Don’t think of white as absence, instead think of it as the perfect blank canvas for your favorite decor ideas. Using white in your living room is the perfect way to create crisp and clean lines. The power of white helps a room feel more open and spacious, even if you have a small space.
Whether you’re looking to make a message pop on a throw pillow or to give focus to an art piece, here are 32 white living room ideas to help you feel calmer, cooler and more collected. After browsing through these ideas, peruse our home decor to find the finishing touches for your living room.
1. Neutral Furniture
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Nothing says coastal calm like white walls paired with ivory or neutral furniture. Dress up your sofa or armchairs with a few decorative pillows that tie in the design style. Draw the eye upwards with fun art prints that describe your personality and hanging plants in a DIY planter.
2. Pick An Accent Color
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The beauty of white is that it looks great with just about any other color. Adding one accent color to your living room will help it feel less stark and more inviting. Choose based on your favorite color, the mood you want to evoke or a neutral that you won’t get bored of.
3. Add Some Greenery
Bring nature in with hints of green in throw pillows and (of course) plants to add a fresh feeling to any white living space. There is a true sweeping elegance to the way simple elongated branches of greenery can make your living room pop.
4. Styled Coffee Table
Source: Meghan Klein
Weathered wood provides balance and contrast to a white color scheme. Tie in your coffee table decor by styling it with your favorite books, a personalized candle and a white tray to hold a vase of fresh flowers. The soft hues of light wood will beautifully contrast any white furniture and accents in your living room.
5. Bring in Natural Light
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While a light color palette will naturally brighten up the room, you can never have too much natural light. Adding a window or two to your space will help your white decor feel even lighter and brighter.
6. Display Your Memories
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Display your favorite photo prints with a DIY photo display. Try using a repurposed frame and some wire (or hemp cords). Zig zag the material, attach it to the frame and then hang various sized pictures with clothespins for a unique photo board.
7. White Built-In Shelving
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When shelving is white it can support more of your family photos without feeling cluttered. Consider a farmhouse style by lining the back wall with shiplap or reclaimed wood. Incorporate meaningful mementos you’ve gathered from travel or the kid’s school days for a personal touch.
8. Elegant and Classic
Source: Janis Nicolay
Don’t be afraid that pairing silver and white will have a cold vibe. With silver accents here, the effect is elegant rather than cooling. Bright blooms and a vintage piece can serve as a focal point to brighten up and tie together a corner of the room.
9. High Ceilings and Beams
Source: Bethany Nauert
White walls and ceilings help expand a living space. White built-ins give an airy quality to the room, even to a big book collection, while exposed wood beams accentuate the high ceiling. Consider pops of blue in your furniture and quirky decor to give the design a mid-century modern and coastal twist.
10. Creative Bookshelf
Source: Historiska Hem
Here’s a wise idea for your white living room. Turn your books so that the pages, rather than spines, are exposed. This allows you to keep the white theme without losing your literature.
11. A Pop of Pink
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Light pinks are perfect to accent an elegant white living room. The subtle hue of the couch and floor vase gives this space balance and beauty.
12. Simple Antique
Source: Christina Emilie
White living rooms sometimes call out for gilded pieces. Here a gold-framed mirror looks gorgeous perched on a white mantelpiece. Vintage and muted pillows on a canvas white armchair can add that pop of color you’re looking for, without making too bold of a statement.
13. Coastal Charm
A natural color scheme for a nautical cottage is white and blue. Whether you live near the coast or not, furnishing your living room with organic details like wicker or bamboo accompanied by pale colors will help you achieve a seaside vibe.
14. Corner Details
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Have a corner in your living room that you’re just not sure what to do with? They can be difficult to style, especially when it comes to corner decorations. Luckily, it’s as simple as choosing a theme and adding a side table topped with personal photo frames or knick-knacks that remind you of home.
15. Big Sectional Sofa
A sectional sofa opens up the room to feel more inviting. Place textured throw pillows in cool grays or whites. One way to add function and style to your living room is with boho baskets. They add extra storage for blankets, games or even shoes.
16. Patterned Pillows
Source: Copycat Chic
Textured throw pillows add textural dimension to an otherwise simple white couch. Consider playing with different pillow sizes, colors and patterns for visual interest to wow your guests when they visit.
17. Get Cozy
A white stone fireplace adds grounding to a living room without feeling overpowering. Stay warm on those cool nights with hot cocoa, blankets and pillows.
18. Balance Gray and White
Source: Park & Oak Interior Design
Gray backgrounds for the shelving area of this white-walled display area keeps the airy lightness of a white themed living room while allowing individual pieces to pop. Tie in your shelf decor to the rest of the white room.
19. Mirror Mirror
Not only can a mirror serve as gorgeous wall decor, but it can make your space feel larger and more spacious. It helps bounce natural light across the room and reflects the outdoors if you have a large glass door or window nearby.
20. Add a Photo Wall
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A living room wall is a perfect canvas for large expressive photographs or art prints. From canvases to framed prints, there are endless options for setting up your photo wall. When planning your layout, consider sizes, spacing and color schemes. Tell a story with your favorite photos, either from your favorite local artist or by reprinting family classics.
21. Exposed Brick
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If you can bare it — white exposed brick walls are beautiful without any adornment at all. Lack of ornamentation or decor creates a minimalist and spacious vibe. Small accents go a long way in this design style.
22. Gold Accents
Source: Tracey Ayton
The bright white ceramics that perch serenely on the shelves give an air of mystery to this white living room. Small pops of gold in the picture frames stand out in this calming and soothing white space. By using a neutral palette and bringing in lots of natural light, it’s the perfect place to unwind after a long day.
23. Vintage Chic
Source: Thrifty and Chic
Reclaimed white wood stumps can double as a coffee table and unique decor. Using vintage elements will give a warm farmhouse feel to your living room. Top your couch with a fluffy blanket for those chilly nights.
24. Mix Old and New
Mixing old with new is an easy way to have fun with your living room design. Pair a vintage sofa with modern lighting or a reclaimed accent table with mid-century style furniture. By mixing styles, you have the freedom to swap out pieces and change them up from time to time.
25. Eclectic Elements
Source: Style Weekender
Use an area rug to set the parameters of your living room space. Eclectic decor is the best way to show off your personality and style. A white floor pouf is a great accent piece that blends in with the rest of your decor.
26. Express Your Personality
Source: Jillian Goulding
If a flamingo looks right at home against the white walls here it’s because the pinks play perfectly with white. The wall decor and art ties into the lovely throw pillows and small coffee table accents.
27. Adorn Your Mantel
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To properly adorn a white mantelpiece, one idea is to use matte metal prints. Keep your family close by printing your favorite memories, whether from last year’s vacation or your kid’s milestones. Play around with different sizes for visual appeal.
28. Scandinavian Style
For a rustic Scandinavian living room, use the outdoors as your inspiration. DIY or purchase reclaimed wood for flooring and use simple end tables to complete the look.
29. Statement Lighting
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A standout lighting fixture serves as a focal point when surrounded by a white-walled living room. For a modern look, tie in standing lighting with your color scheme in the decor, furniture and accent pieces.
30. Natural Distress
Distressed white wood gives the sentiment of home to a white living room. Work in wicker and earth tones to your coffee table and couch, adding natural elements to focus on artistic features.
31. Minimal and Simple
Source: Nina Holst
Crisp white features can make a modern living room pop. Add a singular piece of black and white art to one wall to give an air of minimalist panache. An all-white couch also looks luxe in a white living room — just watch out for the red wine!
32. Play With Texture
When using whites in your living room, it’s imperative to take advantage of texture. Various types of muslin blankets, velvet pillows or tie-dye curtains gives the feeling of comfort even in a stark white room.
Your living room is the heart of the home. Make memories you’ll remember with your dream design. Sometimes, all your living room needs is a quick refresh with accents like photo candles and custom pillows or a fresh coat of paint to make your space truly your own. With personalized decor, you’ll enjoy relaxing in your space and inviting guests over to enjoy your beautiful home.
