Home Decorating Living Room Decorating How to Arrange Your Living Room, According to the Pros Designers Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent, along with pro organizer Marissa Hagmeyer, share 5 tips for creating your dream living room. By Real Simple Editors Real Simple Editors Facebook Instagram Twitter An article attributed to "Real Simple Editors" indicates a collaborative effort from our in-house team. Sometimes, several writers and editors have contributed to an article over the years. These collaborations allow us to provide you with the most accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive information available.The REAL SIMPLE team strives to make life easier for you. They are experts in their fields who research, test and clearly explain the best recipes, strategies, trends and products. They have worked for some of the most prestigious brands in lifestyle journalism, including Apartment Therapy, Better Homes & Gardens, Food & Wine, the Food Network, Good Housekeeping, InStyle, Martha Stewart Living, O: The Oprah Magazine, Parents, POPSUGAR, Rachel Ray Every Day, and Vogue. Real Simple's Editorial Guidelines Updated on August 9, 2019 Share Tweet Pin Email The design team behind the gorgeous living room in the Real Simple Home 2018 shared their top tips for making any living room more beautiful and functional. Nate Berkus and Jeremiah Brent reveal their go-to design tricks, and expert organizer Marissa Magmeyer from the Neat Method reveals how to keep this space tidy. The perfect balance of form and function, these living room arrangement tips will help you create a beautiful, welcoming space—and keep it that way. No matter your decor style, these easy-to-follow guidelines will help you design a space your entire family will want to hang out in. The Best Sectional Sofas for Every Budget 01 of 05 Form Zones Julie Holder Photography Use a rug to make a large room’s sofa and accent chairs feel more like a cozy unit. Visually, the rug helps unite all of the different pieces of furniture set on top of it. Alternatively, lay a few small floor coverings to define more intimate conversation areas throughout the space. RELATED: The Best Places to Buy Affordable Rugs Online 02 of 05 Create Order Avoid losing your remote controls in the couch cushions by placing a small basket or vessel on a nearby table. Get into the habit of putting the remotes there when not in use. 03 of 05 Don’t Stress Over Scuffs When choosing pieces of furniture for the living room, opt for those that will look better with age, so your entire family (and guests!) can truly relax in the room. Old leather, metal, or wood pieces with a patina bring character to the room, and you don’t have to worry about protecting them with coasters. Scuffs and discoloration will only add to the charm. 04 of 05 Make It Personal Your home should tell your family’s story. Incorporate photographs from your favorite trips and mementos from special experiences in your life. (Here's how to create a fail-proof gallery wall.) 05 of 05 Bring in Baskets Baskets offer a decorative place to toss throw blankets or stash stray items before last-minute guests arrive. Just be sure to revisit the contents once your guests have gone and return those items to their proper spots. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit