Over the last year or so, your living room has become so much more than it was before. It’s become a space to learn, work, and keep yourself busy. There’s a new level of functionality that you have come to expect from your living room.
It makes sense that living room design trends in 2021 focus on creating an environment that serves more than one purpose. No matter what size living room you have, there’s a variety of tips and tricks to get your desired look and feel. Here are the top 12 living room design tips to help you make the space your own regardless of space or budget.
1. Add Reclaimed Wood Wall Shelves
Thanks to its texture, reclaimed wood shelves add some additional character to an otherwise ordinary space. These are a great way to add some dimension to your walls and create some additional storage space as well. Try placing things like photos and art to showcase things you’re interested in, or store use them in some books.
2. Build Around Your Dream Couch
The couch is probably where most people sit the most when in their living room, and is usually the largest piece of furniture in the space. This is why it should serve as the base for the room as a whole. It’s easy to replace smaller furniture, but switching out your sofa would take a lot more energy and money. Be sure to choose the one you like the look, color, and comfort of!
3. Emphasis on Lighting
Lighting is one of the things most people don’t think about. Instead of accepting whatever overhead light your home came with, start experimenting with different tones of lighting. Showcase natural light from any nearby windows and add in lamps that will put a spotlight on your favorite area. Having more light sources allows you to generate a wider range of moods and create your own atmosphere.
4. Choose Multi-Purpose Furniture
In order to prevent a living space from feeling too cluttered, you should focus on elements that are truly functional. You’ll save on space and money if you choose furniture that doubles as something else, like an ottoman or stool. For example, nested furniture offers additional surface space without feeling too bulky and taking up too much room.
5. Incorporate Beige and White
As of this moment, beige seems to be everyone’s favorite living room color. Many people choose to go with a lot of white in their living rooms to achieve that modern, minimalist style and find that it’s not as comfortable of a space. Adding beige to white keeps the bright and fresh feeling of the white while adding some warmth into the mix. The contrast between the two creates a lovely contemporary theme.
6. Mix Modern and Tradition Together
Bring a traditional living room design to life by adding in some modern living room elements. The mix of classic and trendy materials replaces any dullness with bright charm. A great way to do this is to add a patterned rug, update your throw pillows, and add a different textured throw blanket to your couch.
7. Have Fun With Paint
Getting creative with paint is a quick and easy way to add some character to a living space. Paint one wall a bold shade like green or black, or paint them all. No matter your decorating style, painting can completely transform a space instantly.
8. Create an Accent Wall
To build off of the previous tip, creating an accent wall is sure to liven up any space regardless of how much furniture you have in it. Do this easily by adding peel and stick wallpaper on one wall. You can choose a minimal color pattern to create an effortlessly chic look. Or, choose something trendy like an exposed brick wall and add some thrifted picture frames and wall art to create a style all your own while on a budget.
9. Go Timeless With Mid-Century Modern
Mid-century modern inspired space is both inviting and aesthetically pleasing. With its clean-cut storage and low-key furniture, this trend will be here for some time to come. Its subtle colors and design create a simple yet sophisticated living room.
10. Curated Clutter
You may remember the days of shabby chic, where rooms were packed with a variety of colors, patterns, and trinkets. The new, more contemporary design features all the same elements of fun toned down in a thoughtful way. This style is what some like to call curated clutter because it captures the vibrancy of maximalism with the style of minimalism.
11. Bring Life to the Room With Greenery
Plants not only give life to your home, but they’re also cheap and easy to maintain. Place plants around the room using shelves, sideboards, mantelpieces, and/or hanging pot planters. Incorporate equal parts of small and large-sized plants. Palm plants will lend a bohemian atmosphere to your living space, while bonsai plants add a refined and structured appeal. If you don’t have a green thumb, faux plants will do the same trick but may cost a bit more.
12. Thrift Whenever Possible
Thrifting furniture and decor for your living room hits two birds (or more) with one stone. You’ll find pieces that are authentically vintage, a look some people pay thousands to achieve, and you’ll spend a lot less money on them versus new furniture. Some of these pieces may require some TLC, but finding them and doing a little craftsmanship is the most fun part! Plus, thrifting is a more sustainable option that can benefit the planet, so it’s a win all around.
Your Redesigned Living Room
There’s a wide variety of living room styles, and you may like more than one. If it’s too hard to choose just one theme, know that you don’t have to. Luckily, with the emphasis on mixed textures and multi-function furniture, you’ll still be on trend… or even ahead of the curve. Remember this is your space, so it should be a reflection of you and what you like!
