Feel-Good Living Room Design in 5 Simple Steps

Sep 22, 2022DESIGN

Gone are the days of formal living rooms. And to that I say, good riddance! Bye uptight furniture. Adios pretentious decor. Hello comfy, cozy and practical living room design. Casual living is here to stay and it feels oh so good.

There are countless sources of living room design inspiration to draw from. One source of inspiration is nature. This can include elements like natural materials, plants, and outdoor-inspired colors and patterns. For example, you could incorporate wood, stone, or bamboo into your design, or use green and blue hues to create a nature-inspired color palette.

Another source of inspiration for living room design is cultural influences. This can include elements like traditional furniture styles, global textiles, and cultural motifs. For example, you could incorporate a Chinese chippendale chair, a Moroccan pouf, or a Mexican serape blanket into your design.

In addition, you can look to your own personal style and interests for living room design inspiration. This can include elements like your favorite colors, patterns, and textures, as well as items that have special meaning to you. By incorporating elements that reflect your personal style, you can create a living room that is truly unique and reflects your individuality.

Our living room is on the small side. It’s spacious enough to hold a sofa, chair, two ottoman poufs, two accent tables and an extra-large dog bed. The room is anchored by an 8×10 seagrass rug. What makes our living room design unique is its wall of windows. When there’s a view of rolling hills, the pressure to up your design game subsides.

As for decor, we have an acoustic guitar, seven-foot dracaena and table-top snake plant. The wall decor is equally as minimal with three extra-large letters that spell Z-E-N hanging over the sofa.

Our living room is a place for movie watching, board-gaming, dogpiling and snoozing. You could categorize our style as minimal, casual and earthy. And I’d have it no other way.

HOW TO CREATE FEEL-GOOD LIVING ROOM DESIGN

Step One — Prune your living room design.

The first step to creating a feel-good living room is to prune it. The furniture and decor in your living room can either encourage relaxation or inhibit it. If a living room is overcrowded with stuff, it will cause sensory overload. This makes it difficult to relax. Studies show minimal furniture and decor promotes relaxation, allowing our eyes the space they need to rest.

Step Two — Analyze the functionality of your living room design.

The second consideration for living room design is functionality. Comfort is key. Scale is important, too. If the furniture in your living room is too large for the space, the room will never feel balanced. Before I buy furniture, I tape-off the dimensions on the floor. This gives me a sense of whether or not the scale of the piece will flow within the room.

Step Three — Create layers within your living room design.

The third step is to create layers within your living room. Not sure how? Peruse Pinterest. Collect images that make you feel good. I prefer to keep furniture and rugs neutral while adding color, texture and pattern with throw pillows and blankets. It’s much less expensive to swap out a pillow than a sofa.

Step Four — Add plants to your living room design.

Step four is all about plants. Live greenery adds fresh energy to your living room. I opt for plants that are easy to maintain. Succulents, dracaenas and snake plants are no-brainers.

Step Five — Boost the sensory goodness within your living room design.

Step five involves adding sensory goodness. Burning sage and Palo Santo helps balance the energy of any room. Candles add a soft glow and they introduce fragrance to the room, too.

Living Room Design Inspiration by Your Space - Julie Pedraza
Living Room Design Inspiration by Jodi Balfour - Julie Pedraza
Living Room Design Inspiration by Espanyolet - Julie Pedraza
Living Room Design Inspiration by Amber Lewis - Julie Pedraza
Living Room Design Inspiration by Athena Calderone - Julie Pedraza
Living Room Design Inspiration by Nancy Scheinholtz - Julie Pedraza

Take a moment to sit still in your living room. List the things you love about the space and the things you’d like to change. As impulsive as it may seem, immediately sell or donate the pieces that no longer serve you. The best creative ideas often come from empty canvases.

When you’re ready to add new pieces, be less impulsive. Take your time. Allow your new living room design to take shape organically. Slow but steady wins the race.

Image Sourcing: Pinterest

As always, thank you for being here and sharing the articles you appreciate most. Be sure to subscribe to future posts below. If you have questions or suggestions, leave a comment or drop a note. My mind and inbox are always open.

0 Comments

Submit a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

READER FAVORITES

How to Refresh Your Home with Sage and Palo Santo

How to Refresh Your Home with Sage and Palo Santo

Sage and Palo Santo have been used for centuries to purify and cleanse homes. If you find the energy of your space feels stagnant or unbalanced, it might be time to refresh your home with some sage and Palo Santo. I'll walk you through the simple process of smudging...

Our Coastal Kitchen Renovation Step by Step

Our Coastal Kitchen Renovation Step by Step

We weren't jazzed about throwing five figures into our coastal kitchen renovation. But, I convinced my partner that renovating the kitchen might very well improve my cooking. So, we rolled up our sleeves, shook hands and dug in. This kitchen renovation included...

Personal Style – A Guide to Creating a Signature Look

Personal Style – A Guide to Creating a Signature Look

After 50+ trips around the sun, I’ve honed my personal style a few times over. Back in the day, I wore my fair share of LBD's and heels. Today, my new version of LBD is laid back and done. I've created a personal style that's a true reflection of me. And you can,...