Traditional Home Decor: Studio McGee Inspired Design Ideas

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Traditional home decor never goes out of styleโ€”itโ€™s timeless, elegant, and always inviting. If youโ€™re dreaming of a designer-inspired living room but want to skip the hefty price tag, youโ€™re in the right place.

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In this post, Iโ€™m sharing affordable ideas to help you create a classic, Studio McGee-inspired space that feels high-end without the splurge. Think cozy sofas, timeless artwork, and perfectly layered lighting. You donโ€™t need a massive budget to get a beautiful result.

From Target to Wayfair, Iโ€™ve found stunning looks for less with a similar vibe to the high-ticket pieces. Trust me, you wonโ€™t believe the savings.

Ready to transform your space into a designer dream? Grab your coffee and get cozyโ€”letโ€™s get into these timeless design ideas.

Key Takeaways:

  • You can achieve a Studio McGee-inspired living room on a budget.
  • Focus on smart swaps for furniture, decor, and lighting.
  • Small details make your traditional home decor look designer.

This post is all about traditional home decor design ideas.

READ MORE>>> Home Design Inspiration On Inspired Design Talk 2025

traditional living room design ideas collage, sock arm sofa, trestle coffee table, accent chair

What Is Studio McGee?

Studio McGee is a curated furniture and decor brand created by the talented interior designer Shea McGee. Known for their blend of classic heritage style with modern updates, theyโ€™ve set the standard for timeless and polished living spaces.

modern traditional living room design ideas neutral sofa, brown rug, wood coffee table

They also have a Threshold collection at Target, offering chic and affordable pieces. Think designer-quality pieces without paying for the design fee.


Pro Tip


  • High-end designs are all about custom choices: fabrics, layouts, and every detail being perfectly coordinated. Thatโ€™s why it looks so put-together.
  • You can achieve the same result at home with tools like Photoshop, Canva, or Google Slides.
  • Plan the entire room visuallyโ€”not just individual pieces. Thatโ€™s the secret to a cohesive, balanced design.

1. Start with the Sofa

Investing in a quality sofa is keyโ€”itโ€™s the heart of your living room. Most people keep their sofa for 7 to 15 years, so go timeless.

mcgee neutral sofa look for less traditional home decor

English Roll Arm Sofa // Pottery Barn Sofa

The Studio McGee sofa retails for $5,544, but I found a nearly identical version from Interior Define for $2,345. Look for refined details like caster feet for that designer touch.

Luxury home spaces are all about details, like the caster feet on this sofa that give it a refined look.

2. Choose Artwork as a Color Palette Anchor

sepia artwork look for less traditional home decor

Sepia Artwork // Magnolia Tapestry

A neutral sepia landscape print is perfect for a traditional vibe and was used to create the color palette for this room. The Studio McGee artwork is $1,419, but I found a similar piece from Wayfair for just $157. Itโ€™s a little narrower but gives off the same vibe and sets the tone for the whole space.

The other look for less was the tapestry from Magnolia for $168. It’s beautiful but the size felt a little overpowering for this design so I went with the Wayfair version instead.

3. Ground the Space with a Rug

An area rug grounds the space and defines the seating arrangement.

Pro Tip: Make sure the front legsโ€”or all legsโ€”of your furniture sit on the rug to find the perfect size.

living room rug sizing

The Studio McGee rug is $2,100, but the Loloi Amber Lewis rug is just $390 and is another designer favorite.

neutral area rugs traditional home decor

Neutral Rug // Brown Rug

4. Coffee Table Perfection

Studio McGeeโ€™s trestle-base coffee table costs $2,100. It has a stunning trestle base that I wanted to mimic.

I found a similar coffee table from Birch Lane for $399 with the same traditional style charm.

trestle coffee table, neutral sofa, brown rug, sepia artwork

Trestle Coffee Table // Pottery Barn Coffee Table

Pro Tip: A coffee table should be about half to two-thirds the size of your sofa.

5. End Tables

Next to the sofa, we have two Studio McGee-turned pedestal-based styles for $550 each. I found two fabulous, budget-friendly alternatives.

wood end tables with turned pedestal base

Round Side Table // Magnolia End Table

One is from Magnolia Home by Joanna Gainesโ€”yes, the Joanna from Fixer Upper! Their collection has beautiful and affordable traditional home decor, including a stylish side table for $218.

However, I needed one that was 22 inches tall, so I chose a similar version from Wayfair for $260. Itโ€™s the perfect size and keeps that charming turned pedestal detail.

6. Accent Chair Upgrade

Moving on to the accent chairsโ€”these are the modern update to the classic sofa and loveseat combo. The Studio McGee chair is priced at $999 and is the perfect blend of modern and traditional styles.

accent chair for neutral living room

I couldnโ€™t find an exact match for this unique chair, but Walmart offers a beautiful option for $278 with English rolled arms that tie back to the sofa perfectly. I also considered a sleek option from Amazon for just over $500, which has a more modern silhouette but still looks traditional.

7. Elevate with a Drink Table

In my opinion, every accent chair needs a small drink or accent table next to it to elevate the look. The Studio McGee accent table from the high-end design is priced at $180 and features a sleek metal base with a unique curved design.

metal base accent table traditional home decor

Small Drink Table // Metal Accent Table

For this, I found a similar metal base table with a marble top on Amazon for just $50. Just remember to use coasters to protect the surface.

8. Extra Seating with Upholstered Stools

For extra seating, the high-end design has gorgeous curved metal-based stools from Studio McGee that go for $530 each. The metal frame with those sleek curved details and the pillow-top cushion give it that elevated, high-end look.

living room with stool and neutral sofa

I didnโ€™t find an exact match, but I did find a similar version on Wayfair for $379. It has a slightly darker cushion, but it still ties back to the neutral color palette perfectly.

Lighting: The Jewelry of the Room

Now, letโ€™s talk about lighting, which is the jewelry of the room. I canโ€™t emphasize this enoughโ€”layer your lighting to set the mood! You always want to include general, task, and accent lighting in all your spaces.

9. Affordable Chandelier

The high-end design has a gorgeous gold brass chandelier that goes for $2040, with a smaller version priced at $1,370. Depending on the size of your space, you could save a little by going with the smaller size.

gold chandelier collage

Brass Chandelier // Amazon Chandelier

I found two similar options for you to check out. One is from Shades of Light for $358, and another from Amazon for $418. The curved lines of the Shades of Light chandelier are beautiful so thatโ€™s the one I added to the affordable living room design.

10. Floor Lamp For Task Lighting

Next up, letโ€™s add some task lighting with a floor lamp. The Studio McGee floor lamp is priced at $799, but I found a near-identical style from West Elm for just $229.

gold floor lamp traditional home decor

So, I swapped that one into the affordable design, and honestly, it looks just as stylish while saving you a lot of money.

11. Table Lamps To Set The Mood

Table lamps are perfect for adding task lighting for reading or just creating a soft accent glow in your room. The Studio McGee table lamp in the high-end design has a beautiful organic base with an angled shade, but it comes in at $349.

small table lamp, gold fluted lamp, traditional home decor

Wood Table Lamp // Gold Fluted Lamp

Thankfully, Target has some affordable options that range from $10 to $30, and theyโ€™re the perfect size to sit on top of a stack of coffee table books. I liked both the wood and gold options from Target. For the affordable design, I went with the wood base and pleated shade because it adds texture and contrast to the wood side tables.

If your space doesnโ€™t have an outlet nearby, the gold-fluted table lamp is a game-changer. It features an LED light and a rechargeable base, so you can charge it up and place it anywhereโ€”no cords, no hassle!

Pillows: Affordable Traditional Home Decor Updates

Now that weโ€™ve got all our lighting in the room, letโ€™s add some texture and pattern with pillows. Pillows are such an inexpensive way to refresh and update your room to match current trends.

12. Houndstooth Pillows

In the high-end design, thereโ€™s a houndstooth pattern pillow thatโ€™s inspired by menโ€™s wear. Itโ€™s 22×22 inches and the cover alone costs $104.

houndstooth pillows

Houndstooth Pillow // Amber Lewis Pillow Cover

But I found a very similar look for less at Bed Bath & Beyond for just $57โ€”insert included! If you already have the insert and just need the cover, the Amber Lewis pillow cover is only $42.

Pro Tip: When youโ€™re buying pillow inserts, you want your fill to be about 2 inches larger than your pillow cover. So, if you have a 22×22 pillow cover, aim for a 24×24 insert. This will give your pillows that plush, high-end look we all love.

13. Floral Pillows

The high-end design features a beautiful floral print pillow from Studio McGee, priced at $138 for just the cover. But don’t worry, I found some very similar looks for a lot less! You can grab a pack of two floral pillow covers on Amazon for about $17.

brown printed floral pillow collage

Floral Print Pillow Cover // Target Floral Pillow

Target also had a brown floral pillow for $30 with the insert included, but the size was a little too big for my design. I wanted the houndstooth pillow in the back and the floral one in front.

Plus, the color didnโ€™t quite match the overall vibe I was going for. But still, great affordable options if they fit your space!

14. Brown Velvet Lumbar Pillows

To add contrast and texture to the chairs, I went with brown lumbar pillows. The Studio McGee version is priced at $328! I found a great affordable pillow cover on Etsy for $57 instead.

brown lumbar pillow collage traditional home decor

Velvet Lumbar Pillow // Target Tassel Pillow // Amazon Velvet Lumbar // Boucle Lumbar

Target also had a lighter brown tweed lumbar pillow for just $20. Only the front has the tweed, which is common in budget-friendly options to cut costs. It still has cute tassels and great texture to add interest to a neutral design.

If you’re looking for even more options, check out the super affordable velvet and bouclรฉ lumbar pillow covers on Amazon!

15. Greenery: Add Life

Next, let’s bring some life into the design with greenery. And if you’re like me and don’t exactly have a green thumb, no worriesโ€”there are beautiful artificial trees that look just as good as the real thing.

faux tree with planter

Faux Tree // Olive Tree with Round White Planter // Artificial Olive Tree

The Studio McGee artificial plant, including the planter, is priced at $700. But you can get the same look for way lessโ€”starting at just $140 from Target. And here’s the best part: these styles are actually from the Studio McGee collection, so you know they’re designer-approved!

Finishing Touch: Traditional Home Decor

The last thing we need to complete our room is dรฉcor. If you’ve ever been in a space that feels incomplete or just a little off, chances are it’s missing those finishing touches.

[PIN FOR LATER]

neutral traditional home decor collage

I found some amazing, affordable options to cover every detail in this design, from sculptural accents to layered table dรฉcor. These small additions will pull the whole look together and make your space feel polished and intentional.

Final Reveal & Cost Breakdown

Now that weโ€™ve sourced and found affordable alternatives for all the high-end pieces, letโ€™s take a look at the two designs side by side. Can you tell the difference, or did I nail the look? Let me know in the comments below!

modern traditional neutrals living room decor
Studio McGee Design
traditional living room design ideas collage, sock arm sofa, trestle coffee table, accent chair
Affordable Living Room

Of course, some pieces aren’t an exact match, but as long as they capture a similar vibe, that’s the goal.

Studio McGee vs. Affordable Traditional Home Decor

And the grand total for this affordable Studio McGee-inspired living room? Drumroll, please โ€” just under $6,500, which is about a third of the price of the designer room!

budget calculator

I added everything into my budget calculator to see the full breakdown for both spaces, and you can grab your own copy below.

Final Thoughts

Creating a designer-inspired living room doesnโ€™t have to break the bank โ€” itโ€™s all about knowing where to save and where to splurge. With a little creativity and savvy shopping, you can achieve that high-end look for way less.

I hope this post showed you just how easy it can be to swap out those expensive pieces for affordable alternatives without sacrificing style. From layered lighting to the perfect pillows, every detail plays a part in bringing your space to life.

Donโ€™t be afraid to mix and match textures, shapes, and finishes to make it your own. Remember, design is about creating a home you love and feel proud of. So trust your instincts and have fun with it!

Let me know in the comments what you think of the final design โ€” did I nail the look or what?

This post is all about traditional home decor design ideas.

Last Updated on February 3, 2025 by Nicole DelaCruz

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