Of all the rooms in a home, I’d wager that the living room may be the hardest to pull together without the help of a designer. From picking out the right fabrics to ensuring the space is as functional as it is pretty, there’s just a lot to consider—and a lot that can go wrong. While the average home decorator may be focused on those big moments (picking the right sofa requires a PhD these days, it seems), all the small details that make a room feel special fall to the wayside, but no longer. I’m here to help. As Country Living’s Senior Homes Editor, I spend a lot of time looking at and, well, judging living rooms. I’m familiar with all the little moments that elevate one space over another, so to help your living room become the best, most luxurious version of itself, I’ve narrowed down my findings to the three most important details you need to consider if you want your living room to look more high-end. Let’s dive in.
Layered Window Treatments
Window treatments have the power to make or break a room, which is exactly why they can seem exorbitantly expensive, but this designer-approved—and loved—hack is actually affordable. To elevate your living room without the big price tag, install woven-wood blinds behind your curtains or drapes. I prefer this customizable set from Amazon that transformed my living room for under $100.
Contrast Upholstery Piping
Contrast piping on your upholstery pieces shows an attention to detail that just says luxury to me. Custom upholstery usually comes with a hefty price tag, which is exactly why this often unnoticed detail gives the appearance of high-end luxury, even when the material itself can be bought at a local craft store for less than $5. (IYKYK, right?) If you want to employ the look in your own living room, pick an accent color that complements your existing fabric but also stands out a bit—think red on blue or yellow on green, like designer Christina Salway did on the chairs in the photo above.
RELATED: Why You Should Be Adding Contrast Piping to Your Pillows
An Upholstered Ottoman Instead of a Coffee Table
What’s chicer than a laissez-faire approach to upholstery? Oversize upholstered ottomans that double as coffee tables—a favorite amongst British designers—happily walk the delicate line between impractical and utilitarian. True luxury is being able to afford custom upholstery while not caring too much if it gets ruined by your cup of coffee or your dog’s muddy paws. (Don’t worry, the performance fabric-covered pieces you can buy from retailers like Society Social or Ballard give you the same high-end look without sacrificing utility.)
RELATED: The No-Fail Formula Designers Swear By for Styling Coffee Tables
Anna Logan is the Senior Homes & Style Editor at Country Living, where she has been covering all things home design, including sharing exclusive looks at beautifully designed country kitchens, producing home features, writing everything from timely trend reports on the latest viral aesthetic to expert-driven explainers on must-read topics, and rounding up pretty much everything you’ve ever wanted to know about paint, since 2021. Anna has spent the last seven years covering every aspect of the design industry, previously having written for Traditional Home, One Kings Lane, House Beautiful, and Frederic. She holds a degree in journalism from the University of Georgia. When she’s not working, Anna can either be found digging around her flower garden or through the dusty shelves of an antique shop. Follow her adventures, or, more importantly, those of her three-year-old Maltese and official Country Living Pet Lab tester, Teddy, on Instagram.
