Where do you start when designing a home for such a creative couple as Bobby and Talani Diggs? For their living room, designer Maya Williams leaned into the couple's connection with music to create a wonderfully harmonious energy through a muted, earthy palette, natural textures, and sculptural forms.
An expert in how to decorate with earthy colors, Maya Williams, Founder of Maya Williams Designs, explains: 'The Grand Salon was designed as a study in yin and yang – one side grounded in light, the other in depth, with warm tones throughout to keep the space inviting and relaxed. The furniture layout is all about movement and flow, echoing the energy of music and the people who live in it.'
I've picked out some pieces from Bobby and Talani Diggs' calming living room and found some affordable dupes – from West Elm's Aviana sectional sofa with its curvaceous form, to abstract throw pillows (Target) in warm hues – to inspire you to bring this earthy aesthetic into your home. I've also asked the experts for their tips and tricks for achieving the look.
Buys Inspired by Bobby and Talani Diggs' Grounded Living Room
The softly curved silhouette of this sectional sofa is so organic, that it would work perfectly in a calming space like Bobby and Talani Diggs' living room, mixed with muted earthy tones.
'The light fixture reads like musical bars suspended in motion, reinforcing the balance between contrast and harmony,' explains Maya, and this modern chandelier creates a similar effect.
The organic lines in this rug echo the sound wave design of Bobby and Talani Diggs' custom-made pieces as well as having an organic feel that looks like topography on a map or layers of natural stone.
The solid, earthy material of these coffee tables contrasts with the curved, sculptural shape to bring a sense of natural calm and comfort to a room, while the nesting design adds an even more organic feel.
Bobby and Talani Diggs' living room is punctuated by a large potted tree which lifts the muted palette of the room. Even faux plants like this with a hint of color can add a natural freshness to a space.
Mimicking the abstract lines found in nature, this velvet terracotta throw pillow would bring depth and interest to a matte neutral sofa. Mix with olives and golds for added warmth and variation.
Color plays such an important role in Bobby and Talani Diggs' living room, and the earthy hues used here inspire calm and relaxation. Diego Lares, New York-based architect and Founder & Director of 3D World Renderings Inc explains: 'People settle more easily in rooms finished with low‑chroma, warm hues because they echo the natural landscapes our brains read as safe and familiar. Clay, terracotta, ochre, sand, mushroom, olive, and tobacco brown reduce harsh contrast, so your eye glides rather than jumps, which quietly lowers visual "noise".
Plus, natural light plays a big part in how earthy palettes behave from day to night. 'These palettes track with daylight better than cool grays, holding warmth from morning to evening and softening the feel of lamp light at night. Keep whites creamy rather than brilliant, and test the mix in daylight and evening so undertones don’t surprise you. A simple check I use is that if a color looks chalky and muted rather than bright on a large swatch, you’re in the calming zone,' adds Diego.
Another consideration with relaxing living room ideas is the balance of texture. Lenny Kharitonov, CEO of furniture retailer, Emma Mason suggests: 'Keep the largest surfaces quiet and matt so the room breathes, then let depth come through furniture and accents. Linen, wool, bouclé, and chenille on upholstery and cushions diffuse light and invite touch, while a hand-tufted or flatweave rug softens acoustics.'
The rugs in Bobby and Talani Diggs' Malibu were custom-designed to reflect the flow of sound waves. 'Bobby’s iconic Wu-Tang Clan roots became my muse here, guiding the rhythm, mood, and soul of the design,' says Firouz Kashanian, Founder of FJ Kashanian Rugs, who worked with designer Maya Williams, on the pieces. While, combined with the muted hues, the rug design also reflects the colors and shapes found in nature.
Using curves in interior design is another tactic to create flow and bring an ease to a space. 'Choose pieces with rounded arms, radius corners, and waterfall edges,' advises Lenny, 'and swap boxy coffee tables for soft rectangles, ovals, or drum shapes to remove hard visual stops. Sculptural touches in clay, ceramic, or travertine, such as table lamps, bowls, and low vases, add interest, and keeping finishes matt or honed preserves the tranquil feel.'
It's no surprise that we are drawn to these calming hues, and feel comforted by being in relaxing spaces like Bobby and Talani Diggs' living room, as these elements bring us back to nature, and away from life's busy schedule.
Michael-Chase Strollo, Founder of Strollo Interiors and Dash Fine Arts explains 'I think people are drawn to these shades right now because so much of our daily life is overstimulating. Earth-based colors feel familiar and calm. They remind me of landscapes and earthy materials that have existed way before trends. When the palette, materials, and shapes all speak the same language, a space naturally feels grounded.'
If Bobby and Talani Diggs' earthy living room has given you some inspiration for bringing grounding tones and organic forms into your home, these ideas for introducing natural materials into your decor will help to keep the look rooted in nature.
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