How to Decorate a Formal Living Room
Modern floor plans have taken the idea of a formal living room and elevated them into spaces where we actually want to gather, and everyone feels welcome. We’re hosting and entertaining more than ever before, and having an inviting living room that is separate from the space of our daily routine certainly sounds appealing.
The best part of a modern formal living room is that it doesn’t have to be so formal. They can be elegant and stylish spaces while still being warm and welcoming.
From furniture selection to layout strategy, we’ve gathered inspiring ideas and practical tips to help you design a formal living room that’s as beautiful as it is livable.
Westwood Floor Plan, 60' Detached Collection, Heartland Community, Baxter, Ontario
Choose Your Color Palette
Color sets the mood for your formal living room, so choosing the right palette is key. You want the space to feel cohesive but not matchy-matchy.
Shades of cream, beige, and gray have traditionally worked well in a formal living room. Incorporating white tones in the walls, furniture, and accessories naturally creates a formal feel. For a more modern take, mix styles, textures, and pops of color to create visual interest and warmth.
Take advantage of a neutral color palette in the furniture, curtains, and rug. Then, add in some subtle, surprising accents with the accessories. The result will be a formal-feeling room with its minimalism but intentionally vibrant with the accent pieces.
Opting for a dark and moody space is a fresh take on formal living room décor. Use a rich paint color on the walls and trim for an ultra-dramatic look. Choose a high-gloss finish to allow light to reflect off the walls and help lighten the room.
Continuing the deep, dark color in the upholstery and fabrics will create a cozy cocoon effect. Bring in some contrast so the space doesn’t feel flat. Lighter pops of color or sleek hardware bring in some shine and make your formal living room feel more glamorous.
Palermo Floor Plan, Estate Collection, Livingston Community, Calgary, Alberta
Establish a Focal Point
Every well-designed space begins with a focal point. Whether it’s a fireplace, a large picture window, or a striking piece of art, this feature should anchor the room and guide your furniture arrangement. Once you’ve identified your focal point, arrange your main seating—like a sofa or pair of armchairs—to face or frame it.
Pro Tip: Avoid pushing all your furniture against the walls. Instead, float seating pieces inward to create intimate conversation areas and maintain a warm, inviting vibe.
Columbia Floor Plan, Urban Courtyard Homes Collection, Easton Park Community, Austin, Texas
Plan for Flow
An empty room feels full of design promise, but once you start adding furniture, your feeling of endless possibilities may start to dwindle. Always keep traffic flow in mind when arranging your furniture – there needs to be a clear path so everyone can flow from room to room, as well as plenty of space for people to move within. A space that feels overcrowded with furniture and has minimal walking space makes the room feel less cozy and inviting.
Pro Tip: Leave about 18 inches between sofas and coffee tables and a minimum of 3 feet for high-traffic walkways. These small adjustments can make a big impact on both comfort and function.
Robson 24 Floor Plan, Front Garage Collection, The Orchards Community, Edmonton, Alberta
Create Balance and Symmetry
Formal living rooms often shine when there’s a sense of balance. That doesn’t mean everything has to match perfectly, but it should feel intentional. Oversized furniture in a small room creates an 'Alice in Wonderland' vibe, and small furniture in a big space feels awkward.
Consider both the size and placement of your pieces, making sure you don’t group all your large or small items in one area or to one side of the room. Try placing matching chairs across from a sofa or flanking a fireplace with twin bookshelves or side tables. Mixing visual weight keeps the room feeling grounded yet dynamic.
Make sure there’s variety in the shape of your furniture as well. If you’ve got straight-lined seating, consider a round coffee table. If the furniture is curvy, mix in an angular piece. Similarly, balance your blocks with spaces: combine a leggy chair with a solid side table and a solid chair with a leggy table.
Palermo Floor Plan, Estate Collection, Rockland Park Community, Calgary, Alberta
Add Layers of Lighting
A formal living room is one of the few spaces in your home where you can install an elegant chandelier or statement pendant without it being “too much.” The key to great lighting is layering everything together; ambient, task, and accent lighting all need to be combined to create a cohesive and well-designed room.
Since the main task of a formal living room is cultivating meaningful conversations, task lighting isn’t required as much as in other rooms. This means different types of lighting, such as a big, bold accent light or soft candle-style sconces, can set the tone of the space instead.
Choose Refined Finishes and Textures
Furniture is crucial in a home’s design, but it’s often the materials that give a space personality. Rich wood tones, elegant metallics, and luxe fabrics like velvet or silk add texture to the room and enhances the formal appeal. Use these materials on statement curtains or accent pillows to keep the eye interested and tie the entire room together.
While symmetry creates elegance, contrast adds personality. Mixing textures—like a soft rug beneath a sleek glass coffee table or leather seating paired with linen drapery—adds warmth and dimension. Modern elements combined with more traditional ones create a look that feels curated and timeless.
Columbia 2 - 24 Floor Plan, Front Garage Collection, Creekstone Community, Calgary, Alberta
Make it Comfortable
Formal doesn’t have to mean stiff. The best formal living rooms are the ones you actually want to spend time in. After all, the primary purpose of a formal living room is to gather friends and family for socializing. Your furniture should encourage conversation and be comfortable enough that everyone will want to sit and stay awhile.
Arrange your furniture to promote interactions by facing two sofas together or four chairs around a coffee table or ottoman. Timeless pieces, like upright sofas, wingback chairs, and tufted ottomans, blended with more expensive materials, like leather, create an elevated and traditional look. Incorporate comfortable, supportive seating, and consider adding plush throw pillows or a cozy blanket to soften the space.
Pro Tip: Every seat should have access to either a side table or a coffee table so your guests don’t have to move from their seats to set down or retrieve their drinks. Ensure the side or end tables are around the same height as the nearby chair arms, but if that’s not possible, lower is better than being too high.
Denmar Floor Plan, Traditional Collection, New Seaton Community, Pickering, Ontario
Accessorize Smartly
Display artwork and mirrors
Hanging artwork or a large mirror on the walls adds visual interest and sophistication. Art can change the tone of any living space. It adds character and a sense of personality that materials and colors can’t achieve on their own. Choose pieces that complement the room's overall style and create a focal point.
Bring in refined pieces
Decorate the room with carefully selected accessories, like decorative vases, candle holders, or sculptures. Be mindful not to overcrowd the space and use accessories sparingly to maintain an uncluttered and sophisticated look.
A formal living room is excellent for displaying your best or favorite trinkets. Incorporate open shelving to display treasured ornaments, artwork, and books.
Try to find pieces that have a story attached to them. Use items that are uniform in size, color, or arrangement for a neat and tidy look. If your décor doesn’t help showcase your style, your home will lack depth and connection.
Mix-and-match antique and contemporary pieces
The key to creating a modern formal living room, not the traditional one you remember from your grandparents’ house, is infusing contemporary pieces. Family antiques or inherited pieces give character to your home and, when balanced with modern accents, create a room full of depth, personality, and soul.
Finish the look with purposeful curtains
Pay attention to the window treatments you use in your formal living room. An elegant solution is a floor-length curtain or drape in a luxurious fabric. Consider layering curtains with sheers or valances for a more formal and refined look. Doing this will give your room an air of privacy but also help your room feel less confined and stuffy.
Alder Floor Plan, Duplex Collection, Livingston Community, Calgary, Alberta
A formal living room is a great way to welcome guests and encourage conversation. Using these contemporary décor ideas will elevate the space from something traditionally stuffy to an inviting room where your guests will want to stay and visit for a while.
Be sure to follow the Brookfield Residential blog for more design advice, homebuying insights, mortgage tips, and more. Explore where we build and connect with our sales team when you’re ready to learn more. We’ll be expecting you!
