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Designing a livingroom is always a personal journey, especially when working with small spaces in older apartments. In this blog post, I’ll walk you through the transformation of a livingroom in a Dutch gemeente apartment designed for a newly married couple.
You’ll see how I reimagined the layout, selected the furniture, and styled the entire room to bring warmth, function, and aesthetic harmony. This livingroom decor project focuses on smart solutions for limited space, budget-friendly styling ideas, and creating a cozy atmosphere for everyday living.
Step by step, I’ll share photos from the original setup, explain the design decisions behind each change, and show you the final result.
Livingroom Decor Changes – Reworking the Layout for Balance and Flow
The first step in this livingroom decor project was to rethink the entire layout. The original setup simply didn’t work for a functional or cozy daily routine. The dining table was placed right in the center of the room, making the space feel cramped and interrupting the natural flow. The TV was too far from the couch, which made the living area feel disconnected.
To fix this, I decided to remove the dining table and turn that area into a feature wall with a TV console. At the same time, I rotated the couch approximately 90 degrees and placed it directly under the wide windows. This simple shift completely changed the atmosphere of the room — allowing more natural light to enter the seating area and creating a more balanced, open layout perfect for relaxing evenings and movie nights.
Livingroom Decor Highlight – A Customized TV Wall With Smart Lighting
This photo captures one of the most important corners in the livingroom decor plan: the TV wall. Since the couple already owned the black couch and matching TV console, they didn’t want to replace these pieces. This gave me the creative challenge of building a harmonious concept around their furniture.
To balance the bold, dark tones of the couch and console, I introduced light beige walls and a vertical dark wood panel behind the TV for warmth and contrast. This way, the livingroom feels modern yet cozy — ideal for a newly married couple in a small Dutch apartment.
On both sides of the TV panel, we used these sleek rechargeable LED wall lights (same model as in the bedroom).
These lights are perfect for rentals — no drilling, easy installation, and full flexibility with remote control and USB charging.
To frame the lighting elements, we added lightweight wall molding strips vertically on both sides.
The center panel is a dark wood-look decorative piece, which not only adds texture but also hides TV and WLAN cables using its smart rear channel system.
To mount the panels, we used this strong adhesive solution, which works great on painted walls without damaging the surface.
Depending on the type of TV, I shared two compatible mounting options:
Both options offer stability, angle flexibility, and modern wall integration.
Livingroom Decor Detail – Shelving Wall with Lighting and Accents
To enhance the atmosphere and provide extra storage and style, we designed this wall next to the couch using the same panel material from the TV wall — but in a light white-grey finish
We mounted two sleek MOSSLANDA picture ledges from IKEA in a warm walnut pattern for contrast. Their minimalist design makes them perfect for styling small accessories, artwork, and books.
The texture creates visual harmony across the livingroom decor while keeping the color scheme light and elegant.
To elevate the look, we integrated COB LED strips underneath each shelf. These lights provide warm, indirect illumination, making the space feel cozy and modern in the evening.
We used this jumper cable connector kit to link all three LED segments together cleanly — no exposed cables, no mess.
To complete the look, I gave the couple a small accessory list for this corner, focused on neutral tones, small decor elements, and warm lighting:
These elements bring the wall to life and reflect the couple’s personality while keeping the space organized and uncluttered.
To keep the overall livingroom decor cohesive, we used the same curtains and carpet style as in the bedroom project. The beige-toned textiles add softness and warmth to the space while blending seamlessly with the light color palette on the walls and ceiling.
To give the floor a casual and cozy touch, I added this floor pillow by Green Bean, which we already used in our German livingroom project (Design Code L004). It works perfectly as a footrest, flexible seating, or just as a soft visual element that breaks up the linear lines of the room.
For the sofa, I selected pillow covers in a similar warm tone to tie everything together. These corduroy beige cushion covers bring a textured contrast and help brighten up the dark upholstery of the existing black couch. This small adjustment made the entire livingroom feel more balanced and inviting.
Livingroom Decor Touches – Balancing the Dining Area with Wood, Art & Greenery
Since the couple wanted to keep their existing dining table, I focused on enhancing the surrounding walls to elevate the overall look and bring the dining area into harmony with the rest of the livingroom decor.
On one side of the wall, I proposed adding a vertical wood panel — the same style and tone used behind the TV wall — to visually anchor the corner and introduce warmth. This subtle accent adds architectural depth and gives the table a more defined and intentional place in the room.
To balance the visual weight on the opposite side, I suggested this elegant architectural wall art, which plays beautifully with light and shadow, adding a sense of calm and sophistication to the space.
Finally, to avoid leaving the corner visually empty, I recommended placing a tall dark green plant, such as this artificial olive tree or decorative indoor tree, in a soft textured pot. Choosing the right pot — ideally in earthy tones or a woven basket style — helps to ground the plant visually and adds a natural touch that complements both the wood and fabric tones in the room.
Together, these additions brought life, structure, and visual warmth to a corner that was previously undefined — turning it into a quiet, stylish companion to the dining space without needing to replace any core furniture.
Lighting Options – Setting the Right Mood in the Livingroom Decor
To complete the livingroom decor and enhance the atmosphere, I suggested two distinct main lighting options for the couple to choose from, depending on their taste and how much statement they want the ceiling fixture to make.
Modern Linear Pendant Light – A sleek, minimalistic design perfect for modern interiors with a warm golden finish and ambient downlighting.
Crystal Chandelier with Gold Accents – A more elegant and eye-catching option that brings a luxurious touch to the space, especially suitable if the couple wants to add a bold highlight to the center of the room.
Both styles would complement the warm tones, textures, and balanced layout we’ve created throughout the space.
This project was a beautiful example of how thoughtful planning, color harmony, and smart furniture placement can transform even a small and older apartment into a cozy and functional home for a newly married couple. With just a few well-chosen pieces, layered textures, and a focus on mood-enhancing lighting, the livingroom became not only stylish but deeply personal.
I hope this livingroom decor journey inspires you in your own space — no matter the size or starting point.
