Living rooms have many functions. This is a cozy corner where the owners spend time with friends or get together with their families. Some homes have formal living rooms that have been set up as playrooms or TV rooms. In any case, creating a comfortable space through proper planning is the key to making the most of the living room. Learn how to organize and arrange furniture in the most effective and attractive way, how to arrange accents and decor items, following the rules provided in our review.
Where to start?
It is worth starting the arrangement of the living room from a place that is designed to have an attractive force, to focus attention on itself in a natural way. It can be a big picture, a plasma TV or a fireplace. The object will be the center of the composition, the furniture should mainly be placed around it. Not all massive objects need to face the central element,because the accent in this case will be blurry. Besides, it will look tasteless. So do not clutter this corner too much and disturb the harmony of the room.
On design photos with options for a kitchen and a living room in one zone, sometimes they are separated using a bar counter or a large table. Often, it is the kitchen area that is the object of attraction of attention. With some layouts, it is still separated from the common area.
The object installed in the center of the room should be close to the so-called "focus". It can be a coffee table, an ottoman or a group of chairs, it is important that it immediately catches the eye. In most cases, this is a coffee table. A very convenient option for the living room, you can put a book, magazine, chessboard on it, or just put tea on it. If the room is larger, you can add a few auxiliary accents. For example, a coffee table at one end of the room and an extra chair at the other.
Furniture functionality
The layout of the living room in the first place should always be functional. Proper placement of furniture can be achieved by considering how many people will use the room and what it is intended for. Then the style, size and approximate amount of furniture are selected.
First, you should buy and install large units, such as a sofa, bookcase. In case one of the guests decides to stay, a great option is the living room and bedroom combined together. Therefore, in such a room it is better to choosefolding sofa. To create a balanced interior, choose furniture that differs in size and height so that they seem to balance each other. A huge sectional sofa with 12 seats can look great and is ideal not for the living room, but as an option for a party. But to create a cozy room, it is usually better to use fewer small seats and place them a little closer together. When arranging furniture, you should also take into account the distances convenient for conversation. No matter how big the living room, places for friends, sofas should be in a convenient location from each other. Also, do not forget about a secluded corner for intimate conversations and cozy meetings.
When arranging a living room, it is important to take into account the freedom in the movement of people around it. The arrangement of furniture should allow you to freely pass throughout the room, it is convenient to sit down. Furniture should be roomy but not bulky.
Decor items
While decorations are usually the last thing in a living room, this can also be the biggest problem. Do not forget or be frivolous about decor items, they set the rhythm. Vertical mirrors increase the height of the room, horizontal works of art on the walls visually stretch the room in length. When hanging pictures or decor, consider the distance from the edge of the wall and ceiling. You should not place them close, just as it is better to place the sofa at a distance from the wall or even closer to the center of the room.
Add a patterned rug. Ornamentation is a powerful design tool that energizes a living room and makes stains or wear invisible. A patterned rug brings these benefits to the floor, while anchoring the seating area and enlivening the space as a whole. Even if you already have soft flooring, consider adding a small piece like this to your seating area.
Lighting fixtures
In order for the living room not to look gloomy, it is important to install several light sources. Even if there is a chandelier, it is important to add other types of fixtures as well. These can be table lamps on side tables, floor lamps, wall sconces. With the help of LED strip or even candles, accent lighting is created on the bookshelves. One of the easiest ways is to let the sun's rays get into the room, which means not cluttering the windows with furniture. After all, they are not only suppliers of natural light, but also make it possible to enjoy the view from the window while sitting in an armchair.
Basic colors
Mix dark and light shades. When such a combination prevails in a room, it may seem too clean and inaccessible. Conversely, the dark design of the living room will look like a cave and guests will feel uncomfortable in it. But the right combination of tones creates a balanced and deep, dynamic look. The design of any space benefits from the inclusion of at least a few white and black details.
But it also needs to be diluted. In addition to the inclusion of white and black, filling the interior with various contrasting or, conversely, neutral shadesgoes a long way in making a room look stylish and welcoming. White walls, a sofa upholstered in caramel leather, brass fittings, a gray armchair and blue cabinets. In this type of living room decoration, objects contrast with each other, emphasizing their diverse structure and shades. This allows the colors to be richer and more intense before other decor elements such as colorful pillows, paintings and textiles are added.
Arrangement of bright accents
It is possible to create a beautiful space without any bright colors. But decorating a living room with just a little bit of bright color can make the difference in creating a relaxed and inviting atmosphere. For example, a rather banal spectrum of blue tones, but they go with everything. Shades of rich cool color, as in the living room option in the photo above, contrast perfectly with warm elements such as leather and wood. At the same time, they are nicely combined with any other accent colors.
Give personality, uniqueness to the living room by mixing and matching patterns, colors and textures. Choose a basic tone whose different shades will be found throughout the room. Choose a sofa in neutral colors and place it side by side with a patterned chair. Courage in such decisions will make the interior more expressive, but do not overdo it.
Rooms in which the emphasis is on one color look very interesting. Especially if such a sunny yellow shade is chosen. He is calmed by strict lines and metal details, which are sufficiently present in the furniture.
Materials and their combinations
The texture of objects is very important. When decorating a living room, it’s easy to forget about it, especially when you consider that we don’t see it, but touch it. But this is important in order to feel comfortable in the living room. It is worth considering not only soft objects trimmed with fabric, which attract attention, but also harder materials that add contrast. After all, wooden furniture, glass tabletops, mirrors with a metal frame look beautiful in the interior. And already on top of them you need to add textiles, and as much as possible.
You can't talk about texture without talking about wood. It is the best material and one of the main choices in the living room to create a feeling of warmth. There are many ways to add wood to a room's decor, any of which will make the space more inviting. Look out for wall panels, side coffee tables, movable stools, picture frames, sofa legs, and carved artwork. And these are just some of the many options.
Upholstery & textiles
Don't go for boring, understated upholstery reminiscent of office furniture. Of course, in most specialized stores you can purchase a set of several options for a living room with the same textiles. But that doesn't mean you should. Do you want the roomwas cozy and hospitable, choose soft elements yourself to give the design a little personality. One of the best ways to do this is to mix leather chairs with a fabric sofa, or vice versa, so that the materials contrast clearly deliberately. A similar design option for the living room will bring some variety. It can also allow family members and guests to choose where to sit according to their preference.
Pillows are a great option for a living room, especially if you're decorating on a budget. It is they who should bring color notes, beating the rest of the interior.
Practical fabric choices
It is important that seating in the living room is not only comfortable, but also durable. If you have small children, pets and they can be sloppy. In general, half-tone fabrics are the safest choice, as very light or dark shades show dirt and wear immediately.
Leather is an excellent material for preventing stains because it can be easily wiped off when dirty. However, it is usually easier to scratch than most fabrics. Therefore, leather should not be chosen as an option for a living room with animals.
Denim and corduroy are two other materials that look good but last a long time. Plus, they look unexpected compared to the typical plain cotton or wool upholstery you often see in stores. When choosing fabric for furniture in the living room, look for a material from a mixturenatural and synthetic fabrics to get the practical characteristics of both. And, if possible, ask the store to bend a sample of the fabric to make sure the weave looks tight and doesn't show through the lining material. This weave will be more durable than loose weave, regardless of the material.
Useful little things
Moving tables and stools on wheels are very convenient. Lightweight ottomans and even transportable side chairs make the living room much more comfortable, giving you and your family plenty of options for daily movement, change of scenery and comfortable seating.
Symmetry will help create a well-balanced living room. Such a room seems comfortable and organized. Connect sofas, nightstands and chairs on opposite sides of the room to create a symmetrical living space. In this case, your coffee table will serve as the center. Although not all living rooms should be just like that. Symmetry in large interior items and complete asymmetry in details. Miniature nightstands, solid poufs, and lighting need to balance each other, but they don't have to be arranged in a strict order. Done right, this is a simple yet stunning space.
Indoor plants
Interiors with flower pots, vases with magnificent bouquets or other plants are always attractive. Creating a floral design allows you to dilute a dry interior or simply add life to the environment. Whethera small palm tree in the corner, a miniature bouquet on a coffee table, or a wall stand full of various pots.
You can plant low-maintenance plants at home. Cacti add style and flair to almost any room. They can be quite small and stand side by side in the same pots or occupy an entire shelf, giving an aesthetic touch to the interior. For the kitchen area, fruit bushes or dwarf trees are more often chosen. Lemon - can bear fruit even in winter, while not requiring care.
Spruce branches or wildflowers are a great option for a living room in a country house. They do not have to constantly buy, but the greens will always give the house comfort and pleasant aromas. Moreover, it is not difficult to create a stunning bouquet even from ordinary spruce branches.
Don't take furniture too seriously. The living room is a great place to take in thoughtful clutter. Alternatively, randomly hang paintings and photographs in different frames on the wall in the living room, casually throw pillows of various colors on the sofa, add open storage baskets and funny furniture.
