Hey friends! My new simple and neutral family room decor helped create exactly the look and feel I was aiming for. When taking our family room from bold and bright, to warm and neutral.

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Ever since I started what I like to call my decluttering journey (dramatic for no reason LOL). I've not only been craving less stuff but also a simpler and more neutral look in my home.
As a reminder here is what our family room looked like one of the last time I shared it on the blog during my Fall home tour in 2018. (In hindsight this.was.a.lot.) 😄
Simple and Neutral Family Room Decor
Here is our family room now. Using more tonal and textural pieces to create a minimal(ish) and warm space that's perfect for kicking back and hanging out as a family.
Let's talk through the changes that made the biggest difference in the room. (Keep in mind you can make similar changes in your space for a fresh look too!)
Thankfully I started with a neutral base as I mentioned in my post last week. Making it fairly simple to change the look of our family room by switching out the rug, pillows, and accessories.
Neutral Gray Rug
Let’s chat about the rug first since it made the biggest impact in the room.
While at Ross Dress For Less looking for something completely unrelated. (As it always happens.) I came across this rug that’s just a few inches shy of 8x10 for $100. A great price for a rug that size and quality.
(Don't tell my cat about my puppy slippers)
The moment hubby switched out the previous colorful rug for this beautiful neutral gray rug with cream accents, the whole vibe of the room changed! My 10-year-old literally (and cat) would not stay off the rug when we laid it down (it's very soft!).
Ikea Ektorp Sectional Gray Slipcover
I'm no mathematician but I'm pretty sure since we started sheltering in place in March our Ikea Ektorp sectional is getting used like 1000% more than before LOL.
And let me tell you, while I looove my white slipcover. I opted to use the gray cover this time around because it hides everything. So I don't have to clean it as often as the white slipcover at all.
Simple and Neutral Family Room Decor Accessories
Our family room is where we congregate the most in our home alongside the kitchen area. It's one of the main reasons I wanted a more simplistic and neutral family room decor aesthetic.
To achieve the simpler look I was after I opted to use fewer but more substantial decor pieces.
- Fresh Flowers in a pretty container (yes they count as decor)
- Large wooden bead garland (another Studio McGee find from Target)
- Studio McGee x Target vase filled with fresh magnolia leaves (a perk of living in the south)
- Simple black frame paired with my free black and white flower printable
- The black decorative lantern next to the TV (a super quick DIY, I will be sharing soon)
The Nester says, "anything you leave out in your home becomes decoration". So the candle on the coffee table, baskets, and the Magnolia ladder holding a throw blanket also count as (functional) decor (win-win).
To bring some warmth and texture to my gray sectional and balance out the neutral armchair. I used a trio of large knit pillows from Target.
This is my second time purchasing these knitted pillows. Target seems to release a version every Fall. This year they even have a zipper! So I was able to upgrade the inserts. I had the first versions for almost 4 years (no zipper), and only got rid of them for this refresh. As my kids would say, 10/10 would recommend LOL.
I also added two more purely decorative pillows (meaning they get thrown under the coffee table when where all hanging out in there 😆 ).
The next thing I want to address in our family room is the lighting. Our four-year-old thrifted floor lamp is only decorative right now since it stopped working. And, I would like to add some sort of picture light above our family photo gallery wall. But all in due time.
For right now having at least one space in our home that feels pulled together has been so nice! When the sun is streaming in and my family is in here just "living", it just feels really safe and comforting.
Ultimately I learned that using simple and neutral family room decor made for a much more relaxing and inviting space.
Simple and Neutral Family Room Decor Video
Thanks for reading!
Sherry says
I just came across your website through Pinterest. Love what you did. I have a question on the sofa color. Did you go with the dark gray or is this the lighter gray from Ikea? Ikea has two options for gray. The Remmarn light gray or the Hallarp gray. The neutral palette that you have created is exactly the look I am going for!! Thank you for the inspiration.
Tammie says
Looks great! The room definitely looks calm and cozy now.
Linda P. says
Thank you so much Tammie! The whole family really likes this new look 🙂