7 Formal Living Room Ideas That Aren’t Stuffy

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7 Formal Living Room Ideas That Aren’t Stuffy: Formal living rooms are great for welcoming guests, enjoying conversation, and relaxing with family and friends. Depending on your style, square footage, and functional needs for the space, there are a handful of things to do to avoid a stuffy living room feel.

If you’re looking for a spot to relax after work, put your feet up for a flick, or cozy up with a book, check out these 50 formal living room ideas below for inspiration.

7 Formal Living Room Ideas That Aren’t Stuffy

Cheer on Your Team

Designer Ashley Macuga of Collected Interiors shows team spirit in this living room. This space features a comfortable sofa, a modern light fixture, and framed jerseys.

Pick a Fun Rug

While the white chairs and built-in bookcases may appear quite formal, this room’s moody green walls and beige animal-print rug are the touches it needs to feel welcoming and not stuffy.

Go Monochromatic

For DIYer Mr. Kate’s family’s Hawaii living room, she went for a cozy and colorful feeling. She painted the walls, ceilings, and trim all the same color: an ocean-inspired blue. The room also features two turquoise velvet sofas and DIYed abstract art.

Accent With Natural Stone

This modern living room from Austin-based architects at Clayton Korte makes a statement with neutral hues and organic materiality.

“Stone feels rich in nature and is a timeless finish,” says interior designer Christina Clark. “Using a natural stone selection that has a pop of color or large veining or movement can also make this very traditional finish feel more contemporary or edgy.”

Paint the Fireplace

In designer Mary Patton’s Houston home, she added a bold pop of color to an otherwise formal sitting room. A turquoise fireplace is an automatic focal point and livens up the neutral palette.

Pick Playful Patterns

Palm Beach-based designer Caitlin Kah is all about fresh, livable interiors that range from more traditional to modern. For this Jupiter Island, Florida, living room, she paired sophisticated elements like archways and a sculptural chandelier with various patterns, colors, and textures.

“It brought ease and comfort to a formal living area,” she says.

Elevate Original Details

For this living room from Charity Buchika of Teaselwood Design, she let the original architectural bones shine through with “a custom stone fireplace flanked by copper lanterns and original timber-frame beams that set the cozy, casual aesthetic,” she says.

A red and blue color scheme and intriguing prints make the space lively and fun.

Use Personal Art

New York designer Alvin Wayne transformed a 4,500-square-foot ’80s home into a family-friendly space for local painter Greg Griffith. Griffith’s bright pink painting hangs alongside a navy sofa and upholstered ottoman. The low-to-the-ground seating is casual and great for kids, hosting, and more.

Add Linen Drapes

Floor-to-ceiling drapes are designer Christina Clark of Clayton Korte’s pick for a living room that doesn’t feel stuffy.

“Floor-to-ceiling drapes can bring height and grandeur to your space, and keeping it neutral in color and using a natural fiber (like linen) can help it feel light and airy while still contributing to the overall character of the room,” she says.

Pack a Punch With Wallpaper

This Georgia home in the Serenbe development showcases a functional design that isn’t stale. Designer Janie Hirsch chose multiple shades of blue, funky lighting, and fun wallpaper.

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  • JASMINE GOMEZ

    Jasmine Gomez is the Wishes Editor at Birthday Stock, where she cover the best wishes, quotes across family, friends and more. When she's not writing for a living, she enjoys karaoke and dining out more than she cares to admit. Who we are and how we work. We currently have seven trained editors working in our office to produce top-notch content that you can rely on. All articles are published according to the four-eyes principle: After completion of the raw version, the texts are checked by (at least) one other editor for orthographic and content accuracy.

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