Our Ultimate Living Room Design Do's and Don'ts

While there are no hard and fast rules to designing any space, there are some guiding principles that everyone should follow to maximize storage, style and personality in their homes. Check out our ultimate design do's and don'ts to make your living room one you'll never want to leave.

In classic Fixer to Fabulous style, Jenny and Dave Marrs gave the living room of their Welcome Inn historic charm with soft furnishings and creamy paneling. They embraced the space's natural light by dressing the windows with long, neutral drapes. A white ceiling and light wood floors help reflect the light.

Bright and bold colors, like the sunny yellow in designer Dani Dazey's living room, can create a total wow moment — when well planned. Start by picking the main color in your space, then choose two or three complementary colors to layer in. The accent colors will help tie the whole room together.

Whether it's old-school paneling—like Egypt Sherrod and Mike Jackson used in this updated midcentury modern house — fabulous peel-and-stick wallpaper or cool geometric molding, wall treatments can be an easy way to give your living room a quick refresh. Pro tip: Highlight the shape of an angular ceiling by bringing the paneling, wallpaper or molding all the way up.