With These Living Room Decorating Ideas, You Can't Miss!
These living room decorating ideas give insights to critical decorating issues such as finding your focal point and arranging your living room furniture. I'll even show you my living room.
Your living room is probably the most versatile area in your home. It is the room most visited by your family, friends, neighbors and others.
So why not take the time to transform it into a warm, inviting place that reflects your personal style and has architectural presence?
Sure you can do it, and I'll teach you how…
Just use the following living room decorating ideas and techniques to create the room you want:
Your first living room decorating task is to make a list of every activity that will occur in your living room. Here are a few examples to get you started:
- Watching television
- Listening to music
- Entertaining friends or business associates
- Reading
- Playing board games
- Television
- Stereo system
- Coffee table
- Lamps
- End tables
- Game table
- Armoire
- Sofa
Pretty easy so far, right? I'm glad you agree. Your third living room decorating task is to find a focal point in your living room. This will take a little thought, but it's not as difficult as you might think.
Just remember to keep an open mind and follow these guidelines:
Finding A Focal Point
A focal point gives the eye a starting point so that it can take in the interior landscape with ease. This will also make your living room decorating effort much easier.
Your focal point can be an architectural aspect of the room, an imposing piece of furniture, or a beautiful furnishing. So if your living room is architecturally challenged, you'll have to create an eye-catching focal point.
Here are some classic focal point examples:
Architectural
- Fireplace
- Large window with a spectacular view
- Piano
- Large Armoire
- Media Center
- Book shelves
- Secretaries
- Antique chest
- Large painting
- Beautiful decorative rug
- A grouping of wall art or sculptures
Arranging Your Furniture
Arranging furniture is somewhat of an art and therefore it must incorporate your personal preferences and style to achieve the mood you want. You have many options, so it is very important that you layout your living room decorating ideas with pencil and paper first.
Let your imagination and creativity flow, but keep the following in mind:
- Identify walkways through the room and keep the paths clear
- Break up a large room into two or more activity areas
- Don't fall into the trap of thinking that all major pieces must have their backs against a wall
- Don't block windows and doors to the point of making it difficult to open and close them
- Be sure that a table is beside or near each seat in the conversation area
- Ensure that chairs are no more than three to four feet apart within a conversation area
- Don't feel you have to find a place for every piece of furniture you own…avoid a cluttered look
The starting point for arranging your living room furniture is around the focal point. Configure a conversation area so that the eye will naturally flow to it.
If, for example, your focal point is a large window with a great view, try arranging your chairs, sofa, and desk to take advantage of the scenery.
If, on the other hand, your focal point is a large LCD HDTV flat panel screen television the same principles apply. Group the furniture around the television. Consider placing the television diagonal to a wall instead of parallel, for a more intriguing layout.
You'd be surprised that by simply shifting your furniture a few degrees, your room will take on a look that you never imagined.
If by chance you have a room with competing focal points such as a piano and fireplace, you will likely have to choose one over the other.
This is especially true if you have a small living room. However, if the room is very large you should move the piano to the opposite end and create a second conversation area around it.
Once you have your conversation area and focal point aligned, start filling in the rest of the room. Identify an area for each activity on your list and then place the appropriate furniture and furnishings there.
Take a look at my Eclectic living room below...
This room is rectangular in shape with dimensions of 14 X 20 feet. The sofa is angled across a somewhat narrow room to make it look wider. A 8.5 ft. Ficus tree, sofa table and armoire help to make the conversation area cozy and inviting.
In addition to providing lots of great living room decorating ideas, the eBooks walk you step-by-step through the decorating process. You'll get the insights you need to decorate or redecorate your living room with confidence.
Accessorizing Your Living Room
Your living room decorating accessories include such things as pictures and mirrors for your walls, vases and decorative boxes for tables, figurines and statuettes for display shelves, and rugs for your floor.
I recommend that you start accessorizing your focal point first...
If it's a fireplace, for example, hang a picture (with an ornate frame) above it or try a decorative mirror. Then place a couple of matching porcelain vases that you've collected on either side of the mantel.
Use your best pieces for the focal point because it will be the first area visitors see when they walk into the room.
For your display shelves, highlight unusual pieces and remember that they will have greater impact if you group a few related items together. But avoid cluttering your shelves.
If your living room decorating style leans toward very Casual, be careful with selecting oriental rugs because they tend to be very ornate. A simple pattern may work just fine, but an intricate pattern may be overpowering and dominate your room.
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