The living room is undoubtedly a central part of any home. After the bedroom, it’s probably the room where you spend the most time: entertaining guests, watching TV, or simply hanging out with your family members. After spending so much time in this space, it’s inevitable that sooner or later, it starts feeling a bit boring. That’s when it’s time to redecorate it! Create a fresh and inspiring space with the following tips.

Start by planning

Before you begin your shopping spree and end up with a bunch of items you have no idea how you will incorporate into your living room design, it’s a good idea to sit down and pick the direction you want to go. Some people can get away with making things up as they go, but for the rest of us, planning is key. Choosing a style or aesthetic that you adore will help you create a more cohesive result, even if you don’t stick to it to a T. In addition, planning will be helpful if you’re planning on bringing in new pieces of furniture. Create inspiration boards and use different apps to see how your idea will look once it’s executed.

Figure out the best layout

You might feel like your living room is lacking something and try to compensate for this by redecorating your space. However, what if what’s “missing” is really not a new potted plant or a different coffee table but simply a better use of space? A masterful arrangement of your living room can drastically change the way you socialize and spend your time. For instance, you might be able to leverage more sunlight by moving the sitting area a little. Play with different arrangements and you might find that you’ve been doing it wrong all along.

Place great focus on the couch

The couch is certainly the focal point of any living room, which is why it deserves special attention. Your choice of couch needs to satisfy your lifestyle needs. If your entire family likes to gather on this piece of furniture every day, choosing a durable one will be a priority. If you also allow your four-legged family members on it, an easy-to-clean fabric is what’s going to make your life easier. You need to balance comfort, style, and practicality, which is by no means easy, so take your time.

Add a splash of color

As it’s known, colors can have a prominent effect on our moods. You can use this to your advantage in your living room and manipulate the atmosphere in the direction you want to. Create a warm, cozy space with warm colors like browns and beiges, or add a note of cheeriness with a splash of yellow. Blue tones are typically calming while greens boost balance. Neutrals are surely a safe choice in any interior, but why not add some personality and spice to your space with a hint of color? You can play it safe with a monochromatic or neutral base and a single accent color, or use a variety of muted tones for a harmonious result.

Make it cozy with fabrics

The living room is much like our safe retreat, so it’s important that it looks and feels comfortable and cozy. Instead of cold surfaces and impersonal minimalism, add some warmth and texture by combining different fabrics. Make it comfortable for your feet by placing a soft rug on the floor. Besides boosting comfort, a rug is a versatile addition that can also be a design statement in itself. A large rug underneath your sitting area will also define the space and make it look more cohesive. You can even layer rugs for an even more interesting result. Leverage the coziness of different fabrics through new throw blankets and pillow covers, too. These accessories are also an easy way to match color accents and bring the whole room together.

Change up the window treatments

Speaking of fabrics, another place where they play a crucial part in living room décor is your windows. You will find that changing your window treatments has an unexpectedly big transforming effect. Curtains with the right color, length, and weight add elegance and sophistication to a space, while the wrong choice can result in an awkward visual effect. So, use curtains to your advantage. Make your space look taller with floor-to-ceiling drapes, or make your windows look wider by placing curtains strategically. Pick sheer curtains for a bright and airy feel or thick ones for added insulation. You can even use the curtains as a style statement if you pick a unique color or pattern. Since fabrics are something that you can always swap out, they provide a great opportunity for experimentation with more adventurous looks.

Introduce greenery

Plants add life to any indoor space, so they are the perfect final touch to a living room design. And considering what a big difference their presence makes, purchasing a few potted plants is also a cheap way to decorate. Pick plants according to your room’s lighting and your level of gardening know-how. If you’re not confident, pick foolproof ones like pothos and Chinese evergreen. Put them in nice pots—or even better, woven rattan baskets—and your space will immediately look like a magazine page.

Add some art

Decoration will never be finished until some art has found its way into your space. Like plants add life to the room, art gives it personality, which is why it needs to be picked with a purpose. Look for a print or art piece that not only fits into the aesthetic of the space but also speaks to you. A well-chosen art piece is nothing short of a focal point and a conversation starter, so making sure it reflects you as a person is paramount.

Use lighting as a design statement

Finally, lighting is not just a practical necessity; it is also an important décor element. Without the right lighting, your design efforts will have no chance to truly shine. In addition, lighting also affects the atmosphere in the room. Consider your lighting fixtures as décor pieces and pick attractive fixtures that will add to the design even when they are not turned on.

Decorating your living room is a fun task, but a certain level of planning is necessary for a successful result. Search for inspiration and combine tried and tested designs with your own personality for a truly unique space.