15 Living Room Decorating Styles To Consider For A Major Makeover
Ready to breathe new life into your living space? A living room makeover can transform not just how your home looks, but how it feels when you spend time there.
Whether you’re drawn to classic elegance or cutting-edge design trends, finding the right decorating style is the first step toward creating your dream space.
Here’s a roundup of 15 inspiring living room styles that might just be the perfect match for your next big renovation project.
1. Mid-Century Moodboard
Swooping chairs and tapered legs define this iconic style that peaked in the 1950s and 60s.
Warm wood tones mingle with bold geometric patterns and atomic-inspired lighting fixtures to create spaces that feel simultaneously vintage and timeless.
A well-executed mid-century living room balances clean lines with organic shapes, avoiding clutter while maintaining warmth.
2. Scandi Snug
Light fills every corner of Scandinavian-inspired spaces, bouncing off white walls and pale wood floors.
Minimalism reigns supreme, but cozy textiles like sheepskin throws and chunky knit blankets keep the vibe welcoming rather than stark.
Functional furniture with clean lines sits alongside thoughtfully chosen decor pieces, embodying the ‘hygge’ philosophy that values comfort above all.
3. Coastal Grandma Chic
Imagine Nancy Meyers movie sets come to life in your home!
Soft linen slipcovers drape relaxed-fit sofas while weathered wood coffee tables hold stacks of hardcover books and simple floral arrangements.
Natural light pours through sheer curtains, illuminating a palette of creams, blues and sandy neutrals that create an effortlessly elegant space evoking seaside sophistication without a single seashell in sight.
4. Boho Bazaar
Vibrant tapestries and macramé wall hangings set the stage for this free-spirited aesthetic that refuses to follow rules.
Plush floor pillows invite casual gatherings while plants dangle from macramé hangers, bringing the outdoors in.
Layered rugs in rich patterns anchor eclectic furniture pieces collected from world travels – real or imagined – creating spaces that feel personally curated rather than store-bought.
5. Modern Barncore
Soaring ceilings with exposed wooden beams create dramatic vertical space in this contemporary take on rustic living.
Raw elements like stone fireplaces and reclaimed wood walls stand in beautiful contrast to sleek, modern furniture with clean lines.
Warm leather sofas and industrial metal accents balance each other perfectly, proving that farmhouse style can evolve beyond shiplap and “Live, Laugh, Love” signs.
6. Urban Relic
Exposed brick walls tell stories of bygone eras in spaces that celebrate architectural history rather than hiding it.
Factory windows frame city views while concrete floors ground the space in industrial authenticity.
Softened by plush seating and strategic lighting, urban relic living rooms transform once-commercial spaces into inviting homes that honor their working-class roots while providing thoroughly modern comfort.
7. Velvet Gothic
Moody walls painted in deep emerald or burgundy set a dramatic backdrop for this luxuriously dark aesthetic.
Plush velvet furniture in jewel tones beckons you to sink in while ornate gold-framed mirrors reflect flickering candlelight.
Vintage chandeliers cast mysterious shadows across carefully curated curiosities – perhaps a taxidermy bird under glass or antique medical illustrations – creating spaces that feel simultaneously opulent and slightly dangerous.
8. Japandi Zen
Whisper-quiet spaces emerge when Japanese minimalism meets Scandinavian warmth in this hybrid style gaining rapid popularity.
Low-profile furniture with clean lines creates horizontal emphasis while natural materials – think bamboo, pale woods, and stone – connect the space to nature.
Empty space becomes a design element itself, allowing carefully chosen objects to breathe and be appreciated fully rather than competing for attention.
9. Retro Revival
Vinyl record players and conversation pits make triumphant comebacks in spaces celebrating the bold design choices of decades past.
Groovy wallpaper patterns in mustard yellow and burnt orange create vibrant backdrops for curved furniture pieces with chunky proportions.
Quirky vintage finds from thrift stores mix with contemporary reproductions, creating rooms that feel nostalgic yet fresh – like stepping into a Wes Anderson film set designed for actual living.
10. Parisian Messy Glam
Imagine heirloom furniture pieces casually arranged beneath ornate ceiling medallions in this effortlessly chic aesthetic.
Gilded mirrors lean against walls rather than hanging perfectly straight, while art is casually propped on mantels instead of precisely positioned.
Luxurious fabrics drape over vintage pieces that show their age proudly, creating spaces that feel collected over time rather than decorated in a weekend – the ultimate French-girl approach to interior design.
11. Desert Nomad
Sun-baked colors evoke endless horizons in this earthy style inspired by arid landscapes and indigenous design traditions.
Raw textures like terracotta, rattan and hand-formed ceramics create tactile interest throughout the space.
Low-slung furniture encourages relaxed gathering while architectural elements – perhaps a built-in bench or plaster fireplace – echo the organic curves and simple geometry found in desert dwellings around the world.
12. Moody Maximalist
Pattern-on-pattern layering creates visual feasts in rooms that celebrate abundance rather than restraint.
Floral wallpaper might meet leopard print pillows while colorful book collections become design elements in their own right.
Art covers walls from floor to ceiling, creating gallery-like displays that reveal the owner’s personality and passions – proving that sometimes more truly is more when curated with confidence and personal meaning.
13. Art Deco Dream
Glamour reigns supreme in spaces inspired by the Roaring Twenties, when architecture and design celebrated prosperity through geometric precision and luxurious materials.
Bold symmetrical patterns in black, white, gold and jade green create dramatic backdrops for furniture with curved edges and sleek silhouettes.
Mirrored surfaces and metallic finishes reflect light dramatically, channeling the elegance of grand hotels and ocean liners from the era of Gatsby.
14. Organic Brutalism
Raw concrete surfaces meet curved organic forms in this unexpected pairing that softens brutalist architecture’s sometimes harsh reputation.
Sculptural furniture pieces with rounded edges provide counterpoints to angular architectural elements, creating visual tension.
Strategically placed plants soften the industrial materials while earthy textiles add warmth to spaces that celebrate the beauty of unadorned structural elements rather than hiding them.
15. Cottagecore Nouveau
Wildflower arrangements in mismatched vintage vessels bring the garden indoors in this romantic style that reimagines rural living for modern sensibilities.
Soft floral patterns mix with gingham checks while open shelving displays collections of handmade pottery and well-loved books.
Comfort rules with overstuffed armchairs perfect for afternoon tea, creating spaces that feel like stepping into a storybook cottage – minus the thatched roof and medieval plumbing.
