Interior Designer Shares What to Replace in Your Living Room + Why

April 2, 2022 Stan

Swap out matching throw pillows for fresh patterns and designs.

throw pillows on couch — Give your living room a fun feel with new throw pillows.

According to Joyner, an easy way to change up your living-room design is to swap out matching pillows that may have come with your sofa for coordinating ones.

“Mix velvet and linens, add in silk, and bring in an animal print to keep the couch fresh,” Joyner told Insider.

Joyner also recommended collecting throw pillows from your favorite shops to create your own bespoke or custom-made look.

Introduce real plant life into your home.

Snake plant close up — Real plants in your home even help to filter air.

Though artificial plants can make your life easier, Joyner recommends swapping out all faux foliage and flowers for real ones to enhance your space and even your life.

“Live plants are key to any good room,” Joyner told Insider. “They clean the air and can sharpen the focus.”

Replace floor lamps with sconces to add interest to a room.

Three patterned crystal sconces emit yellow light in dimly light room — Sconces are a more eye-catching way to bring light to a room.

To give your living room a little more flair, consider changing up your lighting.

“I love a good sconce because it adds such interest to a room,” Joyner said. “I use them often in bedrooms with adjustable arms, so you really have task lighting for reading.”

Joyner also suggested using scones to add light to a dark hallway or to frame a mirror.

Upgrade your window treatments to something more custom if you have the budget.

Window treatments with white trim and white blinds behind gray seat and pillows — Custom window treatments can immediately update a space.

Not only is going the custom route a great way to avoid poor-fitting window coverings that don’t control the sunlight as you may wish, but also it tends to look nicer.

“Store-bought drapes are usually pretty thin and not very luxe,” Joyner told Insider. “Custom drapes upgrade your space immediately.”

Joyner also said that with custom window treatments, you can also add puddling and widths together to create a more full appearance.

Exchange old throws with a lush cashmere or linen blanket.

Brown and white throw blanket on brown sofa — Quality throw blankets make a home feel more luxe.

Swap out your old throw blankets that don’t match your interior aesthetic and invest in something that does.

“Think cashmere or linen,” Joyner told Insider. “Spend a little more money on one great throw blanket that works with the room, and then you never have to hide them.”

Though your sofa may not be expensive, a quality throw blanket could upgrade the look.

Make a statement by replacing your mismatched lamps with coordinating ones.

Wooden desk and chair with telephone centered on top and two matching lamps in front of lavender and brown patterned wallpaper — Matching lamps can make a space look more cohesive.

Joyner suggested making a statement by getting lamps that are either oversized or super scaled-down.

“I love a good lamp, and search high and low for the right ones for the right space,” Joyner told Insider. “Lately, I have been obsessed with lamps in the kitchen. They could not be more perfect for adding low light to any kitchen.”

Make your home more eco-friendly by changing out all of your bulbs to LEDs.

Hands screwing on spiral LED light bulb and another light bulb hanging on duo light fixture — LEDs don’t need to be changed as much as regular bulbs.

According to Joyner, the glow from LEDs is softer and prettier, and much more energy-efficient

“I want my rooms to read clean, not yellow,” Joyner told Insider. “Plus, they last so much longer.”

Start an art collection by swapping out your posters for real art pieces.

Black and white abstract art on wall with black circular decoration to the right of it and gray couch below — Pieces created by local artists can be a great addition.

“Find up-and-coming local artists that you love and start a collection you can grow over time,” Joyner told Insider.

Joyner recommended ordering affordable art prints from places like Juniper Print Shop and Artfully Walls and having them custom framed to make a lovely piece for your walls.

Add fun and fabulous wallpaper to your home in place of plain, painted walls.

Brown wall with center painted over with white paint and white stool in front to the right. Red X and arrow pointing to white painted part of wall — If you want to give your living room a fun feel, avoid plain walls.

“While I do love a good paint color, wallpaper can transform the space,” Joyner told Insider. “Textured papers specifically can add so much warmth to a space.”

Though there are many options to choose from, Joyner recommended adding texture to a space through a print or grasscloth.

Move your layout around each season to keep your space feeling fresh.

Living room with brown two brown sofas and window with view of cityscape surrounding a glass table with a vase on top in front of a white fireplace and large flatscreen tv — Changing the direction of your furniture can update a space.

It’s free to rearrange your living space. For instance, you can move your sofa to face the fireplace in the winter and the windows in summer.

Joyner suggested also suggested angling your furniture and adjusting your sofa and chairs before you have guests.

“I touch every piece of furniture before guests arrive to make the room feel fresh,” Joyner said.

Replace machine-made rugs with unique vintage ones.

Gray couch with green throw beside houseplants with white, basic rug on wooden floor and red X and arrow pointing to rug — Custom, vintage rugs can be a great talking point.

To bring more character to your living room, swap any manufactured rugs for something vintage.

“Find a great vintage rug at an estate sale to bring in character and age,” Joyner told Insider. “I recently found two 10-by-14-foot rugs at an estate sale for $200 each. They aren’t high quality, but they have lovely colors and a beautiful design.”

Machine-made, manufactured rugs are great, but if you really want to add some character, Joyner said, think about incorporating a hand-knotted rug.