If you watch TV or visit many homes, you’ll probably notice that most living rooms look similar. There’s a couch, a TV, a couple of chairs, and maybe a coffee table or ottoman. Things don’t vary often.

However, it doesn’t have to be that way. There are plenty of cool things to add to a living room to spice it up. Most living rooms are ordinary. But it doesn’t take much to add something “extra” to make your living room extraordinary.

Leaning Ladders

One cool thing you can add to a living room is a ladder leaning on the wall. It’s inexpensive and can even be your DIY project. All you need are PVC pipes and a can of spray paint. Dress the ladders with lights for that extra oomph.

Another thing you can add with your ladders is a two-toned couch. You can either buy one that is already two-toned or two single couches to create a sectional, which may be cheaper in the end.

Large Potted Plants

Everyone knows that a live plant can add life to a home. But if you want to add something special, consider a large potted plant or tree. If you get the right one, it can be the focal point of the entire room.

There are many different options when it comes to large potted plants. You can get a ficus, fig tree, or palm. But other favorites include the feisty dragon tree, the hearty Norfolk pine, and the luscious jade plant.

Non-Traditional Coffee Tables

While a coffee table can be an asset to any living room, a standard coffee table can be boring. It isn’t too hard to find a work of art that will bring your living room to the next level. Try searching for “unique” or “eclectic” coffee tables.

Eclectic coffee tables are cool things to add to a living room, but so are curved couches. Couches like this are easy to shop for and can add a new dynamic to living rooms. Some have curved backs, while others have curved seats.

Gold Shelves And Freestanding Units

Many people believe that gold is dated. But the truth is that if you like gold, then it is the coolest thing you can add to your living room. One of the easiest gold-colored items you can add to your living room is a shelf.

You can mount gold shelves to your wall or get a gold frame with glass or wooden shelves. If you can’t find gold shelves, get a standard frame and add gold trays.

Freestanding Bookcases

Most bookcases are either built into a wall or set up against a wall. But that’s not the only way to display a bookcase. One new trend is to use freestanding bookcases and set them up in the middle of the room.

Since they are in the middle of the room, most freestanding bookcases are round or square, with access to the bookshelf on all sides. To amp things up, try adding a backlight to each shelf and decorate it with aesthetically pleasing books.

Blown-Glass Hanging Lights

Blown-glass is one of the most beautiful artistic gifts in interior design. This glass comes in every color and with unique designs. So, of course, the idea of turning blown-glass into lights was a genius one.

While most blown-glass lamps and lights have metal accents, a going trend is to have more rustic accents. Hanging lights are often hung with rope, and standing lights are often wooden.

Since blown-glass looks modern, the merging of the two is an excellent artistic choice.

Floating Shelves With LED Lights

Floating shelves are trending this year, but there’s one thing you can do to make them even more interesting. If you have floating shelves, add LED lights underneath them. The floating effect will be enhanced. This works with shelves of all kinds.

If you add LED lights to shelves, they will look more modern, sophisticated, and open the room up. There’s nothing that makes a living room look better than extra space.

If you decide on floating shelves, make sure the books are pleasing to the eye since they will be overtly displayed.

Eccentric Side Tables

Side tables aren’t that unusual alone. That is when you’re referring to the standard square wooden ones. One cool thing to add to a living room is a set of unique side tables. You can add them to the couch or set of chairs.

If you’re wondering how to find unique side tables, you’re not alone. Try searching for a floating table, drink table, and accent table if the simple side table search isn’t cutting it for you. Also, don’t forget that you can use these accent tables for your color accents as well.

Accent Wall Lights

Speaking of accents, there’s more than one way to light a living room. Although ceiling lights and standing lights are acceptable, there’s no light more unique than a wall light. If you can afford it, you could buy stick-on lights or wire them in.

The most common wall lights are sconce lights, so if that’s not what you’re looking for, be sure to search for “accent” lights instead. Although, a combination of the two is ideal for a truly unique living room setup.

Varying Plant Sizes

If you only add one plant to your living room, consider a large potted plant. However, if you plan on adding a jungle then make sure you buy varying sizes. This will add depth and personality to your living space.

You can use large ones to curtain a wall, accent ones to clutter shelves, and medium-sized ones for tables and floor pieces. When you have a combination like this, you can’t go wrong as they balance each other out.

Oversized Mirrors

If accents mirrors appeal to you, then, by all means, get them. But the trend for mirrors now is to buy them oversized. The mirror doesn’t need to cover an entire wall, but full body mirrors can make your room look even bigger.

Along with mirrors, other cool items to add to a living room are glass tables, accent glassware, and furniture with mirrors. Glass is known to brighten a place up and also make it appear larger.

Floor Arched Lamps

Arched lamps, or arc lamps, arch over furniture and omit light overhead. They are a great addition to any room as they save space and add extra lighting. Just make sure that your arc lamp is tall enough that no one will hit their head.

If you want decor and furniture that goes well with arched lamps, consider floating tables and modern sculptures. Arched lamps are contemporary lighting pieces, so they should be paired with modern furniture.

Decorative Wallpaper

Wallpaper may have been all the rage in the 1970s, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be cool now. Most people have drywall or paneling in neutral colors for their living room walls. That’s why wallpaper is outside of the cultural mainstream.

If you like cool wallpaper but don’t want it to look gaudy, try a mural instead. A mural is a type of wallpaper but added to one wall only, creating an accent wall. Many people choose cool landscapes, such as New York City, Paris, or a Japanese country landscape.

Modern Art And Decorative Objects

This is where your personality comes through. There are no rules when it comes to decorative objects and home decor. You choose what makes you happy and use it as inspiration for your entire living room.

If you don’t know where to start, pick a color or theme and go from there. Many people use words like “peaceful,” “bright,” or “cool” depending on their personality. Generally, it’s whatever you want more of in your life.

Standalone Wall Art

While an entire wall of pictures is great for family features, single pieces of art that speak to you make a bigger statement. Although any form of art is at the top of the list of cool things to add to your living room.

There are plenty of stores you can shop at, but if you know what you want, you could make your art. Places like RedBubble, Zazzle, and Shutterfly allow you to create that perfect piece of art for your living room.