10 Tips to Keep in Mind When Decorating a Living Room
From more formal living to playrooms and areas for entertaining, living rooms play many roles. The key to making the most of it is to create a space that's comfortable and inviting. Learn how to organize and position your living room furniture in the most effective and appealing way.
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Jacob Snavely, Courtesy of Toledo Geller
Focus on the Focal Point
Do you have a large piece of artwork, entertainment system, or fireplace in your living room? Finding a room's natural focal point is a great place to start when creating your design. Most homes will have one major point of interest that is the first thing you notice when entering the room. While not all furniture has to face it, you should consider centering the room around this main feature.
Create a Center
Whether it's a coffee table, an ottoman, or a group of chairs, it's important that your living room has a noticeable center. If you have a larger room, you can incorporate multiple center points, such as a coffee table at one end of the room and an additional seating area at the other end.
Make It Functional
The layout of your living room should always be functional. This is best achieved by considering how many people will be using the room and what will it be used for. You can then decide the style, size, and amount of furnishings you will need.
Select Scaled Pieces
Another rule of thumb for decorating a living room is to create balance by choosing scaled pieces. If you want a well-balanced atmosphere, pick pieces differing in size and height that balance each other out. Place the larger pieces in the room first, then arrange the smaller items around the main furniture.
Add Dimension
Texture and dimension will top off your living room by adding visual appeal and interest. While decorations are usually the last details to be selected for a space, picking the right ones can be the biggest struggle. Create height and depth to your living room by adding artwork, photos, shelves, or mirrors to the walls. When hanging any art or items on the wall, consider the height from the wall edge and the ceiling; it's best to put décor at eye level and centered.
Incorporate Lighting
In order to create a bright and open living room, it's important to layer light sources. Even if you have one main overhead light, try incorporating different styles of light fixtures, such as lamps on side tables, accent lighting within bookshelves, and even candles. One of the easiest ways to add light to your living room is by arranging the furniture around your windows.
Add an Area Rug
Don't overlook an area rug when decorating your living room. Area rugs add texture and dimension to a space while also serving a function. Typically, you'll want to choose a rug that will complement your color scheme and can be placed in the center of the room. Be sure to choose the right size for your room and furniture. A good rule to follow is that the rug should be large enough so that at least the front legs of your furniture are on it, and the rug should be more than 6 to 12 inches away from the walls.
Mix and Match
Create a personalized living room by mixing and matching patterns, colors, and textures. Play up your favorite color by using it in different shades throughout the room. Choose a neutral-toned couch, and pair it with a patterned armchair. If you really want to go bold with your living room arrangement, add a pop of color by mixing in an accent chair.
Create Symmetry
Focus on symmetry to create a well-balanced living room; the result will be a space that looks and feels both comfortable and organized. Pair sofas, side tables, and chairs on opposing sides of the room in order to achieve symmetry. In this case, your coffee table will serve as the center point of the arrangement.
Think About Traffic
When arranging your living room, it's important to consider the traffic flow. Your furniture arrangement will be a factor in how people enter, exit, and navigate the space. Is it difficult to get in and out of seating? Does the space feel cramped when multiple people are sitting in the room? Work with the size of your space by choosing the right size of furnishings so that this high-traffic area can be used with ease.