10 Easy Living Room Upgrades You Can Do This Weekend That Look Designer

ByThe Taste Haven

You don’t need a full renovation to make your living room look like it walked out of a magazine. With a plan, a paintbrush, and some smart swaps, you can pull off a totally new vibe in a single weekend.

I’m walking you through ten complete looks I’d happily show off to a friend. Think color palettes, furniture choices, and those little styling details that make a room feel finished. Let’s tour your future living room, one style at a time.

1. Sunwashed Scandi Simplicity

1. Wide room shot, corner angle, photorealistic: sunwashed Scandi living room with white walls and pale wood; oatmeal li

Picture a light-drenched space anchored by white walls and pale wood. A slim, oatmeal linen sofa sits on a textured jute rug, with a round birch coffee table keeping everything soft and airy.

Hang sheer white curtains high and wide to stretch the room. Add a large round mirror to bounce light and a potted olive tree for a whisper of green.

  • Palette: Warm whites, oat, soft gray, sage
  • Key pieces: Birch ladder shelf, paper lantern plug-in pendant, woven baskets
  • Weekend wins: Paint walls, swap rug, hang mirror, style with greenery

2. Moody Charcoal And Brass Lounge

Set the mood with a single charcoal accent wall behind your sofa. A camel leather (or faux) sofa instantly warms it up, while brass table lamps and a marble-look tray add just enough glam.

Ground the room with a Persian-style rug in rust and navy. Finish with a black-frame art grid and warm 2700K bulbs for that cozy, clubby glow.

  • Palette: Charcoal, camel, brass, deep navy
  • Key pieces: Velvet pillows (emerald or ink), black side tables, smoky glass accents
  • Weekend wins: Paint one wall, swap pillows/rug, update bulbs, hang art symmetrically

3. Breezy Coastal Blues And Rattan

2. Medium shot, straight-on, photorealistic: charcoal accent wall behind a camel leather sofa, brass table lamps casting

Keep it bright with crisp white walls and layer in sea-glass blues. A blue-and-white striped rug and a rattan accent chair instantly bring that vacation-house breeze.

Style a console with sea glass bottles, a driftwood bowl, and a framed nautical chart. Sheer curtains fluttering at the window seal the serene mood.

  • Palette: White, sky blue, indigo, sand
  • Key pieces: White slipcover sofa, woven pendant (plug-in), woven baskets as planters
  • Weekend wins: Swap rug and drapes, add rattan chair, style coastal vignettes

4. Mid-Century Pop Of Color

Lean into classic lines and playful hues. A walnut media console with tapered legs pairs with a hairpin-leg coffee table for instant mid-mod credibility.

Bring the fun with a mustard area rug and a teal accent chair. A starburst mirror, bold geometric art, and a plug-in globe pendant complete the look.

  • Palette: Walnut, white, teal, mustard, black accents
  • Key pieces: Cone-shaped lamp, planter with stand, abstract cushions
  • Weekend wins: Hang mirror, swap rug/pillows, add one color-saturated chair
3. Detail closeup, overhead, photorealistic: a coastal console styled with sea glass bottles, a driftwood bowl, and a fr

5. Urban Industrial Loft Corner

Fake the loft life with removable brick wallpaper on one wall. Layer in a black metal shelf and a reclaimed-wood coffee table to mix grit with warmth.

A charcoal sofa, Edison-bulb floor lamp, and a vintage-style city map print give it edge. Add a cognac leather ottoman for comfort and patina.

  • Palette: Brick red, charcoal, black, cognac, steel
  • Key pieces: Concrete-look coasters, metal tray, wool flatweave rug
  • Weekend wins: Install peel-and-stick brick, style open shelving, swap lamp and rug
4. Wide shot, straight-on, photorealistic: mid-century living area featuring a walnut media console with tapered legs, h

6. Japandi Calm Neutrals

Soothing, minimal, and tactile. Try a soft taupe or limewash-look wall for movement without busyness, then bring in a low-profile sofa and a slatted wood bench as a coffee table.

Keep decor intentional: black stoneware vases, a single branch in water, and a paper lantern pendant. A sisal or seagrass rug adds texture underfoot.

  • Palette: Mushroom, sand, black, warm white
  • Key pieces: Linen curtains, floor cushion, shallow tray with tea set
  • Weekend wins: Refresh walls, swap rug and drapes, edit clutter ruthlessly

7. Boho Layered Plant Oasis

Go maximal on texture and pattern. Layer a jute base rug with a smaller kilim, then pile on jewel-toned pillows and a Moroccan pouf by a low table.

Build a lush canopy with trailing pothos, a monstera, and baskets-as-planters. A macramé wall hanging and mismatched gallery wall make it feel collected and cozy.

  • Palette: Terracotta, teal, mustard, brass, natural fibers
  • Key pieces: Rattan chair, lantern string lights, carved side table
  • Weekend wins: Layer rugs, hang art and macramé, add three statement plants

8. Modern Farmhouse Warmth

Create a warm welcome with a greige shiplap (peel-and-stick) accent wall. A neutral sectional, striped rug, and chunky knit throw set a relaxed tone.

Style a simple mantle shelf with white pitchers, black lanterns, and a touch of greenery. Finish with an oversized round clock and woven baskets for tucked-away storage.

  • Palette: Greige, cream, warm wood, matte black
  • Key pieces: Plaid pillows, rustic trays, cotton stems
  • Weekend wins: Add shiplap panels, swap textiles, install plug-in lantern sconces

9. Bold Botanical Glam

Turn up the drama with deep green walls or a bold botanical wallpaper on one feature wall. A velvet sofa cover in emerald or sapphire instantly feels luxe.

Bring in brass accents—a slim bar cart, a vintage-look mirror, a picture light above oversized floral art. Layer plants under glass cloches for a curated greenhouse vibe.

  • Palette: Emerald, blush, gold, black, ivory
  • Key pieces: Patterned rug, floral cushions, sculptural side table
  • Weekend wins: Paper one wall, swap sofa cover, style a glam bar cart

10. Black-And-White Contemporary Graphic

Keep it crisp and gallery-ready. Start with white walls and a black-and-white rug in a bold stripe or grid, then add a slim black metal coffee table to echo the lines.

Create a DIY large-scale abstract canvas and a grid gallery with black frames for graphic punch. A sculptural arc lamp and a single cobalt blue vase keep it sleek with one smart pop of color.

  • Palette: White, black, one accent (cobalt or crimson)
  • Key pieces: Acrylic side chair, linear shelf, monochrome books
  • Weekend wins: Hang art symmetrically, swap rug, add a bold single-color accent

The best part? Every one of these looks hinges on high-impact, low-commitment upgrades—paint, peel-and-stick surfaces, lighting, textiles, and styling. Pick your favorite vibe, queue your playlist, and by Sunday night your living room will feel brand new.

Similar Posts