Comment to decorate your living room? The complete guide

Decorating your living room: where to start (and especially, how not to go wrong)?

The living room is where everything happens: Sunday movies, drinks with friends, playing with kids, quick naps... It’s also the first impression when someone enters your home. The good news: you don’t need to be an architect to succeed at modern decor. With a few simple guidelines and coherent choices (furniture, colors, decorative paintings, lighting), you can achieve a magazine-worthy result while staying true to yourself.

1. Take your measurements (without buying anything first)

Why measuring changes everything

Before falling for an XXL corner sofa, a Berber rug, or a wall composition, sketch a quick plan and note the dimensions: length/width of the room, ceiling height, locations of doors/windows/radiators/outlets. A piece of furniture that’s too deep, a painting too small, a tiny rug... and the harmony collapses.

The “zero regret” memo

• Note the restricted areas: openings, walkways, recesses.
• Keep a traffic aisle (80–90 cm) around seating areas.
• Check the TV viewing distance (diagonal x 1.5 to 2, depending on resolution).

2. Draw a simple layout plan

A freehand sketch or a free app is enough. Position sofa, armchairs, coffee table, TV stand, bookshelves. Test several options: face-to-face for conviviality, cozy corner, bench + armchairs... In a few minutes, you’ll know what to buy (and what to avoid).

Prioritize what matters

• List your uses: TV, reading, games, hosting, teleworking.
• Place the large pieces first (sofa, tall storage).
• Then add breathing spaces: rugs, lamps, plants, wall art.

3. Choose your style and uses

Clean modern, soft Scandinavian, chic industrial, retro, warm contemporary... The best style is the one that fits your life. Ask yourself the right questions:

Questions that guide everything

• How many people use the living room daily?
• Do you often host (need for extra seating)?
• TV or not (and how much space to give it)?
• Pets/kids (washable materials, rounded corners, storage).

Translate a style into concrete choices

A style is read in lines (simple vs. detailed), materials (wood, metal, velvet, linen), colors (neutral, muted, bright) and images (your paintings). Be consistent: 70% neutral base, 20% contrasts, 10% pop accents.

4. The sofa, the starting point of balance

It’s the centerpiece: comfort, proportion, circulation... Everything is arranged around it. Straight 3-seater sofa, chaise lounge, modular, corner: choose according to space and use.

Sizing it well

• Keep 60–70 cm around for circulation.
• Coffee table at 30–45 cm from the sofa edge.
• Seat height compatible with your armchairs for smooth conversation.

Materials & maintenance

With kids/pets, prefer removable or stain-resistant fabrics. Patinated leather ages well in an industrial style; boucle warms up a minimal modern look.

5. The right rug (size, material, layering)

A rug that’s too small visually shrinks the room. Ideally, the front legs of the sofa and armchairs should rest on it. Leave 10 to 20 cm of bare floor between the rug and walls.

Textures that change everything

• Wool: cozy, acoustic, durable.
• Jute/sisal: natural, textured, very decorative.
• Polypropylene: easy care, more affordable.

Smart layering

A large jute base + a small graphic rug in the center = depth, personality, and controlled budget.

6. Lighting: ambient, direct, accent

Golden rule: multiply sources. A single ceiling light = flat atmosphere. Aim for 3 layers:

The 3 essential types

• Ambient (soft ceiling light, track, wall sconces) for base lighting.
• Direct (reading lamp, adjustable spotlight) for activities.
• Accent (floor lamp, string lights, decorative lamp) for atmosphere.

Temperature & placement

2700–3000 K for a warm ambiance; 4000 K for a more neutral rendering. Direct light towards your textures (curtains, rugs, decorative paintings): everything looks richer.

7. Color palette and paints

Choose a soothing base (off-white, linen, very light gray) and add 1 to 2 accent colors (ink blue, terracotta, sage, mustard). Dark paint can be stunning behind the sofa or TV if balanced with bright wall art.

Winning combinations

• Neutral + electric blue: modern, graphic.
• Beige + terracotta: warm, Mediterranean.
• Light gray + sage green: soft, contemporary.
• Black & white + wood: minimal chic.

8. Decorative paintings & wall accessories

Walls express the soul of the living room. A large piece above the sofa creates a focal point, a diptych/triptych breaks up a long wall, a gallery of frames tells your story.

How to choose your artworks

• Size: 2/3 of the sofa width is a good guideline.
• Subject: calming abstract, energetic street art, photography, typography.
• Palette: pick 1–2 colors already present in the room.

Montableaudeco supports

At Montableaudeco, our artworks are available as unframed posters, canvas stretched on frame, floating frame (black or white) and plexiglass. German-made, processed within 48 h, delivery in 5–7 business days (7–9 days for XXL sizes), free delivery in France/Germany/Belgium and returns within 14 days (excluding posters). Choose the support that matches your style:

• Poster: light, accessible, perfect to test an ambiance.
• Canvas: “gallery” effect, warm texture, ideal above the sofa.
• Floating frame: structures the composition; black = contrast, white = softness.
• Plexiglass: design finish, vibrant colors, elegant reflections.

Discover our selection of paintings

9. Storage, textiles, materials & plants

Smart storage

Mix closed (visually declutter) and open (books, beautiful objects). Think storage benches, nesting tables, slim shelves.

Textiles & materials

Floor-length curtains, cushions with varied textures (linen, velvet, wool), generous throw: the room gains comfort and acoustics. The wood + metal duo works in almost all styles.

Plants

A large plant near the window, a shelf of small varieties, a vase of foliage: the living touch that changes everything.

10. Zoning an open living room (kitchen/dining room)

Define without partitioning: rug under seating, pendant light above the table, sofa back as a soft divider, XXL painting to anchor the living area. Keep smooth circulation between zones.

11. Decorating on a small budget: our tips

• Start with 3 pillars: rug, sofa, focal wall (paint or painting).
• Replace instead of adding: change cushion covers, a lampshade, two posters → fresh effect.
• Strategic paint: a single accent wall creates depth.
• Second hand: coffee tables, sideboards, armchairs... very stylish mix & match.

12. The 8 most common mistakes

1. Rug too small for the space.
2. Oversized sofa blocking circulation.
3. Only one ceiling light, cold and flat lighting.
4. Too many small decorations, not enough “statement” pieces.
5. Tiny painting above a large sofa.
6. Palette without a common thread (too many strong colors).
7. Invisible storage (everything scattered).
8. Poorly placed TV (reflections, angle, distance).

Quick FAQ

How to start decorating your living room?

Measure, draw a plan, set a style, prioritize 3 purchases (sofa, rug, wall art), then complete with lighting and accessories.

How to quickly enhance your living room?

Change cushion covers, add a large painting above the sofa, layer two rugs, multiply accent lamps, bring in an XL plant.

Small budget: where to start?

A properly sized rug + a large-format poster + two lamps → immediate transformation. Painting an accent wall costs little and changes everything.

Conclusion & Montableaudeco selection

A successful living room is first and foremost a space that reflects you: functional, warm, coherent. By combining a simple plan, a controlled palette, layered lighting, and decorative paintings chosen with heart, you create a modern and welcoming atmosphere every day.

Free delivery Europe • Returns within 14 days (excluding posters).