Your family and guests will probably spend a lot of time in the living room, so you want to create a space that’s warm, inviting and functional. The furniture you choose will depend on how you plan to utilize the room and the feelings you want to evoke. Some general guidelines can help you make the right choices for your home.
How Will You Use Your Living Room?
When choosing furniture, think about how your family and guests will use it and what kinds of conditions are typical in your home. If you like to entertain large groups of people, make sure you have plenty of seating. Choose a sofa and loveseat or a sectional based on the size and layout of the room. Don’t choose a hard-to-clean fabric for your couch if you have young kids who frequently spill things or pets that like to sleep on the furniture.
Where Do You Want People to Focus Their Attention?
Choose a focal point and then plan the rest of the living room decor based on that. If you want people’s eyes to be drawn to a fireplace or picture window, choose furniture that can be arranged around it. If you want a couch or a colorful rug to be the focus, figure out which other pieces you can use to complement it.
What’s Your Style?
Decide whether you want a traditional, modern or minimalist vibe. Choose colors that’ll work together to create the atmosphere you want. If you include some bright colors, balance them out with neutrals. Feel free to mix and match patterns. It’ll work if there’s at least one common color tying everything together.
Which Furniture Should You Choose?
Start with the essentials, such as a sofa, loveseat or armchairs, coffee table, and end tables. Then choose accent pieces, such as lamps, ottomans and bookcases. Invest in quality furniture that’ll last a long time.
Think about where you’ll store books, DVDs, video games, toys, and other things that you plan to keep in your living room or that may wind up there. Tables and ottomans with built-in storage can help you keep the room organized and allow you to tidy up quickly if guests drop by unexpectedly.
How Should You Lay out the Room?
Measure the living room and the furniture, and experiment with floor plans on paper so you can try different arrangements without having to move heavy furniture around several times. Avoid having too much empty space, but don’t fill the room with so much furniture that it looks and feels cramped.
Design Your Ideal Living Space
The living room is the heart of your home. Make it comfortable, attractive and functional based on the way your family will use it and the styles you prefer. Look at magazines and websites and visit some furniture stores to explore a wide range of ideas and choose the ones that are best for your lifestyle.
