Want A Cozier, More Stylish Home? Get Inspired By These Relaxing Living Rooms
As the name "living room" suggests, many people spend a lot of time in this part of the home. They watch TV, read, play games, and entertain guests there. Don't you want your living room to inspire relaxation?
If your living room could use a cozy glow-up, check out these rooms. You could bring the beach into your home, add some glamorous furniture, or mimic a fireplace without actually installing a hearth. The best way to learn interior design is by looking through examples, so get inspired by these relaxing living rooms.
Like Sitting By A Fireplace
Although this room is dim, the designers used it to their advantage. The fiery red and orange painting replicates a fireplace. Behind the sofa, lights brighten the wall beneath the art. Despite having no fireplace, this room feels like you're sitting by a warm fire.
The dark, cozy atmosphere is enhanced with industrial-style furniture. Dark leather covers the couch and chairs. With exposed brick and distressed woods, this space feels like a warehouse that has been repurposed into a comfortable home.
Living The Glam Life
The glam design style is all about luxury. Glam furniture, such as this tufted sofa and jewel-toned lamps, looks like it was designed for royalty. But the sofa is also big and soft, so people may want to jump in and snuggle up.
For some people, a relaxing living room is one that replicates a fancy hotel. The pillows are bright and bold, but they are also plush enough to sink into. The deep purple lampshades provide moody, romantic lighting. Light a candle, pick up a book, and relax.
It All Just Works
This living room looks like it came together over time. A rug from here, a blanket from there, and it all just works. True to the bohemian style, this room looks like the product of several life journeys and feels like a well-loved home.
Why do all of these different textures and patterns work together? Because they all follow the same color palette. The seating area brings together dark blues, wooden furniture, and live plants. Take a tip from this room: If you're bored with your couch, consider covering it with a cozy blanket.
Making The Best Of A Small Space
If you live in a small home, take some tips from this room. The couch faces away from the front door to create a dedicated walkway. An area rug defines the "living room" space with a table, window, and TV console.
Although this space is small, it still feels comfortable. It has all that it needs: a couch, a coffee table, a TV stand with storage, and a beautiful window. A standing arc lamp provides extra light at night. There is comforting simplicity in giving a room one purpose. You watch TV and relax there; that's it.
Pops Of Pastel
For some people, pastel colors represent happiness, fun, and calm. If you like the pastel tones of the shabby chic design, you can incorporate it without making your home feel like a Disney castle. This room brings in pops of pastel flowers, pink woven rugs, and a light blue frame.
The distressed white furniture enhances the room's bright and airy atmosphere. The neutral sofa is filled with comfy pillows, and it's right next to a full bookshelf. Read with natural light from that tall window, and you'll feel like you're in a tea house.
Cozy Up, Scandinavian Style
If you like this look, you may want to check out Scandinavian design. This style stems from the Danish concept of hygge (pronounced hoo-gah), which means "coziness." It's all about comfort. Look at the woven patterns on the pouf and rug; don't they scream "cozy"?
True to the Scandinavian style, this living room mixes textures while keeping the color palette neutral. The mixed materials on the pillows and throw blanket not only look relaxing but also provide a contrast that makes them stand out. Plus, the lighting is utterly romantic.
Bring The Beach Into Your Living Room
What's more relaxing than the beach? Even if you don't live near the shore, you can bring the coastal element into your home as this room did. The beach painting sets the tone and color palette for the entire room. Light blue pillows sit on a sand-colored couch, much like water on the shore.
The white wooden walls imitate shiplap, but they have more dimension. We also love how a hanging light illuminates the painting because it is the focal point. On the sides, symmetrical lanterns help the room feel like a beach resort.
The Most Romantic Mood Lighting
This living room has mastered mood lighting. Not only does it have several candles, but it also has flower-shaped lamps that mimic candles. The couch is a dark, rusty red color that feels warm and relaxing next to the wooden furniture.
If you like to unwind in low light, reading a book or watching a movie, this room is for you. To decorate the white walls, the designers added floating shelves with matching wood and more candles. Even in the daytime, it feels like a room during sunset.
A Hint Of Mid-Century Modern
This room contains hints of mid-century modern, the design style that flourished in America from the 1940s through the late 1960s. Clean, geometric shapes are a staple of the design, including the round mirror and the decorative pillows. The cognac couch with its angled peg legs also reflects mid-century modern.
This style is designed to feel warm and inviting. There is plenty of natural light and floor space here. The accent wall is a nice grey-blue that helps people feel calm, and the living isn't too cluttered. How comfortable do those couches look?
A Splash Of Warm Color
Warm, bright colors can quickly become overwhelming in interior design. But this living room does it just right. The colors come from the artwork, and they are pulled onto the couch in a single accent pillow. For those who don't want too much color, this is the living room design for you.
The couch and rug are in neutral grey, but because of the warm painting, they don't look cold or dreary. The contrast is eye-catching and pleasing, especially with the green terrarium plant on the table. And look how fuzzy that couch is!
Keep It Cool; Keep It Luxurious
This jewel-toned living room could be in a hotel. Cool colors are known to help people feel calm, and the purple couch adds a touch of warmth. The mirrored side table and coffee table add an element of luxury. Overall, it looks like an elegant room in a beach house.
But the high-end air of this room doesn't overshadow the coziness. The wall has an interesting sand-like texture, keeping the room bright but also warm. It matches the earthy pillows and lit candle holders. Can you imagine receiving room service here?
An Indoor Forest
Wallpaper can transform any room. These residents turned their living room into a forest with this printed leaf wallpaper. The pattern weaves into the live plants and a hardwood floor, making the place look like an indoor forest.
This room works because the wallpaper does most of the heavy lifting. Besides a TV, nothing else hangs on the wall. A few yellow accessories brighten the space, and the lower wall molding lends the room some character. It's cute, bright, and relaxing.
Like A Private Movie Theater
Relaxing spaces don't have to be flooded with light; they can also be dark and dramatic. These ash-grey walls make the living room look like a movie theater. Dim the lights, put on Netflix, and join your friends on that long sectional sofa.
This living room has been strategically designed to balance light and darkness. The wall and ceiling lights prevent the room from looking like a dungeon. The couch, table, and window curtains have a light grey tone that balances out the ashy colors.
Chairs Can Be Comfy, Too
You don't need a giant couch to create a relaxing seating area. Here, two lounge chairs have faux fur blankets on them for additional comfort. They also feature decorative pillows for extra support. When guests come over, they can sit on those two woven poufs.
This room mixes different textures to create a serene atmosphere. Fuzzy blankets pair with textured pillows and a soft rug. The bright pillows are fun, inviting, and complement the comic book panel that serves as an art piece.
Break Out The Shag
Is there a better feeling than running your hands through thick fur? This living room combines faux fur with some industrial accents. The cozy shag texture weaves through the stools to the couch. Even the rug is fluffy and can massage your feet after a long day.
The room brings in some cool tones with blue velvet pillows and a comfy throw blanket. Plus, the soft fur contrasts with a distressed coffee table. Even if you don't like distressed wood, there's one benefit: you don't have to worry about marking the table when you kick your feet up.
Don't Interrupt The View
These residents are lucky enough to have a brilliant view. To make their furniture less distracting, they opted for modern pieces. The neutral furniture in black and grey doesn't conflict with the amazing view. The furniture is simple, but also fashionable; each item acts as an art piece.
True to the modern style, this living room has few accessories. But the ones that it does have are bold. Colorful candle holders and abstract bowls pop against the simple furniture. This room is open, bright, and perfect for absorbing the view.
Go Crazy With Patterns!
Patterns are fun, and this bohemian-style room incorporates designs with no hesitation. The couch and furniture are bold blue and orange, respectively, to match the rug colors. In the back, tall windows and plants lend to the relaxing atmosphere. It feels like a casual library.
The multiple patterns may seem like a lot, but they all match through the color palette. Although the windows let in a lot of light, the dark furniture dims it. The result is a low-light living room filled with antique accessories.
Like Lounging In An Art Gallery
Nothing stands out more than a giant art piece, and this room has two. The complementary art pieces frame the couch while making you feel like you're in an art gallery or a Victorian entertainment room. Even the lampstand has a unique shape.
This design works because it isn't too cluttered. The artworks and symmetrical windows are enough to help people relax. Curl up on the couch, face the rest of the seating area, and enjoy a drink with friends. Or, you can set up an easel and paint.
This Small But Cozy AirBnB
This living room is part of a tiny AirBnB. Despite its small floor plan, the room doesn't feel crowded. The walls are left bare and white, and the large window lets in plenty of light. The couch and rug have light neutral colors, which makes the room appear brighter.
This room has a coziness to it mainly from the warm wood and plants. There is something about house plants that makes people feel at ease and connected to nature. In the built-in shelves, the books add some color and hominess.
Break Out The Color!
If you're a fan of color, you may take inspiration from this mid-century modern room. It has a fuzzy orange rug, a wooden bookshelf that matches the floor, and a long blue leather sofa. The couch is large enough to take a nap. Or, you can sit on the rug and put together a puzzle.
Because the walls are sky blue, they creatively mimic a nature view. The abstract mountain painting with the light blue mimics the outdoors. And the retro (mid-century) elements of this style make it fun, too.
Keep It Traditional
When the curtains are floral and the couches have skirts, you know the room is the traditional style. For many people, this style replicates their grandparents' homes, but that's what makes it relaxing. Don't you want to eat cookies and drink tea on those couches?
This living room includes an antique wooden piano for live music and sing-alongs. With cheese platters on the coffee table, this room provides an inviting conversation area. Friends and family can gather to eat, talk, and watch TV together. So cozy!
Experimenting With Emerald
Green is a relaxing color because it reminds people of nature. In this room, emerald green combines with neutral brown to create a comfy atmosphere. The accent wall pairs with the throw blanket and the ottoman to bring the room together.
The leather couch holds cozy blankets and pillows, one of which has a pretty gold accent. Even on the table, you see a wooden sculpture that reminds people of nature. One of the blankets also mimics fur. This style incorporates indoors and outdoors, dark and bright, fun and relaxing.
A Christmas Farmhouse
Christmas is the epitome of relaxation: snow outside, hot chocolate inside, and time with loved ones. This rustic home has been decorated for the holiday. You have a beautiful wooden bench with comfy pillows that look like a cabin. The frosted-tip and candles branches cozy up the space.
The room also has a charming sign: "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Because the decor isn't all green and red, it doesn't look tacky. Instead, the festive vibes come from the plants, candles, and warm wood tones.
Contemporary Coziness
Although the contemporary style has a reputation as being overly stiff and straightforward, it can still be relaxing. This room's designers used color accents to their advantage. The bright yellow chair stands out against the white and black furniture. Since it catches peoples' eyes, it invites you to sit in it.
Like other modern rooms, this living room has few accessories. All it needs is a funky end table, a bold artwork, and a flower vase. It's warm and simple--almost minimalist--so you won't be distracted by clutter.
The Magic Of Exposed Brick
A random brick fireplace can make or break a room. In this home, it makes it. Notice how the couch faces the fireplace and not the TV; the brick serves as the focal point, and everything else complements it. Neutral furniture helps the fireplace and wicker light fixture pop.
This room is all about natural colors: wood, cream, and green. The coffee table and TV console add some modern touches, but it still feels familiar, serene, and cohesive. It's a warm place to read and catch up on your favorite shows.
A Modern Cabin
This room transforms a cabin style into a modern space. It incorporates wood into furniture and an accent wall while the walls remain a neutral white. Tufted leather seats match the trunk coffee table and the jute rug.
This living room has high windows connecting to the outside (see the bikes?). But it also has a flat-screen TV and some modern metallic art on the wall. If you imagine camping in luxury, this room could serve as the perfect setting. What's more relaxing than watching TV in a cabin?
A Fireplace In The Back
Instead of placing a fireplace in front of the couch, you can put one behind it. Guests will feel warm as soon as they sit down on the sectional. Matching lamps provide enough light in an otherwise dark blue space.
The long sofa with plenty of pillows adds a coziness factor. The grey furniture matches the tile wall, and the blue pillows match the painted wall, so nothing feels out of place. Stretch out on the couch, turn down the lights, and take a nap with the fire on.
Rustic Relaxation
This farmhouse-style living room has a lot of character while remaining cozy. The large plush chairs invite people to sit down and sink into the cushions. The wooden furniture also provides a homey feel, but it isn't overdone.
Instead of a fireplace, the mantle frames some decorative vases. A rustic wheel creates a unique focal point. And who doesn't love an aquarium? You can relax, watch the fish, and talk to your roommates or guests. Although the design is simple, it feels like a well-loved home.
Play With Bold, Geometric Shapes
If you want to incorporate some bold, geometric designs into your space, consider an area rug. This rug gives the living a lot of personality. Because the rug has neutral colors such as black, tan, and grey, it doesn't feel overwhelming.
The rest of the room is simple but impactful. A grey couch sits near a beautiful oval table facing the TV. There are few wall decorations and accessories to get in the way; the rug does all the work. You'll hardly have to worry about cleaning in this room.
A Tropical Rustic Paradise
This room combines tropical and rustic decor. The hanging table, ferns, and starfish pillow seem like they belong outside near the beach. But the screen doors add a rustic touch to the decor. This screen acts as a decorative wall to hold vintage clocks.
The pillow and couch go together because they're all neutral. Accent colors come from the plants and clocks. Because this room doesn't have a lot of wall space, it uses the ceiling. A hanging table, curtains, and plants separate the living room from everywhere else.
