Want to transform your living room into a stylish and inviting space? Discover ten inspiring living room ideas suitable for every taste, from rustic to modern, and learn how to create a stylish and functional space.
Creating a Multifunctional Living Space
The goal for this space was to be very multifunctional. It was intended to be a great place to gather and play games, a designated work area, and a comfortable place to crash if there was a need to have an overflow guest room if there were multiple guests.
The overall inspiration for this room was just a very rustic organic down-to-earth space with lots of neutrals and very muted pops of color. The intention was for it to have that overall very earthy feel with just little touches of coastal for that casual relaxed vibe.
Initial Setup and Furniture Decisions
The designated active game space was envisioned in this upstairs loft area. The ping pong table was removed because it was too big for the space, and the intention was to replace it with a shuffleboard table along the wall.
The space over here was planned as the cozy lounge area where people can hang and watch TV. The aim was to make sure the two spaces feel separate but also talk to each other at the same time. On this wall is where the plan was to integrate the designated work area with a built-in that has a desk, shelves, and storage.
First, the space was cleared out and the sofas were donated to a local thrift store. It was time for a change.
Enhancing Natural Light with Curtains
The first thing to enhance was adding curtains to this window since this is the only window and natural light source in this space. The intention was to make it appear much larger than it actually is, and using curtains is a great way to do that. The curtain rod was hung as high as possible, and the window was framed with curtains on both sides. This creates the illusion of taller ceilings as well as a wider window.
The curtains that were ultimately chosen were the Matilda curtains from IKEA, which offers some of the most affordable curtains around. The light organic feel and texture that they had were appealing. These were deemed perfect for dressing up the wall but still keeping the overall feel very light and casual.
The curtains were hung to frame the window better and kind of make the window appear larger versus just having these two little smaller windows on this wall. It makes it more of an anchor.
The Sofa Saga: From Target to Outlets
Next was putting together part of the couch. The rug was coming in later, but one part of the sectional was assembled to see how it looks. It came in a bunch of boxes and it’s from Target.
This couch can be ordered in pieces; five pieces total were ordered. Curiosity drove the desire to see what the fabric looks like and how big and comfy it is. A risk was taken buying it online. The reviews were good, and it looked really nice.
After assembling a corner, it seemed like one would come over and feel like it’s very uncomfortable. It seemed that if it was just a little longer, it would be okay, but it felt kind of like a springboard. Visually it looks really nice and comfy, but then one sits on it and it’s kind of a letdown. If you want a nice sofa, you gotta invest in it. Luckily, Target had a great return policy, and the sofa was returned. A decision was made to try looking at the outlets, which was where the downstairs living room sofa was acquired for an amazing deal.
The Pottery Barn outlet was checked out, where one is able to get a great deal if one buys one of the mismatched sofa pieces. These are always super discounted and only a couple hundred dollars when they would usually be thousands. The only downside to this is one has to order the other section full price and then wait for it to come in. This was done with the navy sofa downstairs and ended up paying $1,500 for a $6,000 sofa, but there was a wait of six months for the other piece to come in, and there wasn’t really the time for that this time. Not much was liked either, and everything was really light and bright or not the right configuration. So, the decision was made to wander on over to the Creighton Barrel outlet and see if anything that worked could be found over there.
Rug Selection and Coffee Table
The rug was appealing. It’s the perfect amount of detail. It’s got kind of that like slate gray in there which is nice, and the pattern is appealing. When in doubt over a rug size, it is always best to size up just because it feels like one can always hide it under more furniture, but one can never make the rug bigger. The pattern is great and it is very soft. It’s thought that it’s going to hide dirt really well. It’s 100% propylene, and it was made in Turkey so it’s believed it’s going to be a good one.
The coffee table was reused for now because its look is great.
Swivel Chairs and Leather Accents
While at Home Goods, faux leather swivel chairs were found for only $250 each, which was a steal, so they were acquired. The cognac color contrasts against the blue gray tone of the rug, and they swivel so they allow people to be part of the living space or can turn around to be part of the game space behind it. Not only are they pretty, but they bring function to this space as well. Decorating with leather or faux leather accents creates a warm and inviting atmosphere.
Shuffleboard Table
On the other side of the swivel chairs, a shuffleboard was assembled, which was a gift. This game was enjoyed at bars and it seemed cool to have one. This was bought on Amazon. The aesthetic of it is great.
Built-In Design and Lime Washing
The built-in was next, and this wall was just really looking bare. An old TV was just propped up on an old coffee table, and this wall just really needed some height and visual interest, so it was time for a facelift. The space where the built-in was desired was marked out with a level, and there wasn’t a ton of space for the built-in just because a little attic access door took up a good portion of the wall, but it was still able to work. The wall was given a coat of primer because it was going to be lime washed. Since the plan was to make the built-in a classic white, the intention was to add some visual interest and earthy texture to the back wall so that it stood out a little bit. This lime wash from the Home Depot was diluted with water. A brush specifically meant for applying lime wash paint was used to apply it to the wall. With lime wash, one should work in sections or clouds, applying the lime wash on the wall and then spreading it as far as it will naturally go. Crisscross strokes can be used for an added textural look. Work in small sections and connecting all of the clouds together. Lime wash is a simple and easy way to add some texture to a wall, but it’s also just as easy to paint over if in the future one gets tired of it or just wants to change it up.
Next, Lowe’s was stopped by to get the base cabinets for the built-in, and it was needed to keep the whole thing pretty narrow, so these single drawer cabinets were chosen. The decision was made to go with a crisp classic white. A can of the Valspar cabinet and furniture paint in shade Swiss Coffee was already on hand, so the decision was made to use that to save some money. This shade of white was also a really close match to existing doors and trim in that room, so it worked out well.
Shelves were built to sit on top of the cabinets, using three quarter inch plywood for the frame and then some MDF that was ripped into one and a quarter inch strips for the decorative faces so that the shelves had an overall thicker appearance. Because this is a smaller room with lower ceilings, this built-in design doesn’t feel too blocky or heavy. It’s still very functional but just feels very light and decorative. The same Swiss Coffee cabinet paint was applied, while the cabinets were attached to the walls. It was hoisted up and into place, and then a decorative trim piece was added up along the top and a desk surface installed in between the two cabinets. It was given a coat of paint, and then a half circle was cut near the outlet for all of the cords. For hardware, honey bronze poles were found on Wayfair.
Once that was done, it was time to style this thing and make it all pretty. Something was wanted to hide the cords in the corner, so an antique vase with some faux greenery was placed in the corner, coupled with an antique brass standing magnifying glass that would add some height and tie in with vintage brass poles. Styling these shelves was an opportunity to make an aesthetic statement, and it was intended to keep the feeling very earthy and organic. When styling the shelves, light taupe colors with dark brown accents were used, and lots of different natural textures were mixed up—things like sea grass wood stone.
Wall Art and Corner Decor
One of the pieces that was most exciting to add to this space was a simple digital download that was bought off of Etsy. The calming look of this image is appealing. It has a little bit of a coastal feel while still feeling very muted, very earthy, and almost vintagey. The dark browns and greens and clay colors in the earth are appealing. That’s going to help pull some of the colors that are planned to be used in the space and just keep an overall very organic tone while still adding a little pop of color. The digital download was cropped into three separate sections, and then each one was printed on small woods in the dark wood to match the shuffleboard and some of the darker wood tones that are in this space to provide a little bit of contrast and visual interest while still keeping things very neutral and earthy. These are hung over the sofa and tie the room together.
The empty corner was tackled. The plus side of not getting a sectional sofa is that this corner can be judged up a bit and add some functional and aesthetic pieces to help enhance the overall design of the room. A side table was found at a Target salvage warehouse, and the rustic look that it had was appealing. Next, this statement table lamp was layered in. The vintage aged look of it with the little handle detail and how it picked up the clay and earthy beige tones in the painting is great. This is super practical to have right next to the sofa for a convenient light source within arm’s reach. Height was added to this corner, and some greenery was incorporated. This faux tree from Target was propped up on a little vintage stool. This takes it almost to the ceiling, which really gives it that added height that was desired. This tree already came in a decorative pot and gave off an overall rustic feel. Finishing off this corner, a wedding album was put on the table for an aesthetic and sentimental decor piece.
While out thrifting, an accent table was spotted. It would be a great way to incorporate some darker accents throughout this space, so it was acquired and used to anchor the area underneath the window.
Next, accent chairs were found that were actually dupes but these were almost half of the price. The look of them and how comfy they were was appealing. The gray color of the fabric would tie in perfectly with the rug, and then the dark wood would match the stain on the artwork frames and the shuffleboard, so the decision was made to go for it. The cost of these two chairs along with the sofa was roughly the same price as the original sectional that was returned.
Next, accent pillows were added. Something muted and natural looking but also a pop of contrast—something a bit more vibrant to pull those orange tones out of the painting—was desired. Genuine leather pillows from Home Goods were found. This orange vase that was thrifted to help accentuate that sandy burnt orange accent color was added. The subtle texture that these pillows give off is great. They smell amazing, and they coordinate with the vase to help create a statement with the accent color.
For the bigger sofa, this fringe checkered throw blanket was added. Also, a square size leather pillow was added, the same as the ones on the accent chairs, just a different size. All the warmth and texture that these bring to the sofa styling is great. That was accented with a lineny black and white ticking stripe pillow. These simple textiles help warm up the space and also keep it feeling really earthy and casual at the same time. Softness was added to the coffee table using this black tray to tie in some more black accents to relate back to that black side table. That was topped with some aesthetic practical pieces.
Console Table and Final Touches
This little awkward space right near the stairway was tackled, and this would be a great opportunity to add in some extra storage and have another surface that could serve food or drinks on. The perfect piece that was loved the overall design of was found, and it was a great price. It was moved into place, and it was perfect because there was still a little bit of space to use the outlet but it perfectly took up the rest of the space while still giving it enough room for an easy traffic flow around it. The woven detail of the doors is great, and this is a perfect spot to store all of the games. The cabinet doors are cushioned clothes, which just makes it feel a little bit more fancy and high end. As far as styling goes, the intention was to keep it pretty simple because it was wanted to have the majority of the surface available to set drinks and entertaining platters on. A vase was popped on there and a candle next to it for some height variation. This vase ties in those black accents but also has touches of those clay and terra cotta tones that are throughout the room. A floor lamp was layered in to this corner for some height. Lastly, a little rustic stool was added as an accent and a vase with some greenery on top just to complete the styling in here for an added homey feel with a functional spot to set a book or a drink.
That is how this room was transformed from being another boring living space to adding some much needed versatility and functionality and just created an earthy organic and homey atmosphere.
The use of earthy materials and rustic accents gave the space a casual lived-in feel and how the colors all related back to one another but still contrasted against each other. The functionality of the swivel chairs and that they provided a seating area for both the living space and the game space is appealing. So much inspiration was taken from our statement artwork and then related back to the rest of the design. Altogether, there is a cozy functional and inviting space perfect for entertaining or just kicking back and relaxing in.
