5 Design Ideas to Help Update Your Living Room

There’s no room in your home with a more storied past than the living room. Evolving from the formal parlor of years past, it used to be a special place for grownups and their company. Furniture was kept in pristine condition and it was strictly off limits to children. Today, the living room is a much different place to be.

A family, quite literally, does most of their living in the living room nowadays. It’s where you gather with friends and family to watch the big game. It’s where you might doze off for a quick nap on a Sunday afternoon. It’s where family debates and conversations begin. It’s where life is lived.

While the living room is certainly one of the more popular spaces in a home, it is also oftentimes overlooked in terms of being up-to-date on its décor. Have no fear, readers. We’ve got five super simple ideas to help you create a space that really packs an aesthetic punch.

1. Gray Matters– Using Color to Update Your Living Room

When you’re trying to update your space, wall color is of great importance. White or gray walls make a cleaner, more modern look easy to accomplish in just about any space. One of the principles of current design is creating visual interest through color, art, and other décor pieces. Having a neutral, non-invasive background makes those unique pieces really stand out.

Looking to take it a step further? Pops of color aren’t just for accessories! You can try a brightly-colored, tactile velvet sofa with bold throw pillows. Against the blank canvas of your clean, white (or gray) walls, this modern look really comes to life. And the velvet texture adds even more interest.

Speaking of sofas, while simple, a matching set may not be the best way to go. Grabbing a complete living room set from the furniture store and dropping it in your home seems easy enough, but it might leave your space looking and feeling a little dated and flat. Instead, focus on your foundational pieces and some items that really complement them in a cool, unexpected way. This is a surefire way to make your room memorable, current, and completely hip.

2. Wide Open Spaces – Clearing Out Clutter

One of the trademarks of a more modern room is its complete lack of clutter. A few brightly-colored tchotchkes here and there are definitely okay. A decorative vase or a coffee table book that you absolutely adore is even encouraged. But large stacks of bills and papers and magazines thrown on a coffee table can begin to junk up the space. Luckily, there are all kinds of smart storage solutions that can help keep clutter at bay.

Clutter is out. Clean lines and attractive storage are in.

Open cabinets and shelving units keep things organized (especially with baskets or decorative boxes), while maintaining the modern look you’re trying to achieve. Have you considered floating cabinets? This is where style meets function in a very cool way. You’ll get the storage you need without compromising the sleek look you desire.

Still not sure what we’re talking about? Take a peek at the Uptown Loft™ multipurpose bookcase from Twin Star Home™, which combines open and concealed storage. Three open shelves and a concealed cabinet with an adjustable shelf provide ample space for storing books, games, supplies, electronics, and everything in between. Oh, and you’ll love its nod to industrial style. Talk about an ideal situation for any updated room.

The Uptown Loft™ collection includes (from left to right) a Bookshelf Room Divider for open storage, a Bookcase with concealed and open storage, and a Command Central desk with two-sided access.

3. Add a Cool, Mod Fireplace (to update your living room)

There is no better moodsetter than a fireplace. The glow itself warms the space both in temperature and in ambiance, while really upping the style factor. Fireplaces add a rich, luxurious feeling to the home, and if you’re designing a more modern room, then a really distinctive fireplace is a top priority.

Your fireplace should make a statement. It can serve as the focal point of the room, and if chosen carefully, it can even be considered artwork.

If your home doesn’t have a fireplace already installed, not to worry! It’s time to consider an electric fireplace. Even better, consider an electric fireplace with ground-breaking design and open storage. The Pinnacle award-winning Wright™ TV stand with a ClassicFlame® Panorama electric fireplace will provide the storage you want and need while keeping your room warm and cozy. Oh, and it looks like a million bucks!

The Wright™ collection features Pinnacle award-winning design and a three-sided ClassicFlame Panorama Fireplace.

4. Fearlessly Mix Materials – Give Yourself Permission to Try New Design Ideas

From glass to different metals, each material you use adds personality and character to the space. Much like living room sets, using the same materials over and over again throughout the space can make the room feel dated and a little uninspired.

Texture is an often-overlooked element in designing a room. Don’t be afraid to use leather with a little linen mixed in for good measure. Make use of gold accent pieces in conjunction with brass ones for added visual interest. This will give the room a ‘collected look’ without being too matchy-matchy. A word of caution in regards to mixing metals: don’t overdo it! Too many metallic tones can look a little messy. Stick with a couple of contrasting tones for the best results.

Different upholstered pieces can live harmoniously with a leather pouf accent piece, just like the wood tones in your furniture can contrast, but still work with your wood panel floors.

Most importantly, get creative! Let your imagination be your guide and throw the rule book out of the window! The possibilities are truly endless.

5. Design Your Living Room for Your Life – Because Your Room Should Fit You

In the year 2018, the living room looks and feels different than it did even five short years ago. Living rooms aren’t just for having coffee and watching TV. Today, lots of people spend the majority of their time in the living room reading on a smartphone or watching Netflix on a tablet, which means that the days when your furniture absolutely had to revolve around your TV are over. In other words, you’re creatively free now. Put your stuff where it makes sense for you!

Today’s living room is truly a multifunctional space and it is important to look at it as such. Clutter is out and comfort is in. It can be whatever you want it to be. Make it inviting, make it unique – but most importantly, make sure it works for you and those you love.

The Most Important Thing to Remember When You Update Your Living Room

In conclusion, there is no right or wrong way to design your home. It is YOURS, after all. The most important thing to remember is to fill your space with pieces and things that you love and that speak to your life’s journey. It can be easy to get impatient and redecorate your space in a week or so with things you find in a store (this is probably due in part to all those home makeover shows who get it done in no time). However, real character in a room comes from carefully curating a collection of items that you truly love and have acquired along the way.

Take your time and your perfect living room will fall into place. Trust me. It’ll be worth the wait.