What Should I Put In A Living Room? (Essential Items)
A living room should exude personality, style, design, and warmth. It’s the room that usually needs the most care and attention when it comes to decorating.
Having the key essential items that will make up the majority of the living room decor is what really counts.
Therefore, some of the perfect items you should put in a living room are:
- Good quality sofa
- A coffee table
- Curtains
- An area rug
- End tables
- An ottoman
- Accent chairs
- Light fixtures
- Plants
- Wall decor accessories (artworks, shelves, mirror)
By including these items in a living room, you’ll have everything you need but you also be able to create an interior design to suit your aesthetic vision.
Here’s a closer look into each and every one of these items:
Table of Contents
Things To Have In A Living Room
Couch/Sofa
Every living room has to have a sofa or couch in the desired arrangement that will create a cohesive flow to the room decor.
Depending on comfort and the size of the living room, you’ll be able to determine exactly what kind of sofa or couch to buy.
You’ll also want to take a look at affordability, quality, and whether it will go well with your overall color scheme for the entire room.
A sofa is a very important aspect of a living room as this could make or break the decor.
Related Post: Where Is The Best Place To Put A Sofa? (& How To Style A Sofa)
Curtains
If you want to have direct sunlight in the room, then it’s best to do without any curtains.
However, curtains tend to tie the room together and it can make the place feel more warm and cozy, creating that homely feel.
In terms of the color or material, you can match it with a complementary color to the walls or you may use a contrasting color for a unique and fresh look.
It’s best to use curtains with high-quality fabric and simple textures rather than busy patterns as this will create a great flow to the decor.
Coffee Table
Having a coffee table in the living room is especially useful in so many ways.
It’s also the one item that completes the decor and it doesn’t really matter what kind of shape, design, or texture you use.
Check out this rich espresso wood coffee on Amazon
If you want to avoid having an empty area by the sofas or in the center of an area rug, putting a coffee table will really be worthwhile for usability and stylistic choice.
See Also: Is A Coffee Table Necessary? (Here’s The Best Way To Know)
Area Rug
You’ll need an area rug to go under the coffee table and sofas. This will add a lovely finish to the decor.
If the room is quite a large space, having an area rug will be more preferred as this will cover a significant portion of the room.
Check out this chic distressed oriental rug from Amazon
If the living room is smaller, you can just have a small rug to go under the coffee table only.
Wall Art
Wall art is essential to make sure the walls don’t look boring and feel like something is missing.
Having at least one or two accessories can really enhance the overall decor, adding to its charm and elegance.
There are many different wall art decor items you can use that will make your living room look amazing.
Some of these include hanging plants, framed artworks, mounted shelves to display ornaments, and a large mirror.
You may include a few of these items or you could just add them all depending on the available wall space.
See also: What Can I Hang On My Living Room Walls?
Mirror
As mentioned in the previous item, having wall accessories like a mirror will be a great addition to any living room. It has the ability to make any decor look elegant, stylish, and modern.
There are a variety of different mirrors to choose from but some of the best is just a simple round or rectangular mirror positioned on the wall just above the sofas or across from it.
Mirrors are particularly useful at creating an illusion of space by reflecting an object across from it.
It can also bounce light making the room appear bigger and brighter.
End Tables
If you need something small to go next to the space between a sofa and accent chair, putting a small end table will complete the look.
These tend to fit in perfectly in any small space and you may decorate them further by having a small flower vase or stack of books placed on them.
Get this farmhouse style end table from Amazon
Accent Chairs
If you really want to make your living room stand out, the absolute best way to do it is to have an accent chair.
These chairs used along with a sofa will make your decor look stylish, elegant, and sophisticated.
Depending on your color scheme in mind, having an accent chair that is a different color from the sofa can definitely work, giving it that perfect pop of color.
Related Post: What Color Accent Chair Goes With Grey Sofas?
Ottoman
If you have the space for it, consider adding at least two ottomans to your living room. This is an ideal way to improve the decor but also provide extra seating for when guests are over.
It’s convenient and practical but will definitely be a great detail for the room.
TV Stand
You’re going to need a modern tv stand if you have a tv mounted on the wall or you need a place to put the tv.
It’s hard to say which tv stand to get for your decor but to play it safe, I would suggest getting a stand that is simple yet has a creative design that is in keeping with the texture and color of your other furniture and accessories to create a cohesive design.
See this mid-century modern TV stand on Amazon
Light Fixtures
The next item you should have is an overhead light. Having a simple bulb light is definitely a no for this case especially if you want your decor to look modern and trendy.
Choose a light fixture that will stand out and illuminate your living room with warm, soft light at night.
Throw Pillows
Now here’s an item that is not completely necessary to have but it will be useful in terms of design.
Place a few throw pillows on the sofa or accent chair to give a warm and cozy vibe to the room. This will make the decor feel more personal.
Placing a few floor pillows is also another great item to add to a living room that will create extra seating with a comfy and welcoming feel.
Related Post: What Are Floor Pillows Used For? (8 Creative Uses)
Ornaments
Every decor should have an element that shows a bit of you and a great way to do this is to choose ornaments in your taste.
Displaying them on the mounted shelves or coffee table will add a charming feel and look to the decor.
Plants
Lastly, consider putting a tall pot plant in the living room.
Greeny is a great way to enhance and uplift any room decor and it’s also aesthetically pleasing.
You don’t need too many plants if that’s not the look you’re going for but having at least one large plant or flower vase on the coffee table will be that last finishing touch the room needs.
Final Thoughts
Every living room design will vary from person to person as it largely depends on taste, style, and preference.
At the end of the day, this is simply a guideline as to what you should put in a living room.
You don’t have to restrict yourself in any way or feel the need to add every single item.
The best way to go about it is to decide which items will benefit your living room and also consider adding any other items, not on this list that will make your living room communicate your vision.
Hopefully, this list answered your question, and if you’re interested in reading a few more posts like this, here are my best suggestions:
