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Designing your living room can feel like a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Whether you’re moving into a new space or refreshing your current one, creating a cohesive and inviting living room starts with a clear plan and the right inspiration. That’s where expert guidance comes in.
To help you get started, we asked Zeina Badawi, award-winning interior designer at La-Z-Boy Kanata, to share her best decorating tips. With years of experience and a deep knowledge of furniture trends in Ottawa, Zeina breaks down the decorating process into five simple steps to transform any living room into a personalized and functional space.
Key Takeaways:
- Gathering images of furniture, colour palettes, and room layouts into a vision board will help you visualize the style you want and guide every design decision from start to finish.
- Creating a strong focal point in your living room, such as a fireplace, large window, or standout piece of furniture, draws attention and helps organize the rest of the space around it.
- Using a mix of textures and patterns, like soft throws, patterned rugs, and layered window coverings, adds dimension and makes the space feel more inviting and thoughtfully designed.
- Accessories like artwork, table decor, and greenery should be chosen with intention, adding personality and balance while reinforcing your room’s colour scheme and layout.
- Combining ambient lighting with practical task lamps and decorative accent lights ensures the space is both functional and atmospheric, adapting easily to different times of day and moods.
In This Article…
- Start with a Vision Board
- Define Your Design Style and Colour Palette
- Add Layers & Texture with Furniture and Decor
- Style with Artwork & Tabletop Accessories
- Illuminate with Proper Lighting
Step 1: Start with a Vision Board
The first step in any great living room transformation is figuring out what you want it to look and feel like. According to Zeina, “Finding inspiration and compiling it into a vision board is the most effective way to discover your unique style.”
Gather inspiration from Pinterest, Instagram, interior design blogs, and other resources. This board should reflect every element that speaks to your personal style, from layouts to colour palettes to specific furniture frames. Seeing everything laid out in one place helps organize your thoughts and gives you a tangible goal to aim for.
Step 2: Define Your Design Style and Colour Palette
Once you’ve assembled a collection of ideas, the next step is to pinpoint your design style. Are you drawn to modern clean lines, warm traditional tones, or something eclectic and boho? Your personal style will influence your choices in everything from sofas to artwork.
Colour is also just as important as style. Zeina encourages homeowners to think beyond just their favourite colours. Instead, consider what already exists in the home and how colours will flow from one space to the next.
Harmonizing your colour palette with the surrounding rooms ensures a seamless design throughout your home. Coordinating hues create a calming, cohesive experience rather than one that feels disjointed or chaotic.
Many colours are trending in today's market. To learn more about the latest Colour Trends for 2025, take a look at this article.
Step 3: Add Layers & Texture with Furniture and Decor
A well-designed living room isn’t just about furniture placement, it’s about how the space feels. That feeling often comes from the subtle layering of textures, fabrics, and accents that add depth and comfort. According to Zeina, these elements are like the “jewelry of the room,” small details that elevate the overall look when used intentionally.
Furniture & Area Rugs
Start with the larger foundational pieces. Zeina recommends beginning with an area rug that grounds your layout. A properly sized rug can define the seating zone and set the tone for the entire palette.
From there, build your furniture choices around it, pairing complementary textures like a woven fabric sofa with a patterned accent chair helps establish harmony and richness in the room.
To learn more about How to Select the Perfect Area Rug for Your Home, take a look at this article.
The 60-30-10 Rule
To achieve balance when layering colours and patterns, many designers, including Zeina, follow the 60-30-10 rule:
- 60% of the room should be your dominant pattern or colour, such as the rug or wallpaper.
- 30% should serve as a secondary accent, like an armchair or feature wall.
- 10% adds a bold pop, which could come from pillows, throws, or artwork.
This formula helps create cohesion while giving you space to be expressive with bolder design elements.
Wallpaper & Window Coverings
If you're looking to introduce more character, wallpaper is a great tool, especially on a feature wall behind a fireplace or built-in. Zeina suggests using wallpaper to add depth, but warns against pairing it with heavily patterned furniture or curtains. “You should let one or the other be the star of the space,” she says.
Window coverings should be the final layering piece. Once major furniture and finishes are in place, choose drapery that complements them without clashing.
Zeina recommends keeping curtains subtle—typically three to four shades darker than your wall colour—to allow for a smooth, timeless visual transition.
Pillows & Throws
The last step in layering is texture through accessories. Decorative pillows and throw blankets bring personality and warmth. Don’t be afraid to mix materials, think linen, velvet, or chunky knits.
Group them in odd numbers for visual interest and play with scale to avoid a flat, uniform look. You can learn more about Accessorizing with Pillows by checking out this article.
Step 4: Style with Artwork & Tabletop Accessories
Once your main furniture pieces are in place, it’s time to bring the room to life with accessories. Zeina suggests starting with artwork to set the tone. A single bold statement piece can act as a focal point, while a gallery wall with coordinated frames offers a more personal touch.
For variety, consider sculptural elements that add depth, ideal for open-concept spaces. If you’re worried about visual clutter, Zeina recommends sticking to black and white photography for a timeless, cohesive look.
When styling tables, focus on odd-numbered groupings and vary the height and texture of objects.
A well-styled coffee table might include a tray, a few stacked books, greenery, a candle, and one sculptural object to tie it all together. Each piece should feel intentional and echo your overall design palette.
Step 5: Illuminate with Proper Lighting
Lighting is the final layer that completes your living room design. According to Zeina, the key is to think in three layers—each with a distinct purpose that, when used together, creates both ambiance and functionality.
Ambient lighting provides overall illumination. This typically comes from ceiling fixtures or pot lights and serves as the foundation for lighting the entire room.
Task lighting is more focused and practical—think table lamps near reading chairs or sofa ends. Zeina notes that lamp size matters here: a lamp should align roughly with the height of your sofa back (usually 58–60 inches) so it doesn’t overpower or feel too small for the table it sits on.
Accent lighting adds personality and warmth. Floor lamps or wall sconces can be used to highlight artwork, soften corners, or simply make the space feel cozy after sunset. A balanced combination of these three types of light ensures your room is versatile, welcoming, and thoughtfully layered throughout the day.
To learn more about Lighting, take a look at our article How to Decorate in Layers.
What's Next?
Now that you know how to decorate your living room easily, it is up to you to decide how you will decorate your space.
While learning about our home decor selections, you can visit one of our La-Z Boy Ottawa, Gatineau & Kingston stores to see our home decor items in person. You can also schedule a visit online before coming in.
Our design consultants are always eager to lend a helping hand. Take advantage of our complimentary interior design services to see how our furniture and decor could fit in your home.
To learn more about our La-Z-Boy decor selection, take a look at this comprehensive Decor Buyer’s Guide.
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