New Build Living Room Ideas to Bring Your Home to Life

1. Create history with vintage pieces

New build homes without any original features or old furnishings can sometimes feel soulless, which is why it’s a good idea to add at least one piece of vintage furniture to your living room.

Mid-century furniture is a great choice for new builds because it will blend seamlessly with the contemporary new build style. It’s best to avoid heavy antique furniture in a new build, as this might feel too big and out of place.

If you can’t find any vintage pieces that suit your style, opt for newer pieces that give off a vintage feel instead. Antique brass is a colour often associated with vintage furnishings – try adding an antique brass floor or table lamp to achieve the lived-in look.

Design tip: ‘When it comes to arranging your furniture, move your sofa a few inches from the wall’, says Ally Dowsing-Reynolds, interiors expert and co-founder of Dowsing & Reynolds. ‘This creates breathing room and makes a smaller living room feel more spacious.’

2. Create an eye-catching focal point

New builds often lack a focal point or central feature in the main living room that ties the space together. To make your living room feel more welcoming, be sure to include an engaging focal point that draws people in.

Your focal point can be anything from a visually interesting piece of furniture to a statement ceiling light – anything that captures your attention as you enter the room.

‘Our bubble chandeliers make unique focal points’, says Ally. ‘Choosing a slightly oversized one will make your room feel larger, too.’ Bubble chandeliers are also a great choice because introducing circular items into your new build living room will help to break up the boxy feel and give the space more character.

Style tip: Mix and match different frames to add even more character to the room. You should also think carefully about lighting – in a dark room, add atmospheric wall lights to make sure your gallery wall is properly illuminated.

4. Go bright and bold with your décor

One way to ensure your new build living room doesn’t feel bland and lifeless is to banish the neutrals completely, instead opting for bright and bold colours and patterns.

Mix and match different wallpapers, paint colours, and textures to create a totally unique space that expresses your personality.

If mixing and matching isn’t your style, you could always paint most of the room a pale neutral and accessorise with bright colour pops to draw your eyes around the space. This could be as simple as replacing dull white light switches with colourful light switches that stand out on your wall.

Style tip: ‘Use patterned cushions to brighten your sofa and change the covers with the seasons to keep your living room fresh’, Ally recommends.

5. Set the mood with a layered lighting scheme

One of the most effective ways of introducing warmth and atmosphere into a home is through lighting.

Layering different types of lighting helps to add depth to a room, which is especially important in new builds where the space can often feel flat and dull. It also allows you to set the right mood for any time of day.

The living room lighting fixtures you choose say a lot about your personality, so don’t be afraid to go bold with an eye-catching chandelier if that’s the style that appeals most to you.

Show us your new build living rooms

We’d love to see how you’ve used these new build living room ideas to add warmth and character to your new home. Tag us on Instagram @dowsingandreynolds – we can’t wait to see what you’ve come up with!