Informal Living Room Decorating Ideas

lowcountry living room

David Hillegas

1 of 41

Low Country Living Room

Relaxed Roman shades and lightweight accent chairs give this room a casual elegance. The calming paint color (Alabaster by Sherwin-Williams) allows the fabric-covered sofa to be the star.

Cozy Living Room More is More Decorating

RIKKI SNYDER

2 of 41

Layers of Collections

Jeannette Fristoe collects a lot of things—decoys, cuckoo clocks, pottery, old books, and glassware to name but a few. She displays a sampling of them all in her living room along with plenty plants to keep things fresh.

Cozy Living Room filled with rustic elements

BRIAN WOODCOCK

3 of 41

Rustic Charm

Exposed walls, a well-worn rug, comfy seating, and a roaring fire—what could be finer than spending an afternoon reading in this cozy living space?

Cozy Living Room Modern Farmhouse

DAVID TSAY

4 of 41

Modern Farmhouse

This modern farmhouse, set in the picturesque Napa Valley, juxtaposes industrial and rustic elements to break up a large, open living room.

cozy living room with layered textiles

DAVID TSAY

5 of 41

A Mix of Textiles

Rightsized furniture and a mix of upholstery and pillows make for a warm welcome in this Santa Barbara bungalow. (The gorgeous views don't hurt either.)

Cozy Living Room

Annie Schlechter

6 of 41

Fresh Renovation

Holly William's restoration of this old Tennessee farmhouse features a fresh coat of paint on the architectural elements, allowing vintage finds—like the hanging banners salvaged from a church—to shine.

Cozy Living Room Full of Textured Stripes

TRIA GIOVAN

7 of 41

Rife with Stripes

Stripes are subtly layered throughout this cozy living room thanks to rustic beams, soft goods, and an unexpected zebra rug. Because it's a small space—the entire house is only 1,000 square feet!—the homeowner utilized every inch of wall space to showcase her favorite finds.

Cozy Living Room White and Crisp

DAVID TSAY

8 of 41

Textured Charm

Homeowner Maria Carr was delighted to find rough-hewn 12-inch planked walls beneath layers of 1970s-era wallpaper in her living room. She added floor-to-ceiling white paint, which set the scene for her signature mix of cozy French decor.

Salon Inspired Living Room

Annie Schlechter

9 of 41

A Wall of Books

A floor-to-ceiling library (with so-fun library ladder!) and a gallery wall of family art set the scene for creative gatherings in this Manhattan apartment.

Cozy Lake House Living Room

Mike Garten

10 of 41

Lakeside Views

An open window policy and a mix of midcentury modern furniture with a smattering of rustic accents come together in this lakeside living room.

Eclectic Country

LESLEE MITCHELL

11 of 41

Eclectic Country

The Auerbach home is awash with color, and the living/music room combo is no exception thanks to a 1900-inspired Art Nouveau tulip wallcovering and a bright red rug. A vintage parasol-turned-light fixture adds another pop of color.

Room, Living room, Interior design, Furniture, Home, Property, Table, House, Wall, Christmas decoration,

Photograph by Eric Piasecki, Design by Anthony Baratta

12 of 41

Ski Lodge Inspired

In the mountains of Utah, designer Anthony Baratta warmed up this après-ski setting with lumberjack fabrics, dramatic fixtures, and a light dusting of kitsch.

cabin living room

Jean Allsopp

13 of 41

Cabin Fever

This warm and inviting Alabama cabin living room encourages nights spent hanging out by the fire thanks to a plush couch and chair. The wood ceiling, plaid curtains, and wall art all add texture, color, and interest to the space.

cozy living room

Victoria Pearson

14 of 41

Calming Neutrals

Cozy up in a cream-colored living room with natural elements like wood accents and pine cones displayed on a coffee table tray.

wood panels

Victoria Pearson

15 of 41

Wood Panels

The couple living in this Texas country dream of a farmhouse removed the 1970s paneling pieces one-by-one, power washed them, and reassembled the boards for a more savvy approach.

alabama country home living room

Helen Norman

16 of 41

Rock Out

In this Alabama countryside home's sitting room, the cypress ceiling perfectly complements the coarse, sandy stone on the fireplace. And the linen armchair, soft rug, jute basket, and warm fire create an environment you want to relax in for a while.

cozy living rooms, winter decorating ideas

Lincoln Barbour

17 of 41

Assembled-Over-Time Vibe

A wingback chair and a spindle chair give this Alabama dogtrot home's living room a collected-over-time vibe. The rustic mantel makes things feel extra rustic.

Living room, Room, Interior design, Furniture, Property, Building, Home, Wall, Table, House,

Tara Donne

18 of 41

New Hampshire Keeping Room

beige farmhouse inspired living room

Brian Woodcock

19 of 41

white room

Annie Schlechter

20 of 41

White Room

Varying shades of cream and ivory and strategic pops of texture (waffle knit, cable knit) on the pillows and throws keep the room fresh, not sterile.

rattan furniture

Helen Norman

21 of 41

small space

Cody Ulrich

22 of 41

Small Space

Dallas designer Paige Morse added a nice, cozy touch inside these two rundown sheds, but it can also serve as inspiration for anyone with a smaller home.

natural materials

Brian Woodcock

23 of 41

Natural Materials

Slipcovered sofas and cowhide and sisal rugs add softness and texture, and verdant pops of green reinforce the natural approach in this transformed suburban home.

outdoors theme

Helen Norman

24 of 41

Outdoors Theme

Bring the beauty of the outdoors inside by using a seamless mix of materials like limestone, cypress, and oak.

Living room, Room, Furniture, Interior design, Property, White, Coffee table, Fireplace, Home, Building,

Max Kim-Bee

25 of 41

Casual Vibe

A mix of vintage and catalog finds lends a casual vibe in this Georgia farmhouse's living room, where pine bookcases rescued from a demolished elementary school keep company with a new linen sofa. An abstract painting by artist—and CL General Store vendor Deann Hebert—adds texture above the chipped mantel.

Living room, Furniture, Room, Couch, Interior design, Property, Home, Wall, Table, House,

David Tsay

26 of 41

Room, Furniture, Interior design, Living room, Table, House, Building, Home, Dining room, Chair,

Victoria Pearson

27 of 41

Filled With Antiques

A wood-burning stove, dark hardwood floors, and an antique brown leather chair provide a handsome counterpoint to linen sofas and layered neutral-colored carpets in this Washington home.

Living room, Furniture, Room, Interior design, Couch, Home, Property, Shelf, Wall, Floor,

David A. Land

28 of 41

Cozy Reading Room

Built-in shelves and a few well-appointed antiques help cozy up the reading room in this Upstate New York farmhouse.

Living room, Room, Interior design, Furniture, Ceiling, Property, Building, Home, Fireplace, Floor,

Quentin Bacon

29 of 41

Lake House Getaway

In this Georgia lake house, appealingly asymmetrical built-ins—one with hidden storage, the other open—flank the great room's fieldstone fireplace. French leather club chairs from Wyatt Childs, plus a pair of Mitchell Gold + Bob Williams sofas, serve up plenty of seating.

lake house family room

Max Kim-Bee

30 of 41

Extra Storage

The living room of this New Hampshire cabin is furnished with a gigantic wicker sectional sofa from Restoration Hardware that invites the entire family to hang out for games or a movie. The weather-resistant rug is from Dash & Albert. Built-in cubbies store beach blankets and fishing gear, and the ladder leads to a sleeping loft.