Upgrade Your Living Room With These 11 Ideas Inspired By Joanna Gaines

Although the living room is a source of comfort in many of our homes, it sometimes needs a refresh to regain its full potential. Even slight upgrades can seem like a huge project. But have no fear because no one appreciates a living room refurb better than Joanna Gaines, as seen in dozens of episodes of "Fixer Upper." Known for her ability to completely revamp even the best areas of a home, she offers lots of ideas to enhance our most beloved spaces. 

Whether your living room is a cozy corner or the center of your house, it's always possible to breathe new life into this space. That doesn't necessarily mean you need to begin all over again, either. The great aspect of Gaines's approach is that she often focuses on a room's most prominent features to really elevate existing elements. Luckily, this methodology can be effective anywhere in your home. Work with what you already have by implementing her simple ideas. That includes anything from transforming the way you set up greenery to really focusing on a single piece that showcases your personality. No need to bring out your nuts and bolts — zero in on what makes your space comfy and familiar already. Sometimes, the smaller upgrades are the best ones, and they're right in front of you. 

It's true that the living room featured in Episode 9 of "Fixer Upper: Welcome Home" is far from sleek, but that's why this idea works. Designer Joanna Gaines leans into the cozy by implementing a visually soft upgrade to the sofas: skirted upholstery. These tailored skirts are key to keeping the space from feeling stuffy. They allow the room to evoke an inviting and warm feeling even at floor level, a difficult feat to accomplish without the help of this delicate detail. We can ultimately see that this skirted style finds its place in the home by softening architectural lines and adding a bit of nostalgia. 

There are a few different ways to achieve this decor upgrade. The easiest is finding couches that are already skirted. But if this isn't doable, it's time to grab your living room's new best friend: skirted slipcovers. Interior designer Claire Thompson points out that this almost always gives your space a calm feel, telling Southern Living: "My style generally gravitates to a more at-ease style, and I think a slip-cover sofa provides a 'lived-in' feel." Plus, this will give your space a more tailored look while staying on budget and keeping this boost hassle-free. Don't just stick to your sofas either — living room tables can get this feminine look, too. Place a pleated table skirt on an elongated side table or a softly colored ruffled skirt on a big coffee table. 

If there's one piece of interior design advice to take for your living room, it's this: Don't underestimate the power of a good coffee table. Joanna Gaines certainly didn't, especially in Season 5, Episode 16 of "Fixer Upper" featuring a downtown loft. Here, the interior designer extraordinaire eloquently anchored the large space around a circular, wooden coffee table. Essentially, it acts as a centerpiece for the entire living room. The rounded edges on this table encourage a sense of movement in the room and bring a casual element to the space.

Choosing a rounded coffee table means the difficult part of this design upgrade is already over, which is picking out a focal point. Next, consider what kind of top would work best here. Does a solid, warm-toned oak table, like the one seen in this episode, fit your space? Is clear glass the obvious choice? Or maybe something unique like a metal or industrial concrete table would give the space the right touch. Designer Emily Henderson recommends a round table paired with an L-shaped sofa as it creates a cozy "nook." Her favorites include the dark and moody Casmera coffee table from Wayfair and the Aicha coffee table from AllModern, which comes in a variety of wood hues.

In Episode 3 of "Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House," it's clear that Joanna Gaines uses carefully placed plants to frame this living room and connect it to nature. That includes oversized as well as small greenery to really add to the room's structure with scattered pops of green. But the main focal point of the room is the large potted plant by the sofa. A potted plant can really make a statement by tying in the outdoors, especially for a forest-adjacent house with lots of open windows to nature.

Begin this upgrade by picking out a statement piece. This could be a plant that tends to grow large, like a monstera or even an olive tree. Those are some of the best indoor plants for any room in your house. Think about the silhouette of the plant — will it match the curvaceous flow of your soft furnishings, or would you prefer something more leafy and jagged to pair with your modernist art collection? If you don't naturally have a green thumb, it's not a problem. Find a realistic-looking plant to replicate this look. The New York Times Wirecutter recommends the Nearly Natural fiddle-leaf fig.

Nothing adds a bit of structure and dimension like wooden beams, especially in Season 5, Episode 5 of "Fixer Upper." This works as an upgrade because Joanna Gaines doesn't only envision wooden structures as part of the architecture, but also as decor. The wood beams above the space frame the living room and elongate the ceiling line. Plus, in general, wood beams add mid-century charm to a ranch home, creating an authentic but trendy vibe. The ceiling beams draw your eyes upward, making the room immediately feel larger. It's a stunning way to refresh your living room, without using a drop of paint. 

There are a couple of ways you can go about upgrading to wooden beams in your own living room. You don't need to completely redesign your space to install real beams — but do consider beam type. You could use solid or hollow beams, according to design expert and DIYer Jenna Sue. Solid beams are a heavy-duty option, looking rich in form due to the appearance of natural wood. These elements are likely to give an authentic look to your space. However, if you're getting them professionally installed, it's important to think about costs, depending on where you live. If you'd rather implement wooden beams on a budget, you could choose hollow ones that can be directly installed onto an existing ceiling. They're lightweight and mainly serve as a more decorative choice, according to Sue. 

In this living room featured in Season 5, Episode 8 of "Fixer Upper," you can't help but notice some of the peculiar items on the wall. Three cellos and a vintage sign advertising old pianos work functionally in this space. They serve as decor but don't feel overly staged. It's clear that whoever lives here is passionate about music. Adding personal touches to your decor is also one of the best living room choices that will make your space more social, too, since it'll break the ice with any visitors in the room. 

This upgrade by Joanna Gaines can be implemented with any items that showcase a homeowner's personal interests. Just find the right walls to place your desired items on. Pull out knick-knacks you already own and love that have personal meaning to you, and transform them into wall decor. Vintage instruments, like the ones that are shown here, work perfectly. You can also hang up heirlooms like porcelain plates and ceramics using the proper hardware like the Hillman plate hangers. Not sure exactly where to place them? Choose a wall that meets the eye as soon as you enter the living room. That way, your personality speaks the second anyone walks into the room. Objects that are heavy, like the cellos here, need to be attached to the wall properly using drywall anchors, while lightweight items like frames or small souvenirs can simply hang with normal hooks approved for the weight of the object you're hanging.

In typical Joanna Gaines style, the eccentric upholstery is the star of the show in this living room of Season 2, Episode 9 of "Fixer Upper". The big, bold blue couch is the main centerpiece, but it doesn't overpower the other funky aspects, such as the light fixture or the rug pattern. What seems like a simple addition is actually a great upgrade to any room. It doesn't overwhelm the space, but instead it anchors a living room that's otherwise filled with neutral and creamy tones. Adding a "hero piece" to your furnishings is a simple solution to make decorating less overwhelming. 

If you want to upgrade to a funkier feel, find one standout piece with personality that brings all the attention in the room to it. This could be a colorful couch like the one Gaines used, or maybe a vintage patterned armchair. Furniture manufacturer Nolita Harbour recommends using lighting to highlight your hero piece, and incorporating elements of the piece throughout the room in little touches, via color, pattern, or texture.

This living room from Episode 6 of "Fixer Upper: The Castle" has one architectural detail that really stands out on its own, which is the wainscoting. Like other details in this room, Joanna Gaines enhances it with subtle, soft color. She added neutral flooring as well to quiet any visual noise. The wainscoting here allows the room to retain its classical features and maintain a refined look. No doubt about it, this will definitely show that you know how to decorate your home like a professional. 

Upgrading with wainscoting works especially well if you have tall ceilings. To replicate what Gaines did in your own living room, measure the walls to figure out the height of your desired wainscoting. It's usually pretty standard to panel one third of the wall height, but with taller ceilings you have room to go as far up as you see fit for a more dramatic look. It is traditional to paint or stain your wainscoting in neutral colors, but don't be afraid to go bold for a funky statement. If you don't want to panel the entire room, consider trying the look out with one feature wall.

One big way that Joanna Gaines creates a historically-inspired space is by adding built-in shelves, as seen in Season 5, Episode 4 of "Fixer Upper." Anyone who's watched this show knows Gaines is an expert in converting everyday items into something more unique. The ogee shape silhouette makes for a unique and elegant design. She uses these built-in bookshelves to showcase old books, of course. But, they also serve as a sanctuary for artifacts and family photos. This really helps to add personal charm to the room.

If you don't mind a bit of demolition, and you're handy with a wood saw, built-in bookcases can be DIY'd much like standalone bookcases. But, you can also replicate the look by flanking a fireplace with standing bookcases. With a narrow case on either side of your fireplace, you can achieve that symmetrical vibe with plenty of decorating potential but no demo. If you want to stay classic and decorate your shelves with books, West Elm recommends alternating vertical and horizontal books for a layered look.

What's that ticking? It's the new focal point of your living room. Yes, that means adding some classic charm to your space with a grandfather clock. In Season 5, Episode 11 of "Fixer Upper," Joanna Gaines uses an elegant tall-case clock as a subtle, unique decoration that draws the eye. She mixes and matches older with newer pieces, like a modern-looking sofa and chic contemporary pottery. One theme doesn't rule all, and the clock really works balance the room.

You may think a clock would be hard to track down, but with some eagle-eyed antique shopping you can find an authentic antique clock. Even a non-functioning clock can still be used for its decorative potential. Or, if you want to go with an antique-looking modern piece, Wayfair offers the well-rated Coston grandfather clock.

In Season 5, Episode 17 of "Fixer Upper", Joanna Gaines uses a large metal frame as a display but also as an organization tool. It provides structure to the room due to its clean, metal lines, but it also allows anyone to curate items that might not have a home anywhere else. That includes books, photos, memorabilia, and other items that create a personal warmth in the room.

To bring this look into your living room, you can measure out a part of one wall where you want to install this customized piece. Make sure your shelf of choice (try the highly-rated Huuger 5-tier shelf) fits the height and width, and then place objects that mean the most to you here. That can include items from your travels, quirky heirlooms, or small plants. It helps to curate items here of all shapes and sizes, so you create a space that is visually pleasing and doesn't look cluttered. In Real Homes, interior designer Anna Popov says that this is the best way to decorate a shelf. She told the outlet: "Incorporating only items with intention, value, and function in your shelf assortment will allow your space to feel clean and controlled." 

This living space from Episode 3 of "Fixer Upper: Colorado Mountain House" features a long row of art above the fireplace. It's a bold way to showcase photos and objects with personal significance. This works especially well because Joanna Gaines upgraded to a longer mantle above the fireplace as part of her design. Not only does the length match the enormity of the fireplace itself, but it's also effective to display more items with balanced and intentional spacing.

Whether you are decorating a standard mantel or a longer one, a row of square-framed photos can look balanced and elegant. If you prefer to add surface decor to offset your art, decorate with a careful use of symmetry. Designer Adam Charlap Hyman tells Vogue, "...arrange the mantel in its most formal, original state — completely symmetrical. Starting from the edges, add in anchoring items that come in a pair — like a set of lamps or candlesticks — and then begin to work your way in."