The living room is more than just a place to sit—it’s the heart of your home, the first impression your guests get, and the backdrop to your day-to-day life. If you’re ready to transform your space from ordinary to magazine-worthy, it helps to get expert advice from those who live and breathe design. We asked what a top Interior Designer in Los Angeles would recommend for curating a stunning, functional living room—and their suggestions might surprise you.
Whether you’re revamping your entire space or just adding a few key touches, these expert-approved pieces can bring harmony, personality, and style to your living room.
The Foundation: Start with a Timeless, Quality Sofa
According to many interior design firms in Los Angeles, the sofa is the anchor of any living space. It sets the tone for your room’s aesthetic and influences every other furniture decision.
Why It Matters:
Your sofa isn’t just a style statement; it’s where you entertain, relax, nap, and binge-watch. A poorly chosen sofa can make a space feel cramped or disjointed, while the right one pulls everything together.
Designer Tip:
Go for clean lines and neutral tones if you want versatility. But if you’re aiming to make a bold statement, rich colors like emerald green or deep navy can bring dramatic flair to the room without overwhelming it.
The Statement Piece: An Oversized Piece of Art
Forget cluttering your walls with multiple small prints. An oversized art piece above the sofa or fireplace creates an instant focal point and gives the room a polished, gallery-inspired feel.
Why It Works:
Large-scale art adds visual interest and expresses your personal taste without needing a lot of accompanying decor. It’s a great way to infuse color, texture, or even mood into the space.
Designer Tip:
Choose artwork that resonates with you emotionally. While trends come and go, your connection to a piece ensures longevity in your space.
Reflect & Expand: Add a Large Mirror
Interior design professionals across California, especially in compact urban spaces like L.A., often use mirrors to reflect light and create the illusion of a larger room.
Why It’s a Game-Changer:
Mirrors not only brighten the space by bouncing light around but also give the illusion of depth. A strategically placed mirror can open up a narrow room or bring balance to asymmetrical layouts.
Designer Tip:
Position your mirror across from a window or behind a light source for maximum effect. Choose frames that complement your living room’s overall style—be it boho, modern, or industrial.
Accent Chairs: Sculptural and Functional Seating
A well-chosen pair of accent chairs can elevate your design from basic to beautiful. They’re a chance to introduce new textures, colors, and shapes into your room.
Why They’re Essential:
Accent chairs add extra seating while breaking up the visual weight of your sofa. Plus, they can introduce new elements like wood, leather, velvet, or metal, keeping the room dynamic.
Designer Tip:
Don’t feel confined to match your chairs with your sofa. Contrast is key. According to an Interior Designer in Los Angeles, mixing materials adds visual depth and modern flair.
Bring in the Green: Plants for Freshness and Life
No living room feels complete without a touch of nature. Whether it’s a tall potted fiddle-leaf fig or a small arrangement of succulents, plants breathe life into your decor—literally and figuratively.
Why Designers Love It:
Greenery softens a space filled with hard lines and materials. It adds texture, improves air quality, and gives your room a laid-back, welcoming feel.
Designer Tip:
Group plants in clusters for more impact, and vary the heights using plant stands. If you’re short on natural light, many interior design firms in Los Angeles recommend low-light options like snake plants or ZZ plants.
Illuminate with Purpose: Layered Lighting is Key
Lighting is one of the most overlooked but most impactful aspects of living room design. A single overhead light rarely does a space justice.
Why It Matters:
Layered lighting—from floor lamps to sconces to table lamps—adds warmth and functionality. It creates zones within your room and allows you to adjust the ambiance based on time of day or activity.
Designer Tip:
Start with ambient lighting (like ceiling lights), then add task lighting (like reading lamps), and finally, sprinkle in accent lighting to highlight art, plants, or architectural features.
Textiles & Texture: Rugs, Throws, and Pillows
The finishing touches are what make a living room feel truly livable. Rugs define the space, throw pillows invite comfort, and blankets provide cozy luxury.
Why It Works:
Layering textiles is how designers make a space feel curated yet casual. It adds warmth and personality while softening the harder surfaces of furniture and flooring.
Designer Tip:
Choose a rug that’s large enough for at least the front legs of your furniture to rest on it. Don’t be afraid to mix patterns, as long as they share a color palette.
Functional Decor: Shelving and Storage with Style
Every beautiful living room needs some form of practical storage—whether it’s for books, games, remote controls, or kids’ toys. The key is finding storage that complements the design.
Why You Need It:
Floating shelves, built-in bookcases, or stylish storage cabinets can hold your essentials while also serving as a platform to display your favorite decorative pieces.
Designer Tip:
Use the 60/30/10 rule for shelf styling—60% books, 30% decor, and 10% negative space. This creates balance and avoids visual clutter.
Personality Over Perfection: Add What Makes You
Ultimately, the most important advice any Interior Designer in Los Angeles will give you is this: Your living room should reflect who you are.
Why It’s the Final Touch:
Whether it’s a vintage record player, a gallery of family photos, or a handmade ceramic bowl from your travels, those personal touches are what make your house feel like home.
Designer Tip:
Balance personal pieces with universal design elements. For instance, a sleek modern sofa can live beautifully alongside an antique coffee table or cultural artifacts.
Thinking About a Bigger Project?
If you’re starting from scratch or reimagining your entire home, working with experienced interior design firms in Los Angeles can help you clarify your vision and bring it to life with cohesion and expertise. But even if you’re doing it on your own, focusing on these essential living room elements will get you off to a great start.
Transforming your living room doesn’t require a complete overhaul. Sometimes, all it takes is a few strategic upgrades to breathe new life into your space. Start with quality foundation pieces, layer in texture and light, and then sprinkle in your personality.
Whether you’re inspired by the creativity of an Interior Designer in Los Angeles or simply looking to refresh your space, every choice you make should help your living room tell your story.