Keep it Calm and Serene
WERNER STRAUBE
A light and bright aesthetic lends itself well to a minimalist living room. Pair a white slipcovered sofa with a faded vintage-style area rug and a natural wood coffee table for a calm, elegant look. Instead of a busy gallery wall, opt for a triptych of modern art prints and elevate them with a chic picture light.
Lean on Natural Textures
JAY WILDE
With limited decor and a neutral color palette, it's easy for minimalist living room designs to appear boring. An easy way to prevent this is to embrace natural textures wherever possible. Here, wood, leather, and jute accents lend texture to a neutral rug and linen sofa for an inviting, earthy feel.
Soften a Minimalist Living Room with Color
MATTHEW WILLIAMS
A neutral color scheme is one of the key characteristics of minimalist design, but that doesn’t mean you have to stick with grays and browns. Instead of going bold with dramatic brights, add a soft pop of color that doesn’t feel overwhelming or distracting. Here, a soft pink armchair brightens a living room corner. It offers a splash of personality while maintaining a cool, contemporary, and streamlined space.
Add Style and Function
JAY WILDE
Cozy up your living room in a minimalist way with a floating wood bench by the fireplace. It adds both style and function, since you can use the space underneath to store firewood and accessorize the top with patterned throw pillows. Accentuate the comfy little nook with a wall paneling detail—such as this white shiplap—and draw the eyes up with a decorative wall sconce.
Invite Natural Light
JOHN GRANEN
Natural light flooding in through oversized windows helps create a connection with the outdoors and a sense of openness in this minimalist living room. This kind of strategic use of light is synonymous with minimalist style. Instead of heavy drapes, keep the windows open when possible or use simple window treatments so as not to block the views and the light.
Update Exposed Brick
JAY WILDE
Paint exposed brick walls crisp white for a clean and uniform backdrop. Continue the modern aesthetic with black window frames that contrast the white walls. In this space, for example, black-framed windows with a linear grid pattern further juxtapose the more irregular brick arrangement. Layer your monochrome space with plenty of textured neutrals to warm it up and bring in a tall floor plant to liven up the room.
Embrace the Power of Plants
Liven up a minimalist living room (without disrupting the monochromatic vibe) by bringing in live potted greenery. Fill an empty corner with a tall cactus plant. Style a coffee table with stacks of books and a potted fern. The cactus brings a sculptural quality while the fern's freeform shape adds height and an organic element. If you don’t exactly have a green thumb, don’t worry—there are plenty of low-maintenance plants that anyone can keep alive.
Invest in Practical Pieces
ANNIE SCHLECHTER
One of the tenets of minimalist design is that all furniture used in the space should be functional. The brown leather Eames-style chair in this modern living room appears both sophisticated and cozy. Because the walls, curtain, and art are all fairly subdued, the chair and bright area rug anchor the seating area.
Design with Quality in Mind
JULIE SOEFER
Minimalist design is all about quality over quantity. So, consider it an opportunity to invest in quality items and materials that will stand the test of time. Carefully consider the pieces you want to incorporate into your minimalist living room. When deciding what to splurge on, think large pieces—such as the sofa. Or, transform the whole space with a statement light fixture and built-in elements like a stunning fireplace surround.
Float Furniture to Improve Flow
JAY WILDE
Instead of pushing all the large pieces of furniture against the walls, create an open layout by floating furniture in the center of the room. Keep the room’s focal point, doors, and windows in mind when deciding on the layout, and use a large area rug to anchor furniture and bring the arrangement together.
Use Clean Lines and Basic Shapes
MATTHEW WILLIAMS
Pair angular furniture (such as this Better Homes and Gardens Mid Century Solid Wood Reclining Accent Chair, Walmart) with simple, classic shapes to create a minimalist look without sacrificing function. Here, a large round mirror and circular coffee table soften the lines in this neutral living room, while cozy textiles make the space feel welcoming. When decorating a sparse room, opt for luxe textures and fabrics (such as blankets and rugs) instead of artwork or decor. Textiles add comfort and personality without cluttering the space.
Bring In Curved Furniture
JULIE SOEFER
Curved furniture exudes understated elegance—especially when juxtaposed with linear lines, like this espresso-hued wall paneling. Since they’re less bulky than square furniture, curved pieces add softness and keep the room open. They also work well in corners since you can comfortably nestle them in.
Add Storage to Hide Clutter
ADAM ALBRIGHT
A living room needs to be a functional gathering place, no matter which decorating style you choose. If you have a lot of clutter, like electronic gadgets or kids toys, look for storage solutions that will keep everything accessible, but out of sight. Here, simple furniture pieces and white built-ins keep the room looking sparse while providing ample storage space for all your family movie night essentials.
Layer Materials and Textures
JAY WILDE
Create visual interest in a minimalist living room by thoughtfully layering contrasting materials and textures. Take inspiration from this neutral space, and pair a dark upholstered sectional with warm cognac leather chairs. Bring the two together with an oversized textured area rug and add contrasting patterns through throw pillows and blankets. Introduce a woven element in the form of woven wicker baskets that double as practical storage.
Hang a Statement Mirror
JAY WILDE
To make a minimalist living room look large and airy, hang a statement mirror above the fireplace. If the fireplace isn't an option, dress up an otherwise blank wall. In this minimalist room, the lack of a traditional mantel makes the large octagonal mirror pop. Crisp shiplap adds an understated farmhouse style that works well as a backdrop, while a vibrant patterned rug keeps the room from falling flat.
Simplify, Scandinavian Style
VICTORIA PEARSON
With its soft color palette, nature-inspired touches, and natural textures, this minimalist living room exudes Scandi style. A slanted wall and round table add visual interest, while large branches provide seasonal color that can easily be swapped as needed. A large sofa and simple accent chair provide plenty of seating without cluttering the space.
Embrace Natural Light
If you're lucky enough to have large windows in your living room, embrace natural light as a decor element. It instantly creates a bright, airy atmosphere that makes your space appear larger and more open. In this space, high ceilings and large, curtain-free windows allow colorful furniture to pop without overwhelming the minimalist living room.
Keep It Simple
MARTY BALDWIN
Simplicity is at the core of minimalist interiors. Edit your minimalist living room by removing pieces that don’t serve a key functional or decorative purpose. Remove or hide cords that clutter the floor. Streamline decorative accents and keep surfaces clean to maintain a calm atmosphere.
Mount the TV on the Wall
MARTY BALDWIN
A clean and streamlined aesthetic is at the heart of minimalist design, so to keep surfaces as clean and clutter-free as possible, mount your TV on the wall and hide all the cables. If you’re not mounting the TV above a mantel, use a media piece, console table, or low-sitting cabinet to visually anchor it, then hang artwork around it to integrate it with the surrounding space.
Hang a Gallery Wall
EDMUND BARR
A gallery wall is a great way to add a personal touch to a minimalist living room, especially if you crave a little color. When assembling a gallery wall, consider three factors: artwork type, frame style, and size of the piece. The more you mix, the more the eye moves. So, keep it streamlined by framing your treasured pieces (such as photographs, paintings, and drawings) in identical frames. Or vary the sizes and frame colors of the pieces to create depth and dimension.
Add Contrast with Curtains
EMILY J FOLLOWILL
In this minimalist living room, the window treatments make a stunning design statement thanks to their bold pattern and floor-to-ceiling size. The curtain panels’ height visually extends the ceiling and makes the room look more spacious. The solid-colored sofa tones down the busy curtain print for a beautifully balanced space.
Focus on the Light Fixture
ALI HARPER
A sculptural chandelier makes a dramatic statement in this minimalist living room. By drawing the eyes up, it visually increases the ceiling height. Plus, its modern design complements the concrete fireplace, chic furniture, bright white walls, and streamlined natural wood accents.
Mix Up the Materials
JULIE SOEFER
Minimalist living rooms typically include lots of solid surfaces, so keep it interesting by mixing materials. In this gorgeous space, a lush velvet sofa and boucle armchairs add softness. Meanwhile, a luxurious black marble coffee table with brass legs brings in cool elements. Overhead, wood beams warm up the room.
Maintain Visual Symmetry
ZEKE RUELAS
A symmetrical room design is pleasing to the eye as it feels balanced and harmonious. Symmetrical doesn’t necessarily mean matching—in this chic minimalist living room, two oatmeal-colored sofas create a mirror image, but the rest of the symmetry is achieved in more fluid ways. Flanking the stone fireplace, two oversized mirrors on the right side visually balance a window on the left, and a tall floor lamp by one of the sofas matches the height of a table lamp propped up on a side table by the second sofa. It’s a more sophisticated way to approach symmetry and one that achieves a more high-end look.
Start with Texture
This living room has a lot of texture, but the neutral color palette creates an airy feel. Aside from the couch, every piece of furniture has an open base with minimal weight, which fits the minimalist aesthetic. The thin legs of the coffee table, ottomans, and accent chairs create more visual floor space, giving the illusion that the space is larger than it really is.
Mix Design Styles
MEREDITH CORPORATION
Don’t be afraid of mixing different design styles in your living room. Minimalism is all about a few well-selected pieces that work together despite their contrasting styles. Here, a traditional Chesterfield sofa is paired with a modern barrel armchair and a contemporary-style coffee table. It's an eclectic mix that’s unified through a neutral color scheme.
Opt for Neutral Colors
EDMUND BARR
Various shades of white and cream give this minimalist living room a tranquil feel. The stark white brick fireplace complements off-white walls and a cream-colored rug, adding subtle dimension without introducing new colors. The neutral foundation allows a statement coffee table to take center stage and imbue the living area with personality.
Embrace an Accent Color
CARSON DOWNING
Minimalism doesn't have to be void of color. While many minimalist living rooms feature neutral wall colors, it's entirely possible to embrace a brighter shade—like this cheerful tangerine—while maintaining a streamlined look. The clean lines of the wall molding give the space dimension, while the monochromatic accent wall provides an uncluttered foundation for intentional decor pieces.
Create a Focal Point
When designing your living room, center a seating arrangement around a focal point. It gives the eye a clear place to land as soon as you walk in and prevents a cluttered layout. Here, a white fireplace with a herringbone tile detail serves as an elegant focal point for a sofa and chairs, while a low-sitting coffee table allows for a full view of the focal point.
Streamline Your Color Palette
MAX KIM-BEE
This monochromatic living room busts the myth that minimalist spaces have to be all white. To add color without clutter, opt for a single color with subtle variations on the hue. Here, green wall paint creates a serene backdrop for the green sofa and velvet armchairs. Small accents of warm yellow and gold make the space feel warm and inviting without taking over.
Use Brown as an Accent Color
WERNER STRAUBE
When used thoughtfully, the color brown never goes out of style. So, works well as an accent in minimalist rooms. After all, it’s warm, neutral, and pairs well with creams and whites. Also, dark hues are perfect for adding depth and dimension in an ultra-luxurious way. Use wood furniture, upholstery, window treatments, and decorative accents to evenly distribute pops of brown throughout your minimalist living room.