How To Decorate a Living Room: 20 Ideas and Common Mistakes

Black and white living room — DISC Interiors

Interior designers spend their lives studying the little details that make a room just perfect. Similar to a beautifully directed movie, a well-decorated living room is instantly engaging and impressive while also being functionally designed for comfort and ease of use. And, sometimes, what is slightly off in our own living rooms can be difficult to pinpoint. But you know it's there. To shed some light on the most common living room design mistakes that may be plaguing our spaces, we talked with interior designers and a residential architect.

As it turns out, there might be one little thing that makes all the difference. Or, perhaps, the issue could be quite large. From everything like choosing the wrong rug size to adding a bit more warm light, your dream living room may not be so out of reach if you consider the most common living room decorating mistakes.

Ahead, find the 20 most common mistakes people make when designing their living room and how best to avoid—or fix—them.

01 of 20

Selecting the Wrong Sofa

Living room with navy sofa — Design: Workshop APD; Photo: Donna Dotan

Designers agree: A great living room starts with a great sofa. "So often, I come into a house, and the owners have good taste, but they already have a sofa that they want to work with," explains stylist and TV host Emily Henderson. "They don't want to replace it because it's not that old and they don't mind it. I've had to break the news over and over that, with a sofa like that, they would never get the room they want."

02 of 20

Falling Into the Showroom Look

Another mistake that plagues living rooms everywhere, according to New York architect Elizabeth Roberts, is going for the "showroom feel." In other words, a room that looks like it's all been purchased from the same store. "It's important to us to mix new and vintage elements in order to create an interesting, eclectic, and individualized room," she says.

03 of 20

Buying a Rug That's Too Small

Living room with blue rug — Emily Henderson

For Henderson, one of the main offenders in living room decorating is the poorly sized rug. "America has been suffering for too long from 'small rug' syndrome," she says. "I see it virtually every day, and it pains me—especially when it can be so easily avoided." Huge rugs can be expensive and feel like such a scary commitment, but, according to the stylist, it's one of the most important aspects of a room.

04 of 20

Poorly Planning Your Layout

White living room — Design: Vanessa Alexander; Photo: Tessa Neustadt

While it may be tempting to push a sofa against a wall facing the TV and call it a day, Roberts reminds us that there is much more involved in planning a great living room layout. "It's important to consider and create conversation groupings, especially if the room is long and narrow like many townhouses and lofts," she says.

05 of 20

Hanging Art Incorrectly

"Art hung the wrong way on a wall is like a character in a movie wearing a really bad wig," Henderson says. "It's just kinda hard not to see it, and you wish so bad you could just rip it off, knowing that everything would be so much better without it. It doesn't ruin your experience, but it's just terribly distracting." She adds, "If the wall were cut up vertically into four sections (going from bottom to top), think of the art being in the third quadrant (counting from the floor)," says Henderson.

Wall App is a great way to visualize art on your existing walls. The free website allows for you to upload a photo of your actual room and place potential art in a variety of sizes within it.

06 of 20

Making It Too Precious to Live In

Living room with area rug — Elizabeth Roberts

While the days of unused "sitting rooms" and plastic-wrapped furniture are long gone, Roberts still insists on paying attention to making your living room fit the conveniences of daily life. "Select textiles and rugs that can take the wear and tear of everyday living," she recommends.

07 of 20

Not Mixing Periods and Styles

Living room with bookshelf — Ben Pentreath

Sometimes, people feel limited by the architecture of their home and select furniture based on it. Try not to feel stuck. In one Georgia home, the design firm merged contemporary furniture with traditional crown molding, Moroccan antique rugs, African beaded benches, and contemporary art.

08 of 20

Forgetting Furniture Heights

Open layout living room — Design: Emily Henderson Design; Photo: Tessa Neustadt

Roberts has one indispensable trick for combining periods and styles: "When mixing new and vintage elements, pay attention to furniture heights, as traditional furniture is typically higher than modern pieces."

09 of 20

Sticking With Obvious Fabrics

Pastel colored living room — Design: Emily Henderson Design; Photo: Sara Ligorria-Tramp

According to Roberts, "there are some great outdoor fabrics that we're using indoors that dogs and kids cannot destroy. It's important to select rugs that will wear well. Beware of the seductive silk rug." Instead, consider a wool rug.

10 of 20

Not Testing Your Furniture Layout

Open living room with sheer curtains — Design: Arlyn Henandez; Photo: Sara Ligorria-Tramp

It's very important to consider views from major seating elements. "In a large open room, it's nice to be able to sit on a favorite piece while addressing the rest of the room," Roberts says. "In a small room, it's important to consider the necessary window views." She adds: "In a room with a fireplace, it's often difficult to know where to put the TV—large TV cabinets are cumbersome and don't fool many. My favorite solution is a projector that projects onto the white wall above the mantel."

11 of 20

Overlooking Smaller Items

Living room with art gallery wall — Design: Mandy Cheng Design; Photo: Madeline Tolle

To avoid feeling like you're in a store, Roberts also recommends leaving adequate room in the budget for lighting, textiles, and accessories after large items are selected. "The small pieces are what add personality," says Roberts. "We also prefer to light the living room with low lighting instead of overhead light. Floor lamps and table lamps are best for living rooms."

12 of 20

Overthinking the Sofa

All white living room with couch — Mandy Cheng Design

"No one loves a simple sofa more than me because they are so easy to style," says Henderson. She recommends staying away from overly ornate details like curved legs, winged arms, tufts, and nailheads.

13 of 20

Choosing a Disproportionate Coffee Table

Clean, modern living room — Mandy Cheng Design

There's more to choosing a coffee table than swinging over to your favorite home goods store and selecting one on a whim. Let your lifestyle and functionality (kid-friendly, storage for remotes?) guide the materials, height, length, and clearance space needed to ensure your coffee table sings in harmony with your living room.

14 of 20

Selecting Cheap Art

Living room with blue couch — Design: Mandy Cheng Design; Photo: Madeline Tolle

Designers like Bobby Berk say cheap art can really drag down a room's aesthetic. Instead of going generic, opt for a custom art service, where you can commission affordable, original art. "There are lots of cool custom art services available now, such as Minted and Leftbank Art," Berk says.

15 of 20

Hanging Curtains Wrong

Living room with floor to ceiling curtains — Design: Mandy Cheng Design; Photo: Madeline Tolle for Home Polish

Hanging curtain rods just above the window can close in a space. Instead, hang the rod half a foot above the window frame. This will give the room a feeling of added height and openness.

16 of 20

Choosing Harsh Lighting

Neutral living room in soft natural light — Brad Knipstein

"Updating lighting fixtures can be an inexpensive way to really help improve the overall aesthetic of any space as well as give a sense of sophisticated elegance and comfort," says Suzanne Donegan, a designer and creative director. It's also one of the most often-overlooked design features yet most versatile—light fixtures can move with you.

17 of 20

Ignoring Clutter

Too many accessories, no matter how expensive, are considered décor overkill. For a less-is-more vibe, "accessories should be grouped together to create a pleasing vignette, whether it's on the cocktail table, buffet, or bookcase," says interior designer Marlaina Teich.

18 of 20

Forgetting Prime Wall Space

Living room with floating wooden shelves — Design: Mandy Cheng Designs; Photo: Madeline Tolle

When designing your living room, the floor isn't the only option to place furniture and décor—think vertically. Mandy Cheng, a Los Angeles interior designer, said to consider using floating shelves and hanging plants. "We're so used to furniture that sits on the floor that, once things stop fitting on the floor, we give up."

19 of 20

Lining Your Walls with Furniture

Living room with round coffee table — Sarah Jaye Weiss

“A common layout mistake I see people making with their living room is having all the furniture pushed up against the walls,” Elite Decorist designer Mikayla Keating says. Try floating your sofa or accent chairs closer to the center of the room to balance out the layout.

20 of 20

Neglecting Investment Pieces

Bright and airy living room with exposed beams — Katherine Carter

Though counterintuitive at first, investing in one statement accent is a financially better move than spending on multiple inexpensive pieces. Homepolish designer Ashlie Mastony says: "In the end, the little things cost just as much, and the space feels cluttered rather than cohesive.”

Sorry, These 5 Design Mistakes Are Making Your Living Room Look Cheap