10 decor ideas for a more stylish living room

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Adding a few great accessories to a coffee table or sofa are touches that make a living room look like you’ve done a lot more than you have – and signal confidence, glamour and luxury. Interiors expert Melissa Penfold shares her top 10 ways to add luxury to your living room through the magic of home decor.

Adding a few great accessories to a coffee table or sofa are touches that make a living room look like you’ve done a lot more than you have – and signal confidence, glamour and luxury.

They are also the first thing people notice when they enter your home which is why it’s always a good idea to play with fashion and introduce personality. Work in fun pieces with a nod to the season, and have enough cushions, lamps and vases for variety.

Curated vignettes are the sunglasses, handbags and heels of interiors. Here are 10 ways to make your home decor accessories work as a team in your living room.

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Decor and accessories can transform a drab living room into a comfortable, inviting space.

1. CREATE SYMMETRY

Go for a pair of matching lamps on side tables flanking a sofa for a polished look. Repeat cushions, colour. Repetition soothes and balances.

2. STYLE YOUR THROW CUSHIONS

Although styling a sofa with throw cushions is a matter of preference, the aim is to create a space that feels inviting and comfortable.

I recommend doing away with unnecessary cushions and opting instead for two properly made cushions with ethical down filling. Try a bespoke cushion in a luxe velvet or embossed silk in the middle.

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Photographer: Felix Forest

3. THE RULE OF THREE

When styling a vignette, always work with uneven numbers on surfaces – think one, three or five.

Start with a horizontal object – such as a coffee table book or tray – add something tall and vertical such as a vase or candlestick, then a low and bulky item like a paperweight or bowl. It’s foolproof.

4. ADD A THROW RUG

A beautiful cashmere or wool throw rug folded on the centre of your sofa will add life, warmth and comfort.

5. STYLE THE COFFEE TABLE

Start with something large in the middle, like a huge basket filled with a plant, flower arrangement or hurricane shade. Build out from that with stacks of books, candles or a bronze.

Pile glossy hardcovers or magazines in deep stacks to the edges. They will finish your table and reflect your style.

But be careful that you don’t go overboard! There’s no need to be a total minimalist but curating your bits will keep you from looking like a hoarder. Keep surfaces clutter-free.

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Coffee table books, trinkets and flower arrangements all add to your living room’s sense of personality and character.

6. SELECT AN ACCENT COLOUR

Keep accent shades to a minimum. One is more dramatic than two. Every new accent you add muddles the effect, from colours to magazines, flowers, plants or candles.

7. GO GLAMOROUS

From baskets to bowls, we’re always on the lookout for pieces that can freshen an old room for far less than a complete overhaul. A beautiful bust or bronze can overcome any space.

8. ADD FLOWERS AND GREENERY

Blooms in small flashes also have big impact. Stick to one or two hues for maximum effect. The vase is vital.

Also, a vintage basket filled with a bromeliad, agave, cyclamen or orchid is a time-honoured look that graces the best houses everywhere. Try it.

Indoor greenery is a quick way to soften tabletops, add focal points and make a room look lived-in.

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Photographer: Robert Walsh

9. ORGANISE YOUR TABLETOP

A wicker tray breaks up a coffee table, and can also be used as a stylish way to entertain when serving guests food and drinks.

10. MAKEOVER YOUR OTTOMAN

Pop a tray or low basket on top to create the perfect place to display everything.