Formal Living Room Ideas to Fit Every Taste

The interior designer’s most common advice is to decorate a room according to its purpose. Thus you will not have a problem with choosing the decor, furniture, flooring, or electronics. The main aim of a formal living room is to serve as a comfortable space for a guest, family, or relative reunion and cause the most positive impression on them. So what to do with a formal living room to turn it into an ideal area to spend time with the dearest ones? Here there are some ideas to inspire.

Living Room Kitchen Combo

It is an excellent idea to combine your formal living room with a kitchen and a dining area as you create a zone where you can not only have a conversation but also share a meal. Dining together is one of the most traditional ways to cherish your friends and family members and to celebrate an important occasion.

The neutral colors of this room make it airy and calm. They are complemented by emerald-green accents which refer to nature and make us feel good. Floral bouquets of the same palette unite the room and make it look even fresher. Brown wooden coffee tables and a distressed mint cabinet give the necessary warmth. White table lamps provide the elegance and the right geometric proportion to space.

Living Room Without Sofa

If you have limited space for your formal get-together room, you will most probably need to sacrifice the sofa as it bulks. So how can you secure plenty of sitting places in this situation? Put smaller pieces like rocking-chairs, armchairs, ottomans or normal chairs. You can also acquire assorted floor cushions that are easily piled up in the corner and can be taken out when needed.

Variegate the room with original lamps, coffee tables, shelves, pictures, and other distinguishing decors to draw the eye. Several big plants in unusual pots like in this picture will embellish a small space. You can also add more textile-like rugs, curtains, and chair covers for more coziness.

Sofa Team Up

In case you have a spacious layout, it is only fitting that you should put several sofas. And they do not necessarily need to be of the same color. You can back up the idea by putting a different wall finish for each of them. This formal living room sofa set comprises a dark-blue piece and a light-grey one. And the footstools are green! But it all looks balanced thanks to using these colors in other details like plants, rug, cushions, and throws.

This room proves that details are also important. When you walk in a room like this, you will feel the joy of studying its every detail. For example, floor lanterns with candles, tall floor lamps, table items, and bouquets, assorted cushions will capture your attention for a long while.

Family Spot with Fireplace

What can be more cozy and peaceful than telling stories and sipping something yummy in front of a fireplace? This room offers various sitting room ideas ranging from a big L-shape sofa to a comfy armchair, a puff, and a stool. There is a clear wooden emphasis in this space which makes it even more relaxing.

Hanging a big mirror on the wall can visually amplify the space. In case the mirrors are smaller like here, you can get an additional play of light and a wonderful alternative to the pictures. Plenty of cushions and throws titivate the area and almost call to land on the sofa.

Creative Centerpiece

An original center table for your living room can also sparkle the decoration. This raw wood table definitely sets the theme and adorns the space. It matches well with the white faux fur poufs and the rest of the furnishing. A congruent big painting also works like a charm.

Soft Color Play

This formal living room furniture has a great storage capacity. If your family is into reading, listening to music, and playing table games, such a built-in unit will be of much use. Look at the beige and cream color combination – it is always a winner. An array of tables helps to distribute correctly the lightning and guarantees enough horizontal surface to put things.

Simply White

Do not be afraid to let much white color into your ambiance as it is actually never too much. White is probably the most elegant and advantageous color for formal living room sofas and the rest of the furniture.  It gives more lightness to space and serves as a perfect background for any colorful decor. It also perfectly blends with natural wood and looks good all year round. In summer it cools down and in winter it evokes the necessary warmth.

Chairs to Make a Difference

Many people prefer to have their living room united with the dining area. A good way to separate the lounge zone from the eating one is to put a distinguished carpet. A big wooden table can be decorated with big candles or vases while not in use. Modern formal living room chairs will perfectly dilute the classic atmosphere.

Multi-Texture Chairs

Usually, we pay much more attention to choosing a sofa. But do not underestimate the power of a simple chair! Playing with upholstery will bring you to a captivating result like in this picture. These formal living room accent chairs are the lead characters along with the sofa. Bright pieces of furniture will give your room a lot of vibrancy and upgrade it to a new level.

Modern and Classic Together

Modern formal living room furniture wisely mixed with some traditional items works just great like in this picture. The vintage mirror and old moldings in the ceiling marry together with a design arm-chair and industrial iron coffee tables. The standing lamp adds chicer to this area. There is a certain art in putting together contemporary and old pieces so take it as entertainment which will result in something exciting!

Eclectic Design

Nowadays it is almost impossible to find a formal living room set where all the furniture is from the same collection – it is a bit outdated concept. The trend is eclectic. People like to keep old things adding new arrivals and mix materials and styles. This gives your space a special and unique atmosphere. In this room, leather and wooden armchair come along with a textile sofa, while a modern cabinet does not pair with the built-in white bookshelves. But the general impression justifies the choices.

Artisan Touch

Your formal room can become less formal by using atypical colors and textures. In this space, you can immediately spot the pink sofa and mustard armchair – not someone’s first choice but still looks fabulous. A jute rug and a storage basket transmit you to some tropical place and make you feel like summer never ends. Metallic open shelves and coffee tables add a masculine rough touch to neutralize the sweetness of the feminine sitting area. The giant cactus does its bit in creating the right ambiance.

Vibrant Rug

A vividly patterned rug is really capable of putting a twist on your living room. The one in the picture perfectly anchors with the cushions, flowers, and even the books on the table. At the same time, the rug is a perfect match to the sofa itself and zests the white walls and ceiling. A fancy rus is a very subtle way to bring continuity to the place.

Notable Chandelier

Many people opt for a monochrome interior design as it is classy, often timeless and evokes the feeling that everything is well-organized. But even muted minimalist context can have the star of the show which in this case is an oversized pendant chandelier.

Full Swing

If you are bold enough for any formal living room ideas, maybe you will be enchanted to have a couple of swings instead of armchairs. For sure both adults and kids will appreciate this fun sitting option.

We hope you have managed to train your design eye and picked up some ideas so that now you have a better understanding of how to organize your formal living room.