2021 Living Room Design Trends, According to Experts

Living room with red windowpanes. — Design: Alexander Doherty; Photo: Marius Chira

While the living room has always been one of the most trafficked rooms of the entire home, it’s gotten some extra love over the past few months. Since concerts, parties, and trips to your favorite dive bar are out of the question, we're spending the bulk of our time entertaining in our living rooms (and by entertaining, we mean streaming virtual happy hours and watching Tiger King for the fifth time). Chances are, your living room even doubles as your home office.

If you’re looking to spruce up your home, we can think of no other space that deserves as much TLC as the living room. To help, seven design experts are sharing the newest living room trends. 2021 is shaping up to be one very stylish year.

01 of 07

Bold Furniture

“Couches and armchairs will become statement pieces as people trade in standard neutral hues for trendy tie-dye, big florals, and bold patterns that add a lively pop to the space.” —Rodney Hammond, director of e-commerce merchandising for Raymour & Flanigan

02 of 07

Roaring Twenties

“Art deco-inspired living rooms are on the rise, and the design works very well in contemporary decors because of its sleek minimalism and pureness of lines. [It’s] a style that will incorporate itself very easily into homes with little architecture. It is key to be able to give a nod to the past while utilizing modern elements and mix what is old and new to give a space character. Combine materials, styles and time periods to create a layered living room that is uniquely yours.” —Alexander Doherty, designer

03 of 07

One with Nature

“I’m expecting to see more natural colors, textures, and materials brought into the living room. Raw terracotta vases to display seasonal flowers and foliage, handwoven wool rugs for comfort and warmth, and natural stone bowls to display on your coffee table are just a few ways to incorporate this trend with timeless materials."—Liana Thomson, EQ3 accessories product developer

04 of 07

Go Big with a Gallery Wall

Living room with gallery wall — House of Chais

“I [think] people are going to really embrace full-wall gallery walls to tell stories. Investing in art, displaying décor from travels, and/or displaying their own work creates a curated vibe that will transcend any trend—it brings personality to the space. For families with kids, this could help bring some fun to the walls and encourage their kids to hang art on the wall instead of write on [it].”—Sheyna Vilson, owner of Sheyna James Interiors

05 of 07

Cozy Chic

Cozy living room. — Design: Isabel Ladd; Photo: Andrew Kung Photography

“Living rooms will get cozier, more inviting, and more livable. As families spend more time at home, living rooms will not be rooms to just look pretty, but really to live in. Therefore, plush, cozy sofas and chairs, accessories that really define the people who live there, and environments that really say, ‘Come and live here, because you'll be spending a lot more time here.’”—Isabel Ladd, designer

06 of 07

Lived-In Luxury

“Now that many families are all home together most of the day, our home spaces and our furniture selections have become much more relaxed. Game tables and tables that overhang an armchair or recliner are popular for eating meals in the great room while watching the news or a movie during the day. What was once the living room has become the ‘lived in’ room. Children working on the laptop with headphones can attend virtual classes in one corner of the room using the game table for a desk, while a parent is engaged on a call in another area of the room. This room is now the most ‘lived in’ in the family home.” —Dennese Guadeloupe Rojas, founder of Interiors by Design

07 of 07

Light My Fire

Luxurious fireplace. — Pulp Design Studios

“Monolithic fireplaces are starting to trend again. Fireplaces always have a moment, but understated design elements that are a bit quieter [help] add a sense of tranquility to a room.” —Beth Dotolo and Carolina V. Gentry, co-founders of Pulp Design Studios

Definitive Proof That Modern Living Rooms Are Warm and Inviting