious interior schemes. With more than 30 years of experience, she takes every design from conception right through to the finished textile - inspired by the latest trends and techniques from every continent.

4. Inject instant charm by taking a mix-and-match approach

If you are working with a blank canvas, for example in a self build or more modern property, you will no doubt be keen to give the character of your living room a bit of a boost – thankfully there are some easy ways to do this.

"In the living room, consider mixing various finishes, textures and materials to create an aesthetic that effortlessly blends modern style with vintage finds.," suggest Sarah and Sally Wilkie, co-founders of Home Barn. "Try and source some hero pieces that have depth and history to them – furniture that tells a story is key to achieving the perfect transitional space. Add some rustic finishing touches through accessories and complete the look with characterful leather sofas and armchairs. Set within an open-plan, clean space with a pared-back contemporary palette you will have created a living room filled with both modern and traditional charm." 

The textured plaster combined with a sleek concrete floor in this room adds a lovely sense of contrast, while the the stylish furniture choices, from Home Barn, complete the look. 

Sara and Sally Wilkie

Sisters-in-law Sarah and Sally Wilkie are founders of vintage furniture and interiors shop, Home Barn, which they created together in 2010 as an outlet for their combined creative talents. Both had an eye for vintage and antiques and to do something rewarding and inspiring whilst enjoying life with their families. By turning their passion for vintage into a business, Home Barn was born!

5. Bring in a warming glow with a woodburner

Log burning stoves are the ideal way to instantly inject both a visual and physical warmth into a living room.

"Although most useful and practical throughout the colder months, a wood burning or multi fuel stove creates an attractive and eye-catching focal point in a living room throughout the year," says Jon Butterworth, director at Arada Stoves. "Opt for a traditional stove design in a black colour way for a classic design feature or be bold and add a pop of colour with a brightly painted stove. Whether creating a cosy, warm atmosphere in the winter or simply decorated with foliage during the summer, a stove is a timeless design feature that suits both classic and contemporary homes alike."

This black Holborn stove from Arada suits the classic style of this living room perfectly.

Jon Butterworth

Having worked at Arada Stoves since 2010, Director Jon Butterworth purchased the company in 2019. The Devon-based manufacturer specialises in wood burning, multi fuel and gas stoves for the UK market. With roots dating back to 1966, each Arada stove is designed, engineered and built in Britain by local craftsmen using raw steel which is crafted with precision. The brand’s focus is on the production and supply of the most desirable, efficient and lowest emission heating appliances to complement any home. 

6. Maintain a sense of privacy with window dressings

In living rooms that are street facing or which suffer from a lack of privacy, the right window dressings will be key in ensuring the space still feels like a relaxing solace. 

Of course you still want to let in some natural light, so good choices include Venetian blinds and shutters.

“One of the busiest rooms in the home, for many of us, the living room is where we like to both entertain and relax," says Sam Tamlyn, managing director at California Shutters. "Effective window treatments are therefore an important addition to not only set the tone and pair with the chosen design scheme, but provide practical elements too. Adding plantation shutters is a simple way to add a timeless design feature to the space. The simple elegance of shutters exudes luxury and cosiness, as well as providing total flexibility in controlling light and privacy throughout the day and into the evening."

Here, Berkley Shutters from California Shutters ensure the living room is shielded from prying eyes. 

Sam Tamlyn

Sam is the managing director of TCMM Shutter Group: a collection of industry leading window shutter brands including Shutterly Fabulous, California Shutters, DIY Shutters, The Shutter Store, and Carter & Clark. TCMM are the exclusive supplier of window shutters for B&Q and they offer bespoke and high quality plantation shutters to customers throughout the world. 

7. Consider a broken plan layout for separation

Broken plan layouts have so many advantages over completely open plan arrangements or warrens of smaller rooms and are a great option for those after modern living room ideas. They use semi-permanent features, such as flexible storage units, as well as half-walls and split levels to divide up a space into zones.

This living room has been separated from the spaces beyond with a wall that sits centrally between the two yet remains open either side. It has also been set at a lower height that some of the other areas to give it a more intimate feel. 

8. Elevate your flooring with a focal point rug

Living rooms tend to cry out for a focal point and where there isn't an existing or natural point of interest – such as a fireplace – it can be necessary to create your own through your choice of furniture or decorative features. And don't forget your living room flooring ideas, as these too can become the star of the show.

“Statement features are key to incredible living room design, so adding a unique rug acts as a piece of art woven with intricate designs and cultural significance that draws the eye in and offers a touch of timeless design with history can be a great idea," says Paul Fleming, founder at London Persian Rug Company. "Whether a rug, full room carpet or runner, these can offer individual characteristics that transform a living room from a house into a home with a touch of grandeur."

Other good statement features could include oversized mirrors, striking pieces of artwork or even walls painted in bold colours or covered in a mural-style wallpaper.

9. Choose furniture in proportion to the space

The way you approach your living room layout ideas should be tailored around not only how you plan on using the room, but also how much space you have available.

This is equally important for those working with large living rooms as it is to those with more limited space. All too often, spacious living areas are left feeling cold and unwelcoming due to being furnished with pieces that are just too small or that can't match up to the ceiling heights.

Likewise, those with small living rooms or snugs need to be clever when it comes to the items they fit their space out with. While it can be tempting to limit your choices to dainty and petite pieces of furniture, do think through whether they will leave you unable to use the space as you wish.

This small living room features a sizeable L-shaped sofa that wraps itself around the walls of the space leaving the centre area free. Note too the pretty pale blue walls that help reflect light around the room.

10. Foster a sense of sociability with a central coffee table

While the temptation in a living room meant for switching off and relaxing can be to make the television the main focus of the room, this is not always the best idea. If you have the space it is a far better idea to group your furniture in such a way that it encourages conversation as well.

This living room is the perfect example of how to do this. The sofa and armchairs are grouped around to face a central coffee table, but they are still arranged in a way that a television or media wall could be located on the wall adjacent to the sofa.

FAQs

What living room storage ideas are best?

In order for your living room to stay looking clutter-free and restful you need to ensure there is a place for everything, especially if you are considering minimalist living room ideas.

There are plenty of ways to do this, from opting for furniture that incorporates storage, such as ottomans and sofas with space beneath for stashing things way, to incorporating shelving and cabinets into unused nooks and crannies. Another great way to keep the space looking neat and tidy is to incorporate some fireplace alcove ideas into the room's design. 

You could also opt for built-in storage that has been custom made to suit your space. 

What are the best clearance spaces around furniture?

In order for your living room to be a pleasure to spend time you need to think about the kind of clearance spaces you should be aiming to leave around the various items of furniture in the room.

You should leave three feet for major traffic paths, with one foot 6 inches usually being sufficient in lower traffic areas. Give between 14 inches and 18 inches to the space between the front of a sofa and a coffee table.

Don't forget the important of good living room lighting ideas — the right fittings can make or break the success of the space. 

You should ideally be aiming to incorporate several 'layers' of lighting — background lighting, task lighting and accent or mood lighting. Using a combination of recessed downlighters, wall lights, side lamps and hidden light sources in alcoves or within the floor is a great way to achieve this.