Looking for college apartment living room ideas that feel a little more like you? Think colorful gallery walls, little reading corners and lamps that make a plain room look so much prettier.
These spaces give you plenty to work with, whether you have room for a sectional or just a small loveseat.
You can keep things simple or go all out with color. Start with your seating, then pick a few details you love.
A pink lamp or a green rug might be all the inspiration you need!
Living Room Ideas Worth Saving
curtain lights and cream seating
We’re starting off strong with these pretty lights around the curtains. I love the cream sectional and little round coffee table.
The dining table sits right beside the seating area without everything facing the same direction.
Read also: 20 Living Room Interior Design Ideas With Color, Character and Pretty Details
If you want to try the glow without the candles, add battery-operated lights to your own coffee table.
olive sofa and mixed frames
How cute is this gallery wall? The oval frames and little rectangular mirror look so pretty above the olive-colored sofa.
Those red tulips are another favorite detail.
Try mixing frame shapes instead of making every piece match. Keep a few stacks of books on your coffee table if you like the look here.
fringe and a wall full of art
I am obsessed with this wall arrangement. There’s so much to love, from the oval mirror to the long fringed hanging above the sofa.
The mustard throw and red patterned pillows bring even more color into the room. Pick a couple of those shades for your own pillows if you want to try this mix.
leaf prints and a cream sectional
If you are looking for something simple to pull together, this one is for you. Three leaf prints hang above a cream sectional, with a brown coffee table in front.
Keep your frames the same size to follow this arrangement. A tall plant beside the sofa is a pretty finishing touch.
pink prints and checkerboard pillows
This colorful corner may just be my favorite one so far. I love the pink mushroom-shaped lamp and yellow checkerboard pillow.
Even the books bring in more bright colors!
For your college apartment ideas living room mood board, save this as a reminder that the frames can be colorful too. The pink, green and yellow borders are part of what makes this wall so cute.
floor cushions and glowing lamps
Don’t want to build your whole sitting area around a sofa? No problem!
This setup has two floor cushions beside a small table, with flowers and a guitar behind it.
I especially love the rounded lamp on the left. Try a low seating corner like this if sitting on the floor works for you.
green accents and a curved lamp
This little loveseat is just too cute. The green pillows and throw pick up the color of the rug, while a tall black lamp curves over the seat.
Keep a bookshelf beside your seating if you want a reading corner like this. The low black table leaves room for an open book and a vase of flowers.
a pink sitting area beside the bed
Working with one room for sleeping and hanging out? This setup gives you a little bit of both.
A white loveseat sits beside the raised bed, with a rectangular coffee table in front.
The heart-shaped pillow is adorable. Bring a color from your bedding into your seating area to connect the two, just like the pink here.
coral accents and lots of plants
I love this living and dining room with its coral throw and striped pillow. The round coffee table keeps the seating area simple while plants fill the edges of the room.
The tall bookcase beside the kitchen doorway is worth saving too. If you have a narrow wall like this, measure it before choosing your shelving.
a tucked-away study nook
If you’re looking for a study corner that feels like part of your decor, go with a setup like this. The desk fits into a narrow nook beneath a large framed print.
I am in love with the burgundy dome lamp. Try repeating its color in a print or vase nearby, like the red lettering and dark red flowers here.
green sofa and pale pink pillows
How pretty is this green and pink pairing? The dark green sofa has pale pink pillows, with more pink running through the patterned rug.
The gallery wall doesn’t stop at the width of the sofa cushions. Let your arrangement spread out a little if you want to follow this look, rather than squeezing every frame into one small patch.
striped rug and open shelves
Love a bold stripe? This black-and-white striped rug looks so good beneath the pale seating and clear coffee table.
There are little lamps dotted across the open shelves too.
You don’t need to fill every shelf with books. Try leaving space for a plant, a framed picture or a lamp like the ones here.
a movie screen and red lighting
Want your living room to be all about movie night? This one has a large screen, red lighting beneath the console and a table ready for popcorn and pizza.
I’d keep the little lamps beside the screen too. They give you another lighting option when you don’t want the overhead light on.
little lamps and cube shelves
OMG, how adorable is that smiling cloud light? This white cube unit has books, plants and a record player, plus baskets along the bottom.
You can give your own shelves a similar mix without copying every decoration. Start with the things you need to store, then leave a few spaces for your favorite little pieces.
a petal-shaped chair and plants
This is another pretty way to fill an empty corner. The chair has a petal-shaped back and an orange bird pillow, with a tall palm beside it.
I especially love the framed art resting on the shelves above. Try mixing a couple of upright frames with trailing plants if your shelves have room.
a white table and green rug
This is a similar little seating corner to the one above, but the white oval table gives you another idea to try. I love its chunky black legs against the green rug.
The cream seat, striped pillow and small stuffed bunny keep this corner playful. No need to add a full-size sofa if a smaller seat suits your space.
a dark bookcase and vintage-style art
If you love a darker bookshelf, this one is for you. The tall black unit is filled with books and small framed pictures, with gold-colored frames hanging on either side.
Many of the books have their page edges facing out. I’d keep your everyday reads facing the usual way so you can find them, then try this arrangement with a small decorative stack.
blue pillows and shell prints
Don’t want to go overboard with lots of different colors? No problem!
Try this pale sofa with blue pillows, white accents and three sea-inspired prints.
The shell-shaped pillow is my favorite part. It repeats the theme without needing another picture on the wall.
a tall mirror and glowing pendants
I am obsessed with the reflection in this tall black-framed mirror. You can see the yellow pendant, hanging plants and seating across the room.
A smaller portrait rests in front of the mirror too.
For your own version, secure the mirror appropriately and keep the space in front clear if it’s a walkway.
orange art and nesting tables
Last but definitely not least, we have this pretty open-plan living room. I love the orange artwork above the pale sectional!
The orange pillows and throw carry that color down into the seating.
Try nesting round tables like these if you want two surfaces grouped together. The smaller one sits partly beneath the larger table instead of taking up a separate corner.
Just a little note - some of the links on here may be affiliate links, which means I might earn a small commission if you decide to shop through them (at no extra cost to you!). I only post content which I'm truly enthusiastic about and would suggest to others.
And as you know, I seriously love seeing your takes on the looks and ideas on here - that means the world to me! If you recreate something, please share it here in the comments or feel free to send me a pic. I'm always excited to meet y'all! ✨🤍
Xoxo Isabella
Related stories