Living room wall ideas – 15 inspirational design tips for the blank walls in your lounge

The very best living room wall ideas include statement accent wall ideas and beautiful paint ideas to suit every home's style – and we have included a ton of added-value design advice, too.

So whether your living room layout is long, open-plan, or on the smaller side, there are looks to suit. Plus, of course, we have catered to a wide variety of styles, color preferences, and budgets, and, as ever, there are living room wall ideas you can adopt quickly – no entire renovation needed.

Living room wall ideas – introduce statement wall decor to the main room 

These are our favorite living room ideas for walls – we've added in-depth advice from well-known designers and our own team of experts, too, so that you know how to design a living room wall that you will love for years to come.

1. Create an accent wall with art

Looking for living room art ideas for accent walls to give your living room focus? If you are considering a display of pictures and paintings in a living room, one way to really make it sing out is by painting the wall behind it a bold shade that's a total contrast to the colors within the artwork. 

This series of abstract prints set against a dark green living room wall offers a contemporary take on the gallery wall ideas of yesteryear. Sparse accessories and the clean lines of the furniture add to the modern flavor of the room.

2. Add definition to a plain room with a mural

Adding a statement wall mural is a fabulous way to embrace colorful living room ideas.

According to Scarlett Blakey, founder of Ophelia Blake Interior Design, 'the bespoke nature of a mural' is a favorite among designers who have the ability to 'make a space feature relevant, whether it's lifestyle or customer-focused.'

'You're also able to produce one-off pieces – providing complete individuality and exclusivity,' she adds. 'This can be preferential if you're wanting to create a high-pact space that is also memorable.'

3. Introduce depth and dimension with a textural wallpaper

Using texture in interior design is an integral part of a successful living room scheme – and textural living room wallpaper ideas are a great way to add a three-dimensional element to modern interiors. 

Knock back the contemporary overload by creating a sympathetic backdrop for an eclectic furniture or styling mix. Grass paper, available in a wide range of natural and vivid shades, is a perfect way to inject some mid-century modern decor style into an interior.  

4. Add color with a paint job 

Painting your walls – and around your living room fireplace – is an easy way to transform a room and when you inevitably get bored with your chosen color in years to come, it is an easy refresh job. 

Gathering together lots of paint cards is a good place to start and, as many cards and brochures now feature ‘complementary’ shades, they’ll also help you to find accent and toning colors, too. If in doubt, look to the color wheel for advice and inspiration. From bold, dramatic palettes to soothing tonal combinations, using a color wheel is fail-safe way to guarantee decorating success.

5. Bring warmth with wall paneling

From intricate fretwork and simple rustic boards to traditional panels and stately solid wood, decorative wall panelling offers its own distinctive style. 

Panelling is a useful way of introducing warmth and character to a living room – there is something undeniably cozy about being surrounded by wood. In a contemporary environment, panelling is an excellent way of framing large, flat surfaces, while also depth and dimension to a lifeless room.

6. Create a gallery wall worth showing off

Investing in cherished art is the simple part, but creating a display you can be proud to show off, can be somewhat perplexing. 

Take the confusion out of displaying art by starting with a neutral living room scheme. Play around with the layout of your frames before hanging; try out evenly spaced rows and columns, or experiment with asymmetrical formations for something a little different. Opt for a tonal color palette for a cohesive look that wouldn't look out of place in an art gallery.

7. Install a wow factor feature wallpaper

Is the feature wall a thing of the past? Of course not, it's just a case of re-defining it by finding new ways to create a lasting statement. 

A larger-than-life wallpaper will breathe personality into the home as well as help to zone a large or open plan space. Live with the sample for a while to make sure you’re happy before you commit. 

For bold, colorful prints, pairing it with a white or neutral paint on the other walls will allow it to shine, or tone it down by choosing a paint color that features in the design.

8. Invest in beautiful book storage 

Books can bring culture to any room; as Cicero once said, 'A room without books is like a body without a soul.' Not only that, but a beautiful and organized display is often very revealing of the character of the owner, so display your ever-growing collection with pride. 

Creating your very own library in a living room with a built-in wall-to-wall design works in both classic and contemporary homes alike. If you are at a loss for where to store your treasured collection, alcoves are an obvious place to add floor-to-ceiling storage. Even if your room is on the small side, a bespoke solution can utilize the full height of the space.

9. Enhance your space with a wall of mirrors 

By reflecting natural light back into the living room, a mirrored wall is a wonderful way to create the illusion of extra space and help make your room feel both bigger and brighter.

Although introducing a mirror or two is ideal for opening up small living rooms, an oversized mirror– or mirrored feature wall – is also a must-have addition for larger rooms looking to achieve statement style and grandeur with ease. 

As a result, mirrors are a superpower style secret that should be celebrated throughout the home, from the walls of your living room to luxe lounge spaces, and even the entrance to your home.

10. Get creative with color choices

Getting living room color schemes just right is vital because this is the room where we spend most of our time. 

Choosing which colors to decorate your living room walls with can be daunting – partly because there are so many options available. For a living room room full of  energy, create a scheme that hinges on the decorating with primary colors – but bear in mind that even in small doses, such as in the neutral scheme above, they can have real impact. 

Feeling braver? Bold blue walls instantly add a cosseting effect to a space, making the room feel more inviting yet spacious.

11. Make the most of alcoves

Whether newly installed or forming part of the original architecture, living room alcoves make great features within a space. From housing furniture to framing artwork, there's plenty of ways to integrate alcoves into your interior design. Fitting shelving into alcoves is particularly effective, providing space to create curated displays.

‘Incorporating recessed shelving into a living room adds depth to the space and a focal feature to introduce contrasting living room paint ideas or finishes to the room. This creates distinctive niches to display books, artwork and plants that can evolve over time,' says Katie Lion, senior interior designer at Kitesgrove.  

12. Create a focal point with art

Decorating with art will instantly elevate living room walls and is a brilliant way to create a focal point which will instantly draw your eye. When it comes to what type of art to choose think big says interior designer Annie Elliott.

'Most of us have artwork that's on the small side, but we need to think bigger! Pieces that are a minimum of 32 inches wide are always great to have,' says Annie Elliot. 'Over a fireplace, it's so much more appealing to hang a painting rather than a mirror or a TV. Over a sofa, one huge painting or a mixed media gallery wall can be show stopping.'

13. Keep organized with built-in storage

Built-in living room storage tailored to your architecture is the best way to make the most of the space. When thinking about what type of storage to go for, consider a mix of closed and open says Camilla Clarke, creative director at Albion Nord. 

‘It’s always useful to have some form of concealed storage to hide the non-everyday items that you might not want on show,’ says Clarke. ‘We like to mix high level open shelving with concealed storage. Open shelving to display books, art, photos and concealed storage to hide things that don’t need to be on show.'

'Try and create concealed storage for AV & electrical items below the TV instead of having these on show. We like to celebrate books with big pieces of open joinery. Books should always be visible to invite you in to read them.’

A cleverly positioned artwork hung over built-in shelves can be a great way to conceal clutter whilst providing a visual break to a large expanse of shelving. 

'Remember art doesn’t always need to be hung on the center of the wall it can rest on top of tables or layered next to sculptures or on bookshelves and joinery,' adds Clarke. 

14. Add multi-functional wall lighting

When it comes to how to plan living room lighting it's important to layer different types of lighting as part of a well-designed lighting scheme so that you have the right light for different moods and tasks. 

'You will of course have your main light source such as a pendant to provide general lighting, but supplementing this with wall lights, table and floor lamps will allow you to change the atmosphere easily,' says Shalini Misra, interior designer and founder, Shalini Misra Ltd and The Design Buzz.

As well as providing a lovely warm and welcoming mood, wall lights are also ideal for highlighting works of art or architectural details on living room walls.

'One of my key recommendations for art installations is lighting, try highlighting artwork with a picture light or sconces either side. Make sure any ceiling lights do not obstruct the lines of sight of the artwork,' explains interior designer Julia Dempster.

15. Make a statement with lime green

Well-chosen paint ideas are quick and easy way to transform the mood of a room and for an uplifting, energetic space you can't go wrong with vibrant green.

'This space was really created for living, gathering with the family and celebrating life's milestones. Since green is often associated with life in literature, this vibrant hue provided the perfect foundation,' says New York-based interior designer Phillip Thomas. 'It looks beautiful at all times of day, brightening up a weekend brunch and glowing from within at night.'

When selecting living room paint ideas, it's also important to think about finish as well as color. 'I always love a high gloss lacquer finish in a living room, as it adds lightness and luxury to the space. Plus the mirror-like effect can help your space feel bigger,' adds Thomas.