According to designers, the key to elevating your living room in 2025 lies in these 9 big furniture trends

The living room is one of the most important rooms in your home. Sure, the kitchen might be the 'heart of the home' and your bedroom is a top priority, but there's nothing like unwinding in the most relaxing lounge space.

And while living room trends tend to come and go, with different living room color trends and decor styles coming into play, living room furniture trends are a little more enduring – and expensive – and so it is important to get things right.

Whether you prefer to put your feet up as you tune into your favorite series or curl up and read a book, balancing comfort and style is paramount to creating a living room that blends function and beauty.

According to the experts, from statement-making sofas to a more casual way of living, there’s a living room furniture trend to get to know for every style and space in 2025.

The living room furniture trends you need to know

Changing your living room furniture can breathe new life into your space. Whether you want to inject coziness with new upholstery or create a more cohesive layout, we've asked interior designers to share their thoughts on the living room furniture trends exciting them in 2025.

1. Liveable living rooms

Bear with us on this one. But it is time to bring back the liveable, lived-in living room. 'Liveable living areas are making a comeback, as they should! For years, living spaces became rooms where few were actually... lived in,' says interior designer Luis Carmona of Verde. 'They looked beautiful but were not used to their full potential.'

'As we spend more and more time at home, living spaces are starting to be used more frequently for both play and relaxation. Adequate seating like deep sofas and swivel chairs need to be reintroduced to living spaces to lounge in while watching TV,' says Luis. 'For a few years, televisions in the living room were frowned upon and instead were placed in media rooms, family rooms, game rooms, or dens.'

'As living rooms reclaim their popularity in the home, televisions are also reclaiming their spot,' he continues. 'Whether it is visible on a wall or above the fireplace or even hidden behind a set of built-in doors, televisions are solidifying their place in the living rooms of homes once again.'

2. Custom upholstery and seating

Interior designer Kathy Kuo recommends taking the opportunity in 2025 to create a piece unique pieces that fit your space perfectly and enhance your overall vision.

'Custom upholstery is really having a moment in the sun right now, and nowhere is that more apparent than in living room furniture like sofas, chaises, and armchairs,' she observes.

Designers are working closely with clients to create furniture tailored to an individual's needs in comfort, scale, and functionality. Think upholstered couches, custom armchairs, a built-in window seat, or a banquette that makes the most of awkward spaces.

'Custom pieces may seem like a splurge, but if you approach the process with intention, you'll end up with a piece that is truly tailored to your lifestyle and is expertly crafted to last for many years to come; which is not only ultimately better for your wallet, but better for the planet as well.'

3. Feature walls

Not to be confused with the accent wall trend that designs all agree just makes your home look dated in 2025, in terms of furniture, the feature storage or shelving wall is where it is at.

Bo Hellberg, CMO at String Furniture says: 'At the moment, we are noticing a trend for large-scale statement feature walls in the living room. With the infinite range of combinations available, in timeless materials like walnut, ash, and oak, custom shelves open up a whole range of possibilities for a design scheme so you can make as big a statement as you would like and even create a work of art out of your shelves.'

Open shelves display curated collections of books, art, and decor, while closed cabinetry offers concealed storage for less attractive essentials. 'When designing our homes, we often forget the effectiveness of simply merging storage with the interior design scheme,' Bo continues.

4. Ottomans as coffee tables

Making a departure from tradition, this year we're going to be seeing a lot more ottomans being used as the centerpiece of the living room.

The perfect way to add a layer of coziness, color, and print, to your living room while still being incredibly practical, an ottoman softens the look of a room compared to a hard-edged coffee table.

'I’m drawn to living spaces that exude ease and comfort, so for me, upholstery always takes pride of place,' says Lucy Uren, creative director at Rowen & Wren. 'Inviting sofas and armchairs, paired with versatile footstools, provide the perfect spot to rest weary feet at the end of the day. A footstool, especially when upholstered in a timeless stripe, never fails to bring a touch of playful refinement to any living space.'

5. Patterned seating

Instead of opting for the usual white or gray couch, this year's living room furniture trends lean towards something with more interest, whether it's pattern, color, or unique details.

'This year, living rooms are embracing flair with bolder colors, skirted furniture, and patterned upholstery. Even minimalist spaces can incorporate these trends! Classic stripes on sofas and rich jewel tones like browns, burgundy, blues, and greens create a look that's both modern and timeless,' says Emily Brown, of Emily Lauren Interiors.

If you're not used to styling these more daring pieces in your living room, try pairing them with more subtle, neutral details to avoid overwhelming the space, or yourself! 'We recently installed a classic striped sofa in front of a floor-to-ceiling linen curtain backdrop which added subtle warmth and depth. We grounded the sofa with a white oak and travertine coffee table which added earthy texture and visual weight,' explains Emily.

6. Cozy textures

Boucle furniture has been dominating interior design trends for the past few years, and we aren't likely to see the back of it in 2025 either. Creating oodles of texture, furniture fabrics are leaning towards something cozier this year.

'Corduroy upholstery is becoming popular again, it's a great alternative to rooms already saturated in boucle, linen, or velvet,' says Kelley Mason, associate art director at Lulu and Georgia.

Historically, this material has divided opinions, but it adds timeless appeal to a living room when used effectively. 'I love this with a wider wale on an ottoman, accent chair, or applied to a sofa or sectional, it's so versatile,' she adds.

Corduroy can be added to a living room in numerous ways. A footstool or ottoman is a great place to start – this will add interest to your living room without feeling overwhelming. The way you style corduroy furniture will make all the difference. 'Done in a traditional form, I would style it with other large patterned pieces for a textured, maximalist look. In a modern shape, I'd pair it with a sleek solid viscose rug and warm woods,' says Kelley.

7. Sofa skirts

More frilly and fanciful furniture details are seeing a resurgence this year, adding timeless appeal to living room designs.

Alongside the return of fringe, the big trim on our radar in 2025 is the box pleat skirt. 'A few things I've been noticing that are so popular for your living room are skirted sofas and bench seating. I love a good sink-in feeling and a slipcover or skirted sofa gives off a more relaxed look that everyone can pile on,' says Bailey Todd, of White Cliff Studio.

Skirted sofas are typically a more traditional furniture feature, so to avoid creating a space that feels dated, consider pairing it with more contemporary features to add contrast. 'I personally love to mix my seating style in a space like this. So when I have a skirted chair or sofa, I'll make sure the other pieces in the room have a different base,' explains Bailey.

8. Informal furniture layouts

Living room furniture trends are about more than just the individual items, but the way you arrange them in your space. A re-jig can create a completely new atmosphere in a space, and this year's trends see living rooms taking a more informal approach.

'Depending on the living room layout, we've been experimenting with more organic furniture layouts. You don't always need to have that traditional look of a pair of sofas, a pair of chairs, and a coffee table. Curvier and more organic shapes can help achieve this,' explains Shannon Wollack, founder of Studio Lifestyle.

It’s about designing for the way you live, not just the way a room ‘should’ look. This could mean repositioning seating for more intimate conversations, adding a daybed or chaise to the mix for lounging, or incorporating pieces like poufs and ottomans for added flexibility.

9. Free-standing cabinets

Shifting the focus to other furniture pieces in the living room, the trends this year are moving away from built-in cabinetry, and instead favoring unique, free-standing additions.

'Prior to years past where everyone had built ins, we are seeing many living rooms with standalone cabinet pieces so to still have storage, but with something a bit more unique,' says Bailey Todd, explaining 'this adds character and is versatile if you ever want to move or change it out.'

Free-standing pieces are a great way to introduce antique or vintage furniture into your space, giving your room a more lived-in, loved feel. In a living room, a console table, bureau, or tall shelving unit offers visual interest without feeling too bulky. 'I love adding in a tall cabinet piece to display family photos, books, art, and other accessories. It makes it feel personalized but also styled without feeling like everything is completely exposed,' adds Bailey.

From liveable layouts to the return of sofa skirts, it's clear that living room design is shifting towards creating spaces that feel more like home – inviting, flexible, and beautifully unique. Will you be trying any of these out in 2025?