Make your living room look luxurious by forgoing these common design mistakes.

Your living room likely wears a lot of hats, from hosting guests to curling up on the couch. Give this high-traffic space some extra love by letting go of the trends and decor ideas that belong in the past.

Undersized rug

Photography by Alex Lukey

A rug is a great way to bring your living room design together and add extra comfort, but a too-small size can make the space look cramped. Place your rug under large furniture, such as your coffee table and couch, to bring depth to your living room.

Speaking of rugs, you can also say goodbye to overpriced versions. Instead of creating an ultra-formal space, consider a durable and washable rug that will withstand your living room’s lifestyle. 

Exclusively overhead lighting 

Break free from builder-grade and glaring overhead lights, and consider incorporating bringing in various light fixtures. Layering table and floor lamps, artful chandeliers, string lights, and even candles creates a lived-in, homier atmosphere. 

From classic draped lights to funky table lamps, getting personal with your lighting is an easy way to infuse your design style into your living room.

Matching furniture sets 

Photography by Alex Lukey

We hear you; matching furniture sets make these big investments a design no-brainer. But no matter how much they cost, they can ultimately have the opposite effect of making your space look cheaper.

Mixing and matching your couch, chairs, and storage gives off a more curated and trendy appearance. Plus, it gives you the opportunity to intentionally blend high and low pieces.

Clutter

An abundance of trinkets and *things* may be super trendy right now—we’re talking about you, “cluttercore”—but there is such a thing as too much. Just as the trend dictates, keeping your living room stylish is about intentionally selecting pieces that look good in the space. Room for negative space is just as important as bringing objects you love.

For example, this coffee table and built-in bookcases shelve a number of knick \-knacks, but still look clean because of the breadth of space around the decor.

Generic artwork 

Don’t worry—we’re not saying to abandon your local chain decorating store forever. Rather, consider being more selective when it comes to choosing wall art. Images printed en-mass that we see everywhere have a tendency to look like an afterthought when it comes to your living space. Supporting local artists, scouring antique markets, and integrating art from your travels is an easy way to infuse your personality into your design without breaking the bank.

That said, art is all about feeling. If there’s a piece you love, no matter how popular it is, get it! It’s your home, after all.
 

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