12 Transitional Living Room Ideas
Create a fresh & inviting space for your family to gather.
After a day of work and errands, we crave a comfortable living room where we can relax. And when we host book club, we want the room to feel exciting and fresh. Mixing materials and styles to create a fun, versatile, and approachable space is how we create our ideal transitional living room. Looking for a little inspiration? Check out our favorite transitional living room ideas below.
Think: Traditional Meets Contemporary
Let's go over the basics. A transitional living room mixes traditional materials (think brass and tufted leather) with contemporary materials (think cane and chambray) to create a lived-in, yet curated vibe. Transitional living rooms are the perfect space for of-the-moment pieces.
Want to learn more about transitional style? You're in luck – check out our guide What Is Transitional Style? for all the details.
Keep Balance in Mind
The key to perfecting that elevated, transitional look in your living room? Balance. Choose neutrals that are relaxing and timeless – nothing too pastel or vibrant. We love chocolate browns and various shades of taupe. For accents, we lean toward jewel tones like mustard yellow and sapphire blue.
Play with Textures
Transitional living rooms create a cozy and organic space by playing with textures. Pair a timeless trend like rattan accent chairs with an upholstered sofa for a fun, juxtaposed look. Roll out a soft, vintage-inspired rug beneath a reclaimed wood coffee table. Toss a few velvet lumbar pillows on your sofa or chaise lounge. Your living room will look inviting and elevated.
Transitional living room furniture mixes old and new. Think: the tapered legs of a mid-century modern sofa alongside a brass drum coffee table. That note we made about balance? It applies to transitional furniture, too. Feel free to pair masculine pieces (like a leather recliner) with feminine pieces (like a tufted chaise lounge).
Choose Velvet Details
We love seeing velvet sofas in transitional living rooms. They're the perfect touch of glam and come in a variety of jewel tones to make your room feel warm and cozy. If you have space, opt for a sectional sofa – they're perfect for family movie nights.
Pair your transitional sofa with a linen-upholstered or leather ottoman. Or pick out a tufted pouf or ottoman and you'll be set to lie back with a glass of wine. Bonus points for ottomans with wheels – the perfect solution if you need to make more space for a game night or yoga sesh.
You can't go wrong with a beautiful, sturdy wood transitional coffee table. If you're leaning toward something bold, opt for a geometric coffee table with thin brass legs.
If the rest of your room feels warm and soft, choose a pair of concrete, wooden, or marble side tables to hug your sofa. The symmetrical tables will bring an extra level of coziness.
Pro Tip:
Want to freshen up your transitional living room with an overlooked piece? Bring in a garden stool to use as an end table. Check out our tips in our guide Decorating with Garden Stools.
Swap Out Decor Seasonally
Show off your signature style by seasonally changing out decor items. For spring and summer, we love faux succulents; for fall and winter, we're into candles. Keep transitional living room decor simple and focus on a few statement pieces so the room doesn't feel cluttered. One of our favorite additions is amphora vases – try them paired with your metal candlesticks.
We love investing in canvas and framed wall art. It's a simple way to show off your signature style – and it doesn't take up any space.
Add unique lighting fixtures to your room to highlight the unique furniture and decor pieces you've selected. We love how sleek and understated this task floor lamp looks when paired with a barrel chair. We're also big fans of twin wall sconces – place one on each side of your TV stand or credenza to balance the room.
Don't forget to add a comfortable area rug. We're currently loving broken-line and Morrocan rugs because they're an easy way to make a bold statement.
Ready to add a few updates to your transitional living room?
