Your home is your sanctuary, and your living room is a hub of entertainment and serenity. From social gatherings and one-on-one hangouts to quiet relaxation and mindful wind-down routines, the living room is a versatile space that exemplifies inviting and cozy moods.
With a new decade on the horizon, it’s time to redefine your space to support you. So, it might be the right time to redecorate a living room to become an oh-so-restful respite from everyday life. We can’t wait to see what defining design moments, arts and culture moments, and new trends will shape our homes.
With the tail end of this decade leaning on self-care, relaxation, and de-stressing, we predict that the next ten years will dive deeper into rooms that act as oasis from daily life. We think living spaces and bedrooms will be the first areas to reflect this focus on relaxation.
These tranquil living rooms might just spark the desire to redecorate. Browse through calming trends that will inspire you to transform your space into a laid-back escape.
1. Seasonless Hygge
Hygge may have a winter association, but it can work any time or place in the home. Cozy, intimate, and laid-back transcendent themes throughout the year. While you may load up on cashmere blankets, candles, and wool for winter hygge, infuse elements that can withstand the change of season but connect with a universal motif: serenity.
Hygge is all about the escape, and a living space is the perfect spot for tranquility. You don’t have to acquire endless-relaxation vibes with this trend and play up contrasts when you redecorate. This is the time to blend tones, layer textures, mix in knits, while crafting an airy, magnetic aura.
2. Care-Free, Beachy Vibes
What is more relaxing than the sand, surf, and sun? It doesn’t matter if it’s winter outside, because summer elements can live indoors all year long. Essentially, a day at the beach is all about uninhibited vibes and lounging. Arm the room with on-theme aesthetics and furnishings. Bring the surf essentials into your home with elements of white, off-whites, driftwood, wicker textures, macramé, blues, greens, and teals. A room that’s polished but gravelly, just like sea glass itself.
3. Ultra Luxe
What does comfort mean to you? Define it, visualize it, then enact its design. The idea is to pick pieces that are perfectly poised, peaceful, and cool. From warmth and texture to easygoing and upbeat, center the living area around foundations of comfort. That could mean, large, smooth, but softer furnishings alongside pastoral touches. Plus, there isn’t a motif or accessory that’s too elevated. This trend is all about expression with an overlay filter of restorative calmness.
4. Completely Customized
We live in an age that anything and everything can be completely and utterly tailored to our style. So why not our living spaces? Revamp your living area to suit your design needs and sensibilities, and transform it into a relaxation haven. Whether that’s modern and multi-functional furniture to stow away objects and kid-friendly gear, an all-white lush sitting area, or a personalized airy and bright meditation alcove, the sky’s the limit for a marvelously designed and laid-back room.
5. Relaxing Colors and Tones
Blue, green, yellow, violet, and pink are all color tones that can lower blood pressure. These gorgeous shades add flavor to a myriad of design palettes, while bringing a calming effect into the room. Visuals in living rooms affect people more than we realize, and by showcasing calming colors, the mind is always at ease. Whether it’s paint, wallpaper, or furniture, mix in these colors to draw in a sense of peace.
6. Clean Lines
Simple never goes out of style. Clean and refined lines, especially in furniture, remain classic and timeless. Take traditional design, mix in clever and innovative twists for a living space with a sharp look and feel. Opt for furniture that is just as clean lined as it is comfortable, while adding in dollops of coziness: thick blanket throws in warm jewel tones, alongside contemporary of-the-moment decor like seasonal flowers, large leafy plants, vases, and textured rugs.
7. Bold and Bright
Whether it’s eye catching art or vivid, vibrant hues, bold and bright colors elevate a dazzling room, while keeping it cool and chill all at the same time. Pigmented hues are rich and sassy, but that doesn’t mean they’re chaotic or high energy. Instead of pale or blush shades, go deeper to bring out the ultimate accents for recharging in your sacred space.
8. Load Up On Texture
A calm living space is a mindful and sensual experience. Texture is the perfect opportunity to blend various design styles, like boho and modern. Shag rugs, wood, marble, and velvet furniture, decor, or accents create all different but pleasing feelings against the skin and body.
9. Dissolve All Clutter
Clearing clutter can restore balance and serenity to a previously cloudy, anxious space. After all, removing clutter is also a basic tenet in feng shui, opening up a room to invite relaxing, restful, and joyful energy. Decluttering is the first essential step for any room overhaul or decoration project, but it can also be the core focus for a zen-like room. Shed what items or pieces do not serve you, and the newly decluttered space will shine while simultaneously restoring you.
Stephanie Valente is a Content Director and Editor in Brooklyn, NY. She’s previously held writing and social media positions at Barkbox, Men’s Journal, and currently works at a full-service advertising agency. She’s a self-confessed home and design enthusiast. Stephanie is an award-winning poet and fiction writer. When she’s offline, you can find her taking a yoga class, running, hanging out with her rescue dog Pepper. Find her on stephanievalente.com.