The living room is often one of the busiest rooms in the house. It’s used for entertaining, television viewing, reading, napping, doing homework, and anything else that takes place in a busy family home. It is also typically the first room guests see when they enter your home. Because of all these reasons, decorating a living room requires careful thought and planning.
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.
