Living Room Styling: 3 Steps to Instantly Transform Your Space

Kerri Hansen
Jan 23
3 min read

Updated: 6 days ago

Is your living room feeling a little plain or lacking in personality? Styling it doesn’t have to be complicated or time-consuming. In just three simple steps, you can create a cozy, polished, and inviting space — no major renovations required!

Here’s a quick guide inspired by a recent Instagram Reel tutorial I created, showing you how to style your living room by coordinating 3 key items: a rug, some artwork and throw pillows! I used my family room as an example, having recently purchased some new artwork and pillows to go with my existing rug! Here is the collage I made during the design phase:

Step 1: Anchor the Room with a Rug

The first step to a beautifully styled living room is a rug. A rug does more than look pretty — it grounds the space and ties furniture together.

How to do it:

Choose a rug that complements your color scheme. Neutral rugs work in most settings, while a color-coordinated rug can add a pop.
Make sure it fits your furniture layout — for example, all front legs of the sofa on the rug creates a cozy, connected feel.
Consider texture and pattern to add visual interest.

Pro tip: If your living room is small, a lighter-colored rug can make it feel more spacious.

I purchased this rug a few years ago and absolutely love it. It's soft, it has a neutral but beautiful pattern and the best part-it's super easy to clean!

Step 2: Create a Focal Point with Artwork

Once your rug is in place, the next step is artwork on the wall - above the sofa is my go-to where possible. Artwork draws the eye and sets the tone for the space.

How to do it:

Select a piece of art you love — it can be a single statement piece or a curated grouping, I went with a set of 3 pieces because I had a large wall to fill.
Select the right scale - if it's going over your sofa, aim to fill in roughly 2/3 the width of the sofa
Keep it at eye level for maximum impact.
Don’t overthink it — your wall doesn’t need to be fully covered to feel styled.

Pro tip: Experiment with arranging multiple frames or prints in a cohesive gallery layout to add personality. You can buy currated sets on places like Etsy and Wayfair.

This is a digital download from a favourite Canadian Print Shop on Etsy

I searched for awhile to find the right artwork for our family room. I knew I wanted a set of three, in an abstract style, with both blue and green. When I saw this set, it was love at first sight!

Step 3: Add Pillows for Color and Personality

Finally, pillows are the easiest way to inject personality and style into a room. They also help tie your color palette together.

How to do it:

Select pillows that pick up colors from your artwork or other decor elements.
Mix textures and patterns for depth and interest.
Combine different sizes - square/lumbar/round - to add dimension
Fluff and layer them on the sofa to create a polished, inviting look.

Pro tip: When mixing patterns, you can't go wrong if you pair a botanical shape with a stripe:

Here are the pillows I used on my Sofa:

5.Smal striped lumbar

6.Large striped lumbar

The Final Reveal

After just three steps — rug, artwork, and pillows — your living room goes from plain to perfectly styled. The space feels intentional, cozy, and pulled together . I especially love how the artwork and pillows have brought new life to our family room space!