If you have a statement piece of artwork that you love, it can help define the corner and align with your design style. Keep nearby decor edited to avoid overwhelming the space.
Living room corners contain remarkable potential for adding function, beauty and genuine personality once you start treating them with purpose. From immersive reading nooks to lush plant displays, these fifteen ideas transform neglected corners into the home features they deserve.
Add elements like lighting fixtures.
A simple and stylish way to transform an empty corner is to add a framed artwork or gallery wall. This instantly brings a sense of depth and personality to the space and adds a focal point that will draw attention to your decor. Choose a piece that connects with at least one of the colours in your room, and keep nearby accents minimal to let it shine.
To create a more layered look, you can use a decorative room divider to frame your favourite art or family photos in different shapes and sizes. This will also help to make your living room more spacious and streamlined. Another great option is to use a patterned wallpaper to add texture and depth to your living room.
For a modern and bold feel, try adding a striking sculptural element to your corner. This will immediately transform the aesthetic of your space and serve as a conversation starter. This is a particularly good idea if you are a musician and want to showcase your collection of instruments or vinyl. You can also display your favourite posters and remarkable concert souvenirs to help tell your unique story.
If you prefer a more minimalistic look, you can use a small bookshelf or a decorative table to store your favourite reading materials. This will add a functional purpose to your living room and make it feel more complete. You can also add a floor or table lamp to provide adequate task and ambient lighting for your reading nook.
You can also add a comfy chair to your living room corner to create a cosy spot for relaxing. This is a great option for smaller spaces where you do not have the space to accommodate a full furniture arrangement. You can even add a soft throw or blanket for added warmth.
Another easy and affordable way to decorate a living room is to add a plant. This will instantly brighten your space and bring in a sense of nature. You can place these plants in a hanging basket or on a plant ladder shelf to give the space a layered look. You can even place these plants near a window or balcony door to allow them to receive natural light.
Small furniture
Floating shelves are a stylish and affordable way to fill a corner in your living room. They can be styled to match the style of your decor or to make a statement. You can use a collection of different sizes and shapes to create a gallery wall or mix and match pieces for an eclectic look. A shelf is also a great place to display art or framed photos.
If your space is limited, try a console table or chest. They are more compact than a side or end table and provide storage for books, candles, vases, and other decorative items. They also serve as a surface for lamps and plants. They can be placed between seating like sofas or lovesets to create a reading nook.
Another option is to add a small bookcase to the corner. This is a great option for those who need extra shelving but don’t want to install built-in shelves. It is easy to find a bookcase that fits your space and can be used to store all types of books. The best thing about this type of shelving is that it is also renter-friendly because you can easily move it when you move.
For those who are looking for more dramatic living room corner ideas, try a decorative room divider. It is a great option for a bare corner and adds height and depth to the space. You can choose from a variety of designs, from a sleek white one to a more rustic design. You can also decorate the divider with framed photos, artwork, or other personal items to make it feel more unique.
A plant ladder shelf is a great living room corner idea because it adds different heights and a touch of greenery to the space. This works best if it is close to a window where the plants can get natural light. A few of your favourite indoor plants, such as ferns, peace lilies, or succulents, will give the room a more layered look.
If your living room corner is a work zone, consider adding a desk or chair. This will help keep bills, laptops, and other documents organised and out of sight. You can also add a few framed photos and a floor lamp to create a cosy corner for reading.
Artwork
Adding artwork to a living room corner is a simple way to add style and personality. Depending on your taste, you can go for a modern or rustic aesthetic with a gallery wall of photos, an abstract painting, a framed map or a collection of ceramics. Just make sure that your pieces complement each other. Using complementary patterns is another way to make a statement, so try mixing florals, geometrics and global-inspired styles. But keep the scale and colour palette consistent for a cohesive look.
You can also make a small reading nook with a comfy chair and side table. Decorative pillows, an indoor plant, and a framed artwork above the chair complete this curated corner vignette. This cosy spot is perfect for relaxing with a book or catching up on your favourite shows.
If you have a lot of books and you want to display them, consider a built-in bookshelf for your living room corner. You can choose a narrow one for a small space, a double-sided bookcase for larger areas, or even an open shelf that sits against the wall. To maximise storage, you can even add cubbies, bins and baskets for additional organisation.
Shelving is a great option for living room corners because it’s versatile and can be used to store decor items, books, and more. A good rule of thumb is to limit the number of items on each shelf and always keep them organised. If you use an open shelf, try keeping the top clean and only adding a lamp, a plant or a framed photo to avoid the corner from looking cluttered.
Alternatively, you can install a decorative room divider on the wall to add style and function to a living room corner. This works especially well in apartment layouts where you may not be able to modify the walls or add more furniture. This setup uses a folding screen to provide height and a background for a sofa, plus it adds texture, pattern and art to the space.
Lastly, you can also add a mirrored piece to your living room corner. Not only does this reflect light, but it can also make a room feel bigger. To make the most of your mirror, place it at an angle to help open up the space and reflect natural light around the corner.
Plants
An easy way to add texture, softness and colour to a corner is with plants. These tall additions make the corner feel finished without adding chairs or shelves and work well in a wide variety of space styles. Try a stylish fiddle-leaf fig, bird of paradise, areca palm, or monstera plant to brighten the corner. If your space doesn’t get enough light for these larger plants, consider a snake plant or ZZ plant instead.
A small accent table works great in a corner, whether nestled between pieces of seating or in the space behind a chair. The top of the table can hold decor or drinks, and a closed lower shelf can be used for books, magazines, or other accessories. If you don’t want to add a full table, a bar cart or console also works in a living room corner and can be styled as an accent piece with a display of flowers, candles, string lights or other decorative items.
Many people think a corner of their living room is boring and bland, but styling it with artwork, a bookcase, an accent table, or a comfortable reading nook can turn it into a cosy spot for a relaxing evening of leisure. You can also use the corner as an art gallery or a place to display family photos. A photo wall is a perfect way to highlight your most precious memories and can be as subtle or statement-making as you want.
For a more modern look, wallpaper, paint, peel-and-stick panels or slim moulding can make the space feel designed without taking up too much floor area. This is an especially good idea for a bare or unfinished corner and works particularly well in apartments where you can’t add built-ins or furniture.
A well-styled corner is a welcoming spot to curl up with a good book or enjoy a conversation with friends and family. It can even serve as a creative retreat if you have a hobby like knitting or woodworking. Just be sure to designate a workspace that’s efficient and practical with tools, supplies, and storage close by.
