10 Traditional Living Room Ideas
Traditional living room offers classic seats and a glass top coffee table that sits on a vintage rug over the hardwood flooring.
It includes a fireplace with a wooden mantel and a TV on top.
1. Keep walls neutral
In a traditional living room, you’ll want to keep the walls a neutral color.
This will help draw attention to the architectural details of the room, such as the crown molding and built-in shelving,
and allow your furniture and decor to take center stage.
If you’re not a fan of white, consider other light and airy colors, such as beige, cream, or light gray.
These colors will create a warm and inviting backdrop for your traditional living room.
Pro Tip: If you want to add a pop of color to your traditional living room, consider painting the ceiling a soft shade of blue or green.
This will create visual interest in the room without overwhelming the space.
2. Add warmth with a natural rug
To ground the space and add warmth underfoot, consider layering a natural-fiber rug like jute or sisal with a smaller, more decorative rug on top.
This is a great way to add texture to the room and create a focal point around the seating area.
In this traditional living room, we used a 9′ x 12′ jute rug to fill the space.
The natural texture of the rug adds depth to the room and provides a neutral foundation for the rest of the decor.
3. Embrace elegant details
If you love the look of a formal living room but want to keep the space feeling a bit more casual, you can do that by embracing elegant details.
This living room is a perfect example of how to do that.
The beautiful fireplace and mantel are the focal point of the room, and the elegant chandelier adds a touch of formality.
But the rest of the space is kept casual with comfortable seating, a soft color palette, and plenty of textures.
4. Add a pop of color
If you’re a fan of neutral colors but want to add a little more visual interest to your living room, consider using a pop of color.
In this traditional living room, the designer used a bold blue accent color to draw the eye to the room’s architectural features.
The pop of color adds a modern touch to the space, while still allowing the traditional design elements to shine.
5. Incorporate a few antiques
If you have a love for vintage pieces, consider incorporating a few antiques into your traditional living room design.
In this space designed by Arent & Pyke,
an antique rug and vintage coffee table add character to the room and provide a nice contrast to the more modern elements.
You can find antiques at your local flea market, estate sale, or antique shop, or look for vintage pieces on websites like Chairish and 1stDibs.
6. Play with pattern
If you want to incorporate a lot of colors into your traditional living room, consider using patterned textiles to get the job done.
Use a neutral color palette for the furniture and walls, and then add in a variety of colorful throw pillows and a patterned area rug.
This living room by Andrea Schumacher Interiors is a great example of how to incorporate a lot of color and pattern into a traditional space without it feeling overwhelming.
7. Choose the right window treatments
Window treatments such as curtains and drapes can be a great way to add a touch of elegance to a traditional living room.
Choose a fabric that is rich and luxurious, and make sure to hang your curtains high and wide to make the room feel larger and the windows feel taller.
If you have a lot of windows in your living room, consider using Roman shades or simple valances to keep things from feeling too busy.
And if you want to let in as much natural light as possible, consider using sheer curtains.
8. Make a statement with lighting
Statement lighting is a hallmark of traditional style. Chandeliers and sconces are the most common types of lighting to use in a traditional living room.
This living room designed by The Refined Group features a stunning crystal chandelier that hangs below the ceiling medallion for a touch of old-world elegance.
Pro Tip
Add a dimmer switch to your chandelier so you can control the intensity of the light in the room.
Conclusion
Living room furniture is designed to be lived in. Use it to create the perfect place to plan family movie nights, host game day parties, or just relax after a long day at work. The living room furniture you choose should be comfortable and accommodating, without overwhelming the space. Your living room design will be more enjoyable and comfortable for you, your family, and/or guests.
