The living room is where we spend most of our time – and it’s certainly the space our visitors see the most of. Get inspired to create a functional and stylish space with these minimalist living room design ideas.
With the new year around the corner, we’re starting to see new living room design trends emerge: Think greenery, minimalism and layered natural materials. It’s always exciting to see what kind of design trends are popping up every year and how homeowners and interior designers incorporate these living room ideas into their living space. However, these designs come and go, and some will look dated in a year time. If you’re looking for something that’s more sustainable or a design that will stand the test of time, we suggest going minimal.
Thanks to Marie Kondo and her KonMari movement, we’re seeing more and more homeowners paring down their home, including the interior design of the house. And it’s a look that’s easy to achieve as well! Think clean lines, neutral tones, clutter-free space and functional furniture pieces. If you’re looking to transform your space, then you’ve come to the right place. We asked the interior design experts for their tips and ideas to decorate a minimalist living room.
Before you start searching ‘minimalist living room design ideas’ on Pinterest and getting totally overwhelmed by the sheer volume of images, it’s important to go back to basics. Ask yourself how the space is going to be used, as your design decisions and decorative choices will be influenced by the use of the space. If you need help to get started, we have some tips:
1. Textural elements make a modern living room design
Looking for minimalist living room ideas? Texture is essential to nailing a fresh and modern living room design. Interiors designer Jessica Viscarde from Eclectic Creative says, “This year we can expect to see a concentration on natural materials such as rattan and cane furniture, and flatweave style rugs incorporating blends of wool, jute, cotton and silk.”
2. Colourful clashes add life
When it comes to lounge room colour trends, Jessica says, “We can expect a warmer and richer colour palette incorporating blues (from cobalt to denim and everything in between), sage and deeper greens, terracotta and a rich array of timbers.”
Not sure how to work a new colour into your lounge room? Jessica suggests starting with a floor rug, artwork or something as small as a cushion or throw, and living with the colour for a few days to experience the piece in different light and settings.
3. Mixing materials for an eclectic feel
Updating your living room doesn’t have to be expensive or time-consuming, in fact, it doesn’t even have to involve a major furniture or colour overhaul.
Interior stylist and visual merchandiser at Curious Grace, Emily O’Brien, recommends “mixing materials and textures to create appeal and give your living space a modern eclectic feel”.
This can be as simple as adding a beautiful, textural rug in a neutral colour, or even introducing a new material to your coffee table like a chic matte black marble to break things up.
4. Add character with homemade ceramics
An easy and simple way to update your minmalist living room to appear more homely and lived-in is to incorporate some natural look ceramics. For a timeless living room decor update opt for ceramics in beautiful organic shapes – they never go out of date and you’ll have fun styling them in different spots around the room.
5. Maintain proportions
Maybe, like many city dwellers, you have a small living room and need to make the most of your space. Decorating a small minimalist living room can often feel more challenging than a larger space, however, the number of square metres you have doesn’t have to limit how stylish and inviting the room can feel.
Balance is key when it comes to living room design ideas, and it’s even more important in a smaller space. Get the sizes and proportions right by considering the size and placement of key elements like your sofa, media units and storage, as well as how you will move about in the space. Opt for neutral coloured flooring to keep the room feeling spacious, and add pops of colour in soft furnishings to create interest without clutter.
If you’re looking for ideas to elevate your small living room, check this out: How to make a small living room look and feel larger
6. Give the appearance of space with mirrors
Looking for living room ideas to transform your wall?
Mirrors are regularly used for living room decor as they add light and ambience, as well as create the illusion of more space – especially if placed on the opposite side of the room to a window.
7. Go big with wallpaper
If you’re thinking of trying out something bold but are worried about the cost (or even changing your mind), try removable living room wallpaper. Easy to install and remove (as the name suggests), removable wallpaper is becoming more popular and is a super practical and affordable way to decorate your minimalist living room walls. The best bit? It’s not permanent which is great if you’re a renter and want to up your living room design.
This article was originally published as Beautiful living room ideas by www.realestate.com.au and is written by Erin Morris.