10 swaps you should make in your living room, according to an interior designer with over 25 years of experience

• Interior designer Jade Joyner shared some of her best tips for upgrading a living room.
• The designer recommended replacing mismatched throws with coordinating blankets. 
• She also suggested occasionally switching up your living-room layout to keep things fresh. 

Toss artificial plants and introduce real ones into your home.

Replace machine-made rugs with unique vintage ones.

Machine-made, manufactured rugs are great, but if you really want to add some character, Joyner said, think about incorporating a hand-knotted rug.

Invest in a marvelous fixture to replace your old ceiling fan or basic light.

One way to (literally) brighten a room is with a beautiful ceiling-light fixture.

To do so, Joyner suggested swapping out any ceiling fan or basic light in your living room for a marvelous fixture.

Even if it needs to be ceiling-hugging, Joyner said, just finding something unique or vintage is a great way to add character to a new home.

This story was originally published on April 2, 2022, and most recently updated on September 17, 2026.