As an interior designer who’s worked with high-profile clients for over a decade, I’ve learned that a luxurious living room is rarely defined by how much money has been spent putting it together.
Rather, some of the nicest high-end spaces I’ve worked on are thoughtfully designed and curated for the people living in them.
Although everyone’s personal style is different, I’ve noticed a few common design choices that my wealthier clients tend to avoid.
Here are 10 things that I rarely see in their living rooms.
Matching furniture sets are rarely a part of the design.
When designing a high-end living room, I never purchase an entire matching furniture collection from one place.
Instead, I mix different silhouettes, materials, and eras so the room feels more special, as if the furniture has been carefully collected and put together over time.
After all, a sofa, an accent chair, and a loveseat in the same fabric and style can create a generic feel, as if they were all pulled directly from a furniture showroom.
A rug that’s too small can cheapen the entire living room.
When in doubt, it’s better to go bigger for rugs. Rugs that are too small can make even the most expensive furniture look cheap and create a space that feels disconnected or incomplete.
In my clients’ homes, I typically select oversized rugs that anchor the seating arrangement. At the very least, I want the front legs of all major seating pieces to rest on the rug.
A correctly sized rug makes a room feel more substantial, cohesive, and well-designed.
Generic, mass-produced artwork is usually nowhere to be found.
Artwork is one of the biggest opportunities to give a space personality. So, I rarely see wealthy clients displaying generic, mass-produced canvas prints that could be found in thousands of other homes.
Instead, many invest in original paintings, limited-edition prints, and vintage pieces. Sometimes, the most luxe-looking pieces aren’t even wildly expensive; they just feel unique and have a personal connection to the homeowner.
A television is probably not dominating the living room.
Although my clients certainly watch television, I rarely ever design their formal living rooms around a giant screen. I’d rather highlight standout architectural features, such as a fireplace, a built-in bookcase, or a beautiful view.
When a television is essential, I look for ways to integrate it into the design, whether that means concealing it within cabinetry, choosing a television that displays artwork when not in use, or placing it somewhere that doesn’t compete with the room’s focal point.
You won’t often find furniture pushed against every wall.
A common misconception is that pushing all the furniture against the walls will make a room feel larger.
In reality, this can just make a living room feel less intimate while leaving an awkward amount of unused space in the center.
When designing larger homes, I often float furniture away from the walls to create distinct seating arrangements that can work well for hosting and encourage conversation.
Even in smaller spaces, pushing furniture closer together can create a more inviting environment.
A single overhead light is never enough.
In high-end living rooms, you’ll rarely see the entire space lit by a single light fixture or just recessed lights.
Instead, you’ll find layers of light from several sources, such as decorative table lamps, floor lamps, sculptural overhead fixtures, and wall sconces. This can add depth to a space and make it feel more luxurious.
Ideally, these lights are also warm-toned and dimmable, so a room can feel inviting any time of day.
Poorly fitted curtains can ruin an otherwise stunning room.
In high-end living rooms, curtains usually don’t stop awkwardly above the floor, and rods aren’t mounted directly above the window (unless the ceiling height necessitates it).
Instead, drapery is often installed as high as possible to create the illusion of taller ceilings or better highlight large windows.
Even affordable curtains can look way more expensive when they’re properly sized and correctly installed. However, my wealthier clients do tend to gravitate toward fuller, more substantial fabrics and custom window treatments.
It’s rare for all of the pieces to be brand new.
A room that’s filled entirely with brand-new furniture can sometimes feel sterile or impersonal, no matter how expensive the pieces are.
Instead, we’ll usually blend new pieces with antique and vintage ones, which helps give a space a truly one-of-a-kind, custom look that feels quite luxurious.
By putting a brand-new sofa with antique chairs and a vintage coffee table, you’re helping a living room seem as if it were carefully put together over several decades — even if it was designed in just a few weeks.
Cluttered surfaces and excessive decorative accessories aren’t ideal.
When it comes to a high-end look, less is usually more.
Instead of covering surfaces in trinkets and decorative objects, my wealthier clients tend to invest in fewer, more meaningful pieces — like a beautiful sculptural vessel, a unique tapestry from their travels, or one large art book.
I also like to leave breathing room around decorative pieces, so each one has a chance to stand out. Thoughtful styling is way more effective than just filling every surface with stuff.
They’re rarely sacrificing comfort just to achieve a certain look.
Another big misconception about luxury design is that expensive living rooms are supposed to be pristine and untouchable.
In my experience, even the wealthiest clients want their homes to be just as comfortable as they are beautiful.
This is especially important when it comes to seating — I pay close attention to seat depth, the materials the cushions are upholstered in, and how the couch is constructed.
After all, it doesn’t matter how gorgeous your sectional is if no one is sitting on it.
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