10 Essential Living Room Swaps According to Interior Design Expert

Interior designer Jade Joyner, cofounder of Metal + Petal, offers insightful advice on how to elevate your living room. Her suggestions focus on creating a cohesive, stylish, and comfortable space with thoughtful design swaps. Here are the 10 changes Joyner recommends:

1. Replace Mismatched Throws with Coordinating Blankets

To upgrade your living room, swap mismatched throws for coordinating blankets. Joyner emphasizes the importance of harmony in design. Matching throws can unify the look of your space, making it feel more put-together and intentional.

2. Rotate Your Living Room Layout

Occasionally, changing your living room layout keeps the space feeling fresh and dynamic. Joyner suggests moving your furniture around each season. For instance, position your sofa to face the fireplace in winter and the windows in summer. This simple swap can make your living room feel new without additional cost.

3. Swap Out Matching Throw Pillows for Diverse Patterns

It is one of the easiest ways of revamping the living room décor if similar throw pillows are replaced with dissimilar patterns and designs. Joyner suggests combining various textures such as velvet, linen, and silk and adding animal prints to make it more timely. Collecting pillows from your favorite shops can help create a bespoke look.

4. Introduce Real Plant Life

Joyner discourages using artificial plants that require low maintenance, advising individuals to replace them with natural plants. Natural plants serve as decoration, purify the air, and help concentration. They are great at adding both life and the feeling of tranquility to any room.

5. Replace Floor Lamps with Sconces

Consider changing floor lamps for sconces to add interest and sophistication to your living room. Joyner loves using sconces because they add a unique element to the room. Adjustable arm sconces are especially useful for task lighting, such as reading. Sconces can also add light to dark hallways or frame a mirror, adding elegance and functionality.

Also Read: Top 5 Interior Design Styles That Transform the Modern Home Experience

6. Upgrade to Custom Window Treatments

Investing in custom window treatments can transform your living room. Store-bought drapes are often thin and lack luxury, whereas custom drapes can control sunlight better and add a touch of sophistication. Joyner highlights that custom treatments allow for added width and puddling, creating a fuller, more elegant appearance.

7. Exchange Old Throws with High-Quality Blankets

Swapping out old throw blankets for luxurious cashmere or linen can elevate your living room. Joyner suggests spending more on a quality blanket that matches your interior aesthetic. A high-quality throw can upgrade the look of your space, even if your sofa isn't expensive.

8. Replace Mismatched Lamps with Coordinating Ones

Make a statement by replacing mismatched lamps with ones that coordinate well together. Joyner recommends choosing either oversized or scaled-down lamps to add character. She is particularly fond of using lamps in kitchens to provide soft, low light, enhancing the ambiance.

9. Switch to Eco-Friendly LED Bulbs

For a more eco-friendly home, replace all your bulbs with LEDs. Joyner notes that LEDs last longer and provide a cleaner, softer glow compared to traditional bulbs. This small change can make your rooms more modern and inviting while reducing energy consumption.

10. Start an Art Collection

Transform your living room by swapping out posters for real art pieces. Joyner advises finding up-and-coming local artists to start a collection that can grow over time. On places like Juniper Print Shop and Artfully Walls, affordable art prints can be purchased custom-framed and look great in your home.

If you make these 10 simple swaps, you can guarantee a fresh, put-together living room that exudes your personality. Joyner's expert tips explain the role of design in arranging or bringing a certain flow or balance in living things.

Related Article: 8 Interior Design Tips for Crafting the Perfect Living Room Space