Living rooms vary widely in size, shape, and purpose, from spacious retreats to cozy nooks. When decorating, it’s essential to choose elements that resonate with your personal taste rather than following trends or perceived “correct” choices. Avoid letting a decorator dictate every detail—after all, you’re the one living in the space, not the decorator. Focus on creating a room that reflects your lifestyle and makes you feel at home, regardless of others’ opinions.

Defining Your Living Room’s Purpose

Living rooms go by many names—drawing room, family room, sitting room—but they all serve as spaces for living. Their function depends on your lifestyle, whether it’s a formal area for entertaining, a casual hub for family gatherings, or a multifunctional space for relaxation and socializing. Unlike kitchens, which often double as dining or gathering spots, living rooms are typically where social activities unfold, making them a focal point for decoration. However, avoid overdecorating in an attempt to get it “right.” Instead, take time to consider what works for you and your family.

Start by identifying the type of living room you want. Is it a quiet adult retreat, an entertainment center with a TV and music system, or a versatile space where friends and family naturally gather? Size and layout also matter—smaller rooms are often easier to decorate than large ones, and open-plan designs may combine sitting and dining areas. Subtle cues, like a change in flooring or a rug, can define these zones within a shared space.

Decorating Different Types of Living Rooms

Here are tailored tips for decorating various living room styles, ensuring both functionality and aesthetic appeal.

The Drawing Room
For those who entertain frequently, a formal drawing or sitting room is ideal. In smaller homes, this setup may reserve the living room for special occasions, with the kitchen serving as the casual gathering spot to protect the formal décor from children or pets. Decorate with elegance, using antique display cabinets, alcoves, or shelves to showcase valuable collections, such as blue-and-white porcelain or glassware on polished wood or glass surfaces. Avoid modern modular units to maintain a timeless, sophisticated look.

The Family Room
In homes with a single living space, the living room often becomes a casual, multifunctional family room where everyone—including children and pets—is welcome. Furnish with comfortable chairs and sofas that invite relaxation, creating a homely atmosphere perfect for entertaining close friends. While a TV is common, it can disrupt conversation, so position it thoughtfully. In larger homes with both a formal and casual living room, keep antiques and valuables in the formal space and reserve the family room for books, memorabilia, and everyday items that spark joy and interaction.

Specialized Living Spaces
Some living rooms are designed for specific activities, such as watching TV, playing games like billiards or ping-pong, or enjoying music. Home pubs are increasingly popular for entertaining, offering a unique vibe that complements the home’s overall style. Decorate these spaces to reflect their purpose while maintaining harmony with the rest of the interior.

General Decorating Tips
Once you’ve defined your living room’s purpose, focus on creating a comfortable and visually appealing space. Choose a color scheme to set the mood, drawing inspiration from an element like a rug, upholstery, or a piece of artwork. Use this color for walls or accents, such as collections, to tie the room together. A cohesive theme ensures harmony, while physical comfort—through plush seating or soft textures—makes the space inviting.

The best approach is to trust your imagination and remain flexible. Don’t let others pressure you into choices that don’t feel right. Your living room should be a reflection of you, designed for your enjoyment and tailored to your unique lifestyle.

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Your living room is likely the most visible and public space in your home. It’s where your family bonds and guests are welcomed and entertained. With this in mind, you should take special care to decorate your living room to be both comfortable and visually appealing. Selecting art for your living room is a crucial decision that sets the tone for the space, so choose pieces with the specific purpose of creating a relaxing atmosphere for you, your family, and your guests.

Selecting Appropriate Subject Matter and Style

Art in a high-traffic area like the living room should have broad appeal. Many prefer abstract art for its modern, chic aesthetic and its ability to evoke different interpretations for each viewer. If you lean toward representational work, universally recognized subjects like landscapes or still-life pieces are widely appreciated. Avoid artworks with heavy or dark themes, as they may create an unsettling mood.

Pay attention to the artist’s use of color to set the mood and tone. Paintings with soft, low-contrast colors and symmetrical or traditional compositions foster a calm and inviting atmosphere. In contrast, bold, high-contrast colors often introduce drama or tension, which may not suit a relaxing living room environment.

For those who prefer sculpture, three-dimensional pieces are less common but equally suitable for living room decor. Abstract sculptures share the versatile appeal of abstract paintings. If your taste is more conservative, opt for classical subjects like busts or studies of the human form. The size and texture of a sculpture significantly influence the room’s mood, much like color and contrast do in paintings. Smooth textures and smaller sculptures create a subtle, calming effect, while large, freestanding pieces or those with rough textures add drama.

Matching Art to Your Space

Finding the Right Piece for Your Room

When selecting wall art, measure the wall where the piece will hang to determine an appropriate size. A small painting can look out of place on a large, empty wall, just as an oversized painting may overwhelm a smaller or cluttered space. Beyond size, ensure the artwork complements the room’s decor. The colors in the piece should harmonize with the living room’s color scheme without matching it exactly, as over-coordination can feel monotonous. For instance, in a living room decorated with tones of brown, tan, and cream, consider a painting that incorporates similar shades alongside a vibrant accent color, such as red or blue-gray, to create a focal point.

Three-dimensional pieces, like sculptures, require a dedicated display space, such as a table, shelf, or low-traffic floor area. Ensure the area is free of visual clutter to highlight the artwork’s beauty. Whether choosing two-dimensional or three-dimensional art, place it in a safe location. Antiques, in particular, are vulnerable to damage from direct sunlight or humidity, but all original art requires careful handling. Avoid placing art near front doors, steam heaters, or walls exposed to frequent sunlight. Heavy canvases should be securely anchored, and sculptures or ceramics must be positioned out of reach of children or pets.

Art as an Investment

While art can appreciate over time, predicting its future value is challenging. Even works by established artists can fluctuate in value due to changing trends. Investing in pieces by emerging artists carries even greater uncertainty. Additionally, art is not highly liquid; selling a valuable piece can be a slow and complex process, requiring the right buyer or auction.

However, “investment” doesn’t always mean financial return. Quality art can endure for decades or even centuries, becoming a cherished family heirloom. Whether monetarily valuable or not, artwork passed down through generations carries deep personal and sentimental value.

Choosing Art You Love

Whether you intend to pass the art to your children or replace it during your next redecoration, the most important factor is choosing something you love. Take time to research artists by visiting local galleries, exploring museums, or browsing artist websites online. Discuss art with family and friends to better understand your preferences and identify patterns in your tastes. Articulating what you like will help when communicating with gallery owners or artists during your search. Most importantly, understanding your preferences ensures you select a piece you’ll continue to cherish for years to come.

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What does “pet-friendly” mean?

A pet-friendly home or furniture item can mean a couple of things:

• Your pet’s favorite definition: a pet-friendly home is one that considers the comfort and safety of your pet, providing as many amenities as possible to make your pet happy. This includes comfortable spots to lay in the sun, plenty of places to grab a quick snack, and lots of floor space to chase a ball or a squeaky toy. You get the idea.
• A pet owner’s preferred definition: one that takes the comfort and safety of the pet into account, but also considers keeping the furniture clean, comfortable, and attractive for the human occupants of the home, while avoiding having to replace expensive items due to wear and tear caused by pets.

How do I make my couch or sofa pet-friendly?

Now that we understand the definition(s) of “pet-friendly,” how do we apply these concepts to our own home décor? Here are a few tips to keep everyone in the family safe, happy, and comfortable:

• To keep your sofa looking as good as possible for as long as possible, be sure to choose a fabric that is pet-friendly. This means a fabric that is not easily shredded, such as one with a tight weave that will resist the snagging and pulling of your cat’s claws.
• Look for a fabric that is easily cleaned. Indoor/outdoor fabrics, for example, can often be cleaned with a hose and a bit of soapy water and left to dry in the sun. A busy pattern will also help hide some of those paw prints.
• When training, begging, and pleading fail to keep Jake the greyhound or Muffie the kitten off the furniture, keep plenty of washable throws or small blankets on hand. Place them in your pet’s favorite spot on the sofa, and throw them in the washing machine as needed. They can also be easily removed when company stops by.
• Maintenance is one of the best ways to keep your couch both pet- and family-friendly. Daily vacuuming and occasional cleaning will remove dirt, grime, and that ever-present pet hair. For quick clean-ups, consider using a dryer sheet like Bounce to remove pet hair from upholstery, and a quick swish of a Swiffer will help get the hair off surrounding tabletops and floors. Don’t forget to remove the cushions and check for any little “surprises” your pet might have left underneath.

Remember, you get what you pay for

We’ve all marveled at a sofa or chair being sold for an amazingly low price. Some of us have even fallen prey to the temptation, only to regret it later.

A sturdy sofa that will stand the test of time—and a rambunctious pet—will have a kiln-dried wood frame that has been properly nailed and glued together, so it doesn’t wobble when someone sits down. The springs and foam used in the upholstery process will be of the highest quality. This type of construction takes time, and time costs money. Therefore, it would be difficult for a manufacturer to create such a sofa, sell it for pennies on the dollar, and still make a profit.

The best advice is to purchase the highest-quality sofa your budget can handle. And keep in mind that if the price sounds too good to be true, it probably isn’t the bargain you think it is.

The same holds true for the fabrics you choose. Select the best quality fabric and foam within your budget to avoid having to replace your worn-out couch every year or so.

Pets are part of the family and deserve to be as comfortable in their home as the other members of the family. With a little thought before purchasing a big-ticket item like a couch or sofa, you, your pet, and your sofa can peacefully coexist.

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• How do I plan where my furniture should go?
• How do I create a cohesive color palette?
• What should I consider to choose the right-sized furniture for my room?
• How do I zone different areas in an open-plan living space?
• How do I create a focal point in my room?

To address these questions and more, I’ll guide you through a design process that anyone undertaking a home décor project should follow. This approach will boost your confidence in decision-making, help avoid costly mistakes, and result in a room that others will envy.

Step 1: Planning is Key

Begin by gathering inspiration from magazines, online interior design blogs, websites, or anything around you that sparks creativity. Collect items that catch your eye due to their color or texture, and create a file or pinboard for these finds. Arranging these images and items will help shape your design concept and color palette. Trust your intuition to remove anything that feels out of place—after all, this is your home. Fix the selected items and images to a mood board and keep it in a visible spot to guide your decisions and stay true to your original vision.

Step 2: Focus on the Details

Consider how you’ll use the space; functionality is as crucial as aesthetics. Evaluate the items currently in the room and determine what aligns with your mood board and intended use. You might repurpose some pieces by painting furniture or reupholstering a chair or sofa.

Next, establish a focal point to anchor the room’s design. Without one, the space may feel scattered or incomplete. A focal point creates visual interest and could be a striking piece of artwork, a decorative rug, or a feature wall with beautiful wallpaper. This element serves as the foundation, and all other design choices should tie back to it.

Step 3: Fitting It All Together

Floor planning is essential for selecting appropriately sized furniture, optimizing placement, and zoning open-plan spaces. Measure the room’s dimensions and note them on a rough plan, including window and door locations, electrical outlets, and radiators. This will guide your furniture purchases. Experiment with different furniture arrangements to assess flow and functionality before committing to large pieces. If visualizing from a floor plan is challenging, cut out life-sized newspaper templates to represent furniture and place them in the room to gauge scale and spacing. Use large rugs, the back of a sofa, a console, or a shelving unit to create zones and define separate areas in open-plan spaces.

Step 4: Managing Costs

Create a list of tasks and items needed for the project, then obtain quotes for the work and research item costs to establish a budget. If expenses exceed your budget, consider phasing the work or purchases, or identify tasks you can handle yourself, such as painting. Include a contingency of 5–10% of the total budget. Track all quotes and expenses meticulously to stay within budget. While it may be tempting to choose the cheapest quote, this isn’t always wise, as lower costs may reflect lower quality. Aim for a mid-range quote and seek at least three quotes for each task.

You’re now ready to start planning, designing, and budgeting. Take your time during this phase, as careful planning will pay off. Seek recommendations for reliable trades and services to complete your project, and most importantly, enjoy the process!

Summary Checklist to Get Started:

• Collect inspiration and ideas.
• Determine the focal point and functionality.
• Create a floor plan, including zoning ideas if needed.
• Establish a budget and track it carefully.
• Seek recommendations for trades and services.
• Refer to your mood board regularly to stay on track.

If you’ve successfully designed a room you’re proud of, we’d love to hear your story. Feel free to share it with us!

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To begin, understanding the psychology of color is essential. Numerous studies have explored how colors influence our moods and behaviors—too many to cover in detail here. Even the ancient Chinese practice of Feng Shui assigns colors to five elements—wood, fire, earth, metal, and water—believing that the combination of element and color impacts one’s surroundings. With a basic understanding of color’s effects, you can choose a scheme that creates the perfect atmosphere for your family and visitors.

Exploring the Color Spectrum

Colors are categorized into warm (red, orange, gold, yellow), cool (blue, green, purple), and neutral (tan, brown) tones. Although not true colors, black and white also play significant roles in decorating schemes.

Red is associated with passion, power, heat, and energy. It acts as a stimulant, making it a popular choice for dining rooms, where it can enhance appetite and conversation. However, this stimulating effect may not suit a living room intended for relaxation or entertaining. Instead, use red in accessories or upholstery and pair it with a calming wall color like sage or tan.

Blue is a perennial favorite in home decorating due to its calming effect. It’s often used in bedrooms for both children and adults. For a serene living room, selecting the right shade of blue is key. A bright blue with red undertones might feel too vibrant, but a soft blue with gray undertones can serve as a neutral, calming backdrop that complements various upholstery colors.

Green remains a popular choice in home décor, evoking tranquility and self-control. The right shade is critical. For a tropical-themed living room, a green with yellow undertones, like lime or grass green, may work well. For a more relaxed ambiance, consider sage or moss. In traditional settings, hunter or emerald green pairs beautifully with reds and blues commonly found in such schemes.

Yellow is tricky to use. It can brighten a dark room and encourage conversation, making it ideal for living rooms. However, it may increase anxiety in the elderly or young children. Choosing the right intensity is crucial—deep Tuscan gold complements dark woodwork, while a creamy white with yellow undertones feels warmer than stark white.

Neutrals like brown, gray, and tan symbolize wholesomeness and stability, often associated with nature. They gain popularity during economic challenges. However, selecting a neutral can be complex, as light gray may appear almost white, and tan can have pink, yellow, or gray undertones. A dark brown might resemble deep moss green. Testing multiple samples is essential before deciding.

White is the most common wall color in homes, symbolizing cleanliness and freshness. However, matching white walls to trim reveals that white comes in many shades, which may appear gray, yellow, or pink when compared. If you choose white for your living room, ensure it matches existing trim, such as door surrounds, baseboards, and window frames.

Ultimately, color affects everyone differently. The key is to consider how a color makes you and your family feel. If a vibrant red wall energizes and delights your household, go for it. If dark brown creates the moody ambiance you seek, embrace it. There are no strict “rules” in decorating—if it works for you, it’s the right choice. However, understanding how colors influence the look and feel of a space can guide you toward the perfect choice and help avoid costly mistakes.

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Start by creating an overall plan that includes color schemes, furniture needs, and wall and window treatments. This will help you avoid costly mistakes and allow you to purchase items as your budget allows or when you find the perfect piece while shopping. Keep in mind that all living rooms share some common elements—seating, lighting, and accessories. But how do you choose what’s right for your room?

Key Furniture Decisions

Furniture is usually the biggest expense in any room, aside from electronics. You’ll need to determine how much seating you’ll need based on how you use the room. If the room is primarily for television watching and family gatherings, think about how many people will need a place to sit. A combination of chairs and a sofa is a common choice, but you could also opt for all chairs, or a sofa and loveseat combination. You’ll also need tables to hold books, games, or food and drinks. Additionally, a piece of furniture, such as an armoire or bookcase, will be necessary to house all the electronics that are part of our modern lives.

When choosing upholstery for your seating area, make sure to pick something durable and stain-resistant. This is not the place for an all-white sofa with glass-top tables!

If your living room is used primarily for entertaining and not for family gatherings, your furniture needs may differ. Of course, you will still need seating and tables, but instead of a media center, you might add bookshelves or curio cabinets to display collectibles. These pieces serve as great conversation starters when entertaining. As the room is used less frequently, you have more freedom with your upholstery choices. If you’ve always dreamed of a blue-and-white room with glass tables and crystal lamps, this is the room to go for it. Of course, we assume that adults will be much neater and more careful than kids.

Lighting is another crucial feature when decorating a living room. You’ll need task lighting for reading, games, or hobbies such as crafts and sewing. This can be in the form of table lamps or floor lamps that direct light to the task at hand. You’ll also need accent or ambient lighting to create a soft glow when watching television or just relaxing. Decorative lamps, uplights, and spotlights are all part of this category. The goal is to set the right mood in the room. Lastly, you’ll need general lighting, typically provided by overhead fixtures or recessed lighting.

Arranging your furniture is one of the most important aspects of decorating a living room. If the furniture is poorly arranged, it can be difficult to converse, view the television, or even move around the room. Start by identifying the room’s focal point. This could be a fireplace, a beautiful window view, or the television set. Whatever it is, arrange your furniture to highlight that focal point. Many people mistakenly believe furniture must be pushed up against the walls, but this isn’t always the case. Placing furniture at an angle or away from the wall can create a more interesting arrangement and improve traffic flow. It all depends on the size and shape of your room and the position of your focal point. Don’t be afraid to experiment. Rearranging furniture doesn’t cost anything, and if you don’t like it, you can always move it back.

Accessorizing is the most enjoyable part of decorating any room. This is where your personality can really shine. Accessories can be simple—like a framed poster on the wall and some pillows from a discount store. For a personal touch, consider creating a custom poster featuring your favorite travel destination or a meaningful quote. Accessories can also be elaborate and tell a story about you—such as a collection from a vacation or a prized piece of art. An arrangement of family photos in beautiful frames makes an excellent accessory! Perhaps you purchased some silk fabric during your travels. How about turning it into custom throw pillows? If you’ve inherited treasured porcelain from your grandmother, displaying those pieces in a curio cabinet will serve as a nice tribute and create an interesting focal point. A vase of fresh flowers on a side table adds color and life to the living room.

It’s fun to switch out your accessories for different seasons. Maybe you have a collection of seashells that can be placed in a large bowl on the coffee table during the summer months. Or you could replace silk throw pillows with ones made of colorful suede or wool to make the room cozy in the fall and winter. Adding a throw to the back of a chair is always a good idea. Accessories don’t have to be expensive; visit your local thrift shop or discount store for affordable vases, books, small sculptures, or interesting wall hangings. The choice is yours.

As you follow your plan for decorating the living room, you’ll begin to see the space come together. Taking it step by step prolongs the fun, so enjoy the process and be proud of the room you’ve created for your family and friends.

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Start by considering the coffee table’s primary use. In a formal room, the table is likely to showcase decorative accessories or prized possessions. Choose a table with a large surface and a sturdy base, such as a tiered wooden table with substantial legs or a glass table with a metal frame. A glass table can provide visual relief in a formal space filled with layered decor.

In a casual setting, prioritize practicality. If you plan to prop your feet up, a solid base is ideal. For extra storage, select a table with an open base for decorative baskets to hold magazines or remotes, or choose one with drawers for hidden storage. Unconventional options, like ottomans topped with a decorative tray or old trunks, can serve as stylish coffee tables with added storage. While genuine antiques are available, many retailers offer high-quality reproductions that blend rustic charm with functionality.

Choosing Materials and Style

Focus on the quality of materials and craftsmanship. Most wooden coffee tables are made from pressed fiberboard and veneers, which are cost-effective and durable. Fiberboard, created from recycled wood fibers, glue, and resin under high pressure, resists splitting and lasts through daily household use when sealed with veneers. Glass tables, often made with tempered glass, are also durable. According to Wikipedia, tempered glass undergoes thermal or chemical processes to create balanced internal stresses, making it strong, heat- and cold-resistant, and prone to breaking into small fragments rather than sharp shards. If you have children, ensure the glass table is tempered for safety.

To create a harmonious interior, consider style, balance, and scale. Assess your room’s design style. For traditional spaces, a wooden table is a classic choice, while a contemporary glass and chrome table can add a modern twist. A glass table with a curvy metal base in burnished gold or brass is timeless and elegant. For a bold statement, pair two smaller tables in front of the sofa. In contemporary interiors, opt for sleek, uncomplicated lines, such as oval or round glass tables with chrome bases, or a boxy, tiered wooden table to add warmth.

Scale is critical. In a room with large, overstuffed sofas and chairs, choose a comparably sized table, like a large rectangular wooden one. If the room has heavy wooden furniture, a large glass table can lighten the space and add sophistication. As a rule, the table should be the same height or slightly lower than the sofa cushions and no longer than two-thirds the sofa’s length. Ensure at least two feet of space around the table for easy movement. In small rooms, a glass table can enhance the sense of space, while a large room calls for a substantial table, such as a tiered wooden one with drawers, to make a bold, functional statement.

Consider the room’s shapes when choosing a table. If your sofa has a square geometric pattern, a rectangular or square table can complement it, while a round table adds contrast. In a room with predominantly square furniture, an oval or round table creates balance and visual interest. For households with young children, minimize sharp edges to ensure safety. If you have pets, account for their tail-sweeping radius. For frequent gatherings, a mobile table, like a round one, is easy to move and can serve as an extra surface for appetizers or party favors.

Above all, have fun with your choice. Explore the quirky, elegant, and casual styles available. Trust your instincts, and if a table doesn’t work, try another. With so many options, you’re sure to find the perfect coffee table for your space.

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As you start this exciting project, the first thing you should do is consider your likes and dislikes. The color of paint you choose should reflect your personality. What colors do you consider your favorites? A wise interior designer once said that if you’re stumped by choosing a paint color, try looking in your closet. There, you’ll typically find colors you enjoy and that make you feel good. Your home is an extension of who you are, so choosing colors that please you will give you a good start.

Choosing the Right Color for Your Living Room

Next, study the room. How do you want to utilize color? Your living room may feature its own specific elements and architectural accents, such as molding and trim, which must be taken into consideration. Look at the structure of the room—pay attention to its shape and size. What do you find attractive about the room? For example, does your living room have great windows? In that case, you’ll want to accent the window area. A rule to remember when painting a room, such as your living room, is that paint can accentuate a room’s special features or hide them.

The style and theme of the décor you intend to use in your room, as well as your personal taste, will determine the color of paint you choose. It will also depend largely on the function of the room. The living room, for instance, is usually used as a gathering place for family and friends. Using a warm paint color will give a more inviting and welcoming feeling than a cooler color. A lighter color may help a small living room feel more spacious, while a darker color can make a large living room feel cozier.

Choosing a design direction is the next step. Do you have a certain decorating theme in mind for your living room? Or perhaps you’re planning to update the room with a new paint color while keeping the existing theme? One way to choose a paint color is to focus on a favorite piece of furniture. Alternatively, you could base your color choice on a beautiful fabric swatch, which might be used to make draperies or curtains for the windows. Some may even choose a color based on a lovely piece of art or a special painting. Once you know the decorating direction you want, it will be much easier to decide on the perfect paint palette.

A good idea when picking a living room wall color is to go to your local home improvement store and get paint sample swatches. They have hundreds of colors, and paint can be customized in any of the shades you choose. There are seven basic colors in the color spectrum: red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet. From these seven, all other colors and shades are derived. Colors are either cool or warm in tone.

For a high-traffic area such as your living room, a satin finish paint is a great choice. This finish gives a slight sheen to the walls and is easier to clean than flat paint. Satin finish paint will hold up to the wear and tear of family life and can be wiped clean with a damp cloth or sponge. It also comes in a variety of colors and is wonderful to work with. This water-based satin paint tends to have less odor and is easier to clean up after your project is finished. Be sure to take your time when choosing a living room paint color—don’t buy on impulse. Spend at least a couple of weeks making up your mind.

You should never buy cheap or low-quality paint. Spending the extra money is well worth it in the long run. Higher-quality paint performs better. It goes on the wall smoothly, and visible brush or roller marks won’t be a problem. Higher-quality paint also resists dirt and fingerprints. Once you’ve picked your paint color, it’s always a good idea to purchase small quarts to test the color in your home, under your own lighting. Various types of lighting can cause paint colors to look different in each room.

While the color white has been a popular living room paint color with a contemporary feel, many homeowners find it boring. Others like white because it’s a “safe” color choice. The great thing about white is that it can make a room, like your living room, seem larger. The stronger and bolder the color of large furniture items in the room, the better white can work as a wall color. However, if your furniture and accessories are more neutral in tone, you’ll probably want to opt for brighter painted walls.

Be confident and use bold and bright paint colors if you desire. For someone just starting out in life and on a tight budget, with little furniture, using a vibrant paint color in your living room can help create a look that fills the room until you’re able to purchase more furniture.

Some of the most popular living room paint colors today include white, off-white, beige, light yellow, burgundy, creamy golden, sautéed mushroom, and light blue. These are among the top-selling paint colors. As seen throughout this article, color choices really depend on the person making the choice. When you find a color that you truly love, you’ll know it. From there, you can proceed full speed ahead, creating a fantastic living room to enjoy for years to come.

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If you’re unsure where to begin, I suggest purchasing a color wheel from your local craft or home improvement store. Investing in this small tool will be well worth its weight in gold and could save you tons of money in the long run by helping you choose harmonious colors—colors that look good together. A color wheel will make selecting the right combinations for your walls, accents, furniture, and accessories much easier. If you’re in an area without a craft or home improvement store, you can purchase a color wheel online at a reasonable price.

Interior designers have found that using a light color for the background of your room (such as wall paint), a medium color for major pieces of furniture, windows, doors, and closets, and a dark color for the room’s accessories works well. Lighter colors tend to recede into the background, while darker colors attract attention and seem to occupy more space. If space is an issue, using furnishings in the same color as your walls, with colorful accessories, works well. However, all that being said, this is your special area, and you can decorate it as uniquely as you like. Try to stick to the theory of the color wheel for beautiful results.

Understanding the Color Wheel

Perhaps you’re not familiar with the color wheel. It’s fairly easy to understand. The color wheel is a circular diagram that shows how colors are related to each other. To understand how to use the color wheel, you must first learn a few important color terms.

Five Color Terms Defined

a. **Hue** – Sounds important, but it’s just another word for color. b. **Tint** – Describes a color with white added to it. c. **Tone** – A color with grey (a combination of white and black) added to it. d. **Shade** – A color with black added to it. e. **Value** – Describes the lightness or darkness of any color.
Pretty simple, right?

How the Color Wheel Works

On the color wheel, there are three primary colors: red, blue, and yellow. Next, we have three secondary colors: purple, orange, and green. We get these secondary colors by mixing the primary colors: red and blue make purple, yellow and red make orange, and blue and yellow make green. There’s a step further on the wheel where a primary color mixes with a secondary color to create a tertiary color. This results in colors like red-orange, yellow-green, and blue-purple (or violet). When mixed with pure white or pure black, these colors produce numerous tints and shades. Sounds a lot like a rainbow, right?

The Four Basic Color Schemes

Color schemes help determine the harmony between colors, which is especially important in home décor. When you’re ready to begin decorating, decide which room you want to focus on and choose the color scheme you want to use. A color scheme is simply a combination of colors that harmonize well to give the room a complete, cohesive look. You can choose from the following four color schemes. The most popular ones in interior design are either the monochromatic or complementary schemes.

1. Monochromatic Color Scheme
A monochromatic scheme means using one color in your room, but in various tints, tones, and shades of that color.

2. Complementary Color Scheme
A complementary scheme involves using two colors that are opposite each other on the color wheel. Again, you can add varying tints, tones, and shades of these two colors.

3. Analogous Color Scheme
An analogous scheme means using three colors that are next to each other on the color wheel.

4. Triadic Color Scheme
A triadic scheme uses three colors that are equally spaced on the color wheel.

Once you’ve chosen your color scheme, visit your home improvement store and pick up cardboard samples of the colors you plan to use. Keep these samples with you, as you never know when the perfect item for your room will pop up. Professional interior designers like to plan the room on paper by assembling a sample board containing the fabrics, colors, and textures they plan to use. Seeing it on paper can be much easier than picturing it in your mind.

Once your decorating project is complete, you’ll understand why the color wheel was so vital to the process. Your hard work and diligence will result in a space that’s uniquely yours, showcasing your colorful personality. Welcome to the world of color and beauty!

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Side Tables

Side tables are a must-have for any living room. Unlike larger coffee tables, side tables are extremely flexible in terms of placement, enabling you to reposition them depending on how you are using the space at any given time. Additionally, many side tables can double as stools, creating extra seating for when you have more guests than usual. If you don’t have room for a large coffee table, why not cluster two or three small side tables together in front of your sofa or chairs? This will give you the same effect and functionality as a coffee table, but also offers the flexibility to move the tables when needed.

Rugs

Rugs bring many facets to a space. They can pull furniture placement together, define a space, and add color, pattern, and texture to an otherwise bland room. They can also cover up existing flooring that has seen better days. When choosing a rug, consider its shape, size, material, and style. You can’t go wrong with a rectangular rug, as most spaces support this shape. However, don’t discount square or round rugs if the room can accommodate them. When defining a seating area, it’s ideal to have at least the front legs of the sofa and chairs on the rug, as this will make the rug feel generous and ground the room. If you dislike your flooring, go for an oversized rug that extends up to a foot from the wall.

If you already have a lot of pattern and color in your room, choose a rug that’s more textural with a neutral color. If your room is fairly neutral, go bold with color and pattern.

Flat weaves and intricate designs are ideal for high-traffic areas and homes with pets, as they hide dirt. On the other hand, shag, cut pile, and loop piles are better suited for low-traffic areas and feel especially comfy underfoot.

Occasional Chairs

Occasional chairs are a large accent piece and can be used to create a focal point or make a statement in the room. Again, this piece should be light enough to offer flexibility and easy repositioning when needed (for instance, during social gatherings). If your room is spacious enough for two occasional chairs, this is ideal. Placing two chairs into your seating configuration helps balance your layout. You can position them opposite your sofa or place both on one side of the sofa to encourage conversation. If you only have room for one chair, that’s fine too. Make it a statement piece by choosing a patterned fabric with a defined style, such as a contemporary wing chair accented with a bright scatter cushion.

Floor and Table Lamps

For a harmonious lighting scheme, you need a mixture of light sources. Accent lighting, such as floor and table lamps, is fantastic for brightening up a darker corner in a room, or by strategically placing a couple around the space, you can create enough light to illuminate the entire room.

Placing a pair of matching table lamps at either end of a console creates a classic, structured feel. Splitting the lamps by placing one on a side table and the other on a console will give the room a more relaxed, less structured look. Add a separate floor lamp in a different style, and you’ll achieve an even distribution of light while introducing more interest to your design.

Ottomans

Personally, I love using ottomans in a living room, often replacing a coffee table with a round ottoman covered in beautiful fabric. This is a simple and easy way to continue your color and pattern theme into other pieces in the room. To enable items to be placed on the cushioned top, add one or two wooden trays to create a more even surface. You can then place decorative pieces on the trays. Smaller ottomans can also serve as seating or be placed in front of your occasional chair as a footstool. For maximum storage potential, choose one that opens up to reveal storage inside.

When combining all of the above pieces into your design, try mixing and matching a couple of different styles and materials. Using pieces that are the same style and made from similar materials can feel uninteresting and lack impact. For example, mixing a distressed tan leather chair, a timber side table, a modern sectional sofa, and a chrome floor lamp — essentially combining earthy and urban elements — instantly creates a design that’s eye-catching and dynamic.

Now you’re ready to accent your living room! Be brave, push the boundaries, and try something new to see the difference it can make.

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