I think we’ve all been there, staring at our living room, scratching our head as to why it’s just not “right”.

Well, that is all about to change because baby, you now have a crystal clear list of only seven things to do to fix all (ok, most) of your living room design woes. First up is our NUMBER ONE…

1. Don’t: have a “too small rug”

Look, large rugs don’t usually come cheap which is a very understandable reason for not being able to “go big or (don’t) go home because your rug is still too small”. But I promise there are affordable options if you dig, wait for sales, or take a little extra time to save up for the right one. 

The go-to rule cheatsheet

Typical living room rug sizes are 8’x10′ and 9’x12′.

Make sure your rug is at least 6″ wider (8″ is ideal) than your sofa on both sides.

Typically run the rug the length of the sofa.

Give 30″ to 36″ of a walkway between large furniture pieces (if your living room allows for it) if not then at least 18″-24″. That will help to inform your rug size.

Painless right? Well, this next one might not be so easy for some of you.

2. Don’t: clutter your space with too much stuff

I am a HUGE offender when it comes to buying wonderful little things I don’t necessarily need. If I turn my desk chair around right now, I am staring at three, yes THREE candelabras. I’m getting better but it’s a constant struggle.

And this tip may have maximalist UP IN ARMS but let me make my case/you don’t have to follow every rule if you are happy with what you’ve got going on. But sometimes it’s easy for things to get “bitsy” and too “visually busy”.

If you want to keep your maximalist style going just make sure there’s a good variety of scales in your decor. That is going to really help your eye bounce around instead of getting a wall of “the same”, where nothing really stands out.

But for those not wanting to go maximalist and prefer mediumism (that’s me!) or minimalism, this is for you. You want to let the things you really love have some breathing room because that will let you breathe a little easier.

For me, clutter or having too much stuff in a space gives me low-grade anxiety. Sadly, I’m not kidding. I promise how your home looks affects you both good and bad depending on how happy you are with it.

Ok, now for an easy break!

3. Do: add a hit(s) of black

If you don’t have some solid hits of black in your living room, may I suggest you rectify this STAT. Sprinkling black pieces of decor around your living room will really help to add some awesome visual weight and probably some needed contrast.

If you really love a light, neutral space just goes delicate like with a small vase, an accent in a pillow, or a piece of art. We promise that your room will just look more elevated and balanced.

But also don’t feel like you can’t go bolder! Just make sure that you have other pieces that can stand up to it and yes, balance it visually. Ok done saying “balance”… or am I???

4. Do: style a throw blanket (or two)

SO simple but so easily forgotten. A styled throw really makes it look like your living rooms got its SH*$ together. But there are A TON of ways to do it and I’ve laid out our favourite.

If you are wanting to style your throw in the organic look consider the thickness of your fabric. If it's too thick it's going to be very hard for it to not just look bulky.

Just fold longways then in half, slightly separate those halves, then lay it nicely onto your seat cushion under your throw pillows. BOOM! Style throw perfection.

5. Do: put a tray on your coffee table

We like to contrast our tray shapes to our coffee table shapes. It keeps things visually interesting. But you could also replace the tray with a candle, small plant (if there wasn’t already foliage on the table), and/or of course, add your TV remotes.

Oh, and you can also use trays on your credenzas for a little mini-bar setup. It looks very cute, intentional, and obviously fun.

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6. Do: add a standing and table lamp/s

Oof lighting is so important. So, since you need light to you know, use your living room, you might as well use it to your advantage. Varying heights will make your room look interesting and having more than one lamp will balance the light throughout your room.

Plus, at night, if you have enough lamps, you can turn off your overhead lighting which helps to calm you down for the night

We’ve almost made it to the end y’all! Last one…

7. Do: create conversation area with furniture

I’d say the main purpose of a living room is to have a place to hang out with people you like and want to talk to. Ok ya, if there’s a movie on then everyone pipe down. But regardless of movie night, you want to set up your living room to encourage conversation.

Size obviously matters. You can’t pack in a sofa, two chairs, and a bench seat if your living room is tiny. BUT if you can have more than just a single sofa, make sure all of your seating isn’t all in a line on one side of the room.

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This article via Jess Bunge does not constitute advice; readers should seek independent and personalised counsel from an appropriate trusted adviser that specialises in property, a tax accountant and property or interior design specialist.