Furniture makes your living room functional. A couch provides a place to sit, a coffee table holds your drinks, and a media console stores your electronics. But decor accents are what give the room personality. These items include things like pillows, throws, rugs, and wall art. If you need help picking the right pieces for your space and styling them in a cohesive, attractive way, this guide to using decor accents in your living room will help you curate a beautiful home.

Start With a Focal Point

Before you add any accents, identify or create a focal point in your living room. A focal point is the first thing that catches your eye when you walk into a room, and it grounds the space. Common focal points are a fireplace, a large window with a view, or a prominent piece of furniture like a sofa.

Once you know your focal point, you can use decor accents to draw attention to it. For instance, place a striking piece of art above your fireplace mantel, or arrange colorful pillows on the sofa to make it stand out in your room's design. This gives your room a sense of direction. Your attention will go to the focal point first, then flow naturally to the surrounding elements from there.

Use a Consistent Color Palette

A cohesive color palette ties all your decor accents together. It creates a sense of harmony and intentionality in your design. A popular method is the 60-30-10 rule. This rule suggests that 60 percent of your room should be a dominant color, 30 percent a secondary color, and 10 percent an accent color.

Your walls and large furniture pieces will likely make up the 60 percent. Use decor accents like rugs and curtains for the 30 percent secondary color. Smaller items like pillows, vases, and art can provide the final 10 percent pop of your accent color. This balanced distribution of color makes the room feel complete.

Layer Different Textures

Texture adds depth and interest to a room. A space with only smooth, flat surfaces can feel cold and one-dimensional. You can introduce a variety of textures through your decor accents to make your living room feel more inviting.

Combine different materials to achieve a layered effect. For example, pair a chunky knit throw with smooth silk pillows on your sofa, or place a rough jute rug under a sleek leather armchair. The contrast between textures adds a tactile quality to the room that's visually appealing.

Play With Scale and Proportion

The size of your decor accents in relation to each other and to the room itself affects the balance of the space. Using items that are all the same size can make a room feel monotonous. Varying the scale of your accents creates visual rhythm.

Group items of different heights and sizes together. For example, on a console table, you might arrange a tall lamp, a medium-sized vase, and a small decorative box. This creates a more dynamic vignette. Also, consider the proportion of your accents to your furniture; a tiny lamp will look out of place next to a large, overstuffed sofa.

Don't Forget the Walls

Your walls are large, blank canvases ready for decor. Wall art, mirrors, and shelving are all options for filling that canvas and bringing color, texture, and dimension to your living room's vertical space.

If you have a large piece of art, you can use it as a main or secondary focal point and use it to draw the eye to a specific area of the room. Smaller pieces bundled together in a gallery wall allow you to play with different arrangements and display a collection of your favorite photos or prints at once. Shelves provide practical storage space, and mirrors can brighten up a room by reflecting light.

Incorporate Greenery

Plants bring life and a touch of nature into any space. They can also add color and texture. There are many types of indoor plants. Consider factors like maintenance needs and the amount of light your room receives when deciding which plants to display.

If you're not much of a green thumb, plants like snake plants, ZZ plants, or pothos require little care. For low-light spaces, consider a cast-iron plant or a prayer plant. Smaller plants, like succulents, can make a subtle statement on a desk or shelf, while ones with dramatic flair, like the fiddle-leaf fig or monstera with their large and striking foliage, will become an instant focal point.

Group Items in Odd Numbers

When you arrange smaller decor accents, a common design principle is to group them in odd numbers, like threes or fives. This is because the human eye finds odd-numbered groupings more dynamic and interesting.

For your coffee table, you could create a vignette with a stack of books, a candle, and a small sculpture. This grouping creates a balanced yet engaging arrangement. You have different types of items with various shapes, colors, and heights. While they complement each other, they also stand out individually without any single item outshining the others.

Tell a Story With Personal Items

Your decor accents should reflect your personality and experiences. Incorporate items that have meaning to you. These personal touches make your living room uniquely yours.

You could display souvenirs from your travels, family heirlooms, or photos of loved ones. These pieces start conversations—like, "Where did you get that incredible ceramic vase?" or "Is that your niece? She's gotten so big!"—and make your house feel more like a home.

Complete Your Space With Us

Use this guide to decor accents in your living room to pick and arrange pieces that will complete your design. At Decor Market, we have just about everything you need to bring your vision to life, including pillows, throws, wall art, and more from respected brands like Safavieh. To start, why not look at our collection of Safavieh rugs to bring color and texture to your floor?

With our near-perfect Shopper Approved score of 4.8/5, you can trust that you're getting high-quality products with dedicated customer service to back up your purchase.

And if you're not quite sure what would suit your style, don't hesitate to reach out to our team. We offer free interior design services to help you design your living room and beyond. Just send us an email with details like the size of your room, your preferred style, and your budget, and we'll get back to you with personalized suggestions.